The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-09
Messenger Bureau.

] State Geologist Holmes appeared be-
fore the board Of agriculture today and
; urged 1t TO make an appropriation of
5000 for continuing the work of
draining swamps in the eastern part of
the state. The general government
has already appropriated $1,000 for
this purpose and has begun the work
OF drainage, which means reclamation
of vast areas of valuable lands.
Prof. Holmes was followed by State
Biologist Gerald Mccarthy, who read
his report, which vas full Of valuable
matter. He has charge. as one OF its
speclalties Of the analyses of drinking
waters, etc, and his work along this
line has been invaluable.
The state authorizes the Colossus
Gold Mining Company. which has it's
office on the Bates plantation near
NaXhaW, TO increase. its capital stock
from ten million dollars to ten and a
half million. This i- perhaps the
largest corporation i'll North Carolina,
and it is said owns valuable proper
ties.
Deputy L. S. Collector NJ. l.. Wood,
who is here, and who has within a
few days been through Pitt county,
says he never saw liner crops. Corn is
being laid by. Cotton is squaring.
Crops are very clean. The low prices
of Irish potatoes distress the growers.
J. O.. Hackett of the penitentiary
board, which meets tomorrow, is here
and says work on the turnpike which
the state is building by the use Of con-
yicts between jefferson and Wilkes
borO is three-fourths complied, with
thirteen miles remaining to be done.
He declares there is no finer road my
where.
Last year at the encampment at
Morehead City there We're quite a
number of officers of the general staff.
1t is understood that this years en-.
campment remarkably few officers
save those attached to the regiments
themselves will be ordered to encamp-
ments. None from the adjutant gen.
erals department will be so ordered.
Corporation Commission Samuel
L. Rogers, who came down today from
the mountain country, says wheat is
being cut, and that in some cases the
crop is a very fine one, but that a good
deal of the wheat is badly injured by
the severe weather Of the winter, and
hence is very poor.
The state historical commission is to
meet here on the Sth inst. 1t has five
members, Messrs. Peele, Conner,
Grimes, Raper, and Blount.
Nelson DunstOn, II OF the best
known and most esteemed negroes
here, is dead, after long illness. He
has probably OBLIGATED as an active
pallbearer at the funeral of several
scores of prominent white men. He
was one of the Oldest BARRIERS in the
state.
The state charters the Homestead
Plantation Company, of PolktOn with
very extensive privileges, including
building of towns, railways, etc.; also
the Pen-Lumber Company of Eber-
man, Mcdowell county; also the Har-
ris-Glenn Body Company; to make
wagon bodies, carts, etc, at OXFORD
. There is a difference between the
cotton acreage report sent out from
Washington as to North Carolina and
those sent out by the agricultural de-
partment of this sttae. The latter was
made up from reports OF a Very great
number of correspondents who are on
the regular lists. While Washington
reports a decrease of only IL IA per
cent, the North Carolina reports show
much more. COMMISSIONS OF Agrlcul-
+ure Patterson was asked today about
this report and replied that he was
sure it was practically correct. He
added: Our report is on the total
acreage for the season, that is, up TO
June /. Our largest cotton-growlns
counties sho wan average of about ~
per cent. reduction and | think that
is about the true figure"
Persons occupying buildings on the
site of the Masonic Temple here are
arranging to move out and 1t is nOpeu
that work will begin on the S12o,OOO
building at a very early lay. Inc
largest building now on the site mas
quite a history. For a time While the
old capitol was put out OF use by the
fire which destroyed it, one branch OF
he legislature met in this building, the
other branch using he old PresDyte-
rian church..
The Confederate veterans are max
ing extensive preparations FOR thelf
visit TO the Louisville reunion. 1hose
going from here will stop at Richmond
several hours on the afternoon OF the
10Th inst, and will have the pleasure
of hearing music by the veterans drum
CORPS of l.. O. B. Branch Camp, L. I.
V. of Raleigh.
The commander Of the camp, Alex.
B. Stronach, will be present, together
with a number of the members OF the
camp and also the Granville county
camp, which is commanded by ex-
Judge Augustus w. Graham, who is
one of the attorneys in the kilgo trial
and so cannot go to Louisville. MIR.
Stronach will take charge Of Gran
vile camp for him. W. L. London, a
brigadier general of tn Z. {. v, and
Henry A. London, one of the most
prominent of the veterans Of this state,
will be in the party ,as will also be
Mr.. Stronach's little daughter, Mary,
aged twelve, who has attended several
reunions and who has a wide acquain-
lance with the veterans from all parts
of the South.