The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-21

Of Offices the Subject of General Discus
sion-Report Of Geologist Holmes on Ar
tesian Wells and Artificial Irrigation In
Eastern Portion of the State
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, N. c., Dec. 16.
The secretary Of the railway COM
mission was asked what was the out
look for railway construction in the
state in 1898. He says there VIII be
considerably more building thar dur
ing the year now closing. Work is in
progress or proposed on six or eight
roads, three of these being important.
The commissioner of agriculture was
asked if he thought the rme would
really cooperate in the matter Of re-
ducfng their expenses. He replied: IF
they reduce 1T will only be because very
low prices force them to do SO. They
will not reduce if they expect better
prices. No unity of action has been,
or ever will be, secured among them
with regard to planting. The
do not believe at all in the question OF
supply and demand. They think all
prices are mad by manipulators."
When asked his views as to a reduc-
tion in the purchases of commercial
Fertilizers, the commissioner said: The
sales next year will probably be as
large as those this year. The registra-
tiiOn for next year is as large or larger.
This shows the dealers expect to make
the sales. Whatever takes the place OF
cotton, Will require fertilizer also, as
much and in some cases more; truck,
for instance, where 900 pounds to the
acre are used. No matter to what
crop you plant, the fertilizer manufac-
huererS are safe. Iney are simply GER
tain to SELL"
Two convicts were brought to the
penitentiary today from Beaufort
ty, and twelve from that county were
left at the Halifax farm.
The facts regarding tuberculosis
among cattle in this state are rather
startling-that there is no herd which is
mot infected. For some time all the milk
used at the agricultural and mechani-
cal college here has been P~asteurized.
THE herd there was a large and fine
Dne. Eight of the COWS have been kill
ed thus far. Last year seven were KILL
ed ait the state experiment farm.
The board of agricultural makes the
usual appropriation OF 1000 for 1898
for the analysis of fertilizers, this go
ing to the agricultural and mechanical
college, which does the work of analy-
sis, not at the college but at the
station.
h movement for the use of convict
aafbor on the public roads lis growing.
Tt does not NOW appear that counties
will This winter be able to get any
state convicts ITO do sue work. There
is a law allowing this, but the peniten-
tiary authorities have as yet made no
assignments of convicts, though ap-
piicatiOnS were filed some time ago.
The Cleveland county formers have
agreed in mass meeting to reduce cot
ton acreage one-third. and to buy fer
tilizers at prices based on those of cot
ton. 1t is safe to say that not half the
FARMERS will be bound, or consider
themselves bound, by such an agree
ment.
Material is arriving here for extern
sive work on the Bell long-distance
telephone system.
AIN over the state the swap" of of
fees by the agricultural COMMISSIONS
and the penitentiary superintendent is
being talked about. 1t is an unprece-
denied thing. Governor Russell does
things heretofore never dreamed of.
No man ever had such political pup
pets. He will in a few days commits
sion the new superintendent of the pen
~itentiary, J. M. Mewboorne.
Tt is said that Rev. DR.. r. w. Bagbb
who was ousted as penitentiary chap
lain, is now steward on one of the
penitentfary farms. 1t wa agreed that
for his efforts in cha of fusion he
should have an office. 1T is said that
for like reasons, or for those personal
to John R. Smith, there are at least
fifty such supernumerary offfce-hoId-
ers connected with the penitentfary.
FOr forty eight hours a man who was
hypnotized and in a store window here
nffrnnfa6 ornyr1r A. 4 n Jo@J 49,
night the influence was removed. He
lost eight and a half pounds in weight.
In spite of the 81, 100 reward far Lam
bert, the murderer of Engineer Bum
gardner, it appears hat he cannot be
caught.
The state geological board was in ses-
sion here today at the governors office,
State Geologist Holmes. Charles Nc,
Nance and J. T. Morehead being
present. Geologist Holmes made a
complete report of the years work.
1t has been extensive, mainly in con-
s1ection with gold deposits and mining,
ahe minor mineral ~sourc water
powers, forests and their resources,
drinking water supplies and especially
artesian wells for the eastern counties;
Irrigation and drainage of swamp lands
and a magnetic survey of the state.
The clay deposits are so good in char
acter as to he available for all purposes
ana the kdOlln superior UO uHe UeSl lTolI
FLORIDA. The work as to gold deposits
is bringing hundreds of thousands of
dollars into the state.
The report says: But it is to the
possibility of arteSian water supplies
in our eastern counties that the survey
has given the larger part of its atten-
ton in this direction. The reputation
of eastern North Carolina has suffered
SO seriously from the prevalence OF
malaria in many regions that it's de-
elopmen has been seriously retarded
IL THE past, and many who would 9th
erwise have settled in hat region and
would have helped to build it UP, have
been kept away by the ear of ma
1aria. During recent years, however
st has been shown by unmistakable