A Year of Manufacturing and Rail Road Enterprises

The Enquirer of the 2d of January opened the new year with the expression of sanguine hopes for the future of Columbus, and a brief reference to some improvements then in progress. We copy the article, mainly to show the condition at that time of enterprises since completed, as we are still far from the realization of the anticipations of the paper:

      Our City-Its Prospects-Railroad-Capital-Manufactures, &c
At the commencement of the New Year we look at home and around us with lively hopes and expectations of the future.
      The Muscogee Railroad is now fairly on the progress of construction, not upon paper, but over ground. Suffice it to say, that the capital and energy now brought to this work can accomplish anything.
      Our Factory improvements are going up beyond our most sanguine expectations, and their success is equaling the most sanguine anticipations of those engaged in them. All that is wanting to make our city not only the Lowell of the South, but of the United States, is capital, and that is rapidly tending towards it.
      Col. Farish Carter, long and favorably known to the people of Georgia, not only as a large capitalist, but as a man of great caution and prudence, has now near completion one of the largest class of Factory buildings, and it is said intends immediately to erect another. In these it is his purpose to employ slave labor, thus diverting a portion of this from the production to the manufacture of our great staple. [Slaves were not employed in this Factory.]
      We learn with much pleasure that this is now his place of residence. A few more citizens of the same sort, and of similar means and confidence in the value of investments here, and we mean what we say, that more cotton can and will be manufactured at and near Columbus than at any other point in the Union.

The municipal election in January resulted in the choice of
Samuel W. Flournoy as Mayor,
and the following Aldermen:
W. Y. Barden and W. S. Holstead, 1st Ward;
Harvey Hall and J, A. Lee, 2d;
J. B. Brooks and T. K. Wynne, 3d;
P. A. Clayton and M. Woodruff, 4th;
L. C. Allen and F. A. Jepson, 5th;
F. M. Brooks and A. A. Dill, 6th.

R. H. Greene was elected City Treasurer;
C. Stratton, Clerk;
J. M. Hughes, Marshal;
George Gullen, Deputy Marshal.

Council, at its first meeting, elected:
David Gunn, Clerk of the Market;
Wm. W. Martin, Bridge keeper;
B. Ingram, Hospital keeper;
Jere Terry, Sexton;
R. D. S. Bell, City Attorney;
Joseph King, L. M. Durr, N. M. C. Robison, John Kyle, Joseph Kyle, Dr. J. J. Boswell, R. R. Goetchius, Wm. Mathewson, J. L. Morton, John Wooten, J. M. Tarbox and A. J. Abbott, Health Officers;
Josiah Morris, T. M. Hogan, L. S. Wright, Daniel McArthur and B. F. Malone, Port Wardens.

The contract system for crossing the bridge was continued to regular passers.

At its meeting on the 9th of January, Council elected John C. Ruse, Wm. K. Schley, V. H. Cady, J. B. Strupper, L. W. Wells and. B. F. Coleman, Fire Wardens. Dr. Thos. Hoxey was elected City Physician and President of the Board of Health.

An ordinance was passed in January, requiring the Mayor to hold a Mayor's Court on Tuesday of each week, and oftener if necessary, and authorizing him to inflict such fines and penalties upon offenders as he may deem just and proper, not exceeding the limits defined by law. The Mayor's salary to be $500 a year.

In February Council appropriated $1,000 to the Fire Department, for the purchase of a new fire engine, contingent on the raising of an equal amount by the citizens for the same purpose.

The Committee on Finance reported on the 13th of March: The city receipts from January 14th, 1848, to December 30th, were $25,086.39, and expenses $25,079.30, leaving a balance of $7.09. City owed about $35,000 exclusive of interest, the principal items of which are loan account to John G. Winter $16,000; debt to State $3,500, [collection suspended until 1850;] bonds issued for city bills $3,500; city bills outstanding $8,000. Of the $7,500 of railroad tax asked for by the Muscogee Railroad Company only $1,366.53 had been collected.

By a fire on the 17th of February, the large two-story building on the northwest corner of Broad and Randolph streets was burned. The building was occupied by Malone & Hudson as a wholesale dry goods and grocery store; by Mr. Simons as a provision store, and by Dr. Woodruff as an office.

Another fire occurred on the 3d of April. The stables of Messrs. Mustian & Mott, with a large quantity of feed for their stock, were destroyed. They saved their horses, stages, &c.

