By Act of 1882 (17 Stat., 944) Section 3 of the Act of 1855 was repealed, provided said repealed section should be revived if the city of Columbia should fail to supply to the buildings named in the Act of 1855 on the terms stated that is to say, supply water "to the colleges and all buildings connected therewith, the State House, Lunatic Asylum, Penitentiary, and other public buildings of the State within the city of Columbia," upon the State paying therefor $1,000 annually. By this Act the State reserved the right to rescind the agreement above set forth, and to cease and determine these annual payments, with the proviso that the State might pay $15,000 in lieu of such annual payments, which payment shall entitle the State to the free use of water for the public institutions thereof.

Subsequent to the passage of these Acts the waterworks plant was enlarged and a new and larger reservoir, or distributing basin, was erected.

It seems, however, that prior to 1855 the water supply of the city was mainly for fire protection and industrial institutions, and not generally used by families for drinking, household, yard and garden purposes, sunken wells being relied on mainly for water supply; and there was then no pipe sewerage system. Thus the South Carolina College had two hydrants and two wells on its campus. At that time the college had fewer students and professors than now, the Asylum fewer inmates and buildings. and a smaller area, though the Arsenal Academy, destroyed in 1865, was then located here. However, at the close of the war the old works were of limited capacity, and nothing whatever now remains of the old waterworks of 1865, not even the underground pipes. The entire present plant has been constructed since 1865, and, indeed, since 1882, with the addition of a complete sewerage plant, by the city itself without any aid from the State by grants, loans, or otherwise, except that the State has since then made annual payments for the water used, as is hereinafter stated.

This Act of 1882 did not profess to repeal provisions in the Act of 1856 similar to those in the Act of 1855, but has ever since treated it as nonbinding, properly regarding it as repealed by Section 4 of the Act of 1882, which repealed all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent therewith.

Pursuant to this last named Act of 1882, $1,000 was appropriated annually in the general appropriation Acts for six years, 1882-1887, inclusive; in 1888 and 1889 $2,000 was paid; $1,000 in 1890, 1891 and 1892; $2,000 from 1893 to 1907, both inclusive; $5,000 in 1908;

$6,000 (including sewerage pipes) in 1909; $6,000 in 1910; and $7,500 in 1911 and 1912.

Meantime the supply and use of water had largely increased. By a loan of $75,000 at one time and $400,000 at another, and with other large sums derived from its ordinary revenues, none of which came from the State, the city in 1901 installed a complete sewerage system by laying pipes throughout the city, and in 1906 constructed an entirely new, complete and up-to-date waterworks plant at a different location, which took the place of the older and smaller plant. By reason of the destruction by fire of the city offices in 1899 accurate statistics cannot be had, but the supply of water in 1882 is estimated to have averaged about 500,000 gallons per day, while in 1911 it averaged 4,000,000 gallons per day, and will be about four and a half millions in 1912.

The water used in Columbia is measured by standard meters, with a minimum charge for each meter, and price reduced per thousand gallons when large quantities are used at the several meters. The following table shows the quantity used by the largest consumers in Columbia in the year 1911, the number of gallons used being the number of cubic feet multiplied by 72, the amount received from the State being only the $7,500 appropriated therefor by the Legislature, and the varying rates for other consumers resulting from the varying number of locations, and, therefore, the number of meters:

Our information is that in the capital cities of Nashville, Tenn., Richmond, Va., Raleigh, N. C., and Atlanta, Ga., the charge against the State is the same as is made against private individuals.

As to cost: The financial statement of the Waterworks Department of the city of Columbia for the year 1911, as published in the City's Annual published this year, shows the following:

This statement allows nothing for depreciation, and the amount laid aside for sinking fund does not amount annually to 1 per cent. of the cost.

