The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-07-17
BAD RAILWAY BUSINESS,

gloomy enough uOCuIueIt III Soh1O Ao
spects. So far as the railways of the
country are concerned it is little else
than a story of disaster. This is the
case, too, although the period covered
by the report includes the last four
months of the Worlds fair
In brief, June 80, 1884, one-fourth OF
all the railway capital i'll the United
States was invested in roads that were
in the hands of receivers. The total
number of railway employees at that
date was 9,608, falling off of near
" 100, 900 since June /, 1898. Ten per
cent fewer men were employed by the
roads than were working June 30, 1898.
Of railroads built there were 2,247
miles, less than half the number con-
structed in 1898. Sixteen roads were
abandoned altogether, and of those not
considered to be abandoned n were not
in operation. There are 1924 railway
corporations in the country.
When it comes to examining the
earnings of the roads, the depression Is
seen in its most vivid light. The net
earnings of the roads available for pay
ing dividends fell off nearly so per cent
in 1894, and it is not likely the show
ing will be any better THIS year.
ONE of the most notable gatherings
ever assembled in the state will be the
silver convention which will meet at
Griffin tomorrow. The universal depres-
sion of the past three years, during which
time the whole financial body has been
contested, has conspired to lend inter-
est to the occasion and its work. and the
conditions are favorable for making the
convention all that is claimed for it by
those looking forward to it's assembling.
Every county in the state will be repre-
scnted by a delegation that is in touch
with the hearts of the plain people, and
we doubt not that it will be gathering
of such strength, both in the integrity of
It's members and the scope of their inteIIl-
gence, that it will stand among the fore
most assemblies that have convened in
the history of the country.
WE observe with some concern that
Colonel Jess Mercer is not pleased at
the manner in which Colonel Jess Wal
tiers, at the Morgan silver meeting,
''empti6d the phials of his wrath upon
the administration and all who were fort
innate enough to hold Office under it.
Colonel Mercer wanted to speak, too, and
"wished for the opportunity" but cir
cumstances seemed to have been dead
against J ess having go'dbng fit at that
silver meeting. And it may be that it
will be the unspoken speech that will
WIN If this 1tor were in his place he
would prefer to have the uns spoken effort
safely housed away in his inside pocket
than to have it floating on the plains and
in the wales of old Calhoun. Here's to
Jess's unspokeh speech. 1t is the best
yet
BEFORE stretching his legs under the
m Mahogany around which Mr.. Cleveland
cabinet discusses weighty matters, and
becoming a supporter of the gold stand
ard, Secretary Smith was an advocate Of
the free coinage of silver and the sub
treasury scheme. We have no less an
authority Tor this than the distinguished
secretary himself. In letter, published
over his own signature in the Atlanta
Journal, he declared for currency with
non-perishable products as a basis, the
free coinage of silver, and the issue of
treasury notes by which bonds might be
redeemed and instead of interest bearing
bonds a legal tender currency substi-
tuted" The secretary seems to have
very accommodating views. He can
make them fit any emergency.
IT does not seem to take much to "dis
gust a government clerk at Washington.
The law requires them to work. or at
least be in their places of work, seven
hours day, but they have been knock
ing their employer out of an hour by get
ting off every Saturday at instead of
O'Clock. The cabinet has decided that
this must be stopped. and that the clerks
must be on hand seven hours Saturday
as well as any other day. At this we are
told the "fifteen thousand government
clerks are disguised" When a man is
seeking a government Office the only
thing that disgusts him is not getting it;
after getting it the thing that disgusts