North Carolina Newspapers

r ENTRA1 A G. Kl GRAKTHAM, Editor Render Unto Caesar -the Things that arc Caesar's, Unto God, God's. 1.00 Per Annum, in Advance. ArOL. II. - -. t DUNN, HARNETT CO., N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1892 NO 7. 0 Times. TIlECOCOANUf IX FLORIDA. .CCIDBNTAT, BEGINNING OP THIS TROPIC FKUTT'3 CULTIVATION. Tak Jnar Advantasro or a Shipwreck How th l'ruit Is Raised Va ried Uses of the Cocoa nur. IIILE the cocoanut tree abounds in South Florida, it is not a native of the jeetion. nor has the fruit cen cultivated 'here for iny great length if time. About sixteen year ago a Bahama vessel was wrecked off the coast, near Jupiter Inlet. Soon after, the waves began bringing the cargo ashore, among which were found a large num ber of cocoacuts. Residents were very , few in this section at that time, but they gathered together and appropriated whatever came to them. These cocoa nurs were considered great prizes and were at once planted. The soil was found to be indigenous to the growth, aad they thrived wonderfully. Thus wis introduced the culture of the nut upon the soil of the North American Con tinent. In Dade County, one of the southernmost counties of the State, which has a s?-front of one hundred and fifty miles, there are now groves of great beauty containing from one hun dred to six thousind trees. Cocoanut culture is very simple. The ripe nut is plucked from ths tree, and, in the outer husk that surrounds It, is put under ground, lightly covered with soil. The- first shoot should make its appearance in one month after planting, but it is 6fte:i two before it com'.;. When it is about a foot high, it is trans planted to its permanent resting place. If the nut is planted as a nursery stock, th s husk is left on, as the younj plant is very tender, and it seeim that a growth oat of the husk has a tendency to make stringer the reel like joint?. If it hi first planted where it is to remain, the husk is usually , removed. For the first year the plant requires careful protection from the wind, but it gra Jually grows hardy, and at the end of six years begins bearing. The blooms make their ap pearance a doz.'n or more fiugers, look ing like grains of com strung on wira about a foot in length. These grains ara the young nuts. They ripea in a year's time, and thereafter uutil its death the tree is never without fruit in various .stages of" ripeness, from -a tiny lobe the size of a pea to ripe nuts, and there is pot a day in the year when ripe nuts cannot be secured. It has been de.non- , sttated in other countries that the cocoa nut tree will bear fruit for twenty-five years. To what ago they live has not bocn ascertained. The trees make a most beautiful an 1 imposing grove, being truly tropical in their appearance. As they are planted only about twenty feet apart, they cast a thick, unvarying shade. They are ever green, as is most tropical foliage, and their gracefulness, with the great height - they- attain, makes them a desirable ad dition to a home in the far South. The diameter of the tree ranges from one foot to four, and they attain a height of 12 feet, having as many as 40fJ Luts on them nt one time. The old-fashione.l method of grating the nut has been supersede J by a machine foe grinding, and the residents of the Southern country keep on ha'nd for their use a fresh supply of hone-mvle desic cated cocoanut, from which various toothsome dishe3-are prepyed. The product is becoming more generally known by reason of its excellent fibre, and the 4clotbJ" a strong, fibrous bark that grpws far' above the ground, and is utilized in many ways. If the use " of cocoanut-butter ever becomes . common, the owner of a grove of these trees will see his fortune ahead. The butter is made from the oil of the nut expressed by machinery. Even tht raw grated nut is an excellent substitute for 'shortening'' in bread, the grated nut in the 3ame quantity being substituted for lard. The cooking process seems to de stroy entirely the vegetable taste and ap pearance, and biscuit made with it are pronounced as good as real cream bis cuit. Shorn of its cocoanut growth, a tropi cal country would certainly be less at tractive in appearance. The long, feathery leaves that undulate so gracefully in- the breeze which sighs among them; the "everlasting green" of their coloring; their tall stateiiness an I their symmetry, beautify the whole country where they grow especially the South Florida covin 's try, where they grow in such profusion. . New York World. Fruit Prices In Piuiioer Days. The early fruit growers of Oregon hal a wonderful market for a few years at San Francisco. In 1S54 500 bushels ot apples were shipped from Oregon to California, and returned a net pro lit of from $1.50 to $2 per pound. In 1855 the shipments rose to 6000 bushels, vhieh sold atfroai $2 J to $31 a bushel. Iiv 1856 the shipments rose to 20,000 boxes. Even in this yeir big prices were received, and for choice