Robt. H. Greene having resigned the office of City Treasurer, Hezekiah Noble was in May elected to that position.

Council, on the 14th and 26th of May, adopted an ordinance authorizing the issue of bonds to the amount of $150,000, in discharge of the subscription of stock to the Muscogee Railroad Company.

Wiley Williams was in June elected an Alderman of the 5th Ward, vice Lewis C. Allen, resigned.

The "Columbus Factory" Company was incorporated this year, the location of the Factory to be three or four miles above Columbus, on the river. The leading corporators were Charles D. Stewart, J. Fontaine, J. R. Clapp, Henry D. Meigs and George Stewart.

Col. Winter's flouring mills were completed and commenced grinding this year, and a contract was made for the building of Temperance Hall. The corner stone of the latter was laid on the 22d of December. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance and Cadets took part. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. E. Dawson, of the Baptist Church. Judge G. E. Thomas delivered the address, and Rev. Dr. Carns, of the Episcopal Church, made the closing prayer. James Kivlin was chief marshal of the day. Capt. P. T. Sehley conducted the laying of the stone according to the rites and customs of the Masonic fraternity.

The Rock Island Mill, a short distance above the city, on the river, commenced making paper this year.

Authority was given by Council this year, to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbus, to build a church for the Negroes of that denomination on the east common. Opposition was made in Council, and an application by a property holder in that vicinity for an injunction to restrain it as a nuisance, was refused by the Superior Court. The location selected was opposite the south corner of St. Clair and Mercer streets.

In September, after the failure of a proposition that the city should do the work, authority was given to Messrs. Greenwood, Ruse, Patten & Brice, H. S. Smith & Co., and R. M. Gunby, to build a plank road from the warehouse of H. S. Smith & Co., to the city wharf, for the hauling of cotton, &c.

We cannot find a full report of the deaths in the city for the whole year. The Sexton's reports for the months named show the following interments: May, eight whites and three blacks; June and July, thirteen whites and nine blacks; August, ten whites and ten blacks; September, nine whites and three blacks; October, nine whites and two blacks.

The receipts of cotton to the 7th of May amounted to 66,738 bales. We cannot find any report for the balance of the season. Prices opened in January at 4� to 6 cents, which quotations were but little varied during the spring. In September the quotations were 8� to 9� cents, and in December 9 to 9� cents.

Incidents

The gin factory of E. T. Taylor was removed from Girard to Columbus.

The steamer Viola, Captain Van Vechten, sunk on her downward passage, at the head of Snake shoals, on February 16th. Cargo saved; boat, owned by commander, was a total loss.

February 22d was celebrated by the Columbus; and City Light Guards, the first commanded by Captain Forsyth and the last by Lieutenant Stanford, and the battalion by the senior Captain, A. H. Cooper. Splendid ball at Concert Hall at night.

Ex-President James K. Polk reached Columbus on March 15th. A large crowd accompanied him from General Lowe's residence, in Harris County. He was conveyed into the city in a carriage drawn by four horses, preceded by a band of music. His wife and nieces followed in a carriage drawn by four gray horses. At the Courthouse he was welcomed by Colonel Seaborn Jones, to which he briefly replied. After wards he was escorted to the residence of Judge Colquitt. Colonel Mangham, the proprietor, gave a big dinner at the Oglethorpe House with toasts and speeches. The ladies gave a supper in Council Chamber to Mrs. Polk and her nieces. Rain kept many away.

On Monday, May 28th, the steamboat Emily burst a boiler just as she was about leaving her wharf at Apalachicola--only two or three revolutions of her wheel had taken place. There was a full cargo and thirty-five persons on board. Wm. Magner, the watchman, and two Negroes were scalded to death, and a white boy named Clark and two Negroes were drowned. Several other persons were injured.

The first bale of new cotton was brought in on the 16th of August by Robert Laney, quality, good middling, brought ten cents; stored with Greenwood & Gray.

Master W. Park, aged 16 years, son of the late Dr. Ezekiel E. Park, of Alabama, was killed September 15th, by the accidental discharge of his gun, near Columbus.

Personal

Henry T. Hall was Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and B. J. Matthews Assistant. James D. Johnson was Secretary of Fire Company No. 1, and Richard Patten of Fire Company No. 2.

