davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
GREAT GROWTH OF TRUSTS

The trusts grow like mushrooms
springing up in a night. They are
simply all-grasping, a~ll-devouring. In
1898, the new trusts that sprang into
life represented on paper 1916, 600. 900.
Since this year set in a few weeks ago
the new trusts exceed all previous
years. Their deglitition is immense
and the anaconda is no where in its
swallowing capacity. The Philadel-
p,ia Press, republican and administra-
ton organ, recently stated that s372,-
600, 900 were lying idle, distributed
through the cities of the country. In
New York city there were $780,
900, 900 thus idle. Mr.. J. H. Rhodes, a
prominent banker and president of
standing and financial ability, said this
lately:
Il think it is rather o~verstating it
| to say that there is a deadlock between
money-lenders and borrowers because
| Of the low interest and rates prevail
ing. l should rather put it that money
is ~hesitating, and that it is but slowly
accommodating itself to changed COM
ditions and lower rates of remunera-
ton. The plentitude of money has
made it so cheap and it's return so
small that the people are embarking
in enterprises where the risk is great,
too great in many instances. The
danger lies in ove~rspeculation. 1t ex-
| tends to every hamlet in the United
| States"
The trusts now flourish as a conse-
| quence and they consolidate and grab
| every thing. 1t is a good time for
manufacturers and honest enterprises.
One of the most vicious trusts is the
| paper trust with s55, 900, 900 capital, but
with not more really than SIS, 900, 900.
1t has enough to control the business
in more countries than one. The Phil
| adelphia Bulletin says of its perform
ances:
at is able to send its paper to Euro
pean and Australian markets at a low
er price thar printing paper is sold in
any foreign country, and at the same
time is advancing it's price to con-
sumers in the United States. No surer
evidence could be presented than that
the combination represents an industry
which has passed beyond the infant
stage when it requires to be projected
against foreign competition. AS it is
now, the trust not only has a monopoly
of the paper product, but it is in a posi-
ton to tax the newspapers with charges
far beyond the level of ordinary and
legitimate profit"
Down with the Internal octopus. Cut
off it's arms and pull out it's fangs.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
DEATH OF HON. JOHN MANNING

We regret profoundly 10 learn OF the
death Of Hon. John Manning, Ii. D.,
professor of law in the University Of
North Carolina, which occurred at his
home at Chapel Hill on Sunday night,
18th February, 1899. He was probably
il his 69th year. He was a man of
learning in his profession, a gentleman
Of sterling qualities, and of real dis
tinction. We have known him we'll
since the forties when we first met
him at the University. He had the
principles and characteristics as a boy
that he developed as a man-clear
headed, r%esolute, decided, open in char
acter, sincere, true and upright always
and everywhere, a man TO hold in es-
TEEN and to trust under eXigencies. We
knew him in after life and have broken
bread at his table. A manly, SINCERE
man, and a devoted member of the
Episcopal church, he has served his
day and generation we'll and gone to
his reward. He was efficient in his
noble office as teacher in law of aspir-
ing young men, and Set them a good
example. He was probably as able and
successful a teacher of law as any in
all the south sine the death of the
venerable Professor Minor, of the Uni
versity of Virginia. North Carolina can
i'll afford the departure Of such a strong
earnest, pure, thoroughly furnished
and useful citizen as John Manning.
He was worthy of all confidence and
now that he has gone out from among
us his memory should be treasured and
the bar Of the state should honor him.
He served a short time in the T.. S.
house, but his life was given to the
law, that Jealous mistress as some
one has called it.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
BREVITIES.

