davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
PASSENGER RATES

The Missouri legislature is consider
ing a bill which provides for a rate of
2 cents per mile as the uniform charge
to be made by railroads for passenger
traffic in that State. -EGchGnge.
The Michigan legislature passed a
similar ret, and it was held by the Su-
preme Court of the United States OChi-
cago VS. Whitman and Budd VS.. New
York, 143 y. s. that when an act fix
ing rates is adopted by a legislature it
Is a finality and the reasonableness of
the rate a not be inquired into by the
courts as a. be done when the rate is
fixed by a Railroad Commission.
The last legislature might have given
us 2 cents as a maximum passenger
rate in this State. Our people are need
ing more reasonable rates as badly as
the people of Michigan, Missouri or the
other States which now have 2 cents
per mile fare. And our railroads are
the most profitable business in the
State except the manufactures which
enables them to pay their chief officials
salaries many fold that which North
Carolina is able to pay her Governor
and highest officers.
Indeed there we're young men in the
last legislature pledged and expected
to introduce and pass a bill giving our
people the blessing of a cents per mile
passenger rate, a matter which rested
solely in the power of the legislature.
But the railroads got hold of these
young men and it is said speedily con-
WINGED them that they could serve their
ambition better than by serving the
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
PURE F

If there is any real unselfshness in
America to day it is among the reform
editors. A good many are putting the
price of their papers down next to
nothing, They can't possibly make
money at such prices. We admire
their unselishness, but regret to see
such q display of want Of bushes:
ability. A paper cannot be infuen
tial for nothing. If business methods
are set aside ruin will come sooner o.
later. The merchant cannot afford to
sell goods at or less than cost. The
railroad cannot afford to haul passen
gers at less than cost. Nothing can
succeed that way. If a paper is worth
reading it is worth paying for. If you
want to be liberal give your paper:
away, but don't put the Subscription
price down SO low as to ruin your OWL
business and that of others publishing
papers. It is simply folly and vii
hurt the cause you represent INSTEAD
of helping it. Make an honest, living
price, but attempt nothing lower.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
THIS is MOULDY, MUSTY ROT,

A few days ago the Charlotte Oh
SeTUer said: "The Hatch bill is dead,
the English strike is ended and still
cotton goes down instead Of up. Why
Because Of the fact that Southern farm
ers are laying themselves out for an
other great big cotton crop, and all the
world knows it."
We know that thousands of people
believe such rot as the above. Fools
will believe anything, but men of sense,
like the editor of the Observer, ought to
quit talking such stuff. Weare opposed
to a big crop, opposed to the one crop
system, it is ruinous, but why not tell
the people the truth. Supply and de
mand does not govern the price of cot
ton. The English strike is over and the
supply of cotton is rapidly diminishing.
There is less in sight than at any time
in five years and there is a big demand,
yet with all this you say a big crop in
the future makes the price low now.
Just as well declare that an epidemic
of marriages foreshadow a great
many deaths next year, o. that the
price of meat has gone up because
somebody's old SOW is getting old and
may die next spring, II that will not
do, go to the store you buy your
groceries from and tell the proprietor
that John Longfellow Smith is going
to start a poultry farm in Arizona
within the nexttWo years and that you
think he ought to reduce the price of
eggs at once on that account. Your
grocer would think you are crazy, but
that is just the arguments you are
making about the cotton crop. The
next crop, which is not even planted,
should not have anything to do with
last years crop and should not affect
prices.
The Observer is the same paper that
recently declared that the plaid trust
did not reduce the price of cotton, MOI
the whiskey trust the price of whiskey,
but that the tobacco trust was a bloody
abomination, and should be wiped off
the face Of the earth because it reduced
the price Of tobacco. We judge from
that poetry that the tobacco trust is
composed of devils and the plaid and
whlskey trusts of angels. The farmers
ought to diversity, but there is no use
in apologizing for the rascals who keep
down the price of cotton by such fimsy
excuses.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