John Johnson, Lewis C. Allen, Wiley Williams, Asa Pond and Kenneth McKenzie were Trustees of the Asylum for the Poor.

Market stalls were rented this year to Mr. Schuyler, Philip Gittinger, Richard Robison, Wm. R. Jones, and J. D. Arnold, leaving several stalls unrented. The aggregate rents for those rented were $209 a year.

John Forsyth was Postmaster of Columbus the first part of this year and J. A. L. Lee for the balance of the year.

Wm. F. Serrell was City Surveyor. Miles G. Pope was jailor of the county.

The county elected as Justices of the Inferior Court, A. G. Foster, J. Wimberly, S. R. Andrews, J. M. Renfroe and T. A. Brannon. Tax Receiver, D. J. Reese. Tax Collector, H. J. Smith.

The following Magistrates were chosen: J. E. Webster and Col. John Quinn for the Lower Town District, with Brown and Ligon as Bailiffs, and J. J. McKendree and J. L. Howell for the Upper Town District, with Lloyd and Nix, Bailiffs.

John Forsyth, Esq., retired from the editorial control of the Columbus Times, and was succeeded by Gen. James N. Bethune. The former had been editor of the paper for seven years.

The Methodist Conference, at Augusta, assigned Lovick Pierce as Presiding Elder of the Columbus District, and Samuel Anthony to the pastorate of St. Luke Church, and Harry H. McQueen to the colored charge.

The grand jury of the May Term was composed of Kenneth McKenzie, foreman, John Mullins, S. J. Hatcher, John Jockmass, R. C. Shorter, LeGrand S. Wright, Peter Farrar, J. P. Illges, A. L. Grant, J. J. McKendree, Michael Woodruff, R. S. Stockton, J. H. Kirvin, G. A. Norris, A. M. Walker, P. A. Clayton, D. F. Willcox, R. P. Spencer. Charles J. Williams was Solicitor General, E. J. Hardin, Clerk, and R. B. Alexander, Judge.

The second panel of the Grand Jury of Muscogee County was composed of J. C. Cook, foreman, J. T. Niles, Ed. Birdsong, Benj. Jefferson, F. Toby, J. A. Urquhart, L. S. Wright, Aaron Fergurson, Van Leonard, Asa Pond, Theobold Howard, E. C. Bowen, W. J. Ridgill, Asa Lynch, Daniel McArthur, W. E. Jones, J. K. Redd, R. P. Spencer.

Marriages

January 3, Robert L. Dent and Elizabeth Williams.
Jan. 11, Hugh Peyton Robinson and Mary Emeline Garrett.
Jan. 11, Thomas Berge and Sarah Ray.
Jan. 18, James T. Flewellen, Esq. and Henrietta H. Fontaine.
Jan. 18, William Stephens and Sarah Ann Briley.
Jan. 25, Elisha P. Greer and Martha F. Baugh.
Jan. 25, William H. Long and Mary A. Faulkenbury.
Jan. 25, Lemuel A. Green and Mary E. Day.
Jan. 27, Felix M. Harris and Martha Dunn.
Jan. 28, William O. Nickleson and Martha E. Leggett.

February 4, Septamus W. Dalton and Maria N. Odom.
Feb. 5, Burton Bartwell and Harriet S. Peacock.
Feb. 6, James B. Wells and C. A. M. Adams.
Feb. 11, Loveless S. Ginn and Martha Elizabeth Henry.
Feb. 18, John Pettiss and Elizabeth Bius.
Feb. 28, James Vernoy and Mary E. Lawrence.

March 1, Robert B. Helmes and Louisa J. Parramore.
March 11, Henry Kent and Mary Ann Jones.
March 29, Hugh G. Ivey and Margaret E. Hinton.

April 4, Geo. W. Richardson and Lucy L. Wood.
April 10, Moses Land and Salina Huckaby.
April 17, Dr. Jos. Jones and Cornelia C. Bethune.

May 1, Thos. Schley and Eliza E. Greene.
May 8, John M. Whigham and Mary Ann S. Majors.
May 9, Alexander A. Lowther and Mary C. Shaaf.
May 10, John Williams and Nancy J. Glawn.
May 16, John W. Solomon and Elizabeth J. Covington.
May 20, Jeremiah Culpepper and Elizabeth Rowell.
May 23, Rhisa Jones and Lucinda Cobb.
May 27, Lemuel Cherry, Esq. and Emeline Gunn.
May 29, John J. Hickey and Ann S. Prince.
May 30, Francis M. Doles and Mary F. Jones.

