Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-05-30
HALF A MILLION DUE THE STATE
rIr. YeIdelI Finds Lolg Lost Records
and VOuc hers.

in the long run tlc establishment of
claims against the federal government
which will. even if compromises are
erected. place balance of half mil
lion dollars in the treasury OF the State.
of South Carolia1. For thir;l years
the weary search for the famous
Blacks Exhibit A. on the revolu-
tionary and other war claims has been
going on. This exhibit was on abso-
lutte necessity to the establishment of
the principal claims of the State
against the United States government.
and for the past six months has been
the most desired record in the rosses-
sion of the State. The credit of find
ing the valuable document together
with Agent Blacks second report be,
longs to Mir. w. Fl. Yeldell If Edge
field. and Chief Clerk Jesse I. CAN'T
Of the office of the secretary of state.
who urged that Mr.. Yeldell be enl-
ployed to make the search Day afto..
day Mr. Yeldell has been working his
way through the pile OF muSty records
in the rubbish room" of the capitol.
going through an endless variety Of
papers from 100 down to date ana
as to their locality He had nearly
completed his work when he picked up
bundle of papers yellow with age
and glanced at it. He was about 10
throw it aside when his eve caught
the word BLACK" He opened the
bundle and therein were found every
one of the precious papers and vouch-
ers so long looked for, accompanied by
AOr nj
which the searchers have never been
able to find a corY. and which with
GOV Gist'S message to the legislature
in December. 1860. saying: Not hav-
ing recovered any of these claims. he.
of course. will not be entitled to any
commisSions-but having spent
shows that Black did not receive the
$4,000 payment on the Mexican war
claims that the federal government
claims to have made
On the outside of the papers in
Blacks handwriting appears this sum
mary OF the claims of the State due the
federal government:
War of 1912 with interest
to 1858 only). .. 49,. .$202, 80 90
Florida war Onterest),. ~ 10000 90
Mexican war (principaD % .162. 4l
Interest on above ClS5S) 2S. 600 90
Revolutionary war Cru in
lOtal. ......39i ,}40 Ol
Olal. $o94 .'4V. u
On this entire sum no interest after
1888 is calculated With interest the
total claim would amount TO about one
and a half millions of dollars.
Agent Blacks report made in 1898
/. a n Inn N. l.
and upon il he is about to secure an
adjustment of all the claims save
those relating to the Revolutionary
war. His bill covers the war of 1872
and Florida war claims and interest
less $4,000 the government claims to
have paid Black. The find yesterday
shows conclusively that Black did not
receive this amCunt. and presents the
absolute proof to sustain all the RevO-
lutionary war claims with inte,ps, fcs
100 years. This even if compromised
will give the State a surplus Oh about
half a million dollars after paying
claims of about 5000. 900 that the gen
eral government is pressing against
the State Everything is included in
tine documents found. Every voucher
is there in printed form with refer
There is 50 pages of printed matter in
the portion giving these vouchers.
These are not the records Black was
to file in the comptroller's office, but
those filed with the Legislature and
consequently are all the more com
plete.
In 1893 a Revolutionary war claim
settlement was made but all claims in
IL, 81 I,fe
ly made Every paper desired has
been found.
Senator Tillmans present bill pro-
vides that no commissions will be
paid to anyone for collecting the
claims This avoids many pitfalls
The Senator was notified by wire Of
the invaluable find. and he wired back
for all the documents to be sent by cx-
press to him on the first train his evi,
dent intention being 10 put in an
amendment that will not make Uncle
Sam, 30 desirous of pushing his claims
against South Carolina Eventually
there is no doubt that the treasury OF
South Carolina will be about half
million -doll;Ss at least better OF as
result of this find in that gold mine OF
a rubbish room"
A New Idea for Oi!ing Buggies.
A new style of axle is being used by
the Rock Hill Buggy Company. by
which the buggy is oiled without re-
moving the wheels. The oil is poured
into a chamber from which il j. car
ried by the motion Of the wheel 10 the
oil grooves at the top and bottom OF
the axle The idea is an excellent one
as a vehicle built with this style o.
axle will run much longer with one
oiling, saving time and annoyance
News Items.