The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-08

good argument at all for postponing
the work. There Is no other public
improvement now contemplated that
would result in enhancement Ct
values, increase in and en-
largement of bond limit, but all other
projected improvements could, In he
course Of a few years, be provided ior
u Of the results of street improve
men;s Moreover, 70 undertake othsr
projects by bend issue al this tire
woniG absorb b entire bond limit or
thu city and postpone Indefinitely a
street Improvement. City government
IS essentially a business proposition.
aid business principles and methods
should obtain in its ministraion.
Population and Health.
The population of the city has grown
from 10000 in 1890 10 $4,000 IN 1900,
making an increase of so per cent
within the short period Of FIVE years
The growth has been SC rapid as 10
outstrip The physical n cans Of &C
communication, and there has not been
a vacant dwelling house in Whining
ton for perhaps a year or more Inc
demand for homes Is IN eA-
cess IF the SUPPLY.
During this phenomenal growth Of
popdIdlIcbi A14C Il
a remarkable record. With a popula-
tior Of 10000 in 1901 he total num-
Der Of .i.athS. Incl ding non-resldents,
was $50, or at a rate OF 52.oo per
thousand population, while with 4
population of 10000 in 1905 h total
number of deaths, including non-resi-
dents, was 526, or at a rate or 1928
per thousand population. This shows
a positive decrease in the number OF
deaths Of ia and a percentage de-
create based on population of almost
so per cent. and is at once a notable
tribute to the notable tribute TO
the natural healthfulness of Will
mingtOn and to the efficient SER
vice of the superintendent of health,
and it is only due this officer TO make
this personal reference.
:. Aberdeen and AshbOrO Situation.
More thar twelve months ago the
management of the Aberdeen ana
Asheboro Railroad effected traffic ar
rangements with the Southern rail-
road and Seaboard Air Line whereby
interstate business moving into n
out of the local territory of the A.
and A. was given same rates to inter-
mediate points as obtained TO june
! ton points, but this reduction was
: confined to Interstate business and
was a most u~nWarranted dlScrlmlna-
/ ton against interstate business. h
anagemen of the A. and a. could
: not be prevailed upon to make a
! corresponding reduction in Interstate
: rates, and the matter was finally taken
up with the General Freight agent of
. the SeabOard Air Line. Prior to the
dislocation of rates to this territory
Wilmington enjoyed an advantage owe
Virginia cities Of from 3 to 10 cents
per hundred, and the new alignment
of interstate rates effected a discrimi-
4 Off,. 1o;p~ yNiIrot IN ofnp ~ ohn,1+
SO Ia per cent. In negotiating with
the Seaboard Air Lin the attitude Of
the A. and A. management had to be
considered, and a reduction Of Will
mington rates to the basis of Virginia
cities maximum on business moving
into this territory was considered sat
isfactOry under the circumstances, and
this adjustment becomes effective May
10th.
We exonerate the Seaboard Air Line
of any wilful intention to discriminate
, against Wilmington in this affair, for
there is reason to believe that the ar
rangement was forced on the Seaboard
Air Linz without it's solicitation and
against its will.
Seaboard Air Line Freight Service.
Incidental to the heavy movement
of fertilizers, transportation service on
the Seaboard Air Line became serious
ly Inefficient, n at a meeting of the
chamber called to consider the situa-
ton an invitation was extended the
chief executives of the company to
visit Wilmington. Anticipating the
visit Of these officials, Mr.. Capps, gen.
eral freight agent, came to m
ton to ascertain if it was not possible
to take immediate steps for betterins
the service. In a conference on thu
subject Mr.. Caps suggested that a:
&L~ %~0,,I1o 1osr1~- o- 80 non.
gestion at Hamlet a remedy would
be to use package cars for points be
yond Hamlet, and thus obviate tn.
Hamlet transfer, and We are in posi-
ton to state that this plan will be pu
into operation at once. Package car!
Of 5000 pounds minimum will b.
handled on a daily through service
for LumbertOn, Laurinburg and Max
ton, and for points between Cogna'
n Raleigh, including Raleigh, ant
between Rockingham and Monroe, m
Guiding Monroe. In addition, Their
will be a package car of 5000 pound
minimum handled on the daily loca
freight for BladenborO. These adde.
facilities will largely, if not entirel.
remove the ground of complaint, an
when the Hamlet transfer eQuipmen
is enlarged, as it will be in the mex
few months, Wilmington will be abb
to successfully compete in the Ham
let territory
We cannot withhold commendatiO,
} Of Mr.. Carps' prompt and effcien
response to W~ilmington's complaint:
, Terminal Facilities.
, No incident of the congested condi
ton of traffic has been more sensibl
felt than terminal track dellverle:
The Atlantic Coast Line makes trac
deliveries for both itself n the Sea
) board Air Line, and, therefore, pei
r forms a double service, while its term
nal facilities have not been 2ppracla
ably enlarged for a number Of year
The present equipment is totally made
7 quate to the demand, and nothing -es
e than a most extensive enlargement {
t terminal tracks can relieve the pre-
f ent congestion and provide for futur
normal movement. The matter va
, taken I'D some weeks G with tn
general manager and the view on hi
that the demand vas not only for in
mediate relief Put for PROVISION II