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Second Cuu Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE.
Tl tubKriptloa price of tb. Werkly Star Ii a
folMws:
Single Copy 1 ye", pottage paid TP DO
" 1 nxmrbi SO
AjCOTTON GROWERS TRUST.
We get this interesting paragraph
from the Richmond News Leader:
"The Southern Cotton Growers'
-"-Nation; In Adopting a resolu
' ng thfl minmum price of
. 10 cents per pound, and
restriction of acreage, thus
pmc iciilly forming a trust, so as to
-forget that thereby they are stimu
lating experiments in cotton grow
in? in other parts of the world and
may kill the goose that lays the
goiJen egg."
We understand the situation to
be that the producers of cotton and
thoae dependent upon that produc
tion for their business mean simply
to meet organization with organiza
tion. The element which seeks to
control the price of cotton is already
linked together in organization,
and the farmer, the merchant, the
banker and the manufacturer of the
South would be negligent of their
interests, and they are one, if they
failed to get together.
The prosperity of the South is
rery largely dependent upon its cot
ton production and growing cotton
m nufcturing interests, and conse-qu-utly
the producers, the consum
er. ( fie manufacturer), the bank
en, uud the merchant, as a busi
ness proposition, are interested in
"mating tre cotton crop as big a
wealth brijger as possible.
We haven't got any great amount
of c tifidence iu the success of any
mT- ment to hold cotton for better
prims, but we certaitily hope that it
Will succeed.
peiking of the cotton situation,
the Washington correspondent of
the Charlotte Observer, sent the fol
lowiag on Friday :
Certain Southern members have
contemplated the latest estimate of
the cotton ' crop, promulgated by
the Agricultural Department with a
groi' g sjiise of indignation, and
the (eeliug that the Department has
ovtr reached itself found formal ex
pregaioa to day when Representative
Livingston, of Georgia, introduced a
reso utiou requesting the Secretary
oL-Agricul ure to forward to the
H use all data upon which the last
report on cotton acreage and pro
duction was made. The preamble
recites that there is a great
dissatisfaction and want of conn
der.ee in the report, especially as to
tb last report. In private con
versation Mr. Livingston declared
that the last "guess" of the depart
ment had cost the farmers of the
S-utu $8O,OOU,600, as it was esti
mtteil than the present crop would
amount to more than 12,000,000
biles Of course officials of the de
partment will antagonize tho reso
lution, but there is reason to be
lieve that Chairman Wadswortb, of
the agriculture committee, will
favor its passage. Anyway, Mr.
waas worth was heard to say some
time ago that It might be well for
the department to go out of this
gueiug business. Senator Over
man expressed tie belief to-night
that any sort of investigation would
mult in promoting confidence in
the government's sources of infor
nution. Several members of the
HouBe who have discussed the sub
ject with Secretary Wilson are simi
larly minded.
Surely an Investigation into the
Department's guessing methods will
do no barm. On top of all the devel
opments in the cotton subject, i
report now comes from Thos. A.
Mclntjrt & Co.of Ne w York,tnat the
government gneisers admit that they
are wrong, and that they now believe
that the crop will not be over 11,
000,000 bales instead of 12,162,000
asrrecently estimated. That report
comes from the New York Journa
of commerce and Commercial Bulle
tiu and will be found on the fourth
page of this morning's Stab.
Sajs the Baltimore Sun: "Andrew
Carnegie predicts that great fortunes
will be made in the rubber industry,
it certainly is capable of much ex
panBion." We extend the right hand
of fellowship to Mr. Carnegie upon
his coming into the rubber ranks
we can corroborate him with the
statement that we have positively
seen many rich things by reason of
belonging to the rubber neck class.
The Smoot investigation has been
resumed befora the Senate Commit
tee at Washington. This reminds
as that Smoot controlled the Mor
mon vote for the Republican party.
The Mormons are no better than the
tent of the landslides.
. tl I . ' i ' SI t HI n V. W l I II i 1 rll - -I r . 'Vw W 111 X II ' T I JT 1
. . . . . " - .. ,H . ior m pncgew
VOL. XXXVI,
PE0QBKS3 OF THE HEQR0ES.
Mr. William Garrott Brown, who
recently wrote for the North Amer
ican Review an article entitled "The
White Peril The Immediate Dan
ger of the Negro," traveled through
the South to get his data. He stated,
among other things, that the negro
was not only retrograding as a la
borer, but that the wealth, accumu
lated by the negroes is decreasing In
ratio. -
In a recent lecture Booker T.
Washington advances another view.
He stated that one-twenty-sixth of
the soil of Virginia was owned by
negroes, according to the official re
cords. . He farther asserted that the
negro race has developed more rapw
dly In thirty years of its freedom
than the Latin race had m 1,000
years of freedom. He alao declared
that about 65 per cent, of Italians,
85 per cent, of SpanisdB-70 per
cenC 6TRn88ians and $0 per cent.
of Sonth Americans are illiterate,
but after thirty years of freedom
only 54 per cent, of the negro race
s illiterate.' In Georgia, Washing
ton said, $16,700,000 is set down as
the taxable valne of the negroes'
property. He adds: "Probably the
colored man has learned the lesson
of hiding its real value from his
white brother; the figures ought to
be over $30,000,000."