The N. Y. Herald thinks the Chicago
pork packers and embalmers could stop
a foreign war if so inclined by with
holding their very toothsOme supplies.
Senator Depew said there were ten
men living i'm and close around New
York city who could prccipitate in one
hour the greatest panic this world ever
saw. How the graspers grasp and what
a republic 90 this is.
The Richmond Times quotes a witty
saying Of that prince Of clerical
wits, Rev. Sydney Smith of the estab-
iished Church of England TO a friend
who once asked Sydney Smith what
Puseyism was, the witty canon replied:
Why, sir, Puseeyism is infiexion and
genufiexion; posture and imposture;
bowling TO the East and curtesying TO
the West"
The guillotine that chopped so many
necks in the French Revolution was
named after a physician named Joseph
I. G%uillotine, born in 1879 and died in
1914. 1t vas however an Italian inven-
ton. The first execution was on 25th
April. 1892. A highwayman was first
to suffer.
There is a difference Of opinion as TO
Cecil Rhodes. Kipling regards his as the
greatest Englishman. Mr.. w. L. Al
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

den, An rican correspondent OF n. Y.
Saturday Review. writes of him:
Whey we remember the revelation
as 10 u Jameson raid. It Is impossible
TO beliEe that merely because a man
Is clever. rich. and overbearing. he
will eng continue 10 be honorsd by
men/~ho prefer honesty and unseifish-
ness 10 b ways Of the political dem
ag6gue."
Lee, Jackson, Maury, Franklin, Ham
ilton among distinguished Americans.
were born in January. while among en-
inent men Of great Britain born in that
month were Bacon. Burke, Burns and
Byron Fill out the list IL you can.
The best sense Of this coutry we be-
lieve is in condemnation OF the present
administrations hostility TO Admiral
Schley and the undue e%xaltation OF
Sampson who eve fired a gun or hit
an enemy. Il is such as this thai
makes just and thoughtful people
mighty sick"
Kipling's Yankee brother-in law is
anxious to take his British scalp
II the Yankee rouses the British lior
in the eminent author there may be
bloody retaliation.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
TRUSTS AND THEIR CAPITAL

The reports indicate that 5000, 0O0, 900
have been put into new industrial and
"trust" concerns during the yea 1898.
But it is asserted that much of this
reported capital is bogus, n that
$500, D00, 900 would represent in fact all
the capital involved. There is a vast
deal of raud as we'll as injury done
involved. The combining, pooling, con
centrating business does not so much
start new enterprises and enlarge bus
mess as it closes out successful indus
tries and merging them into gigan-
tic devourer. The Chattanooga Trades
:. man furnishes an illustration in this.
1.-The wire rod trust secured control
= of less than rs per cent. of the coun-
try's productive capacity, and though
its capital is put at $50, 900, 900, 900, the
ombine has not invested 5 per cent.
Of that sum. In fact it la invested
really nothing. The only actual cash
it has used was commercial funds, OPP
Grating capital and not mon IN
vested" =
One of the vilest of the combines is
llc liuSI IDA upoA hilO"1COSC. "a pa
per trust practically controls the price
of printing paper. The ~tyrannical pow
er of this trust may be seen from the
following particulars given in The
Pittsburg Post:
1.-The paper demand of the United
States now requires 1000, 900 cords CO
spruce wood in the form Of pulp, which
means the shipping of 625 miles CT
forest every year. The spruce wood
supply of the United States is limited,
and is controlled largely by the paper
trust, which owns 100000 acres in New
York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
and Michigan, and holds government
licenses for over a million acres in Can
ada. The trust is COMPOSED OF twenty
four mills, with a capital stock of So0,-
Z DOC. 000. capable OF p oducing i.4N tons
: of paper q day, valued at $40, o0O SEC i.er
n =
1.-The outy on printing paper is now
Sc a ton, and on wood pulp $1.67 a ton;
but that these duties are for the pro-
lection of the trusts is hown by the
fact that only. $42, 900 was collected, last
year on pulp and not a dollar on print
ing paper"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1899.


