The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-29

address the legislature on education.
The governor commissioned today w
F. Kuester, captain. n Ripley +.
Smith, first lieutenant of company NJ,
Third regiment. North Carolina state
guard.
Friends of a white man here, Joe
Francis are looking for him and be-
Iieve he has committed suicide.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, January "a.
The legislature was today asked 10
charter the New River Development
Company, headquarters i'm Ashe county.
The minimum capital is $500 maxi
mum 49, 900, 900. 1t is the purpose 10
build a railway to the great iron ore
field in Ashe county. If the Norfolk
and Western railway will build this
road. the Development Company will
not do so; but otherwise the Develop
ment Company will construct it. The
Pennsylvania Steel Company, which
owns the Paris Point Steel rolling
miles, leased fifteen square miles,
composing this ore bed.
The national and state flags on the
capitol will be at half-staf until at
urday, in morning for Queen Victoria.
The Raney Memorial library here, a
free gift to Raleigh by Mr.. r. B. Raney,
was formally opened this evening,
with appropriate exercises. There was
a prayer by Rev. DR.. A. A. Marshall,
pastor of the First Baptist church.
The address of presentation was by
Rev. DIR. NJ. NJ. Marshall. rector of
Christ church, and the speech of &C
ceptance on behalf of the people of Ra-
leigh by r. Il. Gray. Esq. The library
is three stories in height, Of white brick
with roof of red tiles, and is one of the
most beautiful structures, within and
without, in the state. The library
proper is on the second floor. Their are
now about $500 books, Of which 5000
are the gift of Mr.. Raney, On the
third floor is an assembly room, with
stage, to be USED for readings, ANA
teur theatricals, dances, concerts, etc.
The cost of the building approximates
$40, 200. The ook are arranged by the
Dewey decimal system. which is also
in use in the state library.
There is an application to the legis-
lature for a charater for a railway from
Durham to the coast, probably 10
Southport, Lbs to use the already con-
structed Cape ear and Northern rail
way as part of its line. The Dukes
of Durham, are interested in this road.
in fact own it.
The legislature will grant the Sea-
board Air Line power to incorporate
the o it recently built between Rich
LIlOlIu " w. 1LblO 10 ldI IllACl
Next week there will be a notable
hearing of all the bills regarding mod.
ification of the Jim Crow" car law
The railway people desire the abolition
of second class fares on trains, and the
adoption of the South Carolina plan o.
one fare. The first class is now 3A
cents, the second class "a cents, AND
as there is more first class travel thar
second class he average rate is a lit
tie over 3 cents per mile. The railway
people want d uniform rate of 8 cents.
The weather report for December fol
this state ts ISSUED. The monthly
mean temperature was All degrees
which is g degree below normaI The
highest monthly NEAR was 4S.4 n
Southport; the lowest "a at Linville
The highest absolute temperature was
rs at New Bern: the lowest 10 at Lin.
willie. The average rainfall was 4.5(
inches. which is .76 inch above normal
Charles F. Won Hermann, in charg.
of the weather service in this state
says: The student of the climatic his
tory of North Carolina can not fail to
nave observed the striking fact that
for nearly twelve years am almoSi
steady deficiency in the annual pre-
cipitation for the state at large has
taken place. and the conditions pre-.
vailing during the year 1900, especially
the intense heat and drought of the
summer, again attract attention &C
this fact The unchangeableness OF
climate is a iavorite theme Of the me-
teoroeogist, but in view of the disas-
trous influence on crop production OF
h marked deficiency in precipitation
at the most critical period Of the cror
season. he question when a return te
normal conditions will occur becomes
a serious one. The annual normal pre-.
cipitation for North Carolina, as de.
I,r1nl --k
| years. from 1872 to 1899, and thus in
cludnig the entire period of minimum
rainfall, is SO inches
During the period from 1888 to 1900
inclusive. only one year, 1891, shows q
noticeable excess in precipitation, while
the slight positive departures in 1885,
and 1899 resulted from heavy rains in
spring. hen not required and unfa-
yorable for agricultural interests. The
total deficiency for the entire period,
including eleven months of 1900, is over
30 inches, and the departures for the
five years QSs4 to 1897 are especially
remarkable.
During these years the summers
have not been uniformly excessive in
temperature. and be occurrence OF
several severe winters. notably those OF
1898. 1895 and 1899 have resulted in de-
icaencieS in annual nee temperature,
amounting for the five years named,
respectively. to IL degrees. rs degrees
and Ia degrees"
The rainfall reports show with great
clearness b predominating Influence
Of b mountain ranges OF western
North Carolina The rainfall WAS es-
peciaQy heavy on b eastern slope OF
b due Ridge. from Highlands with
an annual total OF 81 inches, though
H-enderSonviue with "a inches, Marion
50. Patterson 81, IAnville "a, Brewers
81 inches. No record equal to any ol
these occurred along the line. In
fact the least rainfall was on thu
coast, in Dare county-oniy 80 inches