Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-03
Straps and faets.

ber Just passed was different from any
other since the beginning of the Chris
tian era. December, 1898, enjoyed
the unique privilege of having two
new moons, which is a phenomenon
that has not occurred in any Decem-
Der in 1896 years. The coincidence
of the last event of this kind happen
ing in the same year as the birth of
Christ, was not widely noted, however,
or it would probably have been looked
upon by many as significant. The oc-
currence was purely an astronomical
one.
The State: The New York Sun
commends the suggestion of Attorney
General Harmon that congress repeal
the law providing for the transfer of
criminal cases from State to Federal
court. The law had its origin in the re-
construction measures-the pretence
of enforcing the 18th amendment. 1t
was intended to operate in the South
only-in causes where the rights of a
person of color should be involved.
Few occasions have arisen for its en-
forcement in the South. Lawyers in the
"loyal" States have used it to clog the
proceedings of the State tribunals in
cases to which the law was never in
tended to apply. Now the attorney
general of the United States suggests
its repeal. One by one, the obnoxious
measures born of reconstruction ate
being wiped out.
The Zeigler brothers, who killed
the sheriff of Screven county, Ga,
have never been arrested yet, and are
still fortified in their homes and
backed by the neighbors of the
country surrounding. When the kill
ing first occurred, Governor Atkinson
decided to leave the execution of the
law to the regular county authorities
upon whom the duty devolved. The
sheriff failed to make any move, and
and the governor finally offered a
reward of $50. This he subsequently
increased to $3.50 each, and later he
run the amount up to $500 each but
still nobody cares to run the risk that
will be necessary before they can hope
to secure the money. The Zeiglers
say that they are willing to stand the
trial whenever they are assured that
they can get justice but not before.
The last issue of The Railway Age
has the following in regard to railway
construction during the past year !:
"Railway building in the United States
reached this year lower point than in
any of the last 20 years indeed, in
only two years since lS65-SO years
ago-has so small mileage been built.
Records for 1895 now show only 1882
miles of track laid-a tremendous de-
cline from the great year of 1887,
when almost $4,000 miles were put
down. In the eight years since that
time the decrease has been great and
continuous, and this year the total built
was only about 100 miles more than in
the year 1855, 40 years ago. Fifteen
States made no increase in railroad
mileage at all last year, only one New
England State, Maine, laying any track,
and that only sc miles. Texas leads
the list with 224 miles" The Railway
Age thinks the bottom has been reached
and predicts great activity during the
coming year. The railways of the
United States, on December 81, will
aggregate 1S1 900 miles. The financial
tables in regard to these III roads
show that the total capital stock is
1918, ,563, ,S4S, the funded debt 81 ,lS9,-
41S,515, the current liabilities $97, ,72O,-
8O6, the grand total of which is $2,-
265, 7O3, ,16O. Dividends during 1895
show decrease of S2,S59,576.
Since the excitement in the stock
market, it is not very likely that Miss
Alice Cornwell, of London, will open
an Office in Wall street. The War
scare has at least frightened her to
such an extent that she will remain in
London. Only q few weeks ago it was
reported that Miss Cornwell would
certainly open an Office in Wall street.
There is much that is odd in the
personality of Miss Cornwell. She is
the London Hetty Green, minus the
green umbrella, black bag and gold
bowed spectacles. Mss Cornwell has
the additional advantage of beauty
and literary talent, and is only "a
years old. She is the most noted
woman in London, and is much better
known as Nine. Midas, under which
nom de plume she is frequent con-
tributor to a we'll known weekly
paper, which she has owned for seven
years, and which constitutes her one
fad. Like everything else which she
has touched, the paper is gold mine.
Miss Corpwell made her debut as
promoter of the "Midas" silver mine,
in the Argentine republic. 1t proved
to be a glittering success. Once she
went to Kimberley, South Africa, and,
after some personal investigation,
purchased diamond mine which had
been abandoned. In no time it was
being reworked to large profit, and
has since become one of the most
valuable mines in the diamond field.
Mr.. Edison has great scheme for
defending forts in case of war. In a
recent interview, he says of it: "1n
r L..