fruit fancy fig ures were obtained, one box of Esopus Spitzenbergs selling for $60. The Cali forpianSi planted apple-trees, and' after I860 the shipments of apples from Ore- '"'gori began to decline. Apple-raising was more profitable than gold-mining for the first half doz;n years of the industry in Oregon. Eugene (Oregon) Guard. Mr. Tate, the wealthy Englishman who offered -the British Government a fine collection of pictures and .100,00tJ wherewith to erect a gallery if the Gov eminent would furnish a suitable site, has withdrawn his offer in disgust at th? -way in which it was treated. The voyage to Liberia, Africa, take thirty-fire days by sailing vessel. In seventy years, during which there have been nearly 200 immigrations, there hflS not bees a case Of Joss or disaster. The University of Pennsylvania will shortly establish a school of American kifltorj and iaatitutioas. vv HARBINGERS OF SPRING News Note as Fresh as the Crisp Air. The Moat Interesting Events Hap pening in Three States Chronicled Here. VIRGINIA. An organized band of burglars is operating in Danville. Shad were caught by the thousands in the .lames river last week. Burkeville has gone dry. It has been wet 33 years. Two bridges to cost $60,000 are to bo built over the Shenandoah at Front Royal. An uptown hotel is to be built in Richmond at a cost of $350,00. A patent coffee roaster factory is Sa lem's latest new industry. Work will soon begin on the electric line between Alexandria and Sit. Ver non. Dr. Bond of Baltimore has been se lected as the Supt. of Randolph Macon Academy at Ft out Royal. A bill appropriating $25000 for a nub- in: uuiiuiiig iM-uioru iiy nas ueen iavor ably reported in Congrt'ss. James Lipscomb, of West Point, has been found guilty of betraying his cous in under promise of marriage. The (.rand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Virginia, will meet nt Richmond Tues day, April 12. Robert II. Gilliam, Jr , a promising young man of Richmond, 19 years of age, accidently shot, himself last week, dying instantly. Cadet D. B. Powers, of the Virginia Military Institute, from Port Royal, Car oline county, has been appointed by Con gressman Jones to a cadetship at West Point. The Lynchburg Club has received a valuable collection of mounted birds and animals to adorn the chib rooms in their new buildings, from .Ino. S. Morris, Kansas, a farmer Lyncliburger. The Virginia Court of Appeals has just decided that ities and towns cannot exempt manufacturing plants from tax r tm i i i . -i - a-1 u. me eae wuiru orouiriit out tins decission was the occasion- of the town council of West Poiut in exempting the property in that place of the Richmond West Point Terminal Railway & Ware house Co. The State al one has the power to exempt from taxation. Governor Mclvinney has appointed the following gentlemen to compose the World's Fair commissioners of Virginia! First district, Dr.' J. V. Brokenbo rough; second, M. Glennan; third, Col. A ?. uuiorj; lourtii, Col. Edward S. Denan; iith, Hon. John L. Hurt; .sixth, W. J. Jordan: seventh. .1. N. Rrenna- man; cghth, Granville Green, ninth. juuriin t imams : ten li, J. 11. II. f ig- gat t. The residence of Riehard Benton, .i prominent citizen residing near "MI.l- - 0 - - dleburg, Loudoun county, was attacked i . 4i . 1 1 - r -1 , . vy inc iu;m-u men ou juonuay nignr, who fired into the house, one of the shots taking effect in the breast of Miss Annie Benton, who had retired, seriously iniurinir her. Miss Benton was lvin- in her father's bed, 1 e being away. On seeing that they had shot the lady in stead of her father, who they intended to muruer. the live, t.vo of whom were colore I, left An uusucessful at'empt was made to assassinate Mr Benton about a year ago. Great excitement prevails anq etlorts are being made to detect Ihe Wuuld-be assassins. NOBTH CAROLINA. Two Mormon ciders arj exoo undin their doctrine in Orang; county. John Boyd, charged with causincr the Bostian bridge wreck, escaped jail with six other prisoners at Charlotte, Thurs d'lv. Kevcnuc officers have seized an eight--crallou illicit distillery in Rockingham county. They also arrested the owner, S. C Wall, and lodged him in jail. The board of tin tees of the Colored Agricultural and Mechanical College will meet in Greensboro April 27th to elect a president for that institution. Dining March the tobacco manuf ctu rers of Winston shipped just 1,005,097J pounds of their goods. During the month they paid $00, 359. 