certainly thousands of panels OF
fencing. In Halifax and Warren
counties great fires burned over thou
sands of acres, burning out-houses,
fences and live stock. In Wake county
seven dwellings and barns were burned,
it is said. In Durham county Robert
Ellis lost $50 cords of wood. @. +.
Wilson 700 panels of fence, a barn and
80 cords of wood. Another started on
Emo river, in Orange county, and
burned over ten miles. Emo church
and Comptons' mill were burned.
Newton Wilkerson lost every building
and fence on his farm. w. R. Murray
had all his property burned, including
a dwelling that cost So, 500. Mrs. Frank
Warren had five barns and2, 500 pounds
of tobacco burned. Several tenant
houses on f. R. Warren's farm were
burned. B. H. Warren and Lewis
Clayton had nearly everything burned.
Near the Durham and Granville line
Cap. w. K. Parish lost an unOccupied
dwelling and other buildings; AleXan-
der Bowen, barn, cribs and other build,
ings; Lee Lunsford one or two build
ings; Haywood Roberts, colored, dwell
ing, barn, corn crib, tobacco barns and
contents. Another colored man lost
his barn. w. B. Hampton lost some
cord wood. Several parties lost out
houses near KNAPP of Reeds. John
Parker and Dolph Satterfield had all
their buildings burned. Greers church
in Orange or Durham county, was
burned. There were other fires through
out the State, but no particulars are
known. The wind was high on that
day and everything dry. It was a
fearful day. We extend sympathy to
all the sufferers.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
H WILSON CASE.

A few of the newspapers gave thu
report of the Wilson case with SOM
degree of truth, but the usual false
hoods have started on the rounds
Some Of the papers say she pIeat
guilty and judgment was suspended
Others say "he plead guilty and threw
himself upon the mercy of the court,
etc. Not a few claim that it wa;
equal to a confession Of guilt" and
many other fearful falsehoods are 20
ing the rounds. Others were loud in
in denunciation Of Mr.. Wilson a few
weeks ago and now they say lit is all
right, nobody wanted to see him pun
ished." Yet these same prevaricator
cried "crucify him, cruelty him" only
a short time ago.
Judge Brown himself stated in The
outset that it was not a plea of guilt
and, afterward repeated it in open
court. The PROGRESSIVE FARMER gave
the whole matter Uerbatim last week
and Judge Brown, Solicitor Pou nor
the counsel on either side can contra
dict any Of it. The prosecuting parties
are the ones that backed down and the
reason is obvious. Even the witnesses
for the State, such as Bell, Dunn, &
Co., were terribly anxious to have tht
case stopped. Mr.. Snow made thu
proposition to Wilson's attorneys and
the plea of nOIo cOntendere was agreed
upon the week before court. The So
licitor promised to stop the witnesses
keep them from appearing at thi
court so as to make the costs as lighta
possible. But Bell hadn't been fe
from the public crib long enough AM
so they all came and Bell drew his lit
tie $47.3O promptly when the cost
were paid. There are some black de
velopments of a sensational mature
back behind, yet. We are trying II
get at the bottom of it all and gu
readers may expect a treat before long
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
THEY LOVE OLD JOHN.

In a conspicuous place in the Bank
of England, the finest and richest bank
in the world, hangs a portrait of Sena
tor John Sherman, of Ohio, that cost
50, 900. That they love old John Sher
man is not strange. When silver was
demonetized in 1878, Sherman was
the ringleader. He is as smart as a
man can be and he worked the scheme
through so ingeniously that some mem
bers of the Senate and House did not
know it for a long time. The Bank of
England made millions out Of it and
the whole plutocracy of the Kingdom
profited more or less and the advan-
tage continues to this day. Is 1T any
wonder that a $50, 900 portrait hangs
conspicuouely? Is it remarkable that
Sherman is several times a millionaire
now, yet he started in public life with
out a cent, and has had no legitimate
income except his salary as United
States Senator, which does not support
his family in Washington. Yet Sher-
man is the idol of the Republican party
when in power. Today he is Cleve
lands idol and they make it a point
to agree on financial matters to a 7.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
WHY FARMING DON'T PAY.

