davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

So far as THE ENQUIRER is able to
see, there is no sense in any controversy
over the location of the proposed Cataw-
ba river bridge. The first thing to do
is to decide whether or not the bridge
should be built. Upon this proposition
we do not think that there is any room
for any wide difference of opinion. TAX
ing into consideration the large amount
of taxes paid by the people of Fort Mill
township, and also taking into consid-
Grafton the insignifcance of their pre-
vious demands upon the public treasury
for any and all purposes, and also the
necessity for easy communication with
the balance Of the county, we cannot see
any just grounds for the denial of their
request. Then, if upon this view of the
case it should be decided to construct
the bridge, the question of location
should not be problem, for under all
the circumstances it is a matter that can
very properly be left with the people
of Fort Mill township.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27
THE FREE SCHOOL LAW.

The house has made some very far
reaching and important changes in the
free school law of the state. The law,
as amended by the house and as it will
very likely pass the senate, reads as
follows:
1.-THE county boards of education shall
divide their counties into convenient
school districts, as compact in form as
practicable, having regard to natural
boundaries and not to. exceed 49 nor be
less than nine square miles in area: Pro-
vided, That in cities of 10000 inhabitants
and over, this limitation of area shall not
apply: Provided, further, That when
any school district laid out under this sec
ton shall embrace cities or towns already
organized into special school districts, in
which graded school buildings have been
erected by the issue of bonds or by spe-
cial taxation, or by donation, all the terri
tory included in said school district shall
bear it's Just proportion of any tax that
may be levied to liquidate such bonds or
support the public schools therein. The
present division of the counties into
school districts shall remain until changed
by the county boards of education. The
county boards of education are authorized
and empowered to make contracts for the
purpose OF QlVlQlng tnelr COuuLleS llltO
proper school districts, and to provide for
the payment Of the expenses thereof out
Of the school funds Of the county. Every
school district now organized, or to be
hereafter organized, in pursuance of this
section, is, and shall be, body polite
and corporate, by the name and style of
school district No. =, (such number as
may he designated by the county board
of education) of - county, (the name
of the county in which the district is sit
uated), the state of South Carolina, and in
that name may sue and he sued, and be
capable Of contracting and being con-
tracted with, to the extent of their school
fund, and holding such real and personal
estate as it may come into possession of,
by will or otherwise, or as is authorized
by law to be purchased, all of which
shall be used exclusively for school pur-
poses: Provided, however, That in the
division of said counties into school dis
tricts, as herein provided for, the said
county board of education shall have due
regard to the school buildings as they
now exist and so accommodate the dis
tricts thereto as far as practicable the
necessity of removing or disseminating
the use of any such school building or
house as such.
"Where it shall so happen that person
or persons are SO situated as to be better
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27
WEATHER FOR MARCH.

The Chester weather prophet sends his
predictions for March, under date of
February 18. By way of preface, he
remarks that unless signs count for moth
ing, the weather during next month will
be unusually severe. Here is the way he
figures on the probabilities in detail:
March / and will be windy, and
there will be rain. From 8 to will be
cold and blustery, with rain, sleet or
snow. From to 10, windy; but warmer.
From II to Is, windy and cold, with rain
or sleet. From Is to 20, stormy, with
snow on II and 10. From 81 to 25, fairer
weather with brisk wind. From 26 to 81,
warmer; but of stormy appearance"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27
FOUND MORE HOLES.