While the accumulation of prop
erty by the negro is slow, we doubt
very sesiously whether Mr. Brown's
article gives the real fact as to the
negro's accumulation of property
However, his article referred to the
South as a whole and he made a
special study of it.
There is one thing certain, how
ever, and that is that the negro ap
preciates the advantages which are
afforded him to send his children to
school. White people . had better
stir their stumps if they want their
children to keep ahead of the negro
in attendance upon the schools.
Many will read with astonishment
the statement, if it is based upon
act, that the illiteracy of the negro
has been reduced to 54 per cent. If
the statement is true, It is t,ime for
Northern critics to let np on the
Southern States for lack of effort to
educate the negro. The several
States are bound to be given the
greates part of the credit
school advantages which
for the
colored
children have.
The development of the South is
amazing, as Air. mown says in ms
articl in the North American Re
view. May it not be a fact that our
development has ontgrown the sup
ply of labor, and that considering
the element of thriftless blacks, the
ack of negro labor is more notece-
able than it otherwise would be?
The real truth of the negro's
position as a laborer and his ad
vancement in the accumulation of
property would be interesting.
1 'Nothing is left undone to safeguard
President Roosevelt," says a Wash-
ngton correspondent. We approve
everything that is dono for the pro
tection of the President. We don't
even want him to get struck with the
idea that the "open door of hope"
is not liable to let in a draught that
s pernicious to a Southern darkey's
political rheumatism.
Twenty New Jersey girls ducked
a man in an ley creek lor selling
them wool hosiery for . silk. , If a
man has to take a ducking for palm
ing off wool for sillc. what is to be
done with the girls .for pulling the
wool over men's eyes ?
Some of our State exchanges are
speculating about the future of Gov.
Charles B. Aycock, whose four years
term closes next month. No use to
worry. Just watch the limelight and
you will see a man who knows how
to take care of himself.
We have seen so much about ille
gal registration, fraud in elections
and rottenness In politics in Penn
sylvania that it really makes us
Pennsyve when the Bucktail papers
lecture the South on morality and
fairness in politics.
.Another story will be added to
the Wilmington water wagon for
those who will take their annual
"awear-off" January 1st. Those
who are a trifle shaky in their reso
lution might get on the street
sprinkler.
It is very annoying to the horse
editor to see from the statistics of
the Census Bureau that there are
more males than females in the
United States. He is always fight
ing against odds.
If the Republican parti prefers
that the South remain the one con
servative element of the union, it
had better stick to Republicanism
and not return to radicalism. .
Mrs. Ca8ale Chad wick promises
that all her obligations shall be paid.
We have some subscribers who are
just as promising as Mrs. Chadwick.
' Mrs. Wallis, a Cincinnati fashion
writer says: "Women wo aid be bet
ter off if they never wore hats." No,
the old man would be better off.
" I A du rjstceh.
1
CUKKENT COMMENT.
f-lt the 8outh could only get a
little reduction in representation it
would not object, Newport News
Times Herald.
- Why should the North howl
because the South proposes to take
its licking like a man? Memphis
commercial-Appeal.
"I am determined to prove
that I am different from other
men," says old Dr. Dowle. He has
proved it by paying $4,000,000 in
debts: Washington Post.
The decline in the price of
cotton will probably put all the idle
mills to work, if they can buy as
much cotton in the bale as on paper.
Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Whether they call it "read
justment" or revision or reform is
all the same to the people, who are
weary of the spoliations and iniqui
ties of the existing tariff. Philadel
phia Record.
rr The Mobile Register, !n an
article proposing the erection of a
monument to Father Ryan, the
great poet, calls him a "son of
Maryland." It has always been our
understanding that Father Ryan
W88 born in Norfolk. Norfolk Land
mark. A newspaper is published for
the masses and classes. A thing
that may sound foolish to ono per
son may be wisdom to another, and
that-which tickles the modest fancy
of Maud Muller may serve to tilt the
nasal adornment of Clara Vere de
Vere. Orange Virginian.
A contemporary asks: "Why
not have a parcels post ?" The
simple answer is that the great ex
press companies, who have in Thos
O. Piatt aa agent in the Senate of
the United States, and the great
railroad corporations having an in
terest in the express companies, do
not want a parcels post that would
seriously threaten their profits.
Philadelphia Record.
- 'Commenting on Dr. Samuel
T. Carter's remarks in connection
with his renunciation of the Presby
terian confession of faith in the
Hartford (Conn.) Courant says that
"in more Southern and conservative
regions of Presbyterianism his utter
ances will be regarded as blasphemy
or little short of it." Right yon are;
they will not only be regarded so by
Southern Presbyterians, but In a
a sense by the Christian bodies of
the South geuerally, and it is well
that that is so. Richmond News-
Leader.