We often give some of the reasons
who farming doesn't pay. Less than
two months ago we asked the legisla-
ture to prevail upon the banks and
cotton mills and beg them not to plant
such large dividends, but it was fruit
less Another instance has been re
ported showing that fal ming does pay,
but don't pay the farmer. Two years
ago large cotton mills were started at
Rocky Mount. The capital invested
was not quite 5000, 900. Last year thew
made a clear profit of $50, OOO-about
30 per cent. on the investment. The
stock of the mill is worth $40 now.
That is one of the reasons that farm
ing don't pay (the farmers) but does
pay other people handsomely. Yet
there are farmers who enjoy seeing
other people make 80 per cent. profit
while they can't make 2 per cent.
themselves and their families are in
poverty. Farmers, please wake up
and be men. Don't be blocks of wood,
as lifeless as an Egyptian mummy.
Educate yourselves and vote for your
own interests.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
MICHIGAN FURNITURE.

We have been impressed with the
fact that the Worlds Fair is a big show
for private gain. Yet we hope the
various States will derive benefit from
their exhibits. North Carolina will not
make an extravagant show of her
products, but they will attract more
attention from thoughtful people than
those of any other State, because they
will be so varied and many of them
rare,
1t is reported that $1,000 worth of
furniture, such as show cases, etc, is
beingmade at Grand Rapids, Michigan,
for showing our exhibit. Is it possible
that this work could not be done in
North Carolina9 We have the timber,
the mechanics, and, we believe we have
the factories to do any and all such
work. If not they ought to be here.
Our oak, walnut and other hard woods
are the equal of any, yet this quarter
sawed hand carved and polished" fur
niture must be made a thousand miles
away. Might as well go to Michigan
for the exhibits, also. True we have
no glass factories, but suppose the
glass could lave been bought elsewhere
for this occasion.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

people. Now, as in the days of Juda.
each man ''goes to his own place" >
Some may contend that our railroad.
cannot afford this reduction, which +,
about 35 per cent. But we conten5
that it can be done and still leave a fa,
profit on railroad investments. Reduco
the salaries paid and profits to some.
thing like that of other enterprises and
you will find that it can be done. Then
the railroad travel would be much in.
creased, doubtless, at least 35 per cent
There would not be SO many half filled
cars scooting over the country, and il
is about as easy to haul a train filled a.
only half full. Perhaps the railroads
could not fill our legislative halls with
their attorneys go easily, but that
doesn't matter. It may not be pleas.
ing news to railroad men, but the time
is near at hand when the uniform pas
senger rate in the United States will
not be over 3 cents per mile. Every.
thing points that way. 1t will and
must come, be it by government con.
troll or ownership, or private control
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
TAR DROPS.

The editor has received a temptin
batch of green goods circulars from
New York frm.-Gd8toni0 Gazette.
The trouble with the Senate commit
tee clerkships is that there aren't quit
enough Senator's sons to go around
NeWbern Journal.
An artificial dancing leg has bee
invented. With a couple of these O
a fellow can sail in and wear the mus
clans to a FRAGILE Wilmington StG'
1t was a sublime spectacle to see tb
editor receiving about a dozen Easte
eggs, in the back, as he walked dow
Main street yesterday.-DWrham GJ05i
1t would be a pleasure to get ] }
Harrell out of the State, but it wOuJ
be a pity for the State to furnish Undt
Sam with sucha DETERMINATIONS
Standard.
An electricalexper says that it wou1
be dangerous for a woman wearins
crinoline to cross electric car tracks
Charlotte Democrat. But they'll we1
'em Or bust.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

