davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-07-28
Rural Telephones in Union County.


In last weeks Progressive Farmer,
we promised to republish within a
week or two the letter we had last
year from Mr.. j. z. Green, of Marsh
vile, regarding the rural telephone
system of Union County. The letter
follows:
"Marshville, N. c., July 80, 1902.
"Mr. Clarence H. Poe, Editor The
Progressive Farmer, Raleigh, N. @.
"Dear Sir:-I note with pleasure
your editorial in last issue of The
Progressive Farmer in favor of tele-
phones in the rural districts, and
hasten to reply to your inquiry for
further information regarding the
extension of the system in Union,
the cost, etc. Until a few years ago
one concern had a patent on the tele-
phone and no n could secure this
convenience, even In towns and cities,
except at an enormous cost in the
way of rents. But since the time of
the patent has expired, telephone
factories have sprung up rapidly all
over the country, and yet some fac
tories can not supply the demand
for phones and are frequently yer
al weeks behind with their orders.
Now, instead of one concern owning
the telephone system, there are indie
pendent companies in almost every
town. The principal towns and-cities
of this State are connected b.
phone, and all that is necessary for
farmers to be connected and on
speaking terms" with the outside
world, so to speak, is to have a line
connected with a town or city tx
change direct or if the distance is
over three or four miles, form a
-neighborhood telephone company, put
In a switchboard, connect this with
a town exchange or with some other
neighborhood exchange which has
connection with the town exchange
anyway to get there the cheapest for
good service.
"The cost of establishing the tele-
phone system in the country varies
with conditions, but under no condi-
tions have we ever known a farmer in
this county (Union), after having
had the use of a phone in his house
to entertain for a moment any idea
of abandoning it's use on account of
the expense, and even many renters,
who do not own the land they cult
vate, have phones in their houses and
can talk to persons in any part of
the county or neighboring counties.
"The first thing needed to establish
a neighborhood exchange is to get a
switchboard and locate where all who
are interested car reach it with the
least amount of wire. A switchboard
of from 10 to 25 drops costs from
$65 to 800, according to style and
make. Each line connected with the
board uses one drop, or number, but
several phones can be operated on
one line and if the bridging phones
are used a half dozen or a dozen
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-07-28

these with their own labor. They
should be placed two and a half or
three feet in the ground, about 60
yards apart, and along a road, or
across felds-anyway to get to the
Central" the easiest and quickest
way. Good teleDhones cost about
$40. Add this to the cost of line
pei mile and you have an estimate
of what it will cost to establish the
service. In this county instead of
forming neighborhood companies,
farmer in a neighborhood buys
a switchboard, connects it with the
town and then allows his neighbors
to build lines to it and gives them
connection at $1.O0 per month for
each line. SO if three farmers go
in together and build a line they
get the service at 80 1-3 cents each
per month. The owner of the board
furnishes the operator to give con-
nection and any bright child can
attend to a neighborhood exchange.
"You can do no better than to urge
upon farmers the Importance of es-
tablishing the rural telephone system.
The telephone is an invention hal is
destined to revolutionize things in
favor of farm life, rendering it less
isolated and placing it in touch with
the busy world. 1t saves time and
money, affords social pleasure and
protection for the family. 1t pro-
tects them from a delayed visit from
the doctor in cases of emergency
and it protects, or will to an extent
project them from criminals. No
sane man will commit a heinous
crime in a section or county where
there is a network of wires all over
the country, making it almost inn
possible to escape without being ap-
pretended. But it is not the pur-
pose of this article to discuss the
advantages of the system, but to give
some of the details as to plan of OPP
Grafton and cost. All that is needed
is tot get farmers interested enough
to act and when one neighborhood
establishes the telephone system it
doesn't take long to get others to
follow, for the rural telephone fever
is very catching
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
FIGURES STILL COME
NEW ORLEANS EXCHANGE GETS
 oUOTATIONS.
Superintendent Hester Says They are Obtained Legitimstely, But De- clines to Tell Who is
 Furnishing Them.