June 6, James G. Bourt, Esq. and Lucy Ann Spear.
June 10, Daniel Fry and Clara Turner.
June 10, Stephen Bedsale and Harriet Averett.
June 11, Ezekiel Cooper and Matilda Graves.
June 15, Jesse W. Allen and Frances Odom.
June 16, Wm. H. Griswold and Caroline M. Andrews.
June 21. William Taylor and Tabitha McNaughton.
June 24, Francis Searls and Malvina Terry.

July 3, William Hally and Ann Wood.
July 15, Richard D. Sizemore and Mary M. Revel.
July 25, William T. Sparks and Jane Morman.
July 28, Phillip Jacobs and Mary Jordan.

August 5, Henry B. Treadwell and Martha Holmes.
Aug. 7, Enoch Dudley and Martha D. Harris.
Aug. 9, James M. Cobb and Susan I. Cobb.
Aug. 13, John A. Sutton and Rebecca Williams.
Aug. 22, Perry E. Wimberly and Martha E. Christmas.

Sept. 5, Henry Roan and Ann Worsham.
Sept. 31, William E. Adams and Elizabeth A. Everett.

October 9, Samuel H. Wiley and Sarah E. Carnes.
Oct. 18, Levi Smith and Mary Ann Spears.
Oct. 28, John Dees and Nancy Price.

November 8, George Hungerford and Cornelia F. Pond.
November 8, Dawson A. McRae and Lucy C. Turrentine.
November 8, James Boland and Elizabeth Culpepper.
Nov. 20, John H. Lee and Sophronia E. Walker.
Nov. 20, Thomas A. Gammell and Mary Odom.
Nov. 22, Thomas S. Hays and Margaret F. Robinson.
Nov. 27, Lewis S. Mitchell and Frances J. Daniel.
Nov. 28, John A. Johnston and Elizabeth A. Saul.
Nov. 29, Samuel A. Whigham and Sarah A. Lawson.
Nov. 29, Charles P. King and Susan Brown.

December 6, Bartlett W. Whitehurst and Nancy A. Ennis.
December 6, William N. King and Mary A. Covington.
December 6, Nehemiah Stephens and Eliza McCullers.
Dec. 7, Lemuel T. Downing and Caroline L. Urquhart.
Dec. 9, James J. Todd and Elizabeth Decker.
Dec. 12, John Culbertson and Elizabeth Simmons.
Dec. 12, Riley F. Ray and Frances P. Beler.
Dec. 16. William Shaw and Sarah V. C. Pope.
Dec. 16. William R. Searls and Sarah Scott.
Dec. 17, Daniel Griffin and Rebecca E. Monkey.
Dec. 20, Lafayette Harp and Callie King.
Dec. 24, David Henry and Sarah Williams.
Dec. 25, Hiram Uldrick and Matilda Green.
Dec. 26, Jacob Fussell and Mary J. Harrison.
Dec. 31, Charles Williams and Amanda Payne.

Deaths

February 4, Mrs. Frances E. Farrior, of Montgomery, Alabama.
April 30, Miss Martha Jane Cox, of Troup County.
May 21, Eva, infant daughter of Col. Hines Holt.
May 21, Hines, infant son of Col. Holt, also, on the same day,
June 16, Mrs. Mary A. E. Norton.
June 17, P. T. Schley, son of Dr. Wm. K. Schley of Columbus, killed by the explosion of a can of camphene, in Oxford, Ga.
July 2, Clara Rosalia, daughter of Wm. Perry.
July 8, William Salisbury, aged 46 years.
July 11, Mrs. Eloise, wife of Thos. B. Goulding.
July 14, John James Sullivan.
July 23, Anna Rosina, infant daughter of Jacob Fogle.
July24, William P. Malone, in the 48th year of his age.
August 13, Mrs. Clara Meigs, widow of Prof. Josiah Meigs.
October 11, D. B. Prescott, aged 35 years.
October 20, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown.
November 1, Gen. Nicholas Howard, in the 63rd year of his age.
Nov. 12, George W., son of Charles E. Mims.
Nov. 25, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Daniel, wife of Wm. Daniel.
Nov. 26, George W. Hardwick, one of the proprietors of the Enquire, in the 31st year of his age.