The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-05-22

Appointment VIII stand
"McCoy's appointment as rural car
rier WOu not be revoked If every
man in North Carolina should si-1
u petition calling on the P~ostoffice
Department to do SO, unless some rea-
son other than that of color, is given
in opposition to his continuance in his
present pOsition.'
Such was the statement made by 4
postOfiice official to a North CAROLYN
ian, who called at the department. to
protest against the selection of the
negro in question, T. L. Mccoy. recent
Iy appointed rural carrier on Route
No. 4, from Raleigh. The appointment
is temporarily held up, at the request
of senator simmons, but the statement
is made that the negro Will be per-
nlitted to begin the discharge Of the
duties of his position, unless evidence
is presented to show that he is not
qualified to do 50. This is the atti-
tude by this administration
when the people of ~Indianola, Miss.
protested against the appointment Of
the famous 'cOlOred lady, Mrs. Min
nie V. Cox as postmistress at that
place. Ratehr han have Minnie handle
their mail, the people suggested that
she locate in some other city, and SO
offended was his strenuOSity that ne
closed the ~pOStOffiCe at IndianOla and
compelled the people to go to another
county to get their mail. The people
of Swift Creek appear to be con
fronted with a like situation.
The Senate mmit on Inter-
oceanic Canals is going to report in ia
Vor Of Il sea level route. Senator Sim
mons, Whor is Il member of this COM
mittee was at first disposed to favor
a lack route. but he has been i'm
pressed with the argument in favor
of a sea level route, and Will probably
sign the report of the majority Of the
committee in favor of the construc-
ton of a canal without dams or locks.
The senior Senator has been deyoting
most of his time for the past week
studying this subject, and he announce
ed to the members of the committee
that he would reach a decision before
the end Of this week as to how he
will vote. 1T is said that most Of the
Democrats in the Senate will vote for
a sea level canal.
To Reclaim swamp hands.
Representative small has introduced
a bill which may be Of great mpor-
lance in the drainage and reclamation
Of the SWamp lands. particularly of
Eastern North Carolina. Recently Rep
resentatiVe Steenerson. of Minnesota.
introduced a bill ~appropriating the
receipts from the sale of public lands
in certain States to the drainage of
swamp lands in those States. The mum
Der of States which now have public
lands is comparative small. Mr.. Small
has redrafted this bill, making MANY
substantial changes. the principaI of
which is that the funds can be used
for draining swamp and in any state
whether having public lands or not.
The bin provides that the United
states shall be reimbursed by easy pay
mentS for the expenditure required in
the reclamation. The bill of Mr..
Small f,IY-t I1n,. ,,,,nyiIn- 4HAf I-
Gated in the state and susceptible OF
reclamation may also be drained I'm
der provision of the act at the option
of said state.
As North Carolina still owns large
bodies of swamp lands which ar.
aluelcS after the timber has been
removed. unless they can be reclaim
ed. it will be seen how the state could
utilize this act for its benefit. These
swamp lands in North Carolina are
owned by the State Board Of FIduca-
ton. and any improvement or enhance
ment in value would increase the as
sets of our Public schools.
Mr.. Small states that the idea IS
not at all impracticable. and that re-
ally conditions NAV be such in the near
future as to result in the passage of
the bill. Texas. which has no public
lands as we'll as the delegations from
other influential states. is actively ia
Noring this legislation. And whv not?
We are utilizing the proceeds of sale
of public lands for i~rreisating arid
lands, and there is nc possible reason
Why We should not use part of the
same funds for taking the surplus
water from swamp lands and. there
by. open up to settlement lands which
will be infinitely more fertile and val
liable.
Portraits OF Presidents.
Senator oVerInan has secured hand
some e~ngrayings. giving fine ~likenesses
Of tn three Presidents associated with
North Carolina history. The pictures
are those of Andrew Jackson and An
drew Johnson, born in North Carolina.
and President ok who graduated
from the University of North Carolina.
Ilc ~engFaVings which we're specially
prepared from PRINTS in the Bureau Of
~i.lelaNing were secured by Senator
overman, at the instance Of Col. Fred.
\. OIds for the Hall Of History Jpn
the State Museum ut Raleigh. The
likeness Of Andrew Johnson is the
best Of the three. the print being the
most modern.
Representative 1<itchin- Who j. 2