New Orleans, Aug, 1.-Contrary to ex- pectations the New Orleans Cotton Ex- change today received quotations as usual from the New York exchange. There was an unusually large attendance on the floor at the opening of business and great interest in the fight, which was expected to be on today as a result of the action of the local exchange in absolutely re- fusing to accede to the anti-buckst shop agreement of the New York body. Super intendent Hester absolutely refused to ex- plain the manner in which the quotations were secured. contensing himself with the statement that they were being obtained legitimately.
 Much mystery surrounded the matter, learned that the officers and directors worked nearly the whole night at the ex- change on some form of agreement eith- CT submitted to or by the New York ex- change. It was claimed today that neith- CT exchange would budge from its orig inal position.
 Later in the forenoon 1t was said that the Baxter injunction gotten out yester- day against the cutting off of quotations from anyone was probably responsible for the appearance of the New York quo tations today. The injunction Is against the withholding of "such information as may have been transmitted to the rublic generally or to other persons or corpora tions or firms"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
PAYNE BACK AT DESK
GENERAL CoNFERs
 WITH BRIgTow.
Says That the 1nxastigation Into the Scandal in His Department
 is Not at an

Washington. Aug. 1.--Postmaster-s ssefi- eral Payne resumed his official duties at the department today. He had a long conference wth his assistants during the morning. and for several hours talked over the investigations with Fourth As- sistant Postmaster-GeneralB Bristow. The latter reviewed everything that has been done during Mir. Payne's absence.
 The Postmaster-General showed that his trip has greatly benefited him, and he says he feels very much improved
 MT. Payne said that it could not by any means be said that the investigation was ended, although he hoped the end was in sight. He said 1t might be completed in four weeks, but it was impossible to fix any exact date. He said the Presi- dent, in common with himself and Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow. will be glad when the investigation is over, but that none of them wants the inquiry closed until every irreguiaraty has been ferreted out. Mir. Payne pointed out that inspectors are working on the cases in various parts of the country and developments not now foreseen may oc- cur at any time. Mir. Payne declared that every one against whom any evi- dence has been found will be treated ac- cording to the evidence, and that no one win be shielded by the department.
 A son of John T. Cupper. the Mayor of Lockhaven. Pa., telephoned United States District Attorney Peach today that Cup per would come to this city to surrender in court Monday Counsel for August w. Machen today filed in the criminal court of the District a demurrer to the former indictments of Machin. It alleges that every count in the indictment is fatally defective in that 1t showed that Machen was in ofiice of the Government at the time the offenses alleged were committed. Machen withdrew a plea of not guilty.
 The demurrer to indictment for bribery against Diller B. and Samuel A. Gron, in connection with Machen. also was filed Like Machen, the Gron brothers withdrew their plea of not guilty and say every count of the indictment is defec- tive The demurrer contends that the in- dictment does not, in a legal manner, charge the defendants with the commit- ment of any offense against the United States. and that it does not charge any act or promise to commit mlsdemeanor under any law of the United States.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
NEW YORK IS SURPRISED.
At Same Time Exchange Will Per
 sist in Its Course.

New York, Aug. 1.-oficials and mem bers of the New York Cotton Exchange express surprise over the stand taken by the New Orleans Exchange in the matter of market quotations.
 Some time ago the local institution took aggressive action against bucket shops by arranging with the telegraph compa- nies which send out the quotations from the floor that no ticker should be irstall- ed in any office or place without the sane- tion of the exchange authorities. The tel egraph companies obligated themselves not to furnish quotations to any firm or party not first approved of by the cotton exchange. Contracts have been made or renewed extensively on this basis, and no objections have been made anywhere to signing the agreement to keeping the quotations from bucket shops. That the Southern exchange should feel aggrieved has therefore created some comment, While some of the local officials ex- pressed the belief that the matter VIII quickly adjust itself when better under standing is had, 1t is stated autnorlta- lively in any event the New York FIX change will make no exceptions in us rule regarding the signing of contracts
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
SIR THo1rAs ON ToU1.
Kisses the Babies and Gives Carna-
 tions to the Girls.

