Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05
SUPREME COURT.


Morganton to Cranberry began last We'd
nesday, aud is being rapidly prosecuted.
The survey from Shelby to Morganton IS
completed. The line of road is known
as the Southern and Western Air Line
The Episcopal convOcation of Char
lotte meets at Winston next Tuesday.
There are twenty-slx counties III TINS
cOnvocation.
Walter BristOw, o one-armed man,
who this week at Palmyra, Halifax coun-
tv. killed j. II. Hewitt, has been ac-
quilted upon the plain proof that 1t was
justihable homicide.
THE OYSTER SURVEY.
Lieutenant Franscis Winslow, United
States navy, who is conducting the
oyster survey in the northeastern waters,
has made a full report of the work done
in 1887. The cost to the State was only
81 ,49l, OF which 1912 was for the maps
Autographed. The survey costs, there
fore, only about 300 per month. About
800 miles of coast line have been ex-
amined. The outlines of the oyster
beds are so irregular that areas have not
been calculated save those of the public
grounds laid off in Dare, Hyde, and Car
teret counties for the shellfsh commits
sioners. aggregating l6,490 acres The
work is now in progress IN Pamhco
sound, and will probably be completed
by May LIST, though of course much de-
ponds upon favorable weather. 1t Is
the opinion of Lieutenant WinslOw that
when the Pamlico sound work is COM
pleted it should be continued IN Roanoke
sound and in the sounds between New
river and the mouth of the Cape
Fear river. Not only are the oyster-beds
defined, but the main body of the
sounds is subjected to careful study and
examination as far as possible. Lieu
tenant Winslow' work merits high praise.
1t is a source of special qualification to
Governor Scales, who well appreciates its
importance and value to the State.
Lieutenant Winslow, in the persons Of
Messrs. J. G. Drake, United States navy !;
John d. Battle, J. w. Stearnes, l.. Q.
Robinson, and w. +. Hill, has very
competent assistants in his work.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, &C.
The coming week the work Of tearing
down all the portion Of the old ex-
position building which was given the
Agricultural and Mechanical College will
be completed The great building is
now most unsghtly. The portion pre-
served is very large. It's ends are open
and will have to be closed, and about
three fourths of it will have to be covered
with tin. At a cost Of about 81, 600 this
will be done, and the State will then
have permanent exhibition hall inside
the fairgrounds, adjoining the expert
ment farm, and in O few hundred yards
of the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege and the city park. The greater part
Of the timber taken from the exposition
building is piled at the college site and
is seryiceable. The exposition hall was
put up in the early months of 1884. In
the part of the building left there is
really space for an exposition. The
State has an exhibit which occupies
much space in it. The exhibit is OF
course greatly exposed, and the Com
missioner of Agriculture SAYS the pro-
perty has been stolen or damaged in
some cases. Some beautiful specimens
of marble have been broken by evil-dis-
posed people and some property carried
Off Water has leaked in and done con-
siderable damage.
THE STATE EXPERIMENT FARM,
At the experiment farm nothing has
been done this season in the way OF
planting. A large two-story barn is in
course of construction. IL also is built
of timber from the exposition hall.
Work at the farm will hardly be resumed
until after the next meeting of the State
Board of Agriculture. BY that time the
President will no doubt have signed the
bill which makes the Hatch law opera
tive. Every thing can then be put on q
good footing. The farm will be ope-
rated in connection with the Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical College. The loca-
tons are very convenient for this. Work
on the college will be pushed with the
utmost rapidity. The funds in hand
this year will be rather larger than were
hoped for.
There is some improvement in the con-
dition Of DR.. +. 7. Fuller assistant ply
sioian at the insane asylum here, but il
is not very encouraging. He has heart
trouble. For third OF century be has
done thorough work at this asylum. He
Is now on leave for rest. 1t is hardly
probable that be will ever be able to
again assume the duties Of his position.
His loss will be deplored.
Efforts are to be made to secure the
improvement of Tar river and Fishing
creek so as TO enable light. draught boats
to so to point near Enfield. Much at
iention is being paid TO the improvement
and development Of the waterways In
the eastern counties.
CRURLrY TO ANIMALS.
Though there Is State Law against
cruelty to animals, and though some
spasmodic efforts TO organize societies in
the interest Of that good work have been
made, yet little or nothing has been
done. Beasts OF burden are very shame
fully treated, particularly by negroes In
many cases, and people OF tender hearts
and thoughtfulness are often sorely
grieved to see how poor brnles are mis-.
used. At Wilmington something 10 at
last being done in the direction OF carry
ing out the law. Other places ought 10