The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-10
RED SPRINGS NOTES.
A Plea for the MecklenDurG Declara-
tion-Regrets at Disbanding Mill
tary Company-Backward Crops
and Increased Values in Farm
Lands-Personal Mention and In
dUstrial Notes.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Red Springs, n. c.. July ~4.-Thomas
Jefferson did not like the Highland
Scotch and in the first copy Of the
Declaration of Independence he COM
planned that the King of England was
importing Highlanders and other for
eign mercenaries into the colonies. DR..
Franklin. who had melted the people
Of North Carolina to resistance during
the regulation days. suggested that the
| reference to the Hlghlanders was in
bad taste as DR.. Witherspoon. the High
land clergyman was a member of the
congress and Genera Mercer, the
Jacobite was fighting the battles of lib
erty. The Objectionable EXPRESSION was
stricken out, though it appears on the
original copy. Back in the twenties Of
the last century when men discussed
the authenticity of the Mecklenburgh
Declaration Of May Goth, 1775. Jefferson
rldlculed the statements in regard to it
and mpa those statements to the
Shakings of Bald mountain and declar-
ed that he had never heard Of that
Sc~otch-1rish declaration. Identity of
expressions in both declarations is a
very striking coincidence" What IN
telligent North Carolinian today can
L NooD LIN vi lllV uOSlCl q
ton of May goth. The resolutions of
May 31st are mythical. No convention
was held at that time and there is not
a written word nor even a tradition,
that any resolutions We're passed at
| that date. Yet those resolutions have
| passed into history as authentic!
Well, the 4th is upon US with the
usual crowd of negroes in attendance
| n little or no enthusiasm exhibited
on an occasion formerly celebrated with
he booming of cannon. speech making
n reading the great declaration.
Fayetteville and Cumberland county
Will celebrate on Monday next and a
| large crowd will attend from Robson
to hear the silver-tOngued orator from
| Wilmington.
The ~disbanding Of the lumber Bridge
! Light Infantry by the recent inspecting
officers causes no little regret among
| our citizens. This has been
| the pride of Robson county for 60
years and is we believe the second old
est military organization in the state.
Some of its members were soldiers in
Mexico, the whole company wen to the
field in 1861 as it did in 1898 IN the war
with Spain. For morality, intelligence
and high toned patriotism this compa-
ny has no superior in this or any other
| state and its disarmament unless sat-
isfactorily explained will rouse pre-
judice among these Scotch that will
| Ddll there iii the Oh HIo
shut in eternal rest"
Crops in this section are not as far
advanced as in former years. but the
outlook is Verv promising. An mmenS
crop of tobacco will be raised in this
county and many of our farmers are
busy curing. The prOductiVeneSS of our
land seems to have been only recently
discovered and prices for LAND have
materially increased. A farm that sold
for about So 200 ten years ago can be
sold now for So, 900 cash.
A recent disastrous fire in the busI-
ness part of Red Springs ought to cor
vince our town authorities of the neces-
Sity of a fire mpa but they seem
to regard the matter as one of divine
providence and as yet ave taken no
action.
The action of the county commissioners
in ordering an addition to the Jail at
Lumberton IS causing su;ne bitter feel
ing among the taxpayers n a meet
ing of citizens will be held on Mon
day, July 9Th at the county seat to dis
| cuSs the situation.
Captain Short, professor in Delaware
| college. is here on a visit. looking after
the interests Of the North Carolina
Military Academy, of which he is pro-
| prietor.
DR.. Murphy, headmaster of the acad-
envy is now in Washington city and
will return in September.
Work on the oil mill goes bravely on
and the building will be ready for the
machinery b. Sentember. There IS re-
vived an interest in the erection of a
large cotton mill at Red Springs. A
northern manufacturer is expected to
move his plant to this place. We are
informed that $4,000 can be raised at
once to aid the ENTERPRISE if necessary.
A swimming pool has been built here
at considerable cost and the luxury of
bathing is now enjoyed by the public.
An arteslan well sunDlies 500 gallons
per hour of mineral water.