Kisses the Babies and Gives Carna-
 tions to the Girls.
 Buffalo, Aug. 1.-Sir Thomas Lipton to- night concluded day of receptions along the way from New York to Buffalo, as guest of the Buffalo Club. A special train had given him beautiful views of the Lehigh, the Wyoming and the Sus- auehanna Valleys and the people along the line had welcomed him in fashion that delighted him. Hundreds of en- thusiastic people at Wilkesbarre literally pulled hira from the cab of the locomo- tive. in which he rode for one hundred miles among the mountains. at Easton' at Bethlehem, sayr and most of the other stops there was a rush for the car plat form to meet him and wish him good luck.
 At Bethlehem he invited the Misses Bessie and Annie Taylor into the car and gave them pins bearing the Shamrock flag and at every station he presented a carnation to every girl who could get within reach.
 Sir Thomas told General Passenger Agent Charles s. Lee, of the Lehigh Val lev Railroad that he was greatly pleased with the cordiality shown on the way and at Buffalo A throng greeted him and cheered as he left the Buffalo station He held an impromptu reception in front of the Buffalo Club, and even kissed a baby that a proud mother held up.
 The business men Of Buffalo gave the yachtsman a warm greeting at the Buff falo Club After a reception, at which they wished him the best of luck, they gave a dinner in his honor at which Sir Thomas and his hosts made informal speeches.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
KING BOARDS THE BROOKLYN The Portuguese Sovereign
 Visits WarShip. SHOWS GREAT cORDIALlTY Cotton Thanks the King for
 Warm Welcome. Tn Reply Charles Says He VIII Wire President Roosevelt His Thanks For Visit of The American
 Squadron.
SHOWS GREAT CORDIALlTY

Lisbon, Aug. Liking Charles, in the
 uniform of an admiral. the Prince Royal Louis Philippe, the young Prince Don Manuel and Premier Ridsiro. at o'clock today embarked at the Naval Dock Yards on the River Tague. for their visit to the American squadron
 They were accompanied by the dignita- ries of the Royal Palace and the ofilcsrs of Ministry of Marine.
 Every honor was accorded to the royal and state barges. as they moved out of the river, both the American and Por- tuguese men-of-war. which were sally dressed for the occasion. firing saiutes.
 As the barges neared the flagship Brooklyn. the band aboard played the national anthem of Portugal.
 The royal personages were received at the head of the ladder by Admiral Cot ton, who was surrounded by his cnief or staff, the commanders of the other ships and United States Minister Bryan. Files of sailors manned the gangway. The King and his encourage made tour of the Brooklyn. The, King made com- plete examination of the equipment, guns and armor of the ship. his conversation on this subject with Admiral Cotton be- ing very interesting and cordial The visit ended after luncheon.
 Cotton Thanks King.
 Admiral Cotton. in his remarks at the luncheon. said he desired to thank His Majesty for the honor of his visit. and that he desired to profit by the occasion to express his great appreciation of the suitability and extreme cordiality of the reception tendered to the squadron, not only by the King but by all the people of Lisbon. He proposed toast to the King. Queen and the royal family of Por- tugal
 The King. iEf re1iIyinls said hs, eongrat. uiated biidsegf that taA had had the op. portuniky ta visit the American rquad- ron. The cordial manner in which he had been received put upon him pleasant obligation, that of thanking President Roosevelt for the pleasure he felt at hav- ing made the acquaintance of Admiral Cotton. He would, therefore, he declared, send a telegram to President Roosevelt. in which he would also thank the proof of American good will shown by the visit of the squadron.
 The King proposed a toast to President Roosevelt, as magistrate of the United States. saying that to drink to Presl- dent Roosevelt was to drink to the pros- perity of that most powerful nation. The announcement by the King that he would send a cablegram to President Roosevelt was greeted with cheers.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
NEW EVIDENCE IS HEARD
Mrs. Combs C0rrOborateS Mrs.
 Mary Johnson.
Many Witnesses Who Feared to Ap- pear at Jackson Go to Cyn- y thina and Give Testimony
 Against the Defendants. !.

