The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-09
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ENTERING WITH RENEWED VlG0R UPON
CAMPAIGN FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT
Important Action ut Regular February
Meeting Held Yesterday Portable
Convict Prison Ordered - Rock for
Macadamizing to be Procured Mt
Once Roads TO be Re-Distrfcted.
Other Matters OF Public Interest.

Inc county commissioners are now
-inaugurating a muc more Vigorous
campaign for public road Improvement
and considerable progress will be
made doubtless during the coming
spring and summer. Evidences OF the
near approach which they have made
to the perfection OF arrangements for
macadamizing material and the install
lation OF a general road Improvement
equipment were abundant at the reg
ular February meeting OF the board,
held from 2:30 until $50 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon.
The board discussed very fully the
status of affairs in the public roads
Improvement department and declared
their intention of inaugurating a more
effective system of working the coun-
~ convicts. Provision was also made
for the purchase of one OF Kings new
improved portable steel convict cages
or cells to be used as quarters for con-
victs when work is being lone on sec
tons OF county road remote from the
work house.
Verbal reports We're made by the
special committee consisting Of Chair
man Moore and Commissioner D. Nc
PloSACSS al
made in negotiations for crushed rock
which are now pending with the city
authorities in regard to their rock
crushing outfit and also with the Cas-
tie Haynes Phosphate Company, who
are on the eve of resuming work. De-
of negotiations and propositions
penang were not made public.
But it is reasonably certain that the
county will be macadamiZing road
beds within a very short time. In
speaking Of the system of road work
in vogue for sometime past, Commits
sioner McEachern voiced the sentiment
Of the board yesterday in characteriz-
ing it practically a waste Of public
funds and a change of more effective
methods an absolute necessity. AS
the convic road work is now being
DONE, the convicts are being Quartered
in the work house and are marched
four miles up the Castle Hayne road
every morning to the point where they
are now at work and back again in
the evening, making eight miles in all
that they go daily to and from work.
So that they do scarcely six hours
work per day or the roads.
THE PORTABLE CONVICT PRISON.
A motion offered by Commissioner
McEachern was adopted yesterday au-
thorizing Colonel Roger Moore to pur-
chase from the inventor and
turer at Darlington, S. c., a new
portable steel convict prison, which
will cost $500. BY means of this pris-
on the convicIs can be Quartered where
they are being worked, so that a full
days work can be done regularly.
A further order was also passed on
motion of Mr.. McEachern. providing
that temporary quarters be erected for
the convicts at a point near the seven
mile post OH the Castle Hayne road,
the same not to cost exceeding 500.
their object being to provide quarters
for the convicts where their work is
until the portable prison arrives. 1t
will have to be manufactured and will
require fully two months. 1t is their
purpose also after the portable prison
is put in use, to use the material re-
Quired in the temporary quarters at
the seven mile post, in constructing
guards quarters in connection with the
portable prison.
LIGHT INFANTRY APPROPRIA-
TON.
A matter of especial local interest
considered by the board yesterday was
that of the annual appropriation OF
$500 to the Wilmington Light Infantry
\ For the past six years, by reason of
provision made by a special act of the
legislature in 1898, the board has been
allowing the Wilmington Light In
fantry $500 each year but the act was
for only six years and it is a question
with the commissioners as to whether
they have the right to continue the al
lowarce. They expressed themselves
as being very anxious to do so If pos
sible, especially inasmuch as the com
pany has in the past been or such
great and really Indispensable service
to the community. The matter was re.
ferred to the finance committee will
1 fha matt
and report to the board at the mex
meeting. Mr.. Thomas H. Wright, sec,
Il rotary and treasurer of the Whining
ton Light Infantry, appeared before
\ the board in the interest of he com
! pany.
ROUTINE BUSINESS OF BOARD.
Members of the board present wer'
Colonel Roger Moore (chairman), w
F. Alexander. D.. McEachern and Ga
] briel Holmes.
william w. Carroll, of Masonbor'
l township, was allowed 81 per month
i R. J. Smith, of Wilmington town
81 ship, WIS relieved of poll tax.
i Mr.. J. H. McRee was appointed sur
veyor to survey the lands of B. S
Montford in Cape Fear township
al The application of Harvey Green u
\ have w. NJ. Hansley appointed specia
VI surveyor to survey lands in Cape Fea
Ell township granted.
An abatement of $3.50 was allowe'
on personal property valuation Of Mrs
i H. c. Daniel.
The report Of DIR. w. D. Mcmillan
superintendent of health. was read. !
al was as follows:
During the Month of January W
i have treated in this office 1876 patient
! and made 68 visits to SO patients a
their homes.
ii I'VE nave vaccinated about 160 per
oil sons in this office and about 120 o.
i Masonboro sound. On the 26th of tn
4 month a case Of smallpox was discov
III cred on Hewletts Creek in the persol
al OF Martha Shaw, at the residence o
III William Ripley The house was i'm
i mediately Quarantined and fumigatet
! The patient, with William Ripley An,
his wife. were taken to the city small
POI hospital, where they are now. Tn
II The inmates OF the TAIL and hous
of correction nave been vaccinated
These institutions are in good s~anitar
al condition. There has not been an &C