The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-13


for the manufacturer and will
not lessen the wages of the operativ...
Certainly if equal results can be at
Cained by fewer hours of labor every
one ought to be in favor of lessenlns
The hours, for by dong SO the opera
lives have more time for outdoor eX-
-rciSe, for study, for reflection n for
social duty, all of which are essentla
% the fullest development. The right
Of the state to regulate the hours of la
or was for a long time questioned, but
las at last been generally recognized
When a country is now, sparsely settled
.argely given to agricultural and other
outdoor labor there is little, if any.
need for the interposition of the state
JetWeen the employer and the employee
Jut with the increase OF population anG
ne gathering of great bodies of men
nto small communities, seeking labor
n manufa cturing plants, it sometimes
,ecOmes necessary to protect them
Igainst the destructive tendency ::
pverW DIRK. l believe that the hour has
ONE in this state When without in
justice to any one the law may proper
Y declare that not more than eleven
IOurs shall constitute a days wor
n manufacturing establishments.
Where night work is performed tn
hours should be restricted TO ten. Tbs
[ think can be done without the sligh
st injury to industry. but really VIII
benefit to it and certainly it will be =
lelp TO those who toll. We have II
this state today labor capable of tn
highest development. Dur optr~t
are in the main native stock, with the
inc bro its n rI rho Ctn,1r no :tS -,I,nL
nave eve characterized North Carroll
nians. The people of this state consti
tute its wealth n given a fair oppor-
tunity for development of the mind
body, and heart, they will become as
efficient workers as can be found any
where.
OYSTER COMMISSIONER FOR
NORTH CAROLINA.
/ transmit herewith the report Of the
oyster commissioner, together with a
copy of an act recommended by him.
The primary object Of the law is to pre-
serve and increase the production of
oysters in our eastern waters. IT
seems to me, therefore. that in addi-
ton to this protection n preservation
of our oyster beds some revenue for
the state might we'll be derived from
this source. The laws in force have
been executed as well as possible I'M
der all the circumstances, though there
has been much complaint of viola ton
by various parties. A number of peo-
pie have been arrested charAal with
violation of the law. but all have beeA
acquitted. It appears almost imposH-
bic to secure convictions in this class
of cases. The whole subject Of our
fish and oyster legislation deserves the
most careful consideration at your
hands 50 as to safeguard this great
source of wealth to the state, protect
our own citizens in their rights and
while increasing the supply of oysters
encourage the business Of canning
them.
THE ATLANTIC AND NORTH CAR
OLINA RAILROAD CO.
The conduct of this road under its
present management has been nuite
satisfactory. The earnings f3I the ifs
cal year ending June so, 1899, Were
$751;, 1920. This was then the largest
sum ever earned by the Dad in its his
tory. For the fiscal year ending June
%. 1902, the earnings amounted TO
257,O32.70, showing a gain in earnings
Of $50. 40. so. notwithstanding the in
crease in the earnings no dividend has
been paid to the stockholders but tn
money has been expended in perma-
rent improvements, S47,S37.C9 being
spent in hat way during the last fiscal
ear. During the fiscal e g
Tune so. 1900 the board borrowed for
use in betternents of the road $50, coo
At the time of the last meeting of
stockholders in September 81. 10000 of
this sum had been paid. 1t is my hop
and expectation that the remainder IF
this borrowed money shall be paid dur
ing the present fiscal year. When this
is accomplished there seems g fair
prospect for the regular receipts of div
tdendS. improvements are still being
made on the oad and 1t Is now IN eX-
cellent condition, giving TO the people
Of the section through which it runs
better facilities than they have eve
enjoyed before.
PENSIONS AND SOLDIERS HOME
During the past TWO years the state
has paid out to the soldiers and widow
IN pensions $3.50. 597. 50, and in the sup
port of and additions to the soldiers
home S31, 600. 90. L is admitted the
North Carolina sent more soldiers =
the Confederate army h any othai
state. The mour maid 70 the widow:
Of those soldiers and 70 the survivors, C
that gallant army must appear jC
| everyone pitifullv small. These Oh
men and the widows Of those who havt
| passed away haV been much honoret
| on the platform and in the press anC
| the state has one what she has fell
| able to do to make their lives more
! pleasant as they approach the end
F., The debt which we pay TO them is bu'
a small part of hat which they merit
| Their bitter necessities will appeal g
| you and I cannot doubt that such pro
| vision will be made as o find tn,
| state able to bear.
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD
Accompanying this message will b.