In view of these facts, that all donations of the past to the city of Columbia for its waterworks were for a plant and system which served its day and has gone entirely out of existence; that the conditions attached to those donations have been by express repealed and by many successive years of legislation treated as no longer binding upon the city, and it is fair and proper that a reasonable amount should be paid on a fixed basis for water so used in future, we respectfully recommend, that until otherwise ordered by the Legislature, the city of Columbia be paid a flat rate of eight cents per thousand gallons (which is a lower rate than is charged to or paid by any other consumer in the city) for the gross amount of water used by the State for its several buildings, to be ascertained and measured by approved standard meters less (less by special request of the city) so much as is used for the State House building and the State House Grounds; and that the Comptroller General be authorized to draw his warrant quarterly and the State Treasurer to pay, for the water so used at the said rate, out of a sufficient sum to be annually appropriated for that purpose. ALAN JOHNSTONE,

Member from the Senate.
LOWNDES J. BROWNING,

Member from the House of Representatives.
ROBT. W. SHAND,

December 11, 1912.

Member from the City of Columbia.

Commission of Water Supply.

COMMUNICATIONS.

The Senate received the following communication, which was received as information:

Columbia, S. C., January 17, 1913.

Hon. C. A. Smith, Lieutenant Governor:

Dear Sir: I have the honor to present you the Annual Report of the Chief Game Warden, for the year ending December 31, 1912, which the law requires to be made to the Governor and General Assembly.

I beg that you will lay the same before the Senate for their consideration.

With due respect, I am,

Faithfully yours,

JAMES HENRY RICE, JR.,
Chief Game Warden.

CHIEF GAME WARDEN'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1912.

GAME CONDITIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Without means to give general enforcement of law, the Chief Game Warden has of necessity confined attention to spreading abroad information as to birds, animals, insects and fish, as would lead to proper appreciation of these bounties of nature, or enemies of man, as the case may be.

Aroused by such information thousand of farmers have taken measures to protect birds and game on their own places. While such protection is partial by its nature, nevertheless, great good has been done. From reports received from every part of the State, it appears that small game has increased, notably, partridges. From the same cause nongame birds have received better protection, and are holding their own.

Within protected areas, on large plantations or on the extensive game preserves, owned or controlled by hunting clubs, there has been marked increase in deer and wild turkeys.

It is a common sense conclusion that similar protection over the entire State would lead to equally gratifying results.

EDUCATION.

The people of the State have received continuous education in the value of birds for six years past. They are better prepared for

legislation than the people of any State has yet been in the South. Moreover, there is a widespread demand for action that will protect game and fish, and that will protect the farmers against loss from insect ravages.

FISH HATCHERY.

The United States government, through its Bureau of Fisheries, has taken steps to establish a fish hatchery at Orangeburg, where fish will be propagated for planting in the streams of the State. In order to reap a benefit from this establishment it will be necessary for the State to take steps to protect the fry and fingerlings when introduced into the streams.

There seems to be no division of sentiment as to the necessity for this protection, and the people who live along the rivers have an acute interest in the subject.

Stocking streams with fish will require only a few years, provided there is adequate protection, and such protection is comparatively easy.

THE INSECT INVASION.

With proper facilities for getting out a report, the Chief Game Warden would be glad to show in detail the losses to crops in the State from insect pests. Such a publication is of the highest public importance, for the tax levied on the people is a serious one, and they should be put in possession of all possible information to enable them to combat insects successfully. As it is, merely an outline can be given.

Mr. E. A. McGregor, U. S. Field Agent, in charge of the "red spider" investigation, reports the greatest damage ever known from this mite.

The pine bark beetle, which created such havoc among the pine forests and wood lots of the up-country, has now spread eastward and sporadic outbreaks have occurred in the State's commercial timber belt, where immense damage will be done unless prompt measures are taken to suppress the insect.

The grass caterpillar, generally called the "army worn," has destroyed a great portion of the late corn crop throughout the State, done great damage to hay and pea vines, and in some instances caused a total loss. The damage from this source, even if conservatively estimated, would run into the millions of dollars.