cynthiana. Ky. Aus. i. -The second trial of Curtis Jett and Thomas white, for the murder of I. B. Marcum has cons tinned one week. and the prosecution is stiif calling witnesses. The State was not half so long at Jackson. Ky. closing ita side. but it was compelled to do 70 be- cause most of it's witnesses could not be secured there.
 Commonweaith.s Astofnaz Byrd haa surprised all in securing ths aktondance here of persons from Brsathitt countx that t was thought never would feslify against either of the defenda1ts
 Among the witnesses who fled tc the mountains during the trial at Jackson was Henry Freeman, and he was held iE con fnement here several days until he was needed to testify. He was on the stand again today for the third time, and told all about his saloon near Jackson: that he had killed a man himself and served three years in the penitentiary for it. and that Jett and White came to his place for whisi<ey on the night after, Marcum was that had been killed"
 Freeman testified that while they were drinking Jett said:
 Jett ssDid His Best"
 T had to got ahead of him some wnw and [ did 1t the best could.v
 Freeman was disconnected in Ais evl. dence, but the examination brought out many points. Freeman testified that White had said to him that Marcun fell soon after he (White) had passed out of the court house,
 Mrs Combs's evidence. as given at Jackson on the first trial, was read to the jury, as her husband died here today.
 Mrs. Combs corroborated Mrs. Mary Johnson in saying that 1ett hao told her that Mrs. Johnson asked him wha Killed Der brother and his naply was that, .Yan. l. killed your brother"
 There is no prediction as to when tho trial will end. as the defense is now hunf- Ing mp witnesses everywhere in Breathitf County and 1t is said subpoenaes have been Issued for hundred witnesses on that side.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
BEATEN TILL
 DEATH SAME Chinese Joys .aliSt HOr-
 ribly a.rtured. ExAMPJ z TO REPORTERS
Deed Done at Behest O
 D0wager Empress.
Sheen Chien, Pekin Editor, at His Trial, Boldly Proclaimed His Be liefs and Expressed Willing
 ness to Die for Them.

Pekin. Aug. l.-Sheen Chien, journ- alist of Pekin, was executed yesterday.
 According to the official report of the execution Chien was beheaded, but 1t be- came known tonight that this report was false and that the condemned man was beaten to death in accordance with in- structions issued by the Dowager Elm press. who desired to make an example of the journalist with which to terrify other reformers.
 The incident is declared to be the most horrible that has occurred In China since the massacres of 1900.
 The killing occurred in the court yard of the Yamen of the Board of Punish ment. The victim was beaten with bam- boo rods for two hours, from to ( o'clock in the afternoon, the flesh on his back. arms and legs being torn to ribbons. After life had apparently become extinct the executioners, fearing that Chien had merely tainted, twisted rope around his neck and left the body in this condition until this morning.
 Was Ready to Die. e
 No one except officers was permitted to see the prisoner after his arrest. all in- formation regarding his condition being withheld The evidence at the trial was 30 weak that Chien would probably have been acquitted had he not boldly pro- claimed his principles throughout and his willingness to die for them. He frankly admitted the charge that he had attempt- e.I to organize a rebellion at Han Row in ,3Oo and boasted that he had always ad- vccated the assassination of the Manchu's in order to rid the country of the dy- nastyg
 Despite the precautions taken by the officers, the prisoner smuggled from his ceIi a farewell message in the form oi
 IL. An .~ln aAA rafaFM0 n nd exhorted his colleagues to continue the work.
 Chien was 30 years old and had many friends among the foreign residents of PsAin. The affair has created intense teeling in the foreign community.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
Points to pi Pietro.

Paris, Aug. 1.-La Temps this afternoon announces that 1t has special reason for believing that the outcome of the conclave will be as follows: Cardinal Rampolla, having secured the greatest number of votes. but not sufficient to elect will withdraw in favor of Angelo Di Pietro. pro-Datary of the late Pope who is his intimate friend and co-worlxer and who. if elected will name Dominica Fer rata, prefect of the congregation of bishops, and Creglia as his Secretary of State
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
RIFLEMEN RETURN.
Colonel Bruce Says They Were Treat
 ed Royalty.