Strong efforts are being
made to turn the tide of for
eign immigration Southward, and
seemingly without much regard as
to what class comes. Unless care is
exercised we will have a class similar
to those in Northern mines and fac
tories. The Sonth Carolina law on
the subject ought to be adopted by
all the States or the South and then
there would be little danger. The
fear is expressed that there will not
be enough of the class we are obtain
ing. That may or may not be true,
but that supply should firBt be ex
bausted before experiments are made
with others. Columbia Record.
LOCAL DOTS.
The Revenue "Cutter "Semi
nole" sailed yesterday for a cruUe as
far north as Hatteras. Later she will
return down the coast, going to 8a
annah before the new year.
Mr. J. Herbert Stone, of Lit
tle River, 8. C, was In the city yes
terday on business. He will more to
Wilmington on January 1st to accept
employment with Stone & Co.
A. B. McDonald, of Hamlet,
was gives two years in the penitentiary
and sentenced to pay a fine of $5,000
for illicit distilling and intimidating a
witness by Judge Purnell in the Fed
eral Court ai Raleigh Friday.
Justice Bornemann yesterday
married a colored couple William
O. Thomas and Rosa Franks, who
went away as happy as larks after
a parting in junction from the "judge"
as to how they should deport them
selves in the future.
By deed filed for record yes
terday Carl P. B. Mahler and wire
transferred to Bailie W. Mayo, for
$2,350, property on west side of Sixth,
120 feet south of Nixon street, 150x120
feet In sizs and abutting on Brown's
or Hutaff's alley.
A colored man was shot and
slightly wounded late yesterday after
noon In the vicinity of Sixth and Red
Cross streets. It is said that the negro
who receiTed tb bullet persisted In
following a crippled negro, who final
ly, tired of being hounded, drew a
pistol and opened upon the other. No
arrests were made.
Mr. Hans A. Eure, proprie
tor of the amusement pavilion at Car
olina Beach, has bought the riding
gallery or "hobby horses" that have
been operated at 8lxth and Campbell
streets. He will take the outfit down
to the beach next Summer for the en
tertainment of seaside visitors.
As Capt. Robertson came out
of bis residence on Princess street just
after supper last night he found neatly
coilrd up on his front porch a drunken
bite man, apparently resting easy.
Capt. Robertson felt a delicacy in dis
turbing the stranger's sap, but he was
afraid cf the visitor's catching cold
and summoned the pa'rol wagon, the
stranger having very soon thereafter
become a guest at the station house.
It ia announced that Mrs.
Preston L. Brldgers will build a band
some residence on her let on east aide
of Third, between Church and Castle
atreeU, and that Mr. H. K. Nash has
purchased the residence of the late
Mrs. W. A. Rlacb.in the same;vlclnity,
and will remodel it. It is also stated
that Col. Walker Taylor will erect a
handsome residence on northeast cor
ner of Third and Church streets, where
Mrs. Brldgers now resides.
WILMINGTON JN. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23,
STATE CAPITAL NEWS
Federal, Court Enjoins Corpora
tion Commision and Greens
boro Fuel Concern.
S0UTHP0RT BANK CHARTERED
State Fair SeUleoeot-V. E. McBee Re
ceiver for eiroHas Borlhern- Rail
rosd With Mr. W. J. Edwards.
Beseeching Bore Pardons.
Special Star Telegram. ;?
RALEiaH, N. C, Dec. 16. The tem
porary injunction against the Corpo
ration Commission and the Greens
boro Ice and Coal Company was made
perpetual to-day by Judge Purnell In
an opinion handed -dawn ina rait
brought br the Southern Railway to
stop'the two defendants from bringing
suits against them for penalties and
damages for refusal of the Southern
to place cars of coal consigned to the
Greensboro company on a private
siding, the refusal being on the ground
that no further cars be so piaoed until
ceittin disputed claims for demurrage
for the past placing of cars is paid.
The right of the Corporation Commis
sion 13 force a railroad to deliver cars
under such circumstances Is involved
and the court rules the Commission
has no such right, where, as In this
case the cars are brought from other
States, it being inter-state commerce.
Reports submitted to the State Fair
executive committee to-day show
18,000 balance ia the treasury, after
all expenses of the recent fair are
paid.. The affairs are In excellent
condition. A handsome silver service
was presented' to President Ashley
Hornr, of the Fair Association, as a
token of appreciation.
The Bank of Soutbport is chartered
with $5,000 capital subscribed and
$30,000 authorised. Among the in
corporators are J. J. Watson, A. E.
Stevens, H. W. Hood and Dr. J. A.
Dosher.
