The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-04
REPUTATION OF BONDS.
BE COUNTIES RAISING A STORM
OF ArGRY COMMENT.
Buucombc County Brings Suit to Invali
date ss Issue Of SOS, ,o0O-Southport Ma
val lRsssrvss-r:ew Years at the Capital
-Grant's Low Estimate sf Russeli's Fol
lOwfAg-Butler Denies Kumers to Fu
sion-Oor State Leads In Number OF sew
Factories.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, N. c., January 1.

Raleigh, N. c., January 1.
Buncombe county now brings suit tc
test the validity of s9s, 900 OF bonds issued
to the Ashevilie and Spartanburg rail.
road. The holders of these are innocen,
persons, as aret hose of the Stanly
county 100000 of bonds, lately declared
invalid by the supreme court. The repu-
diation of bonds is raising a storm of
angry comment and 1t is urged that 1t is
damaging the credit Of the state, which
has been SO high. 1t Is said plainly that
it was the decision In the Oxford case
which opened. the door to these evils.
The claim is officially made that the
penitentiary debts are paid and that
there is good balance" to it's credit.
The new superintendent Mewboorne,
having given his bond yesterday, took
charge today.
It is said that the new division of naval
reserves at Southport, composed almost
entirely of pilots, will be one Of the best
of aif.
There were mort murders In the state
during December than IN any other
month of the year.
1t is quite clear that Carl Duncan, the
incoming revenue collector of this dis
trict, is going to make a great effort to
oust every democrat under his jurisdic-
tion. He is clearly quite ready TO knock
out civil service.
1t seems that there is an end to free
passes by the railways, unless perhaps
some one makes a test case and let's the
courts decide whether such passes are
forbidden.
TIE new year came in clear and cold.
The public buildings were nearly all
closed. A few clerks were at work here
and there. There was but little receiv-
ing. There was no reception at the exec
utive mansion. 1t Is said not to be the
custom to receive there on this day and
1t Is added that one reason is that it
would interfere with private receptions.
AT the office of the secretary Of state
II is said that the December entries of
public lands were lareeI than in anv
other month of the year Day befUio =
yesterday the receipts were over $500 and
yesterday over $500 acres were entered.
OF course all or nearly all of this land
has been entered before.
( 1t Is quite probable that the next ses-
sion of the North Carolina Teachers As
sembly will be held at Asheville. The
teachers of Georgia, South Carolina and
Tennessee are invited to attend and that
will be the most convenient point for
them all.
III. l.. Grant makes the plain assertion
that only one republican in 1000 in the
state endorses Governor Russells admin
istration. Grant is on the state republi-
can committee and ought to know.
Senator Butler declares that as yet no
fusion of populists and republicans is
agreed This is In conflict with the
news from Washington last week. 1t
must be that the Butler wing of the pop
lists is holding aloof, waiting to see what
terms the republicans offer. The anti
Butler populists are regarded as having
already made deal with the republi-
cans for this year. Their leaders are now
holding them up to this.
North Carolina remains at the head of
all the states so far the number of
new mills in 1897 and the additions to old
mills are concerned.
The statement was made that Mrs.
Persis F. Chase, of New Hampshire, had
the flag of the Fourth North Carolina
regiment, captured at Sharpsburg. 1t
turns out that it was captured at Chan
cellorseville, where the color bearer and
twenty-five men Of that regiment were
f1anked and captured. 1t was at one time
denied that the Fourth had ever lost it's
colors.
1t is quite plainly limited that it is the
purpose Of the new railway commission
ers to GUST H. c. Brown, the veteran and
very efficient clerk to the board, and
put in his place Senator Sharpe, of Ire
dell last week made assistant clerk
Brown is a democrat and Sharpe a re-
publican.
Mr.. Richard Baker of Wilson county,
was sent home from the asylum here to-
day, cured.