The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-20
FEW IMPORTANT MEASURES
CONSIDERED.
Large Number OF Bills Being Passed.
Interesting Letter from Texas About
the Cotton Situation-Measures for
a Reformatory for youthful Crimi-
naIs-Other Raleigh News Notes.
Messenger Bureau.

tant measures being UP so far. Today
the pension committees have a con-
ference with State Auditor Dixon.
There appear to be considerable SEN
timent in favor of the pension appro-
priations.
There is to be a meeting for pur-
poses of conferences here on the oath,
between the firemen and the local in
surance agents. at which a number Of
important matters are to be discussed
= some relative to desired legislation.
Very little talk is heard about en-
larging the capitol. and it is not be-
Iieved that anx such step will be
taken. Mr.. Charles E.. johnson, a
prominent resident here makes a val
liable suggestion. this being that the
State purchase property facing the
capitol square,. which it can do at rea-
sonable figures. and on such
erect special buildings. using the cap
itOl solely for the legislature and for
committee rooms. This plan is an ex-
cellent one. The capitol is too beau
tiful, Mr.. Johnson and others say, to
be spoiled by additions.
Some important changes are pro-
posed to be made in the charter Of the
city of Raleigh. and the Chamber of
Commerce this evening discussen
these. The fact is Raleigh is hide
bound. needs extension and needs bet
ter communications.
Apoor~ tho rr;1o Jo louo Tr--
JOIN S. Henderson, Salisbury; Repub-
lican State Chairman Thomas Rollins;
Edgar Parmelee, Wilmington; B. M.
Mckenzie and P. D. Gold, Greensboro;
c. w. Gold, Winston; Chairman Rol-
Inns is here looking into the office
holding questions, but has very little
to say. He keeps the officeholSers
guessing. Mr.. Parmelee is here in re-
gard to the Cape Fear river. pilotage
bill. which is to come up before the
legislature.
A well known Texas man writes
your correspondent a very interesting
letter about the cotton situation. He
is a great buyer and thoroughly ac-
quainted with conditions in Texas and
indeed in other cotton-growing States,
as he travels widely. He says: There
is only one salvation for the farmer
and the South in general n that is a
large reduction in the acreage for cot
ton. Burning cotton and holding it
will be of no avail. unless the acreage
is very materially reduced. Any fair
minded man knows that the burning
of cotton is ~fool-hardy. -or far too
many reasons to explain, and on the
other hand if the South odd over
-.-.4sV H.
even two million bales and plants an
other large crop. it will be far worse
off tina it is now. Therefore there is
but one thing to do. this being TO re-
duce the acreage very materially, use
less fertilizer, and by having less lana
in cotton the farmers can cultivate
that ian more thoroughly II re-
luce the COS of producing cotton.
Texas will reduce her acreage, with
out a doubt and will also hold ovef
and take care of her share of the very
large crop. which the South has raised.
AS is shown by Mr.. Hester's figures,
Texas has marketed 1900 bales less
UP to January list than up to that date
the year before, is certainly doing her
duty and feels that her sister States
will also dc the same. Cotton should
not sell for less than ten cents. Last
year it was too large. This year it is
four cents too cheap, equivalent to
twenty dollars per bale. but if the
South raises such another crop we will
see next year still lower prices. So
therefore that every farmer reduces
acreage and not saying. M neighoOr
will reduce: I will not" for if they do
they will be worse off tina they are
now. Let ZACH man help the other
and don't say well. I had sense and
sold my cotton early, at a good price,
so will plant a large crop this year, "
because if they do, they will not be
able at any time next year to get even
q fair price. no matter how smart they
may be. Every man in the South
should advocate and do all he an TO
be sure we get a large reduction in
acreage, no matter Whether he be
farmer. cotton-man or not, for all
branches of business are affected by
the prices in cotton. This acreage this
year should be reduced to at least 33
and one-third per cent and by taking
this step, farmers will get ten cents
for their new crop and for whatever
they may carry over"
This letter was shown to President
job S. Cunningham of h North
Carolina Cotton Growers Association
and to Z. B. Baxter. the secretary Of
the State Farmers Alliance, both of
whom endorsed it and said it was full
of good argument. Secretary Baxter
said that bears" are sending out re-
ports that the Texas farmer are SELL
ing cotton. while this letter shows how
untrue such statements are. No doubt
the bears" are circulating reports in
Texas that growers in North Carolina
are selling.
State superintendent oJyner has re-
ceived from Ex-Governor Aycock a let
ter saying: II am this moment in re-
ceipt of a copy of the resolutions
/, adopted by the State Association of
! County superintendent in North Car
DINA at their annua session Decem-
Der 1. 1904, at Raleigh, North Caro-
lima. I am deeply touched by the ex-