Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-01
NOTE AND COMMENT.

ana Joe f1OWe.
NOTE AND COMMENT.
There have been few showers around
during the past few days, but they have
not been at all general, and crops con-
tinue to suffer.
There is to be a good roads picnic
at Ogden on August S. Congressman
Finley, Senator Brice, Thos. F. Nc
Dow and F. P. Mccain have been in
vited to speak on the occasion.
Mr.. w. H. WyIie says that with five
months more Of good working weather,
such as has been prevailing during
the past few months, the great dam OF
the Catawba Power company will be
completed. Splendid progress has been
made during the past two months.
Various gentlemen who are supposed
10 be aspiring to fill the different county
offices were on hand at the road con-
vention Wednesday. There are very
few people in local public life who
would be willing to miss such repre-
sentative convention as gathered on
that occasion.
The committee appointed to prepare
roll Of the Confederate veterans of
Bethel township has filed it's report in
the office of the clerk Of the court. The
report, from casual examination. ap-
pears to be one Of the best that has yet
been gotten up. 1t will be published
within the next few weeks.
Fire Near McConnelIsvilIe.
Mr.. w. A. Aycock, who lives on
Sharon R. F. D. No. 2, near McCon-
nellsville, lost his barn and contents by
fire on last Wednesday morning. The
contents included two fine mules, two
good milch cows, buggy shed, cotton
house, shucks, fodder, etc., in all ag-
gregating in value about $500. The In
surance amounted to only $50. Mr..
Aycock has no information as to the
origin Of the fire; but believes 1t to
have been the work Of an incendiary.
In our statement Of the Tirzah school
controversy, published in the last issue
Of THE ENQUIRER, we sought to give
only the facts as information to the
public. Parties to each side Of the con-
troversy have asked for space in which
to present their respective positions.
This we have seen fit to grant, not be-
cause we have felt under obligations
to do so; but because these statements
throw more light on the merits of the
question at issue. Now, however we
think that the matter has gone far
enough in the newspaper, and we
would suggest that the balance Of the
controversy be settled through the
proper channels-the county board of
examiners, 80 far as that body may
have authority, and through the stat
utes bearing on the subject.
Captain J. w. Ardrey wants to sell
the state farms and put the convicts
there at work on the public roads. He
made an able and sensible talk on the
subject in the road convention last
Wednesday. For one thing, Captain
Ardrey does not take much stock in the
idea of the state being engaged In the
cotton raising business In competition
with people who have to farm for a
living. He admits that the few hundred
bales that are raised by convicts In
South Carolina do not count for great
deal so far as the markets are con-
cerned; but thinks that If all the states
now engaged in cotton production with
convict labor would quit the business,
there would be material affect on the
price of cotton. But that is not all,
the captain Is doubtful as to whether
the states farming operations pay from
business standpoint and he Is not sat-
isfied that he pays any less taxes for
penitentiary support by reason of those
operations. He said that Fort Mill
township had the county chaingang FOR
a few months and he was of opinion
that people over there got better re-
turns in the way Of improved roads
than they ever got from all the money
they ever paid for the support Of the
penitentiary from 1868 down to the
present day. He could not see a great
deal of use for the penitentiary, and
he was willing to abolish it. There
was some little effort to break the
force of the captains argument; but
the convention was with him and his
resolution was adopted almost unant-
mously.
The object of the encampment In CO.
lumba was to teach the militia boys as
much soldiership as was possible In
week, and some Of the methods seemed
quite harsh at the time. One little In
cident that will be remembered by the
boys who figured in it is being told
over and again with much interest by
some of the boys who are familiar with
the facts. 1t seems that some OF the
officers conceived that it would be a
good idea to teach the men the respon-
sibilities of q sentry and this is the
way they went about it. At guard
mounting the sentries had been in
structed as to how they should allow
nothing to approach without the pass
y ord, ETC., and shortly after some eigh-
teen Of them had been posted, a COM
missioned officer, in full dress uniform,
came along followed by detail of men,
and approaching the sentries he would
order Give up that gum" One after
another the sentries obeyed orders. and