The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-17
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
ANNUAL CONVENTION NOW IN
p SESSION AT RALEIGH.
Address of Superintendent Joyner-
Huneral of Mrs. L. OBJ. Branch
I1he Fuller-Pace NuptiaIs-Other
RBaleigh News.
Messenger Bureau,

Raleigh, y. c., November 18th.
At the First Baptist church this
evening there was a notable gather
ing of society people to witness the
marriage of Mr. Jones Fuller, Repre-
Durham county, TO Miss Mattye
Pace. Mr.. Frank l.. Fuller, of Dur
ham, was best man, and Miss Susie
Heck was maid of honor. Many
relatives and friends of both families
were here to attend the wedding.
which was followed by the reception
at the home of Mrs. Heck, grand
mother of the bride.
The uneraI of Mrs. L. O'B. Branch
was held here this afternoon, from
Christ Episcopal church., mo was
attended by L. Oh. Branch Camp OF
Confederate Veterans. the Daughters
of the COnfederacy and the Ladies'
Memorial Association. Mrs. Branch
was buried beside her husband. Cen
eral Branch, who was killed at
Sharpsburg. A humble of persons
from various points in the state, in
Guiding some prominent Confederate
Veterans were here to attend the
funeral.
Thirty white oak and chestnut oak
trees are being set ouy In the capitol
square. to take the place of trees
which nav been blown down or died
there.
The annual convention of the State
Superintendent of Public I~nstruc-
ton and the County superintendent
began here this morning in the
louise of Representatives. The event
of the morning session was the ad-
49, &c 80 -
ner. to this the ecOnd annual meet
ing of the association. He stated
that since last November, So new
local tax districts have been estab-
lished, most of these in rural dis
tricts, making the total number ia,
these being in 63 counties. from
Dare to Cherokee, Dare with IS.
GuilfOrd with Il and AIamance with
Q leading the state, the increase be-
ing $50 in two years. The decrease
of school districts by consolidation
is 557. The agitation for Ocal tax
alton and consolidation is actively in
progress. During the year. 347 new
school houses were built, the expen-
diture being S140.495- The total
value OF school property is $1.629.-
SOB. an increase of S263.143. during
n present year and IN increase of
$416.492 in the past two years.
The loan fund has greatly stimu-
lated the building and Improvement
of school houses. s6S.311 having been
lent to go counties for III districts.
There is yet s45.6S9 of this fund
available. All the rural libraries
made possible by the act of 1901
have been established and under Il
new act. 115 libraries have already
been established. There are still
about 2.5OO white school districts
with less h 65 children of school
age The percentage of illiteracy is
still appalling and suggests. specially
i'll view of the possible diSfranchiSe-
ment of thousands of white voters, IL
stupdendOus work to be done in re-
moving this illiteracy before 1908.
There IS an increase of 10000 chill
dren in n average daily attend
ance on the white ruraf schools. an
increase OF at least 6 Del cent. dur
ing the present year. This increase
has never before been apprOXimated
i'm North Carolina. 1t is the most
practical and substantial evidence of
an awakened and abiding interest In
education that has yet been present
ed i'm any report Of the public schools
of the state. There are yet 161.797
white children OF school age not en-
rolled in the public schools. Super.
intendent Joyner declared that the
County Superintendent is the reaI
strategic point in all this work.
Subjects were discussed at the
convention by Superintendents Crisp
OF Dare; Sharpe. of GuilfOrd: Long
of AIamance; Cochran. of Mecklen-
burg; Moore. of Caldwell; Ragsdale
of Pitt: Hodges. of Davie; Mebane
OF Catawba: Hayes. of Wilson,
Wright. of Wilkes. There were also
speeches by Charles D. McIver. o.
the Southern Educational Board
and by r. D. W. Common. of Viii.
mington. the subject of the Latter
being The Life and Character o
State Superintendent Calvin H
Wiley"
Sheriff Jackson. of Washington
county. today brought to the peni
Tertiary Milton Roads. colored. e
serve % years for the murder of ;
negro named Sutton at n Festival
one night. There were so cases OIL
the criminal docket, all save two
COIOred.