The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10

fuu,l and have good common S$N""i" III
every couutry community. Since the
State has undertaken this matter the
pity i, that she is not able 10 10 II more
thurauuhtv and completely. For with
this divided responsibility III" children
in MANY cases are the sufferers. The
greatest blessing THAT could come to this
State would bc a tirSt-ClaSs common
school open for tic full school year i'll
every country community within her
borders. The State Superintendent of
Educotion will submit TO YOU his annual
report III which he will make many suG
sessions and recommendations and from
which you can gather the true condition
of the common schools of the State and
to that report | beg to direct your at
tention.
HIGHER INSTITITIuNS.
Whatever may have been the differ
ence Of opinion as 10 the wisdom Of cs-
tablishlng State colleges the policy OF the
State in this matter has been fixed and
these institutions arc here and are all
doing a good work for the State and if
iudped by the enrolment of students
there is demand for them. TO pull
them down or TO . i've them ni%gardly
assistance would be Il backward step which
feel that no true Son Of South Carolina
would be willing to take. II is no longer
a question whether or not the State
should engage i'll higher education. That
has been settled. To make WAY on these
State institutions is 10 retard the pro-
gress and development of the State.
There has been a general awakening III
the subject of education i'll South Caro-
lima and not only has the enrolment Ill
the State colleges been Good but the de-
nominational colleges have been more
prosperous III recent years than ever be-
fore in their history. There should be
no conflict between the dcnoinilatlonal
college and the State college. They are
both doing a good work. No true friend
of any State college will wage.warGare on
any denominational college and there is
no sound reason for any derominational
college to feel unkindly towards the
State colleges. The denonlnational COL
leges have done and are doing good
work in this State and should receive our
hearty commendation.
would like to take up each State
college separately and call to your atten-
ton the work done and theneeds of these
institutions, but 7 can.do no more than
to refer YOU TO their reports andTecom-
mendattons,and commend them to your
y. .I.faySRblet consideration The South
;"caroiina' College, Clemson Agricultural
and Mechanical College, the South Caro-
lima SIlitaryAcademy, Wsutlrop Normal
and Industrial Colleges and the Colorcd
College at orangebureEil all submit to
you through the heads of these inStitu-
tions detailed statementa Of their con-
dition and needs and these deserve your
careful attention. You should be as
economical in the expenditure of mopey
as is consistent with the efficient conduct
of these institutions but to withhold more
than is necessary for their proper main
tenance would not be wise economy
feel sure they will not ask for eXtrava
CANT or unnecessary appropriations and
Therefore, confidently commend! TO yor
a careful study of their needs and de
mands as set forth in the reports that viii
be submitted to you.
PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
By reference TO the report Of the Phos
plate Inspector you Will see all ltemlzec
statement ofTthe work accomplished du
ing the last fiscal year. Theroyalty paie
the State for rock mined in 1895 amouHtet
to S25522.64. During the fiscal yeaEms
closed it tamounted to $3.50, 57e, ,2S, bsiA al
increase Of SI5,S56.64 over the preceding
year. This indicates that the companie
doing business in our phosphate beds ar'
recovering from, the disastrous effects Q
the grea4 storms of the past few years
The caf6&nd development of thesphos
phate industry of the State is of vital i'm
portance and demands our careful cousid
Grafton. ASyour last session no pHavis
io1 was made to defray'the eXpensesso 9
1.-THE Commissioner and the Board. - Tht
expense hasbeen met by the AttorHe,
General, under resolution of the Board
out of funds collected by him and ia hl
hands. suggest the advisability o
viding a sufficient amount to coverith4
expense in your appropriation bill. Fo
an itemized statement of the work don,
by the Inspector direct your attentioi
to his report. 80
LEGAL DEPARTMENT..
AS will be seen by reference to the re
port of the Attorney-General, that ofhc
has accomplished large amount ofworl
and it is gratifying to note the success anc
satisfaction that haye attended the effort
of that officer. The publication Of SOM
,1a-of, the opinions of the Attorncy-Genera
of a general and public nature is com
mendable innovation. The reports of tn
circuit solicitors contained III that rcpor
are worthy of your attention. They sho!
that the efforts of these officers to punls
and prevent crime have not been llnavall
ing.
R-: RAILROADS.
The twenty-lrSt annual report of til
State Railroad Commission will be lai
before you. 1t is sgratifying to note tha
the general condition of the railroad busl
ness of the State is prosperous. Railroad
properly conducted are public benefactor
They are i'll one sense citizens and larg
tax payers to the State. 1t should b
gratifying to every citizen of the State t
know that the business of the railroad
the past year has been good, for ii indl
Gates that there has been activity III ever,
line ofindustry.
During the year, the Commission i'll re
,yising the freight tariffs, has mad varl
Gus changes which have reduced r;.tcs t'
the benefit Of shippers without any dinn
utlon i'll the gross revenue of the roads
which has been maintained by the i'll
crease Of the tonnage.
One of the most important changes II
the railroad situation during the wear lla
been the leasing Of the South Carolin;
and Georgia Railroad by the Southern
Railway System. The result Of thi!
transaction has hper to give the. city @