The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-13

constructing these roads where IL is i'm
possible for them 10 be built by private
enterprise or by county effort. The tote
cost of the road from Marion TO Burns
vile and Bakersville will probably
amount TO sixty thousand dollars $3.50. 0o0)
but the investment OF the onvic labor
in these roads in addition 10 the dividends
which they will probably pay, brings
that section into close touch with the
balance Of the State. The people OF
Yancey county have already begun build
ing a road from Burnsville 10 Spruce
Pine. If the Legislature should be OF
opinion that the building of these roads
is a wise thing for the State TO take a par
in. when the road from Wilkesboro to
jefferson shall have been completed. il is
my purpose TO turn the fifty convicts
now at work On hat road over TO the
Marion and huntsville and Bakersyille
road.
THE CODE COMMISSION.
The last codification of our laws was
published in 1883, twenty years ago.
Since then ten General Assemblies, in
Guiding the one now in session, have met
and the amendments to the laws as II
existed in 1883, have been important and
numerous. The edition of the Code has
been exhausted. it is difficult to ascer-
tain what our statute law is on many sub
iects. 1t is important that the law as 1ar
as possible shall be in ompact form,
easy Of reference so as to be known to
the people, and particularly to those
charged with the duty of advising about
it and to those who nave to enforce it.
Provision for a new Code is worthy of
your careful consideration.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.
On May /, 1904, the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition will be opened in st. Louis.
Missouri. This exposition will be the
greatest eve held in the world. The
Congress of the United States has appro-
priated Sc, 1908. 900 the city of ST. Louis
has provided $40, OOO, 900; and the State of
Missouri 81, 900, COO for the conduct of this
great exhibition Of the worlds work.
North Carolina ought to make an exhibit
there. The high estimation in which she
is now held by her sister States has
grown rapidly during the past ten years.
and it cannot be doubted that. one Of he
important elements bringing about this
improvement has been the part which she
has taken in the successive expeditions
III wa A>A 49,
country. The exhibits which she has
made have not always been elaborate or
costly, but they have attracted such at
tention on acc ount of their excellence and
have brought capital to our State in an
amount far in excess of her expenditures.
If we make an exhibit at all it ought to
be a creditable one. The cost Of making
an exhibit for this State will be COM
paratively small. The materials which
she has collected for previous exhibits
and the cases which have been made for
properly installing them are now held by
the State Museum. A considerable pGr-
ton, therefore, of any exhibit which we
may make at st. Louis can be taken from
the State Museum and later returned to
it. The cost of installing and caring for
these exhibits will be comparatively
small, because of the fact that there will
be in the partial or full employment of
the Exposition Company a sufficient
number of North Carolinians to care for
the exhibits without any extensive outlay
on the part of the State for this purpose,
and [ have assurances that these gentle
men will be glad to do this work for the
State. If the General Assembly will ap-
prCpriate fifteen thousand dollars ($15,-
O00) I am promised by responsible gen
tlemen that SIS 900 additional will be
raised in the State by private subscrip-
ton, and these sums will enable us to-
make an exhibit fully equal to many Of
the States that nave appropriated from
fifty thousand to seventy-five thousand
dollars. In addition to this the exhibits
will be returned to add to our already
excellent Museum. There will be no need
of the erection of a North Carolina Build
ing at the exposition.
AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE STATE.
About a year ago there was formed at
Greensboro The Audubon Society of North
Carolina. The object of this society is to
protect and preserve the game and non
game birds of the State. Already the
society contains a large membership of
many Of the best people in the State.
We have heretofore paid little attention
to the preservation Of our birds other
than those which have been protected
for the sake of game, but the birds
other than game birds are Of great prac-
teal value to many. They render such
service as d~estroyers Of insects which
are injurious to vegetation, as onsum-
ers Of small rodents, as destroyers of
large quantities seeds of injurious tolants
and as scavengers. Some of these birds
Aoh nv o"h - VI
insects daily. In this way they are a
great protection to our crops and the
little injury which they do to them is
much more than counterbalanced by the
service rendered. There have been found
in the State three hundred and twelve
species OF birds, but they become scarcer
with each year. Many of them are al
most entirely extinct. Our sea birds
have been almost exterminated for the
plumes collected for the great millinery
houses. The Audubon Society will ask
for the enactment of a law protecting all
these birds. The society will undertake
the task of enforcing the law without
expense to the State. I recommend a
careful and favorable consideration Of
the plans which will be proposed by the
society.
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
l have been requested by the honorable
Secretary of the Interior of the United
States to recommend to the General As
sembly the passage of an act authorizing
any person employed under and by virtue
of an act of Congress of the United States
I 49, IL