Governor Aycock accepts an invi
tation to deliver an address before the
Teachers Assembly of Louisiana at
LaFayette, December 28;b.
lithe United States Circuit Court
yestarday a petition was filed by the
complalcant, the Guaranty Trust
Company of Philadelphia, in the suit
against the Carolina Northern Rail
rod Company asking for the appoint
ment of V. E. McBeo as co-receiver
with W. J. Ed ward, the present re
ceiver. The Trust Company's peti
tion for such appointment was filed at
the request of practically all the bond
holders of the railroad company, res
ident, principally of Philadelphia
and Richmood, and it is understood
mat the action of the bondholders
was at the instance or suggestion of
Mr. John 8keIton Williams.who holds
a very large block of the bonds and
bai a big opinion of Cap'.. McBee as
a railroad manager and desires him to
take charge and build up the phjslcal
condition and traffic of the railroad.
Thi petition having teen granted,
Ciu&m McBee, who was present at
court at chamber, filed" a bond in the
sum of $15,000 and went to Lumber
toa last night where he will take
charge of the railroad in conj auction
with W. J. Edwardr, the present re
ceiver. The father and brother of the Char
lotte alayer Bishop were here this
we-k to see Governor Aycock and
plead for a pardon. The attorney for
the Gold Brick men Is also here to s-.e
the Governor bearing numerous peti
tions for their release. Neither par
ties received any satisfaction at the
hands of the Governor.
EAGLE AUNUP4GTUR13Q CO.
Factory Site Purchased on W. & W., Nesr
Eighth and Hasover Officers.
The Esgie Manufacturing Company
of this ci ty, which was recsntly in
corporated with a paid-in capital atock
of $5,000 by Messrs. G. F. Qalnn, J.
O. Powers, James Millan and J. A.
Lewis, will begin business about Jan
uary 15th.' The company recently or
ganized with Mr. Lewis as president;
Mr. Powers, treasurer; Mr. Millan,
secretary, and Mr. Qalnn, general
manager. Each of the incorporators
is a practical man with experience in
the line mapped out for the new fac
tory aad the enterprise gives assur
a .c cf succass from the very start.
A site for the factory 150 x 206 feet
in size, has been purchased on
Eighth street, between Han over and
Brunswick, along the right of
way of the W. & W. railroad, making
shipping facilities the very bsst ob
tainable in the city. The company
proposes to manufacture doors, sash,
blind', turaed columns, cabinets,
cases, etc., and will cater to both the
wholes a! s aad retail trade. For the
present a factory building 36x70 feet
la sizs will be on rue ted and the
latest and most improved machinery
will be used. Later, it is proposed, to
add to the building and put In new
lines. N
RAIDED GAMBLING JOINT.
Policemen Arrested Four Last Sight at
Home la "Blood Block" Alley.
Policemen Leon George and W. M
Harriss last night about 9 o'clock
raided a negro gambling Joint la wbat
Is known as "Blood Block" alley,
leading from Fourth, between Bruns
wick and Bladen streets. Policeman
George bad received a tip that gam
bling was going on at the house of
I Ella Johnson and at an opportune
time he and Policeman Harriss swoop
ed down on the place. The Johhson
woman was arrested and charged with
conducting a gaming house while Jas
per Nixon, Robert Blovenson and Wll
lie Hollev. young negro men. were
taken in custody, charged with gam
bling. Another woman In the house
made her escspa du ring the roundup.
A deck of curd, sowwh worse foi
' wear, was all the paraphernalia found.
TRAGEDY AT FLORENCE, S. C.
RsHrfttd Special Areot Shst Down
by
Dispensary Spy Tbere Last Night
at tne &uiloir.
Mr. J. C. Blount 54 years of age, an
! Atlantic Coast Line special agent, or
detective, was shot and almost Instant
ly killed at the depot in Florence, 8.
C., early last night by a dispensary
constable named RowelJ, who was
Intoxicated. The tragedy occurred
near the entrance to the waiting room
! In the passenger depot, while hun
dreds of people were passing to and
from the trains which connect there
about 8 o'clock. Rowell was imme
diately arrested and lodged in jail.
The men bad Quarrelled over some
personal matter and Mr. Blount's
connection with the Coast Line had
nothing to do with the homicide.
iret was much excitement at the
depot over the tragedy, and the sev
eral trains due to depart at that hour
were delayed. The train due here
last Bight at 13 o'clock did not arrive,
for that and otner reasons, until after
1 o'clock this morniag. Passes-
gem on the train to Wilmington spoke
of the affair this morning as a
cold-blooded murder. Blount has a
Jare family and had always borne an
excellent character. The ball from
the dispensary constable's pistol enter
ed the left temple an 1 came out near
the right ear.
DRUIDS PUN BENEPICENILY.
Llodeo Grove Will Have Holiday Gifts for
Oae Haodred Worthy Poor.
Thankful for the blessings and pros
perity of the past year and mindful of
those lets fortunate than themselves.
members cf Linden Grove No. 2,
United Ancient Order of Druids, cf
thl city, have it in their hearts to do
som-ibing substantial and pleasant
far the poor of the community. Ac
cordingly, a committee composed cf
Mes-.rs. A. J. Marshall (chairman),
Paul Case, W. W. King, Wm. B.