81 to "Uncle Sam" for stamps It has just been gathered from history that the first day of public, fasting and prayer in America was o dered in North Carol n a bv the "Committee of Public Safety' of Rowan county. November 11,' 1775. A special from Jackson, says: "At las Taylor was brutally murdered near here. His head was beaten into a iellv and his body was thrown into a swamp", where it was found Thursday niornin"'.'" While fooling with a pistol that was not supposed to be loaded, a young man named Stockton, living eight miles from Shelby, mortally wounded his young sis ter, who died in the night. He is over whelmed with grief. A sad and fatal accident orcurred in Guilford county a few days ago. Nora Welch, 19 years old, was cutting wood in company with her two sisters and a little brother, from a large log. The log rolled over catching Nora under it. It was so heavy that it required five men to move k. The child was dead, caused by a broken neck. SOUTH CAROLINA. Sumter's uew graded school building has been completed. Secretary Hollowav, of the State Ag ricultural and Mechanical Society, re minds contestants for the prizes offered by the Columbia Phosphate Company for the largest yield of cotton from one acre that it is necessary to notify him in due time of their intention to compete for the prizes. John Claflin, a son of the founder of Claflin University at Orangeburg, has been inspecting Claflin and other colored educational institutions in the State. Jle was well entertained in each town he visited, the mayor and city officials ol Columbia showing him through the Cap ital city. OTHER STATES. Fayette, Mo. A sale under the va grant act took place in Fayette, when three negroes were sold on the block to the highest bidder. One brought $25 and another $5 and the third $1. The negro element is highly indignant and threaten to have revenge Near Holly Springs, Mis., Mrs. C. K. Smith rave birth to six bv babies. James L. Mathison has clospd his school at Salem, Fla., and will tryihis hand at planting tobacco this season. From the rod to the weed. ATRAINJUELDUP. The Mail Car Robbed and the Pos tal Clerk Wounded. Birmikgiiam, Ai.a The passenger train which left here at midnight for At lanta on the Georgia Pacific. Railroad was held up by masked robbers at 1 o'clock a. m., near Weems, ten miles east of here. As the train moved away from the station a robber boarded the en gine and covered the engineer with a ri fle, compelling him to stop on a trestle. One man stood guard ovr the engineer and fireman, while several others opened fire on the inside of the trai n in order to frighten the passengers. Another robber knocked on the door of the mail car, de manding admittance, vhich as refused. He then broke open the door, tiriog at the postal clerk, who was slightly wound ed. Every registered letter in the car, supposed to contain ahout two thousand dollars, was taken. The entire robbery was done in eight minutes, during which time several of the gang kept up a firing inside the train, and flflgnian Quincy Adams came near being killed. The en gineer says the robber on the engine was a white man and the postal clerk says that the man who robbed hm was a mulatto. Officers with bloodhounds'are close on the trail of the robbers. There was no express car iu the train. Eighty-five registered packages were taken from the mail car, two of wh;ch were found by a camp fire in the woods near by. Dogs followed the trail of the robbers to Iron dale, where the bandits sto'e two mnies from a man named Siujth, and fled. Three men composed the party. The of ficers are in hot pursuit and will no doubt capture the robbers. D. II. Hughes is the name of the p stal clerk who was wounded by the robbers. svindlingITncle SAM. A Spartanburg Man Arrested Upon a Serious Charge. Spaktaxbukg, S. C C. P. Barrett, of this city, was arrested on a bench war rant isssued by the Juge of the United States district court now in sesssion at Atlanta, upon the presentment of the grand jury charging that in June, 1S90, Barrett, acting as assistant postmaster for Cowan postoltice, falsified returns as to the amount of stamps, etc , on hand at the office, and also the cancellation of stamps for the quarter ending in June. The motive alleged is that the falsified returns would increase the salary of the postmaster. Itis further alleged that the returns were signed by Barrett without the knowledge or consent of his sister, who made the affidavit upou which the warrant was issued. Bar.ett was carried before U. S. Com missioner A. B. Calvert and gave $1,000 bond for his appearance iu Atlanta on April 15. Barrett was seen by a reporter profess ed his innoceuce of the charges, saying it was a put-up job by his sister's two sons. He thiuks he can prove the utter falsity charges. For Tobacco Raisers. Washington. I). C. Mr. Buchanan, of Virginia, from the House committee on jiuiciary, reported to the House with the recommendation that it pass a bill repealing the section of the revi cd stat utes which requires fanners selling leaf tobacco to furnish ti officers of the gov enrment a statement of all sales m de, the number of bogheads or pounds, with the name of the person, to whom sold, a- d the plac-to which the tobacco was shipped, under penalty of fine and im pris uiment. The c mmittec are of the opinion tint there is no good reason why these persons shonl be required to give this evidence, keep or render Ac counts, make affidavits