bors and don't get discouraged II you
fail at first. Keep pegging away and
rome them in. If money is too scarce
to get annual subscribers, take them
for six months. Write us a postal card
with names Of papers to be sent or for
a bundle to distribute yourself.
~ Mr.. J. L. Brown and Miss Nola
Deal, daughter of Mr.. J. M. Deal, of
Dealville, Alexander county, were
secretly married in December last and
the news only leaked out a few days
ago. We hope they made a happy
Deal.
~ You have heard much about Eek
travagant pensions, but just wait I'M,
til the citizens who are now in Wash
ington trying to get office begin to draw
pensions for injuries sustained while
trying to get into the service of the
country.
The new administration has put
its foot down on people drawing pen
sions for badness, but will substitute
all those who have been injured while
singing Annie Rooney" and the over
production of pensioners will grow
right along.
~ There is one thing we want to
know. Did the members of the legis,
lature who jumped their board bills
when they left Raleigh have anything
to do with repeating the Alliance char
ter? This is an important matter and
must be settled in the near future.
* We suppose John J. Ingalls,
great prosperity" is still stalking over
Kansas. The last issue of the Kansas
CommOner, published at Wichita, con
tanned nearly % columns of town and
Ecountry property advertised to be sold
for taxes. This is all in one county.
~ And they say exP President Har-
rison has a brother who is a Democrat
and this brother is an applicant for
Office under the present administra.
ton. Why, of course; it is no trouble
for some people to be a Democrat or q
Republican or anything else. Ben him
self would have been a Democrat, but
it paid him to be a Republican, so he
just rested ''ai8y." He will change
when it becomes profitable to 90 so.
~ The 2x4 politicians tried, through
the legislature, to ruin the Alliance,
but their efforts have recoiled upon
them. Then they tried to get Bro. S.
Ohio Wilson into trouble and the court
had to crawl out of the game on It's
hands and knees, SO to speak. The
! Solicitor claims that he didn't wish the
case in court, but the politicians would
have it that way. The witnesses looked
ten times worse than the defendant be-
fore the case was disposed of. How.
ever, J. S. Bell drew $47.3 80 as witness
fees and mileage, and we suppose that
is sufficient to reward him for his cam
paign work last year. Wonder what
game the politicians will spring next.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
THE DAMAGE BY FIRE.

Last Saturday a week ago fires &C.
Cured all over the country. The town
of GAINESVILLE, Va, and Florence, s..
c., were literally destroyed. In our
own State there were many forest fires,
though no serious damage was done
in the towns or cities. Particulars
were not received in time for last issue,
but are given briefly now.
Between Dunn and Fayetteville
Antioch Baptist Church and some small
houses were burned, also much timber.
In the long-leaf pine district of Moore
county thousands of acres Of turpen-
tine orchards were burned. One man
lost 2, 900 acres of trees. At West End
three stores with goods and other build
ings were burned, including the post
Office, also 1000 barrels of rosin.
Twelve turpentine distilleries were re
ported burned in that section. The
rails on the Aberdeen and West End
Railroad were so warped by heat that
trains could not run. There were sew
eral fires in Chatham county. A small
dwelling and barn were burned, and
much fencing and timber. Near Gum
Swamp, on the Carolina Central, two
section houses and contents were de-
stroyed and a great deal Of timber.
The Jonesboro Journal says a forest
fire burned for twenty miles in that
section. 1t is thought that many
dwellings and barnes were destroyed,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
n. &. ?. 4.
EDITORIAL NOTES,

Women of the World" by
AIethe L. Craig, Annapolis, Nd, is a
neat book just out. 1t will be very in
teresting to the ladies.
~ We want some brother to present
the claims of THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER
in every county meeting this week.
Who will DO this? Don't all speak at
once.
~ Mr.. John R. Miller, editor of the
Living Issue, and Miss Vallie Leach,
of Townsville, were married a few
days ago. We wish them much hap
piness.
~ If our North Carolina patrons
have relatives in other States, they
could not do a better thing than to
subscribe for and send THE PROGRESS
sIvE FARMER to them. Try it.
~ Go to your county meeting this
week. You cannot do a better thing.
Don't say 81 am too busy" for you are
never "too busy" to look after your
own welfare. Let everybody turn out.
~ We want each County Alliance
to be Sure and select the Secretary or
some one who will be certain to send
brief reports of all the county meet
ings. Don't fail to do this.
~ The population of North Caro-
lima before the last election was ABOUT
1000, 600. 1t has dwindled down now
to less than a million-over 700, 900 be-
ing in Washington looking for a job.
~ When our friends come to the
city they will always find the latch
string hanging outside. Come in and
see us and get some reform exchanges,
read them and hand to your neighbors.
Don't forget this.
~ If you are in doubt about the
first best thing to do for reform, go to
work and get all your neighbors to
subscribe for THE PROGRESSIVE
FARMER. Every number is an ency-
clopaedia in itself.
"Potash in Agriculture, Results
Obtained in the United States, is the
title of a neat book by DR.. B. Won Herr,
90 SO Nassau street, New York. It is
of special interest to truck and fruit
growers. Price 10 cents.
~ Cleveland stock has ''slumped."
Before the election he was 1.-The biggest
man in America" had more sense
than the whole party put together"
But the stock has gone from par down
to about 45 and continues to slump"
We always want to hear from
correspondents when they feel that
they ian write anything Of interest
and value. Please write pointedIy
and briefly. We have many CORE
spondents and they all want a hearing.
~ The Southern ToiIer, of Nashville,
Tenn, has changed hands. C~arrigan
& Taylor retire and Hon. T. J. Ogilvie
and Mr.. E. L. Wood assume control.
It will be a reform paper, and we hope
a good one, as it has been in days
gone by.
Now is the time for people to
read. There is no campaign on and
peonle are III a proper state Of mind to
learn facts and retain reason. Let all
our friends go to work earnestly to put
THE liz c. EssIvE FARMER in every
homo in cLc .a.d. See all your neigh
~
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
THE ALLIANCE GETTING THERE