BsViler, Gso-ge Za!e!er and D. M.
B-f.rdi.ler, has been appointed to ar
range for a reception in Druld'a Hall
oq the night of Dec. 30th, when 100
worthy poor of the city will be Wel
comed by the chairman of tho com
mittee, presiding, and they will be
given New Tear offerings cf substan
tial character, sue)) a shoes, cloUiiog,
etc., wi'.h cmfec'kionerirs and other
tittle delicacies for the children amocg
the number. The committee, is now
preparing a list or 100 of the most
worthy poor and thay will be most
fittinglv remembered upon this occa
sion. The purpose of the order In this
matter is highly commendable, and
the STAR Is certain that tha jiy of the
occasion will be mutual to those who
give and to those who receive.
fPE FEK FARMERS A LIVE.
Meetlsf of Qrowers, Merchants, Baskets
sod Msonfsctorers at Fayetteville.
Fayettrville, Djc 16 The meet
ing of Uumberlacd county cotton
farmers with the Chamber of Com
merce here to day was presided over by
CapL J. D. McNeill, with Mr. F. R.
Roae as secretary. Mr. J. C. Bain,
secretary of the Farmers' Alliance in
Cumberland, responded to a call from
the chairman, who had previously
stated the object of the meeting to be
that of inducing farmers to hold their
present crop for remunerative prfcea
and to curtail production next year.
Mr. Bennett, of 71st township, told of
the evils of overproduction, saxine
that a ten million bale crop meant 10c
for the staple 1 and prosperity for the
South while a twelve miilioa bale crop
meant 7c and ruination. The remedy
was reduced acreage and that only
could be accomplished by organiza
tion.
In behalf of the manufacturing inter
ests, Mr. vv. Li. Holt spoke with force
and clearness, raying the drop in
prices had come with great disappoint
ment to manufacturers, lie bad just
returned from lireenaboro, where be
had a conference with Mr. uonr, one
of the most extensive manufacturers
in the South, who expressed himself
In the same way.i
Mr. U. W. Lilly, president of the
Bank of Fayetteville, expressed him
self heartily in sympathy with the
movement, saying that the Interests of
the banker and the farmer were Idea
ticall that while the present situation
enabled the banks to make profitable
transactions with the farmers, re
munerative prices fcr their products
made the farmers far more valuable
customers.
Mr. John R. Tolar. of the New
York Cotton Exchange, and presi
dent of the Tolar-Hart-Holt Cotton
Mills, addressed the meeting very in
teresilngly, pointing out that reduc
tion of acreage alone would save the
situation. He bslieved, though, that
11,000,000 bale crop could be very
well bandied, and that It would bring
10 cents. It would not do just to re
duce the acreage; growers must show
to the world that they were reducing
it. It was a mistake that low cotton
pleased the manufacturers. Mr. Tolar
said their mills saw better times al
ways with cotton at 10 cents and over.
Mai. E. J. Hale. Mr. A. L. McCas
kill, Mr. J. Henrie Currie and others
spoke in the same vein, and at length
a resolution by Col. A. H. Slocomb
was adopted recommending a reduc
tlon of acreage of 25 per cent, with
correspoodicg reduction In fertilizers.
and a Judicious placing of the cotton
on the market until the acreage re
Juc'ion develops.
New Weed Pleat
Whitefille News: "A new enter
prise Is being erected on the White
ville Lumber Co.'s railroad, just below
their mill at Vineland, which will be
an entirely new Industry for this
county. The Weed Distilling and
Manufacturing Company; a corpora
tion composed of Northern capitalists,
are puttlog In machinery there for
manufacturing turpentine, oil and
navlne- blocks, using as a material
from wnicn to manufacture inese pro
ducts lightwood atumns which are
taken from the fields and woods by
means of a large stump puller, which
machine Is operated by steam power.
We learn that there is ample capital
behind the enterprise and that the
plant is expected to be in operation by
January 1st
1904.
NEWS FROM RALEIGH.
State Cotton Growers Gathered
in Respective Counties for
Common Purpose. .
NTERESTINQ BLADEN CASE.
Whits Mea Given New Trial for Asssalt
Upon Sistletarylatereitioz Recom
mendstioa by Tax Commission
" as to Poll Tax Notes.
Special Star Telegram.
Raleigh, N. 0., Dec 17. Wake
county cotton farmers in session to
day decided to hold all cotton on hand
or ten cents and to reduce the acreage
for the next year twenty-five per
cent. Reports received indicate that
similar action was taken to-day by
practically every cotlon csunty In the
State.
The Supreme Court delivers an
opinion in case of 8Utevs. Davit, from
Bladen, which gave rise to the noted
and sensational impsaehment pro
ceedings by Judge Peebles against the
Lumbertoa Bar. A new trial is grant
ed on the grounds that Judge Peebles
ndlcated pre-judgment of the case in
the midst of the trial by declaring that
the identity of certain handwritings
was already established to the satis
faction of the court and there need be
no further evidence on that point, an
expert witness balng on the stand at
the lime. The defendants were sen
tenced to four months, each on the
roads but they win a new trial. The
case was against four men, E. J., I. J.
nd D. A. Davis and E. V. , Freeman
for assault on D. A. Singletary. He
was shot in the eye because of a dis
pute about a stock law.
