The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-08
PUBLIC OPINION DIVIDED
On QUESTION OF LEASE OF THE
A. AND n. C.. II. R.
Code Commission at WOrk-Peniten-
tiary Showing a Good One-Not
Much Increase in Pension Lists.
Messenger Buearu,
Raleigh, n. c., September 8

Raleigh, n. c., September 5.
although the cOunc of state unani-
nlously rejected the proposition to lease
the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
way yet there was much talk about the
matter TO-DAY. 1t is hard to say what
public opinion is. but a majority of it
seems to be opposed to =. tease. Yet as
President James a. Bryan Of he road
very frankly stated to the council of
state yesterday, the road is up against
this propOsition-that it must be eouin-
ped properly, sold or leased. 1t will
cost about $500, 900 to properly euuip it.
There is great need of rolling stock. A
very full report as to the needs of the
road was submitted by the master me-
chanlc. Mr.. Manly. The road has grown
With the development of that section.
though the Atlantic Coast Line has cut
into the territory considerably. inter-
Secting it at New Bern and at Kinston.
1t is limited that the Atlantic Coast
Line may extend its road northward
from New Bern. The purpose of the
latter Sytesm is to control if possible
the trucking hau Of eastern North Car
DINA. Of course it is not known what
will be done about the Atlantic and
North Carolina road, but a lease at any
time in the near future o not seem
to be probable. The private stock
holders appear to regard it as a good
property with fine prospects.
The code commission IS doing very
hard work on the new code this week.
1t has reached as far as the chapter
on crimes and by the end of the week
will have finished about 20 chapters.
Col. w. L. d. Rodman. Of Washing
ton, the state agent for the sale of
swamp lands. says that there is less
tfrah ~-
This stealing has been going on for
years in all the counties in which the
state board of educatiOn's swamp lands
are located. He says it did not prevail
in one county more than in another.
The LAND grants in the office Of the
secretary of state continue to be about
as numerous as ever. OF course every
year there is a falling off in the mum
Der of grants issued. yet the time Of
one clerk is all required for this lam
grant and entry business.
Thus far the state auditor has receiv-
ed only one abstract of listed taXableS.
This came in from Alamance county
about a week ago. AS soon as about
ten abstracts come in a rough calcula-
ton can be made of the increase In the
value of property under this years
assessment. At present it is imposSi-
BILE to do more than guess. and this
guessing can be lone by one person as
we'll as n other.
The state superintendent Of public in
struction is Informed that since his re-
cent visit to Ormondsville, Greene
county, three public school districts
have been consolidated into one inc
will have a successful central school
at O~rmondSville, which later will be
aided by local taxation. Two other dis
tricts in that county have also been
consolidated.
Judge Thomas r. Purnell, of the fed
eral court, who has been at Hot
Springs, n. c., for two or three weeks
has gone to Wythville. Va, to remairs
perhaps a fortnight.
The showing which the penftentiary-
is making this wear is very gratifying
to the directors. the other state Of
ficials and to the general public. One
of the directors expresses the belief
that there will be 81, 900, 900 to the good
at the end Of the year. The directors
| with the great state farm on the Roa-
nOke as an investment
1t is found that there is not apt to be
much increase in the pension lists this
year. OF course any Increase in the
number reduces the pension, as the
amount of the total is fixed at not owe
5000, 00o. The local boards appear to
have done their York very well in-
deed.
The promoters Of the Raleigh and
Pamlico Sound Railway appear to be
very %sanguine that they will carry the
election on the bond issue in all the
counties in which the road is to run.