New York. Aug. Lon board the Gun ard line steamer Lucania, from Liverpool which arrived today. were seventeen members of the United States rifle team hack from their recent victory at Bisley camp. England. The team went abroad to compete for the Palma trophy and succeeded in winning the match while many of the individual members of the team also won prizes. The team was in charge of Colonel Leslie c. Bruce of the Old Guard, as Captain. g@
 Colonel Bruce said they had been given . great reception abroad and were treat cd royalty. s4 ss,ss H. The following teiegrams were sent prior to sailing from Liverpool:
 Colonel Bruce, United States Rife Team: Have sent you wire from Lord Rob- erts. All wish you prosperous voyage.
 (signed.) ''Cheylesmore." ''colonel Bruce United states Rifle Team: ''T am very sorry have come too late to see you and congratulate you on your splendid achievement.
 K& s.Roberts."
 Colonel Bruce replied as follows: Lord Cheylesmore, Bisley Camp:
 '.rhe United States rife team and my self are honored by the Kind messages from the distinguished soldier. Lord Rob- erts and yourself. We leave our good Engiish friends with hearts full of grati- tude,
 (eigned.> 'T. c. Bruce. lss-ss<ass-f sSCsAnt2fN. "
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
COTTON IS TOO HIGH
NEW ENGLAND sPINpLEs WILL
 BE IDLE.
Manifacturers Claim That PplSe of the Staple and Hesitancy sf Trade Necessitates e Curtaii-
 ment of Production.

Boston, Aug LIn cotton manufacturing circles in this city it is expected that mol e than 2,00O. 900 spindles will be idle through out the North during the month of Au- gust. due mainly to the high prices in the cotton market and the hesitancy of pur- chasers of goods to agree to any marked advance of raw material purchased be- fore the rise and remaining in the store hoouses.
 Attempts have been made to induce all cotton manufacturers to enter into gem eral agreement to shut down for a stated period on certain days of each week, but owing to a large number of unfin- ished contracts an iron-elad agreement was deemed inexpedient at this time.
 The conditions in the cotton market have caused much inconvenience in Fall River, the textile center of North Amer ica. About one-third of the SO.0oO opera lives there have been idle this week. Of the 4.0)cOlO spindles S00,000 will not be working next week.
 In Lowell. another leading mill center. the high price of cotton has not had any noticeable effect on account of the long shut down of six corporations during the strike of the operatives last spring.
 In Maine. mills at Lewiston. Lisbon and Brunswick will shut down for two weeks.
 Among other corporations which also will curtail their production are the Queen City of Burlington, and the North Pow nall of Pownall Vt; the Monadnock mills of Claremont. and the Cocheco mills of Dover. N H.; the Bernon mills of Georgeville, R. l.; and other plants in the latter State and several of the cor poratlons in the Quinibag Valley, Eastern Connecticut.
 There is a confident feeling in some cot ton mill offices that after September is we'll advanced a general improvement in market conditions will occur.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
saUADRoN's CLOSE CALL
Narrow Escape From Destruction on
 Breakers.

6Te6keTS.
 New York Aug. 1.-According to a let ter received here from a member of the crew of the cruiser New York, the flag ship and the other vessels of the Pacific squadron had a narrow escape from de- struction on July IS, before reaching Dutch Harbor, says a dispatch to The Herald from San Francisco.
 With the New York are the Marb1ehead and the Bennington. The vessels were steaming slcng, sayv the letter. through a dense Fog According to the chart and an observation obtained just before the fog shut down there was plenty of clear deep wa.e- for miles in every direction and the flagship set a fairly speedy gait. Breakers ahead came suddenly from the lookout forward. The flagship was stopped ana the other vessels were or ]ered to dc the same. All anchored and nu move was made until the fog lifted. Ahead :n every direction could be seen breaking water, and not a quarter of a mile ahead. was an island, on which. but f ,r the lcokouts keen ears, the New York and her crnboat escort in ten minutes II. ire might have been piled.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
WaIlxer,s Bodv rxbumad

Union City, Tenn, Aug. 1.--At the in- stigation of several insurance companies a coroner's inquest is being held to ex- anime into the death of Robert F. Walk CT, a prominent young married man of this city, who died very suddenly three weeks since. Walker carried 5000 in- strance on his life. It was decided by the coroner that a chemical analysis should be made and in consequence the body has been exhumed and the viscera taken to Memphis for examination by ex- pert chemists.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-02
Meat Insneotion Law

Berlin. Aug. 1.-The question arose in con- nection with the new meat law as to whether American pork must be accompanied by the certificate of microscopical inspection made by the specialists of the American Government according to the terms of agreement of Sept. 8. 1891. Some German inspection officers have interpreted the new law as aholishing these certificates because in any case the meat must be inspected in Germany. Chan, cellor von BueIow has just decided that these inspection certificates must accompany any American pork, ruling that the new law does not affect the agreement oe leol.