Mr.. F. A. Gosman, the wellknown
machinist, was down at the Jail few
days ago taking general look at the
situation, and while there, made careful
investigation of the manner of Reese's
escape. He picked up several points that
have not yet been published.
Upon crawling through the hole in the
ceiling Of Reese's cell and examining it
from the upper side, he discovered around
the margin another line of auger holes.
From the holes, it appeared that it was
the first intention of the man who bored
them to make the aperture in the ceiling
somewhat larger. On the lower side, the
holes were so skillfully plugged up with
smoked chewing gum, as to deceive the
eye of the closest observer, even when
aware of their presence and looking for
them. The reason why the original cal
culations were abandoned seems to have
been the discovery that smaller aper-
ture would answer every purpose.
Unable to conceive of the possibility
of mans doing so much work in SO
short time with half-inch bit, gimlet
fashion, quite number of individuals
have expressed the opinion that the priso.
ners surely had brace with which to
drive the bit. Mr.. Gosman is satisfied
that such was not the case. The holes
bear evidence of the fact. in that each
one shows from end to end where the bit
would let loose and take a new hold at
least once or twice with every turn. Had
a brace been used, no such marks would
have been visible.
While pursuing his investigation, Mr..
Gosman made still another important
discovery. In the prison there is one
heavily ironed cell known as the "dun-
geon," and generally believed to be abso-
lutely secure both within and without.
The door of this dungeon" is of iron,
and weighs SOME 800 or 400 pounds. The
hinges are of the ordinary old fashioned
kind with pivot supported by a heavy
iron spike driven into thick piece Of oak
wood from the inside of the cell. One
of the hinges was almost ready to drop
out, and Mr.. Gosman drew the other with
only few minutes work, his only tool
being a small fiat chisel less than a half
inch wide, and only about an eighth of an
inch in thickness. Thus, it seems, that
even the if prisoners had been locked in
the dungeon" their efforts to escape
would not have been much more serious
ly embarrassed.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

law with regard to the matter is plain, it
was not generally understood by the
people for the reason that they had never
had access to it. Owing to this fact, there
was misunderstanding as to the effect
of Mr.. Shurley's action, and great
many people were dissatisfied. There
was lots of talk, and the blame for the
grievance naturally fell upon Mr.. Shur-
ley. Finally, "H. w. T." voiced the
expressed sentiment of his neighborhood
and raised big kick. The kick, though
sincere, was based on misinformation.
All the same it put the superintendent of
education in a wrong position. Though
aware of the fact that "H. w. T." was
laboriug under incorrect impressions, he
fully realized that that did not help mat
ters, for there were hundreds of people
in all parts of the county who looked at
the matter in the same way. Had he
believed that it was the intention of III.
w. T." to willfully lnisrepresent the
situation, Mr.. Shurley would have been
fully justified in treating the complaint
with dignified silence. But there was no
reason for such belief, and the only
thing to be done, was to make full
explanation. This Mr.. Shurley took the
trouble to do, and, as the result, III. w.
T." gracefully admits that the whole
row was based on a misunderstanding.
Where, otherwise, there would have been
great deal of hard feeling on account of
the controversy, there is now none, and
large number Of interested people are
much the wiser for the circumstance.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

Aside from the fact that the main
tainance of the chaingang costs almost,
if not quite, as much as the same number
of free laborers would cost, there is an
other serious objection to it. People in
different sections Of the county are in
clined to overestimate the capacity of this
institution for work, leaving great deal
that they might do themselves to be done
eventually by the chaingang. The result
is that great deal of work which might
otherwise be done, is not done at all.
1t seems, therefore, Chat the best DISPOSE
ton that could be made of the chaingang
would he to either send the prisoners to
the penitentiary, or to the farm them out
for road work, in whatever section is will
ing to take them on the most advantage
Gus terms over and above all expenses for
food, clothing, doctors bills, guards, etc.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

accommodated at a school of an adjoining
school district, whether special or other
wise, and such fact is made to appear to
the board of trustees of the school district
in which such person or persons reside,
the said board Of trustees shall transfer
the person or persons for education to the
school district in which such school is To-
Gated and the trustees of the school dis
trct in which said school is located shall
rective such person or persons to be ed
ucated into the said school as though they
resided in said district: Provided. That
in case such transfer is made to a district
in which the ordinary school fund Is sup
plemented by special tax levy, then the
parent, guardian or other person apply
ing for the transfer shall pay to the county
treasurer, to be placed by him to the cred
it Of said school district, an amount bear
ing the proportion to the amount raised
by special levy in said district that the
number of children transferred thereto
bears to the the total number enrolled the
previous year in said district unless such
person pays special tax upon property
in said district at least equal to the said
amount; and in the event that said spe-
cial tax Is less than the amount required
herein, it shalls be allowed as credit
thereon, anil such person shall further
pay such incidental fees as are required of
resident pupils attending same school !:
Provided, further, That children shall
not be transferred from school district
in one county to school district in an
adjoining county without the consent of
the board of education of the respective
counties in which the transfer is made ::
Provided, further, That if any taxpayer
pays taxes in two or more counties he
shall have the right to send his children
to the school of any one of said counties,
without the consent Of the boards Of edu-
cation of either county if ne complies with
the provisions as hereinbefore provided
for special school districts: Provided
further, That in the city Of Columbia the
to the county treasurer shall be paid to
the board of school commissioners of the
city Of Columbia"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

