The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-17
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigfh, n. c.. March II.

Messenger Bureau.
Raleigfih, N. c., March II.
The extremely rainy weather has put
a stop to all sorts of farm work. The
ground is so saturated with moisture,
that it is impossible to do any plough
ing Or planting. The streams are full to
overlooking.
Work is in progress on the Pullen
Memorial building at the Agricultural
and Mechanical college. The roof is on
and it is now the interior work which
is being done. The portico is to be
very imposing, with large columns. In
this building will be the dining hall. to
seat 600 students, and ths assembly
room, which will accommodate 1,5C0.
Some work yet remains to be done in
Watagua Hall an estimate is made that
to complete and equip these two build
ings, will COST something like S12, 900,
which the legislature has compelled the
agricultural department to pay.
The last of the members of the leG;s-
lature went home today. Most of them
were quite worn out by the nearly con-
tinuous sessions and the late hours they
kept.
The season for shooting partridges
end in three days. One Of the questions
which all the sportsmen in this part
of the state at least have asked is
what becomes of the birds. Your COR
respondent in common with great num-
bers of others know we'll the fact that
in August, September and October
there were many birds, the season nav
ing been extraordinarily favorable for
them, and double broodS being very
common but when November came the
birds in some mysterious way disap-
noora6 Ac a rncrr1f CpnrtCnoan i,0y0
had very poo luck indeed.
Provision is made by the legislature
for connecting the hospital for the in
sane here with the Raleigh water sup
ply. The water will be taken from the
main, about a quarter of q mile from
the pumping station. The main to the
hospital reservoir, will be 6 inch, and it's
length will be 1882 feet. The legisla-
ture appropriated $4,000 for this con-
nectiOn.
Governor Aycock has made quite a
number of educational appointments to
speak during the next two or three
months The dates up to the end Of
May are as follows: Guilford College,
March 26th, Pelham, 9th, Windsor,
April 9TH Burlington 14th. Sharp Insti-
tute 18th, Bombay Institute. May 5th,
Sanford 7th. WintersviIle High School
18th, Oxford 18th, Red Springs Goth.
LeesvilIe 22nd. Yadkinville Normal
Schools 26th, Littleton 2sth.
1t is learned at the agricultural depart
ment that the sales of fertilizer tax
tags are normal. 1t is. expected that
they will be as large as they were last
spring.
Requisition a beer made by this
state on the var department for Kraig
Magazine rifles for all the infantry
regiments of the North Carolina ma
tional guard. In all there will be
about 1000. Cartridge belts and bayo-
net ~scarbards will come with the
rifles.
Professor E. C. Brooks, who for
several months last year was the secre-
tary of the North Carolina executive
committee of the Southern Educational
Board. and whose office was in that Of
the superintendent Of public i~nstruc-
ton where he did such excellent work
for the promotion of the betterment Of
rural public schools, will now become
a clerk in the state superintendent
office. This is a new position created
at the recent session of the legislature,
with 81 200 salary. Superintendent JOY
ner went to Greensboro two or three
days ago to see Mr.. Brooks in regard
to the latter's taking this clerkship.
He resigned the superintendency Of the
Monroe graded schools to take the
place. He will also be the secretary
III tlS
southern education board during the
latter's summer work. with which he
is so familiar. Superintendent JOyner
says Mr.. Brooks duties will be to look
after the loan fund, for aiding in the
building Of school houses, and that he
Will Investigate the condition Of affairs
in the various counties so that the
money may be used 20 the best ad-
vantage. The superintendent says III
desires n will obtain a report at first
hand on the educational condition of
every county and also Of the condition
of the school houses. Mr.. Brooks will
assist Superintendent Joyner in secur-
ing this valuable and most necessary
Il information.
The legislature made some amend
ments of the law regarding arson and
made this addition to the law: That
whoever being the occupant of any
building used as a dwelling, whether
owner of not. or being the owner OF
any unoccupied building designed OF
intended as a dwelling, shall wilfully
and wantonly or for fraudulent pur-
poses set fire to UGH building, shall be
i guilty Of a felony, punishable by i'm
prisonment and fine in the discretion
/ of the court.
The figures given by the report OF
the attorney general show plainly that
the crime of murder is increasing in
North Carolina. The report gives two
year periods from January LIST. 1889 tc
1903, making Z such periods. In the
first there were 80 murder trials. in the
second 154, in the third 179, in the
fourth 1876, in the fifth 1873, in the sixth
1S9. and in the seventh, 2O4. Trials fol
manslaughter have increased from IL
for the first period to 60 for the last
n trials for murder in the second
degree which during the first two
years were only AZ, are now "a.
Burglary has increased from "a tt
80. and assault from % to 81. Arson
is the crime in which there is less aver
age increase. During the first period
there were only IA trials, for this crime
During one period, Al trials were had
but now it is dropped back to Is
The highwater mark for all crimes wa.
j reached during the years 1897, 1898
when there were 1S,541 tried as against
4 10,437 during 1SS9-90.
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