The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-10


Senator TilImsn in nDemand--Some Pecu-
1iarities of Tax Returns.
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raleigh, y. c., August z.
Governor Russell receives some rich,
rare and racy letters. One is from a
man in a piedmont county saying he
has a large family and needs money
and asking for a permit to ''stilr'
whiskey. Another is from a man who
says he had a whiskey distillery in a
was SO near a saw mill that he was
driven away. He wants to know il he
can move his still into the canal"
Another man, a Garkey, tells OF a
church fuss" and says Brother John
son tells ii that he has a permit from
you to rule this church and we want
to know if that is So" A German, evil
IDENTIFY new to the United States, wrote:
Me life is in danger. Wen will you be
down NIT der milishy?''
The Atlantic Coast Line will build
nine miles of railway in Robeson coun-
ty and the penitentiary authorities
have taken contract to do the grad
ing. 1t will put 100 convicts on this
work as soon as they finish the three
miles near Wilmington to connect the
Atlantic Coast Line with its new line,
the Wilmington and New Bern. Forty
convicts to go to Seven Springs to do
some special work.
Fine rains have fallen over a wide
area of the state. In the extreme east
they came just in time to save the
crops Any fears of drought are now
relieved. The weather is cooler than
at any time since June.
Senator Tillman appears to be in de-
mand in certain sections of North Car
Olina. He speaks at Mocksville on the
18th instant. The republican organ
denounces him in bitter terms.
Mr.. Johnson, member OF the lower
house of the legislature from Samp-
son county, is here and says the huck-
leberry crop in that county ,Bladen and
Duplin is almost a total failure. This
means heavy loss to the people. as it
is said those counties produce more
huckleberries than any others in the
country.
Auditor Cole finds that Clerk J. III.
Milan, Of the Seaboard Air Line, at
Charlotte, has embezzled 81 200 of the
company'S funds and committed for
gerry in an effort to hide his crime. He
has fled and it is said has gone to the
KlOndyke country. His bond covers
his shortage.
Senator Buffers paper says i'm re-
ferring to the meeting of the populist
state executive committee here next
week that it will be of great import
ance. The senator arrived here this
afternoon.
The state today began regularly the
mining Of phosphate at it's mines at
Castle Haynes.
Clerk Pagan continues the work of
compiling the returns for the state
board of equalization. Much good is
already done by the prominence given
the fact that the inequalities in valua-
ton are SO great and improper.
The taxes on livery stables are semi
annual, and the remarkable fact is
shown in the returns that while Bun
combe pays $117, Mecklenburg pays
only $13. The tax is paid on each
horse in use. Wake pays $72, New Han
over $39. Some counties pay nothing.
Then as to the marriage license-a
tax of $ is due the state on EACH
Buncc; = does not report a cent,
while lew Hanover turns in $241 and
Wake no less than $4O9
The agricultural department was
asked by st. Louis people to get offers
to sell 100000 acres of timber land in
North Carolina. That much land is
offered. Letters are pouring in.
Deputy Sheriff Rivers went to Indi-
annapolis after a man named Durham
who swindled Royal & Borden here
out Of 800 on a forged check He was
charged with a similar swindle there
and pleaded guilty rather than return
to North Carolina and go to the PEN
itentiary