Judging from the many letters re
ceived from various parts of this State
and the cheering news they contain,
the Alliance is taking on new life in
most sections. New members are be-
ing added in some Alliances, and old
ones are getting over their pou5s.
There is a gradual reaction of interest
all along the line. This, too, without
regard to party name.
Many of our exchanges indicate the
same spirit throughout other States.
Now is the time for true reformers to
work. Let every reform paper and
every speaker devote their time and
attention to the best and greatest of
all reform educational institutions. It
is far above any party. The influence
of the Alliance, it's educational and
fraternal features, are paramount to
any party influence and absolutely
necessary to secure political reform.
Let all the papers and speakers con
ciliate disaffected members, encourage
GuS tIu opp1duu UAG A6dIOuS
ones. All real reformers must come
together, consult together and vote to-
gether. A great number of orders
cannot do much, but some kind of a
consolidation ought to be effected, and
the Alliance is all that is needed, the
best that has been devised. Let even
those who are not members encourage
those who are, and if eligible, let them
join. Get everybody you can to read
Alliance papers. Work to perfect the
organization and add more good fea-
lures. You need not expect all mem
bers of the Alliance to do right or to
vote right. All church members will
not go to Heaven. But that need not
interfere with the organization or in
any way impede its progress.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11
BUT SHE M SLOW.

The people must not become impa-
tient. 1t will do no good to fret and
fume your life away. The Democ1a attic
party has promised relief and we be-
lieve a very good start has been made.
BE slow to anger" said St. Paul or
somebody. Then be slow to criticize
the President or the party, for the re-
lief will come, we fully believe.
In proof of this we claim that some
relief has already been given. Old man
Gresham was the first man relieved.
He has been smiling ever since. That
shows that there will be no discrimina-
ton, for he is a Republican. Then
Carlisle was relieved. He has been so
overjoyed that he gets drunk every
day since the relief came. Then
Olney, Bissell, Morton, Bayard and
several others were relieved. About
that time there was a cry of hard times
in the South and the President prompt
ly relieved Hoke Smith and said,
charge it up to the credit of the party
and keep the change, we are pledged
to do all these things" AS soon as
Hoke got relieved Joe Daniels went to
Washington and told him things were
in a bad shape in North Carolina and
Hoke said: us that so? By gosh, we
must do something for your people
since the old North State is bad off
financially" Then he relieved Joe
Daniels. Since that several other men
have got relief. John P. Kerr is post.
master at Asheville, T. J. Allison is U.
S. Marshal for the Western District,
and the President says he will be jack.
snapped if Major Bill Robbins shan't be
relieved before the dance is over. The
same thing is going on all over the
country. Talk about REFORM" IRE
lief" Why, gentlemen, it is coming
every day. At least "a, 900 people will
get financial relief in the next four
years. You may depend on that
There will be probably 81, 900, O0O PEG
pie who will get no relief, but that is 6
small matter. Be patient.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

Q. W. Boshamar has been appoints
postmaster at S~tatesviIle.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

In writing to anybody, always be
sure to give the name OF your postohce,
and sign your own name plainly.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

F- The date on your label tells you
when your time is out.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

Do YOU want your paper changed to
another office? State the one at which
you have been getting II.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

w- Our friends in writing to any Of
mr. advertisers will favor us by men
tioning the fact that they saw the
advertisement in THE Progressive
FARMER.