Raleigh, N. O.. Dec. 17 In the
report of the Tax Commission to Gov-
rnor Aycock. list filed, it is recom
mended that the poll tax be not al
lowed to exceed $2; that cities and
towns ba not allowed to levy any poll
tax; that statutes be not passed au
tbonzlog a higher lax rate than 66$
cnls on the one hundred dollars, and
that the municipal tax rate be so lim
ited that when added to the State and
County tax, It will not be a con fi ca
tion of any class of property.
The commission Issues a statement
or summary of property valuations and
laxts in the mate tnat makes a very
stereiling showing. It shows that
the total valuation of all property In
the State for 1904 is $143,282,781, a
gain of $151,963,223 since 1899 and as
compared with $433,372,939 In 1903.
Tbere are 29.S04.853 acres of land
with an average value of $4.93 per acre.
Durham county having the highest
acreage, $15 per acre; Gaalon second,
at $14.23. Dare has the lowest'valua-
lion averaging $1.19 per acre. The
valuation of real and personal prop
erty In the Slate Is $128,204,279. The
valuation In some principal towns are
Durham $10,470,173 (the highest);
Caarlotte $9,681,885; Wilmington $9,
249,766; SalUbury $3,476,269. The
total aolvent credits In the 8tate is $30,
703,019. Forsyth being first with
$1,091,686. Make second and Mecklen
burg third with $1,080,721. The capital
stock of banks is $7,583,498 with
$9,730,670 assessed value. Railroads
are valued at $70,612,721 and other
corporations at $5,803,025. The total
indebtedness of counties is $2,514,580
and of towns $6,554,239. Mecklen
burg has the largest of any county,
$339,500; Asheville the-largest of any
town, $991,500. Charlotte owes $615,-
000; Wilmington, $674,700; Greens
boro, $150,000. Of county taxes $198,-
724 remain uncollected, and of the
town taxes $125,225; $34,984 polls are
unpaid in the counties, and nearly
double that number In the towns.
The report shows that there are 858
lawyers, 1,333 physicians, 281 den
tists, 8,886 merchants and 953 cor
porations In the Slate. The total of
all taxes In the State for the year is
$7,682,950.
WILMINQTON BABKERS OPTIMISTIC.
Messrs. Hugh MacRse & to. Take Most
Eacooriglng View o! the Ontlssk.
In a symposium of views of leading
bankers, manufacturers and business
men generally ail over the South, the
Baltimore Manufacturers' Record of
thla week has the following from
Messrs. Hugh MacRae & Co., bankers
and brokers of this city:
"Hugh MacRse & Co., bankers,
Wilmington. N. C: Baslness with
us has been very active this fall, and
we have expected it to continue
throughout the winter and spring,
notwithstanding the fact that cotton,
the principal Southern product, Is
selling low. Although the recent de
cline of cotton has caused a large loss
to holders, on tne other hand it is not
without its good side, as it has placed
the manufacturer In a position to pur
chase supplies at a reasonable figure.
We believe that matters will equalize
themselves In the near future. A
member of our firm recently com
Dieted a tour of the Carolinas and
found the people In splendid financial
condition and saw evidences of pro
gress and prosperity on every band,
and believes that the people at large
are in better shape financially and
have more luxuries than they have
ever bad before. This prosperity Is
due primarily, of course, to the good
crops which we have had for the past
few seasons. We are very optimistic
in regard to the future prosperity of
the 8outb In general, and the Caro
linas In particular, and believe that
the opportunities are as great here, or
possibly greater, than in any other
part of the country. These conclu
sions are based on an examination
and study of conditions as we have
found them in this section.
Friends out of town have re
ceived invitations to the marriage of
MlssOctavie Hortense Boatwright and
Mr. Robert Howell Gwaltney, which
will be celebrated si the home of the
bride's parents, Capt. and Mrs. John
Lord Boatwright, In this city, on the
evening of the 28la of December, No.
404 Orange street.
Mr. A. P. Thomas and little
son, Neill, of 8hmliotte, were In the
city yesterday. Mr. Tho-raa is on the
rural free delivery route emanating
from Shalotte and speaks ia the high
est terms of the value of the service to
residents In the country.
NO. 8
TO STAMP OUT SMALLPOX.
Coooly Ssoltsry Sosrd Hikes Cempoljory
Vscclastloa Appllcible to Rural
Schools The Situation.
