The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-28

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manufacturing industries. We are not
surprised, but gratifed, to learn that a
new cotton mill is in course of erection
there, to be operated by water power,
of which it is remarkably well sup
piled -Wilmington Messenger.
By a ridiculous mistake in enrolling
the new charter of Goldsboro the last
Legislature but the people of that city
in a "bcx." Section s of the charter
reads: That said board of aldermen
shall provide for each ward two ballot
boxes, n in which shall be deposited
all VOTERS for mayor, and the other in
which shall be deposited all VOTERS for
aldermen" In order to prevent the
escape of these boxed voters, this sec
ton further provides: Each of said
boxes shall have an opening through
the lid of sufficient size to admit a sin
gle folded ballot, and no more."-News
and Observer.
There is a good deal Of talk here says
a Raleigh correspondent of the Char
lotJe Observer, Of the purchase and
control Of the water works by the city,
as there is considerable dissatisfaction
with the present management of the
water supply. During the last heavy
snow, some company placed a lot Of
guano over n of the main pipes,
which leaked through in some way,
and since then all the city water has
been 90 i'm ORIGINATED with sulphuric
acid that it is worse than useless, ez
cept for bathing purposes. There has
been no remedy in practical effect, yet
the water rental is punctually collected.
It is q curious state Of affairs, and II
only to prevent aspersions upon private
individuals, it would seem wise for the
capital city to purchase the works and
furnish a decent water supply.
The decision of the United States
Supreme court to the effect that the
Wilkes county bonds issued to assist
in building the N. w. North Carolina
Railroad are invalid will interest very
many people. The decision, which was
rendered by the unanimous vote of the
court, was written by Justice Peck
ham. It was based upon the general
principle that the Federal court is
bound by the State courts interpreta-
ton Of the tate Constitution, and that
the Supreme court of North Carolina
having given q construction, their con
struction must stand While this suit
invaIidated only the 800. 600 of Wilkes
county bonds, it will also invalidate
800, 900 of Stanly and 1925 900 of Bun
combe county bonds, which have the
same defect, to wit: they were not
passed 9 required by the Constitution.
The tax payers will be relieved Of pay
ing principal or interest on the bonds;
the purchasers Of the bonds, mOEt of
them doubtless parties who had moth,
ing to do with the railroads for the
building of which they we're issued /;
the attorneys who appeared for the
counties will get big fees the Supreme
court is sustain ed and Judges Purnell
and Simonton stand over ruled Elk.
Raleigh correspondence Wilmington
Messenger: To-day I asked Carl Dun
can, the collector Of internal revenue
if blockading. is increasing or decreas
ing in North Carolina. Increasing
greatly, " he replied, land particularly
liz the eastern counties. l account for
this by the fact that in recent years to
bacco growers from the mountain sec
tions have been going to the eastern
counties to teach the farmers there
, how to raise tobacco and incidentally
they have taught them how to block
ade. Why, ten years ago there waf
not a blockade still in either Halifex OF
Lsnoir county and now both counties
are reeking with them" I'm what
: county is there most blockading7'
johnson county, with Wake az a close
second" SIS it easy to find these still
: houses in the eastH' "No-much hard
. er than in the hill country. There yoU
= get on a mountain, and it is not 81
: hard to detect smoke from a still, but
: in q long, fat country smoke here anc
there signifies nothing" How do yoU
usually get your information abouI
blockaders2" LAS a rule from private
intormants, who are paid $40 for eect
g illicit distillery reported. This is fxeC
by law, and the name of the informan'
is kept secret, though the usual run o
g people in the eastern counties are tot
? suspicious to believe this. There's ONT
t fellow who has reported three still
houses to this Office, and he refuses tx
, give his name. The last time he show