or be subject to iine and imprisonment not. imposed upon other persons in the comniunit' similarly situated. Oirls Painted Hirn. Red. Sault Ste. Maiiie, Canada. A half dozen prominent young women of this city adopted a novel way tonight of pun ishing Fred Clayton, a young man who has been scattering scandalous tales re garding them. Dressed in old clothes and armed with brushes and two buckets of bright red paint, they called at his home and inveigled him out. Four of thejoung women seized and dragged him half a block down the street and held him while the remaining two vigor ously plied the paint brush. When they finally released him there was not a spot on lns'clothes, face or head that was not covered with a coat of fiery red paint Medical Law Unconstitutional. Richmond, a. In the Hustings Court Judge Witt decided that the law upon which Dr. Flower, of Boston, was tried for the practice of medicine iu the State without a license was unconstitu tional. The physicians throughout the State are deeply interested in the case. Briefly stated, his honor decides that Dr. Flower cannot be prosecuted, because he is a non-resident and is only in the State for a few days. If Dr. Flower had come into this State intending to re-ide here he would have had to staud the examina tion requirtd by law. Danville's Leaf Tobacco Trade. Danville, Va. Sales of loose leaf to bacco on this market in March amounted to 5,888,842 pounds. Sales from Octo ber to March 31, the first half of the cur rent tobacco year, 20,604,270 pounds. The March sales were the largest for any one month in the history of the market When Gripsack, a commercial tourist died, shortly before the funeral his wid ow was told that he had begun to aaorti fy. "Then," said the afflicted one. 4 it can't be John. I dou't think anything could mortify him. He has been to long on the road." PEETTY POLITICS. The Political Field Growing Very Interesting. Straws From a Dozen States Bear ing- News of Impor tance. CNSUCCESSrCL CONTESTANTS GET PAT. WasnrNGTON, D. C. The Senate com mittee on privileges and elections exam ined the accounts of Mr. Clagcett, the unsuccessful contestant for the Senate from Idaho, Mr. . DuBois, the successful contestee from that State, and Mr. David son, the unsuccessful contestant from Florida for Senator Call's 6eat, and de cided to recommend to the Senate that Mr. Claggett be allowed $4,000, Mr. Du Bois $2,000 and Mr. Davidson $1,250. These amounts are expected to cover the sums expended by the gentlemen named in the contests. THE THIBO r AttTY IN GEORGIA. Atlanta, Ga. The Third Party lead ers of Georgia met here to prepate for a vigorous campaign in Georgia. They fixed July 20 as the date for their State convention, and selected a State execu tive committee made up principally of All iancemen. They are enthusiastic over the outlook, particularly since the action of Congress on silver. AFRO-AMERICAN DEMOCRATS. Albany, N. Y. Wm. II. Johnson, president of the Afro-American League, has issued a call for Convention of repre senative Afro-American Democrats of the United States, to be held in Chicago " on June 21st, to endorse the nominees of the National Democratic Convention for President and Vice-President, and to map out a line for an aggressive cam paign. EASTERN CAROLINA REPUBLICANS. Wilmington. N. C. A conference of the leading Republicans of the south eastern part of North Carolina was held in the United States courtroom in this city, with 13 of the eastern counties rep resented. The object of the meeting was to confer with regard to the politi cal situation, now that the presidential campaign is impending. Dr. R. M. Norment, of Lumberton. presided and Wm. U. Chadbouin. f Wilmington, was secretary. After an extended discussion of matters, it was decided to issue au address to the Re publicans of the State, and a committee was appointed to prepare the address and have the same published. The commit tee appointed for this purpose is com posed of Judge D. L. Russell, of Wil mington, Dr. R. M. Norment, of Lum ber ton, and G. M. Stantoe, of Wilson county. THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. Washington, D. C. A meeting oi D"mocrats was held in the Ways aud Means Committee room. After the House adjourned, tho following1 of ficers of the Congressional Democratic Campaign Committee were elected: Hon. John L. Mitchell, of Wisconsin, chairman; Mr. Lawrence. Gardner, of Washington, D. C, secretary; Mr. James L. Norris, of Washington, D.