Standing armies are very costly,
They eat I'D the substance Of the long
suffering toilers and tax ayers. The
pensioners Of the United States have
through many years cost more than
the great standing army OF Russia has
cost. or the great standing army Of any
other power has cost. Lou must bear
that in mind when you see ongress
voting for 1OO, 900 standing army, with
a good prospect Of a large increase.
That means a huge expense to be added
to the STAG, 900, 900 already paid in pen
sions. This country will soon be shout
dered for army and nav n pensions
with a debt far greater than n Eu-
ropean power bears. The other ma
lions by their frequent wars, their roy
atty, their wild schemes of conquest,
their general extravaganza n bad
management, have created vast debts
that are never paid, but are always
growing. 1t is said that he combined
national deb of all the countries
amounts to $50, 900, 600, 900. The u
try most involved in debt is France,
which owes about S. 900, 00o, 900, Eng
Iand owes So, 300, 900, 900. Austro-Hun-
gary is third with 5000, 600, 900; Russia
fourth, with $2,875, 900, 900 and poor old
Italy fifth with 81, $50, 600, 600. We have
given figures elsewhere showing that
the public debt OF the United States
has nearly doubled in five years. Cleve-
Iand took a heavy hand in that direc-
tion and piled nightly and in a time
of profound peace. That was called
fine financiering and skillful govern
ment. Poor Spain owes 1885, 600, 900.
Spain owes other countries, while
France owe her own people. Here are
some statistics that will help to turn
on the light as to the real condition Of
many nations, and how the debts have
increased:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
VIRGINIA CLAIMS TO LEAD THE
NECK ENBURGERS

In the Richmond Dispatch of a few
days ago there appeared an article full
Of si6lifcancy. It gave an account Of a
meeting held in Virginia in ITS, and
also the document adopted by the
meeting relative to a declaration OF in
dependence. We have not the copy Of
p per at hand or we would specifically
state the intent and quote the Ian
guage. The contention is twofold:
first, that it is a new declaration of in
dependence; and second, that it anti
dated by foul months the famous North
Carolina Declaration of independence
at Charlotte onE0th Of May 1775. The
Mecklenburgers must look TO their
laurels. We heard the paper in the
Dispatch read and it impressed us as
bold, advanced, determined, but as a
declaration of independence it seems TO
be conditional, with an "if" or two in
~tervening. The men of M~ecklenburg
were decided, very prompt, and the in
dependence was declared plainly, pos
itively, then without conditions OF
ifs" If Virginia is entitled to first
honors let her have it. But let it be
| certain hat she is so entitled to lead,
| North Carolina. She has aforetime
| claimed honors at the expenes of North
| Carolina to which investigation showed
| she was not justly entitled. North Caro-
lima led Virginia in many historic facts
and she can afford to await a calm
and fair verdict in this claim of Vir'
| ginia precedence in the matter of de
claring independence of Great Britain
We purposed reading the Dispatch ar
ticle before writing now, but it is no
within our possession. We call tn
attention of DR.. Graham and Professo
Graham, of Charlotte to this attemp
to deprive North Carolina of the frs
place in the procession.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
THE COLD AT RALEIGH
Temperature Row Zero-A Nan Fro-
rem TO Death-Reltef tor the Poor
Trains Now Running-Or
Judge PurneIl
Especial to The Messenger

Especial to The Messenger
Raleigh. y. c., February l4.-In the
matter of o. Taylor, bankrupt. Judge
Purnell today signed a decree confirm
ing the composition with his creditors
at 80 cents on the dollar. His liabili-
ties aggregate SIS. 600. Judge Purnell
also appoints Henry @. Common perma-
nent receiver Of the swamp lands in
Pamlico in two suits for the lands, ag-
~gregating $4,000 acres.
The temperature here al : o'clock
this morning was 2.3 below zero on the
ROO OF the signal station. The tenn
perature at 6 o'clock just above ground
was 4 degrees. Careful measurements
mad OF the snow show it's depth TO be
nineteen inches. The temperature did
not rise above 10 degrees yesterday,
but today rose as high as IS degrees.
Louis Blackman, colored. a member
Of Haywood's well known orchestra,
was found frozen to death in his house
here this morning. He went home
drunk last evening. Another drunken
man was found in a snow bank and his
life was barely saved.
The destitute poor ave swarnied ut
the relief offices all day. Every house
in the city is visited. Issues OF food
and fuel are made day and night.
Trains are running on all lipes now.
but off schedule. The first train from
the north since Sunday on the Sea-
board Air Line arrived this afternoon.
There are snow drifts ten and twelve
feet deep.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
THE COLD WAVE
Monday Night the Below
Zero at CharIOtte-Coldest at Charles
ton for $50 Years-The Storm Disap-
pears Through Canada