in Charleston on the first Monday in
April. Mr. Simril will serve on the grand
jury, and the other two gentlemen on the
petit jury.
Question For the Church.
Charlotte Observer, Thu rsday: A COM
mittee from Bethel presbytery, S. G., and
Mecklenburg presbytery, met yesterday
at Gastonia, to discuss the factory work
and how best to get hold of the factory
people. Among those present were:
Rev. Mr.. Jones, from Rock Hill, s. c.,
Rev. r. A. Miller, Lowell; Rev. Mr..
McIlwaine, of Kings Mountain; Rev.
Mr.. Newell, of Newelps Station, and
Rev. Mr.. Neville, of Yorkville, 8. G..
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

THE ENQUIRER takes pleasure today
in extending congratulations to its Hick-
ory Grove correspondent, "H. w. IT,"
and to Superintendent of Education
Shurley, and also in suggesting lesson
to county officials and others who may
be in need of it. The circumstances of
the case we refer to are still fresh but
will bear repeating in order to give a
clear appreciation Of the point which it is
desired to illustrate. Sometime ago,
Superintendent Shurley laid off from
portions Of Bullcck's Creek and Broad
River townships, a new school district
which he named Hopewell. Though the
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27
Ths atorkrille Gnqltirer.
YORKVILLE, 8. G.:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1897.

John E. Searles, of the sugar trust, pro-
tests against the investig gations now being
pushed by the Lexow committee on the
ground that it will "drive capital away
from New York"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-27

- Christian Europe upholding the un-
speakable Mohamedan Turk against
Christian Greece! Who would have
thought that the boasted civilization of
this Nineteeth century would have ever
been called upon to witness such sight ?
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

%pIuraiIries. For instances:
Cleveland carried Illinois In 1899 by
90, 993. Bryan received Ss, 242 more votes
than Cleveland, and yet McKinley's plu-
rality was lac, 607.
Cleveland carried Indiana by 1926.
Bryen received 43,001 more votes than
Cleveland, and yet Mckinley carried In
diana by IL, 978.
Harrison carried Ohio by 1,072. Bryan
received 70, 70s more votes than Harrison,
and yet Mckinley carried Ohio by 81, $50.
Harrison carried Minnesota by 81, 903.
Bryan received 1922 more votes than
Harrison, and yet Mckinley carried Min
nesota by SO, 1853.
Cleveland carried Kentucky by 40, 020.
Bryan received AZ, 429 more votes than
Cleveland, and yet Mckinley carried Ken
lucky by 2S1.
Cleveland carried California by 144.
Bryan received 20, 473 more votes than
Cleveland, and yet Mckinley carried Cali
fornia by l ,S22.
1t Is q remarkable fact that in some of
the states named in the foregoing the
number of voters in 1895 exceeded the to-
tai number of males Of voting age returned
by the census Of 1890, while In other states
the number of voters very nearly equaled
the number of males Of voting g as re-
turned by the census.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

