The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21
P-ENITENrIARY FINANCE.
A Complete Investigation Being Made.
Terrible Condition OF Crops-school
Books Adopted-Railway M~achinist's
Suit for waees-Crop Report.
Messenger Bureau.

Raleigh, n. c., June Is.
1t is quite probable that the report
of the p~enitentiary, which the book
keeper and secretary to the new direc-
torate are preparing, will appear in July
1t will show the actual condition of af-
fairs. The last report made by the flu
sionists. h a is UP to the end of 1900,
was worse than valuless; il was mis-
leading.
In the federal court here today, at
chambers the hearing of h case of J..
B. Neal VS.. George L. Briggs, of Nor
folk, was finished. 1t wolves the
ownership Of the large Neal sawmiII
at Carolina City and of timber lands.
Briggs claims that Neal owes him So
900. while Neal says Briggs owes him
81, 900.
Tomorrow the index to the new pub
lie laws will be completed and the
printers say they will issue the volume
in a few days.
Sheriff Page, of this county, says the
crop conditions are the worst since 1867,
and perhaps as bad as they were then.
Farmers are very respondent.
There is now no sort OF doubt that
Lewis Council will be hanged at Fay
etteville June oath.
The state board of education decides
to adopt IS a text book Hyde's Lessons
in English" e books at % nd 40 cents,
the second one as a supplementary
book; Webster's Dictionaries; Moses
First Reader" Off the price is made 10
cents) and Miners standard and ele-
mentary books. Attorney General Gill
ner is notified to draft the contracts at
once and to come here md see that
they are properly signed.
Before a magistrate here one of the
new men of the Seaboard Air Line
the company said would not be due I'M
til July 18th. The magistrate gave
Judgment against the company, which
appeals the case and gave bond.
Governor Aycock leave for Wilkes
boro tomorrow to make an educational
address and will return here Friday
morning. He goes to Charlotte Satur-
day. His speech there will be along
industrial and educational lines.
The report of the legislative commit
tee appointed to investigate the steal
ings of ex-Clerk Martin, of the state
treasury will probably be made in a
few days.
The weekly crop bulletin for the week
ended Monday, says: Farmers receiv-
ed some encouragement by the cOntin-
uance of warm, dry, sunny weather dur
ing the early part of the week just
passed, during which the cultivation
Of crops proceeded rapidly, n some
evidences of more rapid growth were
visible. Rains began on the 18th which
were quite beneficial at first, especially
on uplands, but the large amounts on
the 14th, and the generally cloudy,
damp weather during the last portion
of the week were very ~unfavorable.
Farm work was completely interrupted
and annot be resumed for some time,
as the ground has become very wet. A
good deal Of grass was killed the first
of the week, but complaints CT grassy
fields are still very numerous, and the
unnecessary rains will make matters
worse. The wheat havest was under
way generally in the south portion of
the state early in the week, but has
ceased for the present. Much wheat
is ready to cut; some has been beaten
down by rain, and the prospect seems
hardly as good as was previously ex-
pected. In well-cultivated fields cotton
and corr have made some growth, and
while very small, at least show good
| color; but generally the condition of
both crops continues DOR Cotton has
not all been chopped, and many fields
| are being abandoned DIT plowed UP for
corn or field peas. All the tobacco has
now been transplanted, and this crop
seems to be doing fairly we'll, though
worms are giving much trouble. The
yield of Irish potatoes is quite large.