The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-19
VEWs|EsT SHEET
IA YEARS OLD
"Raleigh," a Paper That Car
ried Sensations
Was Edited BY Joseph Gales
PostmasterS Were Agents
Fifty-eight Counties in Gen.
eraI Assembly,

Raleigh" a newspaper issued No
vember 10, 1899. was sent here by
express q few days ago from Seattle,
Washington. and in Its four small
pages Of the type peculiar to that
day, it was one Of the breeziest publ
cations in the country.
The issue substantiates the date
line. The paper has been worn al
most to a fragile and the events un-
auestiOnably are ancient. The paper
came out the day on which the Cen
eral Assembly convened and it tells
Of O complication that developed that
day.
Governor Smith had been elected TO
the legislature n as the General
Assembly met some days before the
inauguration. Mr.. Blount, whose I'M
tails are not given, expressed doubt
as to General Smiths right to act as
governor. II says: General Smith
thought his duties as governor ex-
pired when he qualified and he
thought 1t his duty to his constituents
TO qualify. He saw no difficulty in
the business, as the moment the
come governor. The paper then re-
cords the contest for the speakership
In which B. Smith received ~ votes
and s.. Johnson 81.
The Raleigh" then chronicles the
news of the day. 1t appears to have
been a daily issue. but there is moth
tnS to indicate 1t In the columns or
at the masthead. 1t may nave been
daily during the sessions Of the Gen
eral Assembly and no other time. 1t
gives the names Of the So counties
that made up the State then, AZ cOun-
ties having been made from the terri
tory known as North Carolina since
that time.
Wakes representatives in that AS
sembly were: Thomas Hines. senator
n william Hinton and Henry Sea.
well, members of the House of Com
mons. Mussendine Matthews mus
rave been reading clerk, Pleasan'
Henderson affiant clerk. and Johr
Hunt clerk.
Growth Of Country.
The population Of the State q
North Carolina then was 398,751
Virginia had nearly twice as many
747,610. but New York's count wa
240,120, and Pennsylvania's was 434,
S73. There were 1875 representative
In the lower house Of Congress an
the southern states had most Of them
Virginia had been most in the eye
of the world and the center OF popu
lation was Virginia. North CAROLYN
has grown much more rapidly tina
Virginia since the earlier days, de
spite Nirginia's constant r~eplenishin
from North Carolina Of bet
ter business conditions.
Raleigh" was a SO paper lin ad
vance" Every postmaster In Mort
Carolina was an agent and subScriL
tions were received by the printe
and the proprietor. Advertisement
of twenty lines or less were SO cent
and for each additional insertion
cents. And the advertisement cOlum
was the richest of them allS
How Money Was Lost
Wilson and Swami. a firm evident
doing a big business, q put tw
notes in the %postofice in the present
OF Postmaster Wyatt. These were d.
ltvered to the office October 81, 179
The notes were addressed to job
Mills. OF the Alexandria Bank. Bait
more, and were in favor Of Villa,
Taylor. The notes appeared to ha,
been delayed in transit.
MeSSrs. Wilson and Swami adve
tised in Raleigh" They did not he
itate to accuse the postmaster of tt
theft of the notes and did so in IL
most amusing logic at all.
These notes were dated April 3
1873, and December 10, 1888" IL
advertisement explained. and it en-
phasized that they were for $40
and $500 respectively. 1t continue
The letter was suppressed by Il
postotfice and the bank notes tax,
out. AS the public mail was not stop
ed. molested or robbed Banke
and merchants are asked to st,
them. Any person who will give i
formation leading us to our none
will get $500"
The postmaster could write. I
told how the men came to the off
and deposited the letter. They ga
me n letter and said it was doubl,
the official explained. doubtless mea
ing q duplicate. He said he put it
the mail in their presence. "Th
have tried to throw obloquy upon
character" he said, and l wish
remove the impression made by I
villainous attempt at
my good name by unjust publicati
OF that advertisement" SubseQu'
Naauea haNinD ham lost IL 10