The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-01
Messenger Bureau.

Raleigh, y. c. February 25.
The following military commissions
were issued today: William NJ Atkinson.
adjutant naval reserves: ". w. Melick.
ensign naval reserves. division al Eliza
beth City; Fred G. Madison. captain. and
L. NJ. Potts. second lieutenant Company
G. First regiment. Washington.
The equipment Of the state troops At
this date IS 1900 rifles. 45-calibre: 256 Lee
magazine rifles, one Gatling. calibre -:
two rapid fire Hotchkiss rifles. three
3-inch breech loading naval guns. two
3-inch breech loading howitzers: one
3-inch muzzle loading howitzer. 10 re-
OF calibre 10 ball cartridges.
John Graham. OF rIugeway. is here. He
is much talked of as the possible sue
cessor to John r. Smith as commissio ioner
OF agriculture. II is stated today that
Smith : soon TO be ousted He was ask
ed about THIS today and replied with a
most Indifferent air. that he did not
know anything about it. Graham IS in
high favor with the governor ana with
Senator Butter
The annual report of the state superln-
tendent of public instruction VIII show
that last year there was paid white
teachers in the public schools $45l. IA ne
gro teachers $22132I: for school sites
twhlteI 5000; coiored, $lG.534 The total
disbursements for public schools were
$S3l,3@ The state and county poll taxes
aggregated s305. .6i7 special tax on general
property $16,1S3 special tax under local
acts for public schools $l2.l67 fines and
penalties S13 167. liquor licenses $50 9gS
There are 16Ii71 white polls. G6.674 color
ed. The assessed value of white property
Is S2l1 .Sol .S56 colored $3.50, 064.
There IS quite a general demand by the
press of the state for HancOcks proof a
TO the governors urging him to assault
Editor Daniels. 1t is said he will make
a formal statement. This is what the
public wishes to see.
II is said that if the railway commits
sion forces the reduced passenger rate
on the railways there will necessarily be
quite a sharp cutting off of train faCiil-
ties. The railways are given until next
week 20 file exceptions TO the order re-
duClng the rates.
1t is learned that one of the members
OF the democratic state committee whose
name could not be ascertained, proposed
at Its late meeting to Introduce a reSOu-
tion changing the name Of the democratic
party to the democratic Peoples Par
ty." He was sat down with such hard
ness that he never introduced the reso-
~lution. 1t met with no response what
ever.
Revenue Agent George r. Clark. of
Greensboro. is here and reports that the
deputies are quite active after moonshn-
ers. He has special field force CS depu-
ties.
Some years ago man died here who
had made his own coffin twenty years
before. 1t was a custom of his to take
an after dinner nap in the coffin. This
week a yet more accentric man died in
Surry county at the age Of - years. He
made his coffin fifteen years ago and
called it his meat blk and used to play
cards on it. He was buried in his night
clothing and barefOoted. and after one
Old friend. layman. had prayed, anot her
tramped the earth upon his grave
RequiSitiOn is made for blue flannel
shirts for all the state troops No dress
uniforms or helmets Will be issued this
year, but only supplies for field service.