The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh. N. c., December 3.

Raleigh, N. c., December 3.
John F. Groom, OF Magnolia, writes
the agricultural department that he is
a dealer in commercial fertilizers and
that the commissioner Of his county.
Duplin, insist that he must pay the
merchants purchase a x on fertili-
gers. He insists that the tonnage tax
missioner OF agriculture did not pass on
the matter. but sent 1t to the %treasur-
er. together with section 2205 of The
Code, which says that whenever any
manufacturer Of fertilizers shall have
paid the tonnage tax his goods shall
not be liable to taxation by any city.
town or county. The treasurer refers
the case to the attorney general, who
says that under section % Of the reve-
nue. act of 1897 Groom is clerly liable;
that he is simply a buyer and seller
OF fertilizer. The treasurer does not
take the same view. No doubt Groom
will make up a case so the supreme
court can pass upon the matter. This
years sales of fertilizers in this state
exceed 81, 900, 900, SO the tax is quite an
item, OF course.
The agricultural department reports
that the sales Of fertilizers this au-
tumn are SO 1-3 per cent. greater thar
they were a year age.
Methodist minister's, who are here in
such great numbers, say they find the
people in the state bent upon having
| good government. The populists are
very Earnest about this matter, they
say.
Rains are again falling. The state
is badly behind on rain. Small grain
needs it. Cotton fields are being
ploughed up and put in wheat.
It is said that it was the purpose to-
| day to give away some more trees from
the capitol square to private individu-
| ais. But the board Of public buildings
and grounds has checked the move
ment. 30
The annual meeting of the directors
| Of the insane asylum here will be held
| next week.
This year not a company of the state
guard has been disbanded.
For Osborne Lambeth, the white
| tramp who murdered Engineer Bum
| gardner near Hendersonville, no less
than $500 reward is offered, 5000 being
| by Mrs. Bumgardner. 1t is believed that
| lIC l1OIuS1eI ID III 1IOE1S ASd1 lI1C
! scene of his crime.
The republicans are now saying that
next year they expect to nominate
congressman in each district in the
state. They think they can do with
out Dopulist help.
There is to be another hearing, of
Governor RusselPs side, in the North
Carolina railway lease matter this
month before Special Master Kerr
| Craige. The time for hearings ends
January 26th.
John C.. Dancy, colored, avs ne is
now sure of the appointment as col
lector at Wilmington.
"A snowy owl, 5 feet from tip to tip,
was received at the state museum to-
day. It was shot Tuesday during the
day in Hyde county. 1t is the second
ever killed in the state. 1t is a true
Arctic owl. Some times during the win
ter these owls make a flight as far
south as Long Island.
The ceremonies at the reinterment of
General Clingman's remains at Ashe-
vile will be imposing. There will be a
battalion Of troops, the Bingham
cadets, the confederate veterans and
the sons Of veterans. Revs. J. S.. Felix
and McNeely DuBose Officiate. w. II.
S. Burgwyn, Theodore F. Davidson
and ". S. Lusk will make memorial
addresses.
The first great Methodist eviva in
North Carolina occurred here in 1911,
during the first meeting of the Vir-
ginia conference here. 1t met in the
old capitol. At that time, and in fact
for many years later, there was no
North Carolina conference.
1t is said that the failure Of the
Piedmont bank at Morganton VIII be
a bad one.
During November the highest tenn
p%erature here was rs, the lowest 81 de-
grees; the mean being SO, Org degrees
above the average. The rainfall was
3.43 inches, an inch above the<average.|
The deficiency in rainfall this year is
16.7S inches.