Washington, d. c.. February 14.-The
Weather bureau tonight issued the fol-
lowing:
The great storm has practically
disappeared off the northeast Canadian
coast, after a combination OF snow and
high winds that must hereafter stand
as a record for almost the entire At
lantic coast region.
Clear weather is general tonight. ex-
cept in the upper lake region and up
per Mississippi valley, where SHOWS and
rains are falling, and in the southern
portion of the west gulf states. VIII re
il is also raining.
With the exception OF a limited terri
tory in the southwest and the eastern
portion of the northern slope. tn re has
been a general and decided rise in the
temperatures and they are once more
above the freezing point west OF the
Mississippi river, in Florida and in the
gulf states, except for eastern Ala
bama. They still continue compara-
lively low in the Atlantic tates
The temperature will continue COM
paratively high west OF the Mississippi
river and rise generally to the east
ward.
Storm signals are displayed on the
guif coast from Galveston to New Or
cans.
THE COOLEST FOR $50 YEARS.
Charleston, S. c., February 14.-The
~ 1AAc al AIf a.
ture of Charleston from 1888 to today.
the coolest On this continent. prove
that the record OF this morning, 6.S de-
9 lees above zero, is the lowest ever
known here. 1t Is remarkable that il
was colder here this morning at &
o'clock than in Boston and New York.
The fall OF snow yesterday, three to
four inches, also broke the record. a
Charlestonian seldom seeing any snow
at all at home more than three to four
times in a life time. The weather has
moderated and the snow is fast melt
ing his afternoon.
The reports from the entire state show
similar unprecedented climatic condi-
tons. the thermometer at the Clemson
college weather bureau, within fifteen
miles of the Blue Ridge mountains reg
istered as low as Z degrees below zero.
THE COLD IN FLORIDA.
jacksonville, Fla. February 1.-THE
damage by the cold wave in this state
was mainly confined 10 the early yeQe-
table crop. The injury to the citrus in
uustry is as yet merely speculative. Ii
Is tnough the orange bloom brought
OUT Dy the open winter has been in
Jured. Ii will require five or six DAYS
10 ascertain the exact damage done the
orange trees. No marine disasters have
been reported.
Charlotte. ~. c., February 1.-THE
weather bureau here reports the tenn
perature dropped to 5 degrees below
zero last night. For an hour or two TO-
Jay there was a thaw in places ex-
posed 10 the sun. While in the shade
the temperature ranged between u and
10 degrees all day. Another hard freeze
is on tonight.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

The First North Carolina regiment
now in Cuba, is anxious to be mustered
out and return to the dear old home.
We sympathize with our boys" and
would be glad to see their desires
promptly gratified. The Asheville Cit
izen has seen a letter from which it is
learned that the boys are heartily sick
of Cuba, and wish to return. The
writer says:
I'VE feel assured that if our people
at home could see the situation as it
really is, they would bring such pres
sure to bear on congress as would re-
suit in our speedy release. There
are officers who are selfish and heart
less enough to resort to any means to
retain us in the service for the full term
of our enlistment"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

We notice that some of the leading
Virginian dailies do not like either the
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton or the trust bill. Perhaps if they
lived in North Carolina and understood
the precise conditions they would favor,
as all democratic papers in this state
favor, the amendment to be voted upon
probably. 1t is a needed law if our
civilization and prosperity are to be
preserved.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
THE NEW BERN FAIR
Prospects Of n Successful ExhIuiou
Mild Weather Returnfny.
Especial to the Messenger

9 Bern, n. c., February IA
There has been a complete change in
the weather. The snow and ice are
disappearing and the indications are
that spring-like weather will prevail
during he balance Of the month. The
fair grounds and track for the midwin-
ter fair will be In perfect condition by
the end OF this week all the depart
ments complete and a large number OF
exhibits
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

