The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-26
FINE HOLIDAY TRADE.
Never Better in Raleigh-Little Cotton
I'm Farmers Hands-Attorneys' Ac-
counts Against h State-State Char-
table Institutions.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, N. c., December 3d.

Raleigh, N e., December ID
The merchants agree in the state
ment that they nave never known a
better holiday trade.
J. j. Thomas, the Oldest cotton dealer
here, says that the farmers have sold
almost all their cotton and that the
holdings are insignificant. In a fort
night more all will be sold, he thinks.
than half as large as they were last
year. This agrees closely with the
statement that the crop in h state
was a so per cent. one
Charles A. Cook, Of Warrenton, filed
an account for professional services as
counsel for the governor in the tax as
sessment case for $3.50. Governor Rus
sell approves it fer $500. Simmons,
| Pou & Ward presented a bill for
81, 500 for services as attorneys to the
corporation commission in nine suits
in equity in the United States circuit
court brought by the Southern and
eight other railways against the cor
~poration commission n OF account of
appeals in three of these suits. Gov
! ernor Russell approves the bill for
81, 900.
Before he left here yesterday Lem
uel Quigg, of New York, who registered
nue. all dIldS, lduSUICu d GA4E N.4NA,
seeming to regard it as a good joke.
Everybody laughs at Quigg, so there
is amusement all round.
Governor Russell directs the paymas-
ter general to disburse at one the half
yearly allowances to the state guard.
1t has never been believed here that
Senator Butler would be the fusion
candidate for governor. There is a
large part of the republican vote bit
torlxr ooanicfio 70 him for hic fnrroar
opposition to Senator Pritchard, who is
the republican idol.
There are now in the institution for
the white blind here So female and 81
male pupils; total 155. There is room
for $50 more, and this, Superintendent
Ray tells me. will accommodate the
white blind for perhaps fifty years to
come. The per capita expenses are
5000 a year; less than at any similar
institution in the country, Mr.. Ray
says. Relatively speaking, there are
few pupils from the extreme west and
east. This is because of the greater
| difficulty of communication. There is
a debt of about $12, 900. During the
past two years new buildings, one a
dormitory for males. have been built
at a cost of $50, 200.
There are at the negro. institution
here for the blind and deaf-mutes 16a
| pupils. Al The ldlleT Tie Dlluu Joys
are separated from the deaf-mutes.
There really ought to be separate in
stitution for the negro blind and the
deaf-mutes, as is the case with the
whites.
There was quite a scattering of of
ficials today, towards home, for the
holidays. There will be no business OF
any Importance done before Wednes-
day.
Reports from the Piedmont and
western sections show that the demo-
Gratis must work like beavers from now
until next August to secure the ratifi-
cation of the franchise amendment to
the constitution. Next month the
democratic campaign begins, in a quiet
way at first. The republicans have been
at work for months. They are using
the revenue officials as campaigners.
All these are now republicans of the
straightest sect.
Deputy Revenue Collector M. L
Wood has captured Jour illicit distil-
leries near Gold Rock, Nash county.
The moonshiners were hard at work
making a big run of whiskey fol
sale for Christmas. The deputy took
the stills in the rear. by a flank move
ment, which required hard riding al
night. Deputy Collector Walker cap
tured an illicit distillery in Randolph
county and another in Orange. Moon
sinners used to fire at officers and try
to ambush them. Now they run like
turkeys.