The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-12-25
Items ofInfareSf

Middleboro, Mass, was one Of the
earliest New England towns to engage
In the experiment OF municipal light
Ing, and it claims to have made the
venture a success, but only after years
Of foundering and trouble. The town
was forced into the purchase Of plant
that was the consolidation Of two pri
yate corporations, heavily capitalized.
It was necessary to buy out this COM
pany to avoid litigation coming out OF
loose franchise granting; and to pay a
large price. Starting with this handi-
cap, says the New York Evening Post,
and owing to experimental managing,
tie balance sheet for years indicated
that the attempt was failure. Then
came new and improved management,
and now it is announced that the rev.
enue from light sold to private con-
sumers exceeds the appropriations by
the town to cover the cost of street
lighting. So large IS the demand for
commercial lighting that some Of the
streets lights have been shut off tenn
porarily, it being considered wise to
cater to the reyenue-bearing side Of
the business.
Trade has received a rebuff in Lon
don society, says the Boston Herald;
not because it is trade, but because sill
ly women, who should be about better
business than cutting under legitimate
tradespeople, are selling their titles
and positions by opening shops and
tea places after this manner of Lady
de Gray 1t is anything rather than
praiswortny step for the wife Of a peer
to take. Through her own extravagant
follies, she or her creditors deem it
justifable, but her sovereign liege
thinks otherwise of the matter, and
will refuse to receive her iadyship at
Court when she becomes a "shopkeep-
er." The royal rebuke is intended as
much for the handsome couutess's i
debts. as to warm other spendthrifts to !
follow not her example Of barteriug |
rank. 1t is very uncertain, therefore, if |
Lady de Gray now believes she will
make fortuse selling tea at guinea
the cup.
About three years ago the Christian
Commonwealth Colony was founded in
Muscogee County, Georgia, few miles
from Columbus, By forty men and wo-
men, with some children, from Ohio
They were an exceptionally intelligent
and worthy Dody OF people. Plain cot
tages were built and a common din
ing hall which was also used for re-
Hgious service, was established. The
first year was prosperous one Four
crops were raised and good prices Sc
cured for the products. A saw mill was
built, grist mill and broom factory
were prcftably operated, and a dairy
not only furnished the community
with all the milk and butter needed,
but afforded surplus for the mar {
ket. Then new members came and {
trouble began. Many shirked their
work, gossip and scandal became rife, ,
debts were incurred which there was :
no money to meet, and now it is an =
nouced that the colony has gone to
pieces.
Well founded complaints are heard !
on all sides, says the New York Trib- 6
ane, that the great Consolidated Gas :
Company, with its vast wealth and :,
magnificent resources, is supplying a
poor quality Of gas. New Workers are
paying $1.95 thousand feet for gas Il
which canibc manufactured for go a
ARts thousand at handsome profit, S
- . sSStue ISSsSa EwadIlcts is a