1t will be noticed that only 6 Of the
A states which participated in both the
1892 and the 1896 presidential elections
fail to show an increase of the total vote.
All Of these, excepting Nevada and New
Hampshire, were southern states. The
greatest gain was in Colorado, where wom-
en- were permitted to vote, n many thou
sands awaited themselves of the privilege.
The greatest loss was in Georgia.
The remarkable discrepancy between the
number of inhabitants to the vote in the
various states will attract the attention of
the thoughtful reader. The ratio varies
from the surprisingly small number Of
2. SO persons per vote In Colorado, where
the women voted, to nearly go inhabitants
to the vote In Mississippi and South Caro-
lima. 1t Is remarkable that in Ohio, Iowa
and South Dakota there should be fewer
than our inhabitants to the vote, while in
Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin,, West Viz
ginia, Oregon and California the number
Of inhabitants to the vote Is only a little
more than four. The average for the whole
United States Is a small fraction over five
inhabitants to the vote. =
The population figures used arp not
those of the census of 1890, but the official
and unofficial computations of the num-
Der of Inhabitants In each state Jan. !.
1896, the total population Of the states at
that date being 20, 800, 1873.
No feature of the 1896 election was more
surprising than the heavy vote polled. In
many states Bryan received fully as many
votes as his managers claimed for him and
many more than were conceded to him by
the opposition, and yet Mckinley carried
those states, in some instances by large
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06
Males of

These are amazing figures. 1t must be
remembered that the "males of voting
age In the census returns include unnat-
uralized persons. A vote of such magni-
tude in ratio to males of veting age was
never before seen In this country. There
Is a suspicion that in some precincts boys
Of from IS years up were permitted to vote.
Increase In population since 1890 is not
sufficient to account for the increase Of
vote. The total vote figures given above
do not include a large number of defective
ballots thrown out by the election boards.
The following figures show the number
of votes In 1895 and the number Of males
of voting age, according to the census nf
1890, respectively in states where there
was no special demand for votes: Maine,
votes, 11S, 1854; males, 201, 241; Massachu-
sets, votes, 401, 54S; males, $50, 009; Con-
nectiout, votes, TIA, 3S3; males, 224, 092;
New York, votesAs 424, 221 males, 1, &c.,
649; PennsylvaeNcL, votes, 1,l94 ,278;
males, ], 461, 500.
For purpose of accompanying the total pop
ular vote at the 1895 election with the
total vote at former elections I nave COM
piled the following interesting table:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06
sDecrease.

decrease. |
Careful examination of the foregoing
table reveals that the increase in the total
vote In 1895 over 1899 was the largest in
percentage since 1875, when the desperate
character Of the Hayes-Tilden presidential
campaign called out a heavy vote In oom-
parison with that of 1879, when the Grant
Greeley campaign was attended by a light
vote owing to the peculiar conditions
which surrounded 1t. The per cent of In |
crease of the total vote in 1895 over 1892
was, all things considered, most e~xtraor-
binary, following, as 1t did, the unusually
heavy vote in both 1884 and 1885,. The
large Increase IN the vote In 1876 over 1879 |
has already been explained. The heavy
gain of 1868 over 1854 Is, of course, to be
accounted for by the light vote Of 1864,
due to the war. In 1868 the soldiers had
returned from the field, and the total vote
was In consequence much larger.
In 1860 the population Of the United
States, excluding territories, was In round
numbers 81, 900, 600. The number of votes
per thousand Inhabitants In that year was
1905 8. In November, 1895, the population
of the country, excepting territories, is
estimated by statisticians at n, 900, 600.
The number of votes per thousand popu-
lation was 1875. 8, showing An increase of
30 per cent in the ratio of actual voters to
population since 1850. This increase Is
due in part to the constantly growing ratio
Of foreign born citizens who become Vot-
ers, In part to the perfection of political
organization, which serves to fetch a larger
proportion of the voters to the polls, and
in part to the enfranchisement of negroes
and women. In the late election the pecul-
lar issues of the campaign n the keen
interest felt therein by all classes of peo-
ply brought out the largest vote In proper
ton to population known In the history
Of the country.
Analysis of the election returns shows
that the Republicans found their chief
gains in 1896 In the cities, while the DEM
ocrats about held their own, or made slight
gains, In the farming districts. In nearly
all the cities of the north, northwest and
border states from New England to the
Potomac and to the Missouri, including
Baltimore, Louisville, st. Louis and Kan
sas City, the Republican vote was unusually
heavy. New York city failed to go Dem
ocratic for the first time In its history In a
presidential election. Chicago changed
from 80, 900 Democratic to go, 900 Repub-
lican.
In order to test the effect of the city vote
In comparison with that Of the farming
districts I have taken five states which
from geographical position and character
of population afford the safest basis Of
calculation. These are Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan, Illinois and Iowa-all in the
battle-ground of 1896, each containing
many ciiies, and the farmers In every one
reported during the campaign to be friend.
~ to the free silver Idea.
In each of these five states I have set in
a class by themselves all those counties
containing cities or towns of 2, 500 popula'
tion or more.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

