Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-14
REDUCED RATES ID ATLANTA They Are Much Lower Than
 Ever Before Made. A CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL Presents Will Be Distributed to All of the
 Atlanta Orphans.
THE CONGRESS ON AFRICA CONVENED
Governor Atkinson Welcomed the Mem bers in a Few Well Chosen Words, in Which He Said That Slavery
 Cannot Be Justified.

Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 13.-Railroads south of the Ohio and east of The Mississippi river have just made, for the 18th to the 25th of December inclusive, rates much lower than any ever made before. The round trip from Washington city to At lanta, thirteen hundred miles, can be made for $S75. This is but little over half a cent a mile. Other rates are in the same proportion. Round trip from Richmond, $6.20. Nashville, $i.30; Knox vile, $3.S0; Birmingham, $3; Chatta- nooga. $4.50; Savannah, $4.20; Jackson vile, $5.25; Macon. $1.75: Columbus, $2- 25 Montgomery, $3.15; Mobile, $5.S0; Selma, $4.O5: Anniston. sl.S5; Columbus, Miss, $435; Louisville $6.70; Cincinnati, $715 ($43O lower than the previous ex- cursion rate); Lexington, Ky, $5.9o; New Orleans, $745; Brunswick, Ga, $4.20; Augusta, $310; Athens and Rome, $1.45; Albany, $3.30; Norfolk, Va. $7.90; Ports mouth. Va, $7.90; Ocala, Fla, $6.20; Pa latka. $5.60; Sanford, $610; Charleston, S4.65; Columbia, $3.S0; Greenville, 5. O., $3.50; Orangeburg, $4.55; Spartanburg, $7; Charlotte, $40; Lynchburg, Va, ST. 30; Evansville, Ind, $6.80. Tickets are good to return in five days.
 On next Wednesday, December IS, there will be a childrens Christmas 1es- tival at the exposition. The fifteen pub lie schools will each contribute twenty boys and girls each school representing a nationality. The boys will represent soldiers and the girls will be dressed in the costume of the country. There will be a float with Santa Claus and twelve Brownies to head the procession of all nations, which will march round the plaza. The parade will terminate at an immense Christmas tree, where presents will be distributed to all the orphan children in the asylums about Atlanta. A committee from the woman's board Is cooperating with Superintendent Slatan and the teachers of the public schools. It is expected that an immense crowd will come to see the festival.
 The congress on Africa convened this morning at the colored Methodist church. President Thierkield of the Cannon Theological seminary acted as chairman. The opening prayer was offered by Rev. R. S. Rust, D. D., of Cincinnati. GOV ernor Atkinson welcomed the members. Among other things, the governor said:
 From the midst of pressing business cares I come to welcome this lmportant gathering. Slavery was hard lot. Sla- very, in my judgment, cannot be 1ustl- fed And yet may 1t not have been a part of Gods plan for the redemption or your race, that you might put up pray CT to God and man for the redemption
 
 said thirty years ago that you could not learn (yet I believe even then they ad- mitted that you could sing). Let any one who is in doubt visit the commencement of Clarke university, Atlanta university, Georgia Industrial institute, then ne must say that what has been done can be done.
 "These things" he continued, should lead you to a deeper interest in the sal walton of your fatherland. Each must decide for himself whether he will go or remain here. You are free citizens or this republic. If you care to stay the choice is yours; if you think best to cast your lot among the people of your oio country no man may say you nay. The question of duty presents itself, and you owe duty to your fatherland. So long as have voice In the affairs or Geor- gia I shall do my utmost to see that the colored man has his rights"
 Others who spoke were Bishop Duncan Heli Catalan, the celebrated African ex- plorer and linguist; J. H. Smith. colored, Richmond, Va. and Dr. Alexa Crunch of Washington.
 Al the afternoon session the speech by Orishetukel Faduma of the. Yambo tripe, west Africa, was the feature.
 Tonight Mir Cyrus c. Adams or the New York Sun lectured on New Things We Have Learned About Africa"