While there Is absolutely nothing
alarming In the smallpox situation
either in Wilmington or in the coun
try, the County Sanitary Board is
alivs to the necessity of adopting
every precaution to prevent anything
Ike au epidemic. Its latest action to
wards that end Is an order passed at a
special meeting of the Board Friday
night at the Court House, requiring
all children In attendance upon the
public sshools to preaent certificates of
successful vaccination on or before
January 10th or the New Year. Those
present at the meeting were Chairman
D. McEachern and Messrs. M. W.
Divine and H. L. Vollers, of the Board
of County. Commissioners, members
ex officio of the Sanitary Commission ;
Dr E. J. Wood and Dr. W. D. Mc-
MilUo, county superintendent of
heal.h. The object of the meeting
was staled to the Board by Chairman
McEchern and tbera was a very gen
eral diicuaslon of the situation es
pecially In the country, the city schools
already having compulsory vaccina
tion a prerequisite to attendance upon
school.
The order was made upon motion of
Dr. Wood and was uanlmously adopt
ed as follows:
"That this Board recommends to
the Board of Education that all teach
ers and children of the public ccqooU-
present certificates of successful vac
cination prior to January lOtb. 1905.
and upon failure to present same thev
shall be debarred from attendance."
While the city school authorities
some time ago took the initiative In
this matter themselves and the gener
al vaclnatlon rule is cow in perfect ef
fect, the order by the Connty 8anitary
Board removes every postibllity
or a doubt as to lis legality
and possibility of successful re
sistance, which was talked of at first.
For those who complied with the or
der adopted some time ago by the
school authorities the order now
adopted by the Sanitary -Board will
have no effect, but it will make a
clean sweep of all who, for any rea
son, evaded the original ruling.
It is a remarkable fact that while
nearly every county in the Stale has
smallpox, and some of them a great
many cater, comparatively little has
been said about it. It has been the
policy of this paper to deal' fairly with
the people on this matter, believing
that knowledge of the fact Is the surest
method of inducing people to take all
possible means to prevent an outbreak
and to so lezulate their association.
etc., as to make possible the least
spr Uy I
ln7 o
the disease. The situation
ngton and in the county is
now well m the control of the health
autorflies'snid there ia not the least
danper of an epidemic, though vacci
nation is urged. There are not more
lhiSvdozen caies In the entire coun
ty and all those are entirely isolated.
Smallpox in moat virulent form is
reported in yesterday's Florence Times
from nearly every county in South
Carolina. Several deaths have occur
red in Columbia and conditions in
Georgetown are said to be worse. In
Us annual report to the legislature,
made public In Columbia Friday the
State Board of
its inability to
Health acknowledges
handle the smallpox
the legislature passes
situation unless
a compulsory
vaccination law which
will be particularly stringent
with
regard to corporations.
Kittle Leslie and Hosbsstf.
Kittle Leslie and her husband, John
Tharp, were central figures in a double
trial in Justice Fowler's court y ester
day, the wife charging the husband
with two counts of assault and bat
tery. Tharp was found guilty under
one charge, but the other was so noto
rlously flagrant that the prosecutor
was taxed with the costs. She couldn't
pay at first and went to jail in default.
SH
Holiday Evergreens.
Ths following from yesterday's Ra
lelgh News and Observer will be read
with interest : "Mistletoe is selling at
25 cents per pound at Indianapolis.
Holly in 25 pound crates Is bringing
$3 to $3.25 per crate. Many carloads
are belnrr ahinned from North Caro
Una and many more might be shipped
If the people would look after dlversN
fied methods of money making more
than after cotton and tobacco."
BURNED TO DE4TH.
Mao, Wife sod a Visitor Cremated Near
Monlicello, Ark.
By Telegraph to the Homing Star.
Little Rook, Ark, Dec. 17. A
special to the Gazette from Monticello
says:
W. M. Btevenson and his wife, and
Mrs. Willie Barrett, a visitor, have
been burned to death In the 8tevenson
home twelve miles east of Monticello.
When neighbors reached the house
they found the bodies of the Inmates
burned beyond recognition. Sheriff
Wilson made an Investigation and sent
to Fine Bluff for bloodhouds. Steven
son was known to keep considerable
money In the house, and It Is believed
the house was attacked for the purpose
of robbery and aet on fire to cover the
crime.
QEOBQU FARE8S.
Mass Meetlsgs te Urge HelditgCottea for
a Price of 10 Celts.
Hi Telegraph to the Morning .Sue .
MAOON. Ga., Dec. 17. Specials to
the Telegraph from many counties of
tbeState tell of mass meetings held
by farmers In an effort to further the
movement recently inaugurated to
hold cotlon for a price of ten cents.
Ia most of the counties strong resolu
tions were adopted declaring that
farmers should hold all the cotton
possible and appealing to local banks
for aid.
, uoiion is narag markejsTa slow
ly throughuHTNorth Cuttuna as the
iarmersart holdlngfjack waiting
ior a rure in tn
from Tjiuirinhriror on
FridaTSays: The safe crackers hava
been at work in these parts again,
visiting Tatum, this county, and
McColl, S.O., the other night. This
time they did not succeed in getting
much in tho way of booty.