gun, W Isuuusln, lIIInUIs, iowa, Minnesota,
South Dakota, North Dakota and Ne
braska.
The West.-Kansas, Wyoming, Colo
RADIO, Montana, Idaho and Utah.
The South.-North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, Georgia. Alabama, Mis-
sissippl, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
Pacific Coast. = California, Oregon,
Washington and Nevada. II
For the purposes Of this comparison we
assume that the Weaver vote represented
the opposition to the Republicans in 1892
In the states of Colorado, Idaho, Kansas,
North Dakota and Wyoming, where the
Democrats and Populists fused OF Weaver
tickets. In Oregon, South Dakota, Ne
vada and Nebraska, where an imperfect
fusion was formed, the Democratic and
Populist vote Is combined. In Florida,
where the Republicans and Populists fused
on Weaver electors, the vote for the latter
10 taken to represent the Republican
strength In 1899.
On this basis the vote Is subdivided and
compared geographically, as follows:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

The net sross Republican plurality In
the five states In isa2 was 10, 794. In 1896
1t was 834, 1853; increase, 1928, 1888. OF this
gain they make 271 1913 In the city coun-
ties and 81, 500 in the agricultural coun-
ties. OF their whole gain "a per cent was
in the city counties and 16 per cent In the
agricultural counties.
There can be no doubt that If the city
and town vote could be wholly separated
from the purely agricultural vote in the
states named, 1t would be found that, all
the Republican gains over 1899 were made
In the cities and towns, while In the agri-
cultural districts the Democrats held their
OWL.
In the foregoing calculations 100 coun-
ties are classed as city population-30 in
Ohio, 81 In Indiana, Is In Michigan, 10
In Illinois and 10 In Iowa:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06
Not the Only Pebble.

"Dot new bolicemans, NIT him I gets
myselluf even" said Mr.. Ogglespoggle.
"He comes py my saloon Sonday, und
he says to me, 'Ogglespoggle. / see a
man come ont. NIT dot side door, aind
it?' 'vell,' I says, 'vot you here for!
To see things? No, you pay addenshuns
to your pizness, nod to some side is
sues, l said, like dot. Putty schmardt
SARCASM, amt dot? l guess dose humor-
lists vas not de only pathhouses en- der
pebbles maybet''-QincinnatiI CONNER
cial Tribune, - Af
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

Total population United states. 62.6Z,%5O lUO.UO
Considering the foreign part of our pop
ulation from its political aspect-the nodes
of thought, hereditary convictions, princi-
pies and prejudices-we should find many
more citizens who belong within the for
eign category, such as the children of for
eigners whose parents were born In this
country, but whose associations and tradi-
lions are wholly or in large part those of
their families. 1t Is safe to say that fully
n e-half the population of the country is
foreign in this sense.
According to the census of 1890, the num-
Der of foreign born persons of voting age
In the United States, emitting territories,
wal 1880, esq.,, out Of a grand total Of 49,
e4O, 81. The foreign born voters, there
fore, were a little more than rs per cent of
the whole number.
These 1850, 952 foreign born voters are
distributed among the states which voted
for Mckinley and Bryan respectively as
follows:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-02-06

In these 80 states the bulk OF the foreign
population Of the United States Is conoen-
trated. Fourteen Of these states voted for
Mckinley and 9 for Bryan. They gave
Mckinley 1913 electoral votes and Bryan
35. The IA states for Mckinley gave him
pluralities a~ggregating 1859, 265. The 0
states for Bryan gave him pluralities ag-
gregating 264, s42. The net plurality FOR
Mckinley in the % states containing the
bulk of the foreign population was 1887
428.
In the following states, IA in number,
e,445, 765 of the z, 1874, 1914 foreign born
Germans In the United States are found: