in the Marion Commonwealth April 11, 1872
Selma, Marion & Memphis R R
General Forrest is rapidly pushing forward the work on his road in Mississippi, The legislature of that State has admitted him to the benefits of her subsidy laws and sold to him her interest in several hundred thousand acres of land, while the towns and counties along the line of the road in that State are coming forward with their liberal subscriptions. His financial agent has negotiated four millions of the first mortgage bonds. Hundreds of hands are vigorously at work and the early completion of the road is now beyond peradventure. The old five feet guage will remain. This is encouraging, and no one but the indomitable Forrest could have conquered so many difficulties.
Perry Ku Klux!
State Line Destroyed – Citizens of Perry County brought to Montgomery for trial before Judge Buford. On yesterday quite a large number of the citizens of Perry county were in our city, for reasons that will bring a blush to the cheek of every Alabamian who remembers the liberties every citizen of a State once enjoyed. From the best information we can gather, some time during the fall of 1871, a low character by the name of Bagwell was, as he testifies, taken out and whipped by Thomas Gay, Joseph Gay, Boe Miller, (unknown name), Allbert Ware, and Fel Hopkins. Bagwell appeared before the grand jury of Dallas county, which found a true bill against the parties, some of whom as soon as they learned the latest, came forward and gave themselves up to the Sheriff of Dallas. The case was called at the present term of that Court and continued by the State. The defendants had not come out of the Court House before they were arrested by a U.S. Marshal, who took a bond of (illegible) each for their appearance yesterday in Montgomery. Col. Read said the events referred to by Judge Buford were greatly exaggerated and that many of the best citizens of Perry county were on record, to testify as to the high character and worth of the prisoners, that the latter were away from home and their friends, and that he thought the end of justice could be bought by requiring a (illegible) bond.
A Sensible Letter Uniontown – March 5th, 1872
Mr. Editor: I am a resident of Perry county, and feeling the interest that a citizen should feel in the same, and never hearing any county news except through the Selma papers, and that being only a very little, I wish to know the subscription price of your paper per year. I want to be a subscriber and to know what is going on in my own county ; and I see no way whatever but that I should have your paper to give such information. Every resident of Perry county should subscribe. Write me word so that I may have my name on your list. Yours truly, W.L. Pitts
A Fire Company
Every body with whom we have conversed, favors a fire company, and all agree that the necessary funds should be raised by taxation rather than by private subscription. We have gleaned all the information possible bearing on the costs, etc., of such an undertaking. We are very reliably informed that a hard engine, capable of throwing a large stream of water several hundred feet, can be purchased at a greatly reduced price, not more than $1,500 or $1,800. Two cisterns holding 3,000 or 4,000 gallons of water can be dug for $500 each, and the whole apparatus, will cost not more than three thousand dollars at the outside figures. One cistern on the north-west corner of the Court House square and another on the vacant or burnt square, just in the rear of Mr. Alf. Lawson’s store, will furnish water sufficient to extinguish a fire in any part of the business portion of town. These cisterns can be made to catch all the water that falls on the Court House and the adjacent stores during the year. But suppose the…
The Supper
The ladies of the Presbyterian Church on last Friday night gave a supper in the Town Hall for the benefit of the Confederate orphans at Tuskegee, Ala., and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the receipts show that the popular heart beats in sympathy with the noble cause in which our noble women are engaged. The supper was gotten up in that elegant and refined taste that marks everything to which the ladies of Marion lend their hands. The table was spread in rich profusion with everything the heart could wish, and ornamented with flowers and evergreens, till the whole looked like the work of enchantment. The guests did ample justice to the repast, and with music and “sweet converse” the evening passed away like a lovely dream that brightens the darkness of the night and chastens and purifies the waking thoughts. May God bless and protect the dear little orphans.
Col. J.T. Murfee
One of the most practical, accomplished, and successful instructors of youth in Alabama, and a teacher of great experience, now at the head of a large and flourishing male school, in a private letter to the editor of this paper thus refers to Col. Murfee’s system of school government: “His views on the subject accord so well with my own (unknown word) that they strike me with a great deal of force. Col. Murfee is right in having a school government a strong government. Indeed, nothing short of an absolute monarchy will do.” Col. Murfee sways the most absolute authority over the Howard corps but his power, while it is exercised with unyielding firmness and decision, is so tempered with kindness and consideration, that all yield unquestioning and cheerful obedience. The result is that he can get all out of a boy that is in him in the way of study, while the clock on the chapel above moves not with greater regularity.
