The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-06
RAILROAD TAXATION.
COMPARISON OF FIGURES IN THIS
STATE AND VIRGINIA.

Death Of an Iomsts OF soldisrs' Hsms.
Baptist Female University 60 Ope. TAis
Fan-Arrested for Threviag sssoss as
Excursion Train-Electric Railway %
Seven sPrings-GeorEs vandsrSils Bsys
More Land.
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel.
Raleigh, N. c., August 4.
Much has been said recently as TO the
taxation of railway property In Vir-
ginia and North Carolina The follow
ing are the facts as to to such taxation.
The total value of railways in Virginia
including property outside OF right-of-
way, as we'll as street cars, assessed
for taxation, is $53, ,3S9, $40. That in
North Carolina, not including street
way. is 100000 The gross earnsings
in Virginia are $50, ,oOO, 900: in North
Carolian So, SAG, 600. The net earnings in
Virginia are s12. Isl, 600; in North Caro-
lima $3,257 900. So the taxation in Vir-
ginia, instead Of being one and a half
times greater than in North Carolina,
should have been in round numbers
four times as much. Governor Russell
says railway property should be listed
for taxation at sum upon which il
pays per cent upon net earnings. By
this Virginia would have a valuation
of $500, ,0O0, 900, and North Carolina $780,
100000. Virginia, besides pays 1 per
cent. on net income, deducting inter-
est on funded debt, and taxes, and this
amounts to only $3, 900. With a similar
tax North Carolina could collect moth
ing save a small sum from the Atlantic
Coast Line.
the superintendent of public instruc-
ton, in a circular today to county su-
pervisors, advises them to have the
school census taken during November,
accurately by the old township lines,
so as to get the report ready by the
first Monday in January. The appOr-
tionment will be made strictly by this
census.
1t is stated that an attempt Is being
made to organize a stock company to
buy all the agricultural papers in the
state.
Bids for constructing the $1,000 hos
pital at the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal college here will be asked for next
week. Better heating apparatus will
be put in the domitories.
At the soldiers home last night an
inmate named Baird died. He was
from Person county, was an educated
man and had a wife and daughter in
Florida.
The Baptist female university here
will open next autumn and with over
800 students. There is great satisfac-
toin among the denomination as this
admirable beginning which is in sight.
Night before last as an excursion
train was leaving here on it's return to
Lexington, negro hoOdlums threw q
volley Of stones and smashed the win
dows. This is a penitentiary offence.
Late last night a detective got two of
the stone-throwers and they are in
Jail.
The cotton stalks are not as large as
they have been for several years, but
they are in better shape and better
fruited The weather is little dry
just now, but is doing no damage. Cot
ton is developing for all it is worth. A
magnificent crop is assured.
There is general commendatiOn of
Governor RuSselPs pror.lptness in call
ing a special term Of court to try
George Brodie at Henderson. The
management of this affair has been ex-
cellent.
There is talk of an electric road from
Goldsboro to Seven Springs, thirteen
miles, and ST., 900 has been subscribed.
A populist magistrate in Mecklenburg
county applied to the commissioners
to admit lis aged mother to the coun-
ty home. The request was not granted.
The Cublicans who raised a great
clamC. 1T the least hint that the dem
ocrats did not intend to obey the civil
service law, are now wild in their ef-
forts to evade it and are demanding
that all democrats in office be dis
missed. In the western part of the
state this amounts almost to q mania
George Vanderbilt, who already
owned over loo, 600 acres of land in the
Blue Ridge country, has purchased
1000 acres more at the head waters Of
the Swannanoa river. 1t is magnifl-
Gently timbered. He will cut the ''ripe''
timber and send it to his saw mill at
Biltmore. He is the largest individual
land-hOlder in the state. His entire
property is being made an object les
son.
The capital stock of the Coleman cot
ton mill at Concord is increased to
100000.
Ed. B. Barbee, a we'll known busi-
ness man here, returned today from a
European tour.
The trustees Of the institution for
deaf mutes and blind express great re-
gret at the resignation Of A. w.
Pegues, superintendent Of the colored
department. 1t is said an effort will
be made to elect Frank Debnam-
Editor Bailey, of The Baptist Record
er. who is one of the leaders in the
movement forth special tax in aid Of
public schools said today: The plan
of our committee has all the while been
to try to carry 100 townships. The
propect is we will carry a majority
of that number. We have advices
which show we will carry townships
in Person, Granville Wake, Northamp-
ton. Richmond. Guiiford, Alamance,
Wayne, Surry, Stokes, Yadkin, IredeIl.
Mecklenburg, Swain, Buncombe. Mad
ison and Davie. We sent out the last
of our literature today"
The state superintendent of public
instruction. wrote a sharp letter today
to certain-populists and republicans
who are ek1nk for purely political
reasons, to oust Mr.. Askew. the su-
pervisor of sBertie county. The super
intendent ys: mere Is nothing but
politics in OPT osftion to him"