A; Washington on FriJay Con
gressman Gudger received a tele
phone message from the War De
partment saying that the body of
Lieutenant Pritchard had reached
San Francisco, and should arrivo
at Marshall about the 22nd. It was .
added that the Department would
immediately advise Judge Pritchard
as soolu as it could be ascertained
when the body should reach the
former home of the young officer.
Mr. W. G. Matthews, who has
been in Scotland county for the
past four or five years engaged In
the melon business, left the other
day for a point near Dawson, Geor
gia, where he will continue the cul
tivation and growth of melons.
While Mr. Matthews was in
aurinburg he set enough men in
the melon business to Insure a con-
muauce of the business, even
though he is gone. Mr. Matthews
made a success of the melon busi
ness, and made many friends who
are sorry to see him leave.
A dispatch from Klnston on
Friday says Mr. J no. L. Daugherty,
a prominent farmer of this county,
was seriously shot to-day by Mr. W.
E. Street, of Kinaton, in mistake
or a wild turkey. Mr. Street, with
a companion, was In a boat on tho
Neuse river duck hunting. Mr.
Daugherty had killed two turkevs
and propped them up on the bank
as decoys and was himself concealed
n a pit below the i bank. The duck
hunter seeing part of his black coat
exposed and hearing his yelping,
mistook him for a turkey and fired
rom about twenty-five yards dis
ance, the load of No. 4 shot taking
effect in bis right shoulder, neck
and head. He will probably re
cover, though seriously hurt.
Washington correspondence of
he Charlotte Observer: A meeting
of the North Carolina delegation
was held this afternoon in one of
the Democratic-cloak rooms at the
House. It was stated by some
membors who havo made inquiries
among Republican members that an
omnibus public building bill would
in all probability bo introduced,
carrying something like $8,000,000.
Following this announcement the
members agreed that more than
$300,000 should go to North Caro-
ma, which amount will take care of
three or four projects, the favored
ones, as heretofore stated, being
Winston, Salisbury and Asheville.
Congressman Gudger filled addi
tional data bearing on the ABheville
bill, the papers including letters
from Judge Pritchard, who recount
ed the interesting statement that
the Court of Appeals would in all
probability hold its terms in Ashe
ville instead of Richmond in the
future.
COTTON GROWERS AROUSED.
North Carolioa Farmers Will Hold Cotton
for 10 Cents ss a Minimum and Re
dace Acreage 25 Per Cnt.
By Telegraph to toe Morning Star.
Raleigh, N. C, Dec. 17-Here in
the capltol and at various county
seats in the Slate the cotton growers
met to day and took the first step4o
ward the holding of the staple for bet
ter prices. The resolutions passed at
all the meetings were practically the
s ioue, acd all points heard from Indi
cate that (hey are fully aroused and
are ac iog as a unit. Tne resolutions
declar- that they will hold cotton for
ten cents as the minimum price, and
pledge the growers to reduce the
acreage 25 per cent. The meeting .in
this city was attended by a number of
the State officers and many or the
most prominent men of the common
wealth. Township meetings will be
held next Saturday, county meetings
on January 7th and a 8tate meeting on
January 11. The determination of
the cotton growers is shown by the
fact that very little cotton has been
offered for sale for a month past.
WIFE MURDER IH1RQF0.
Lewis Jsoes, a White Mao, in Jail at
Wsdesboro, N. 0,
By Telegraph to the Horning Biar.
Raleigh, N. C, Dec. 16. Lewis
Jones, a white man about fifty years
ot age, Is In jail at Wadesboro, charg
ed with the murder of his wife. It de
veloped at the coroner's . inquest yes
terday that Jones had been drinking
heavily; that on Wednesday he had
cruelly maltreated his wife and that on
the following morning be reported
her dead. An investigation was at
once demanded, and the result was the
finding of finger prints upon the
woman's throat and marks of blows
upon her body. The coroner's jury
rendered a verdict that Mrs. Jones had
come to her death by strangulation
and other maltreatment. The arrest or
her husband immediately followed.
As yet be has made no statement.
C1USED BY DYNAMITE.
Reservoir Disaster by Which Nioe Parsons
Lost Tbeir Lives at Winston.
By Telegraph to the Morning star.
Raleigh, N. C, Dec. 17 A special
from Winston-Salem, N. 0., says:
It was published a few days ago
that evldencs had been discovered
tending to show that' the reservoir
disaster -by which ninn people lost
their lives nere on the second day of
November was caused by dynamite
used by parties unknown. It Is offi
cially stated today that a dynamite
cartridge was found a few davs after
the bursting of a reservoir near the
broken walls, and It ia now In posses
sion of a city official. An investiga
tion has been proceeding for some
time but if the officers ha?e any clue
It has not been given to the public.
"Does your annual salary never
disturb you" asked the consci
entious citizen. "Do you feel that
yon are giving the voters anything
for their money?'' "I confess" said
Senator Sorghum, "that I never
thought about it iu that light. 1
have been Interested in seeing
whether the voters could be per
suaded to give me anything for my
money." Washington Star.
L-