Talking with others as to the very
cold weather in Wilmington we said
that We remembered that many years
ago the mercury stood at 9 above zero.
We were told that there had never been
so low a record. We said, we also re-
called once that the thermometer re-
corded II, and several years later Is.
We were pleased to see from yester-
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

Japan and the Argentine republic,
which are fast forging to the front, are
among the new borrowers, the Argen-
1.-THE owing 1870, 600, 900 and Japan $685.
600, 900. Other small borrowers are Bel
GUM, with $455, 900, 900; the Neither
hands, with $3.50, 900, 900; Canada, with
1925, 600, 900, an increase of 500, 900, 900,
and Greece, with $3.50, 900, 900. The total
debt of the British empire, it may be
added, including all British colonies,
is $5,4S5, 900, 900, almost equal to that
of France, money coming, of course, al
most altogether from the mother u
frv
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

Washington. February 1.-THE South
ern railroad has lifted the snow block
ade and that its main line
TO south will be open for through
traff1c tonight. and that the branch
lines viii be running tomorrow. This
result has been obtained by vigorous
work Wherever the tracks were OBJ
structed by deep snow drifts.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
HOME FOLKS

The Townsville News is an eight
page weekly edited by ]. D. Newton
at rs cents a year. 1t is in it's ninth
year and appears to be we'll edited.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
No ReeeIpt. OF Cotton or N.va, store

Monday and Tuesday were two duh
uays al the rodu exchange on ac-
count OF snow. There were no receipts
OF either cotton or naval stores and
consequently there was nothing doing.
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-08-19

Columbia sank on Friday,
The usual hoodoo big h. day;
And the number OF the men aboard
Was just three times thirteen.
some say 1t was kahuua,
And the influence was /, mar;
ut let us drop t1r subj, ct
With farewell to The hoo 90 queen.
But alas you cannot drop her,
by Mantle will only stop her;
The hoodoo's sure to let US hear
Again from her, and soon.
Her hulk will float and taunt us,
Or her ghost hang round and
haunt us;
She will give US another story
Ere the turning OF the moon.
W. f. SABIN.
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-08-19

Tacoma, (Wash), August g.
Frenchmen have a secur, d valuable
mining com ession il the interior
t China. NJ. Landsuer, q Pari-
ian banker aud cousin of the
Ro hschilds, left today for New
York and Paris. Laudauer has
been in China four years repre-
sen ing q Partisan syndicate, for
VII ,ch he has secured coal, quick.
-,lver AMI other mineral conces-
+ons in China valued at 81 0,000,-
700. He says there are mines OF
cinnsbsr iu Kweechnw provinces
which are richer than the famous
almaden quicksilver mines OF
Spain, morteaged by the Spanish
Government to the Rothschilds.
Along the Yang tss-K'sng are
c ,p .er mines and vast coal depo-
sits which he has secure The ex-
elusive privilege of developing.
Lsndauer says Europeans and
Americans are just beginniug to
have faint realization of Chipa's
immense mineral resources.
These have been neglected by the
Chinese for 1900 years, because
! OoDfucius taught that the tilling
OF the soil WAS the safest founda-
ton Of any stat~'s prosperity. La
consequence, the msudsIins have
not permitted the common people
to engage iu miuinS. Now that
the opening of Cana has COM
menced the Chinese mines will be
opened with modern machinery.
Laudauer found that one Of
fhius's richest mineral fields is
Szechusn province. VIII Gu Is I'M
derl.,l with vast &c. OF petro-
leum. The province contains
5000 900 people aud the value OF
this petroleum can scarcely be
computed, con'iiering thar China
j. importing mil ons % dollars
worth OF kefosa e auuus ~ from
Russia, America ani Sumatrs.
iio'h France and Eugland have
their eyes ou Szechuet aud are
sparrIng to obtain it. France pro.
poses to extend railroad line
,hith"r through Yunnan from
Touqnin and England is plan ming
t, build into 81 chuen from Bur
nah.