The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-02
A PROGRESSIVE TOWN.
Gala Day-IntereSting Contests-Excel-
lent Institutions New Experimental
Farm.

Correspondence of The M~essenger.)
Red Springs, N. c., February "a.
Washington's birthday was observed
by the institutions of this town. The
seminary, military academy and post
office had holiday. The cadets had
interesting athletic exercises from II
to 1 o'clock and from 3 to 5 o'clock.
The programme is too full to note all
contests. II. Barstow, of New York,
won the 10O-yard dash in 10 2-5 sec
onds; the high jump, 4 ga feet, the
standing jump. s1-12 feet; the long
jump. Is So feet. Luther Tucker, OF
Fair Bluff, won in putting a 14-pound
shot 81 1-2 feet forward, % feet back
ward, and threw the 12-pound hammer
ia SIP feet. Chesley McCaskill, Of
MaXton, was second in 100-yard dash;
Willie Jones, Of Red Springs, third. In
the three-legged race Grant, of Rich
mond, Va, and Gibbons, of Fair Bluff,
N. c., won the race.
The cadets won the ball game from
the young men of the town by a score
of IS to IL
The exercises were mainly for prac-
tice and entertainment, and but little
preparation had been made, and the
wine was so high and cold that good
records could not be made.
III duSl Soo1 d d IHe
record. Eight states are represented
in this excellent North Carolina mill
tary academy, which is increasing in
number Of students, in popularity and
efficiency, n has an able faculty of
four specialists.
The seminary has about $50 students
and still they COMMUNICATIONS new
boarding students. President Vardell
is a progressive, active, enthusiastic
worker. n 'others catch inspiration
from him / regret to say he has been
confined to his room about a month";,
but he hopes soon to be as well as
ever He car direct the work now.
Perry's piano recital in the seminary
was a grand success and largely at
tended, not only by the citizens, but by
numerous people from other towns.
The town continues to grow and a
prominent man from Clio, S. c., said
his town has the incest residences he
ever saw in a town of this size.
DR.. B. F. Mcmillan and Mr.. w. H.
Sykes recently moved into nice new
residences, which cost about 81, 500 n
81, 500, and S. r. Townsend, of Red
Banks, Will soon move here and occu-
Ply his new residence, which cost about
$500. The plan by Hook & Savage
cost $50 and the mantelS cost about $50
each. The fireplaces have beautiful TIL
ing, and the front has large plateglass
windows about Axe feet.
DIR. B. w. Kilgore, state chemist,
was here the last two days laying off
the new experimental farm of twenty
acres into seventy sections, 21x207 -
feet, with drive-ways Inc also 6-foot
walks between sections. No buildings
will be put up at present, and but few
crops planted the first year. About
thirty-four plots or sections will be
planted in corn and thirty-four in cot
ton, and numerous experiments made
with different kinds Of fertilizers, seed
and cultivation. and careful records
kept of h various experiments. so
that farmers may reap benefit from
the same. n the state agricultural
experiment station may be better pre-.
pared to answer numerous questions
asked about various soils, crops, etc.
Some grasses and oats will be sown,
and stubble land used in the sunHmer
In experiments with peas. etc.