The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-09
LEGISLATORS ARRIVING
Senatorial Contest OvershadOws all
EIse-This Will be Affected by
Gattis-kiIgO Case-RepOrt on Oys-
ter DeveIOpment-N. c.. Railway
Directors Meet.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, y. c., January s.

Raleigh, n. C, January s.
Members of the Legislature came in
today in large numbers and practically
all are now here. Up to yesterday at
o there were more of~ice-seekers
han members.
Just as predicted, the senatorial con-
test overshadows everything: So far.
it is a friendly fight, but there are some
signs of war on the horizon. For ex-
ample the Methodist church squabble,
arising out of the Gattis-Kilgo case. is
entering in as a sort of side issue, with
some rather warm features.
The Overman men are sure they are
in the lead on the first ballot. SOME
were willing to give odds. Craig's peo-
pie now say they will take those
All the aspirants are afraid of what
they term complimentary votes-that Is
that men who vote for them on the
first ballot will change or the second.
Julian S. Carr arrived today. 1t is as
serted that the vote for him On the
first ballot will be larger than expected
Among today's arrivals were eX- 1t
Gov. r. A. Doughton, of Allegheny
county. nov a member of the house:
D. R. Julian, A. H. Boyden, Salisbury;
Theodore F. Davidson, Asheville: Con-
gresham Robert n. Page, Briscoe: G.
B. Patterson, Maxton, w. c. Hammer,
Asheboro: L. L. Smith. Gainesville.
Very few convicts are now arriving
at the penitentiary. but two arrived
today; a horse thief from Burkard, a
murderer from Lincoln.
State oyster Commissioner w. M.
Webb, of Morehead City, is here. He
says oysters are fairly plentiful, and in
good order, Ill prices are very high.
80 to 80 cents Il bushel on the spot
where they are taken. while heretofore
the oyster men We're glad to get %
cents q DuShel. There are five cau-
neries in operation, two in Carteret
and three in P~asquotank county. He
Sa ys the oyster law is enforced as we'll
as expected. 1t is not so strict and so
| good as the Virginia law. The oyster
pirates" carry rifles in their boats and
vessels. In Virginia oystermen can
carry no weapo other than a II gauge
shot gun with No. 4 shot. The oyster
patrol coat Lily is not in commission,
it is laid up at Washington. A gaso-
line burning boat and two ~schooners
are III use ana compose the active OyS-
ter navy. They are less expensive than
the Lily.
State superintendent Joyner avs he
will tomorrow send to the various
counties the 500, 600 of direct appro-
priations for the public schools.
! Today the directors of the North
Carolina railway met here, at the ex-
ecutive office and declared the usual
3 1-2 per cent. semi-annual dividend.
President Hugh G. Chatham says all
the affairs of the road are in the finest
possible condition.
There is great demand for the 100
acres more of extremely valuable real
estate which the road owns in the
town of Burlington. Up to 25 years ago
.he shops Of the road were there n
name of the place was Company hops.
Now it is an important manufacturing
place, a cotton mill centre, with other
large enterprises also. The old shops
are leased to an external bridge build
ing Three of the directors
of the road. Gen. Robert T. Hoke, DR..
V. E. Turner and l.. Banks Holt, COM
pose the committee On real estate. 1t
is understood that the road will soon
sell part of the lands at Burlington and
this is felt to be a proper course to
pIrSue.