The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-28
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., March %, 1905.

The climate and crop report for
North Carolina for February has just
been issued by Section Director
Charles f. Won Hermann here and
shows the month to have been ex-
cessively cold. The mean temperature
for North Carolina was 34.2 degrees
which he says is unusually low. Only
twice before has the state average
been lower, namely in February 1895,
when it was so degrees, and in JAN
uary 1893 when it was 80 degrees.
The weather throughout February
was characterized by continued cold,
heavy and frequent rain, snow or
sleet and d very large proportion Of
cloudy and rainy days. At the sta
tons in the west the temperature
went below zero. The monthly mean
for the state was SO degrees below
normal. The highest was ~ degrees
at Southport, the lowest % at Lyn-
vile. The lowest absolute tempera-
ture was s below zero. The highest
50 at Henrietta. The temperature for
the month was below normal at every
station and at Charlotte and some
other points the deficiency was as
much as ten degrees or more. The
average rainfall was $40 inches, which
is Oyer an inch above normal. The
average snow was A inches. the
largest amount being 24 inches at
Brevard. The average number oil
clear days was only. On account of
tho cn,,ar u-oa +hny. .ln fa nm yUnply uya &
done and no planting, yen of truck
crops. Wheat, oats AID rye all re-
manned very backward in growth,
hardly showing above the ground, but
are thought to have secured good root
developments, as fair stands are now
reported. Glover was much hurt and
strawberries were set backward. Farm
work in general is now backward, par
ticularly as to truck crops and pre-
paratiOn of tobacco beds.
One arrest and conviction under the
new vagrancy law has been made here
and the township constable says that
just as soon as the new law is out in
book form he intends to make a mum !
Der of arrests, and that lie has his eye
on men who beg money Il b e go
to the dispensary and buy whiskey
with it. He says he expects to pull
all such characters.
Among today's arrivals were J. D.
Nichols, Marion; J. II. Dockery, Hoff-
man; J. p. Cannon, Z. 7. Long, Rock.
ingham.
AS State Bank Examiner ElliHgton
is to be one Of the officers Of the bank
of Fayetteville, which will reopen for
business April 1Otlt, the Corporation
Commission will have to appoint al
new examiner. Miller Hughes, who
has for some time been In a Raleigh
bank will be the cashier.
INTEREST IN CITY POLITICS.
There is Euore interest in city poli1
tics here than in a number of years.
There are three aspirants few the may
crafty, these being James Iredelll
Johnson, J. Stsaahope Wynn and Frank
Stronach. The amended chsster of the
city contains many new provisions.
1t is understood that the attendance
confederate veterans and IF otherst
from this state at the dedication OIL
tie monument or memorial at Appel
lsattox, April 9th,, will be very large.I
REDUCTION IN ACREAGE IN COIL
TON.
Great numbers Of inquiries are comb
ing into this state as to the iDlding(
cotton and the reduction of cOttOnI
acreage for the present year. A spell
cial interview was had with Secretary
Thomas e. Parker of the State Earm-I
esr' Alliance who is admirably post
ed on this subject and Who is keer-l
ing i very close touch eyerywherel
with farmers. He says: Cur farin-l
ers ale not holding So well, it has
been claimed, on account Of the scare
us to- the attitude Of growers in Texas
and as Il result more cotton is being
marketed here than we expected,
though OF course the prices are con-
siderably better than they were when
the great movement looking towards
holding and reduction Of acreage. be.
gan. y letter TO LIE from President
Harvie Jordan regarding the status in
TEXTS says that the farmers there are
holding, and that the sales are ni,ic
by merchants who nave held COTTON
and who are now putting it ON tie
market to meet obligations and to- get
better storage facilities" Secretary
fafkef was asked what We're the stur-
age facilities in North Carolina and
replied: They are ample: the cor
ton mills of the state have caDacft,
Virtually for the entire crop and are
willing to store and a great many of
them are doing so, offering the same
advantages which any storage ware
house offers. You can say from me.
on absolute authority. that our far m
ers here in North Carolina viii kear
their pledges as to reduction of acre
age. | am satisfied as to this"
The preparation of lands for cotton
is beginning. and there are plenty OF
signs of great curtailment of the cre,.
Quite a lot of unpicked cotton remain
from last season, no attention being
given it. The great reduction in Inc
sales OF commercial fertilizers for the
past month has been a very sure irs,e
OF crop reduction. What it will shoy;
at h end of the next thirty dav,
! cannot of course no yot ct,+a5 bx..