- C, treasurer. The chairman will appoint an executive committee of nine to act jo'ntly with a committee of five senators, who are to have general directory charge of the campaign. The meeting ad journed subject to the call of the chair man. The following gentlemen will repre sent their lespective States: Idaho, Mr. Strand; Oklahoma, D. B. Medden; Kansas, M. C. Neely; Maine, Townsend Morton; New Jersey, J. A. Gaissenheine; Maryland, Barnes Comp ton; Rhode Island, Oscar Lapham; Wash ington, W. Wallace; South Dakota, William B. McConnell; Arkansas, T. C. McRae; California, T. J. Geary; Dela ware, J. W. Causey; Florida, S, R. Mai- lory; Illinois, W. S. Forman; Indianna, C. A. O. McClelend; Louisiana, S. M. Robertson; Massachusetts, J. F. An drew; Michigan, J. R. Whiting; Mis souri, S W. Cobb; MoDtana, W. W. Dixon; Nebraska, W. J. Bryan; New hampshire, L. F. McKinney; Ohio, J. G. Warwick; Pennsylvania, William Mutch ler; Tennessee, B McMillin; Texas, J. V. Bailey; Virgiuia, W.A. Jones; West Virginia, J. D. Alderson; Wisconsin, J. L Mitchell; Arizona, 31. A. Smith; New 3Iexico, Antonio Joseph, and Utah. J. T. Ca ne. Twenty-six States have selected com mitteemen, leaving ten States in whict a choice has yet to be made. There are twelve State which have no Democratic representatives ia Congres, and these vacancies will be filled by the com mittee. TEMPLE FARM AT Y0RKT0WN. The Scene of the Surrender of "Lord Cornwallis. Washinoton, D. C A bill has been introduced in Congress authorizing the purchase by the Government of Temple Farm at Yorktown, Va. This place was the scene of the most important event, to use the language bf the bill, in our national history, as it was "there the rights asserted in the decla ration of independence were secured by surrender of Lord Cornwallis and the British army and navy to Gen. Wash ington." There is still standing, in about the centre of this farm, widch contains some 500 acres, the old 3Ioore house, in which the terms of surrender were arranged for the proud army and navy, with its haughty commander, Cornwallis. It was also the headquar ters of Gen. Washington, Geo. Lafayette and Count De Rochambeau immediately before and during the time of Cornwallis' surrender. The house is still in a state of preservation, and during the enten nial celebratiou of 1881, which was held on this farm, the Moore house was ele gantly furnished and turned over to the French guests, decendants of Lifayette and De Rochambeau. The Government has erected a fine monument at Yorktown tv commemorate the victory here gained over the British. A national cemetery is ia this iciidty A fcum not to ex esd $100,000 is named in the bill for the purchase of this farm. PLANT RICE." Another Agricultural Crop With Which to Diversify. In giving this advice, we do not prom ise a fortune the first year, nor in sev eral years, to every one who adopts the advice. Neither do we advise any one to drop all other crops and turn his at tention exclusively to rice culture. We do offer it, however, after mature con sideration and study, as a partial sub stitute for cottou, which all admit is a profitless crop at current aud prospective prices. The principal requirements to be ful filled in a crop that proposes to sup plant cotton are two: 1, a marketable crop at good figures; and 2, a crop that cau be raised u"on a large proportion of Carolina soil. Both these condi tions are fulfilled iu rice, we think, in measures sufficient to warrant the trial at least. 1. As to the iirst condition, it i only cecessary to state that the production of lice iu tue United States is far below the requirements of the people for consump tion. This fact should insure a ready market and a good price. That clean lice does bear a good price, needs no proof with farmers who buy the article for table use. They know that every peck that they buy at tho stores costs them from ) to IDO cents. As good rice turns out half in the beating, this means th it they are paying at the rate of two dollars per bushel for rough rice; and when it is understood that ttie yield varies from fifteen to sevi-uty-live bush els per acre, it i not hard to see that there is considerable margin for profit, after paying for the beating and market ing. It should be stated, however, in this con: ection, that the higher Yield refer red to above, is rarely if ever realized upon uplands, and then only when soil, culti vation aid season are in coj junction. In this section of the State, where no atten tion is given to fertilization and the crop is limited to wet soils that have been planted in rice for a long time, the yield is about t'Vt nty bushels. 2. Can rice be grown upon a consid erable portion oi the area now devoted to cotton culture? This is a more dif ficult que- ion to answer, so as not to mislead any one. Our convi'.tion is that it can be grown. Wc have observed volunteer hills of rice very frequently in our cotton and corn fields, and they have invariably made good, heavy heads. A neighbor's field that has been run in cotton exclusively for a long time, and that is moreover distinctly high-land, well adapted to cotton, was successfully cu tivated in rice long ago indeed, we have frequently heard of the wonderful rice made on that field. These observations lead us to conclude that rice may be suc cessfully grown upon very large por tion of the lands of the State heretofore run in cotton. At any rate we were sulli ieutly impressed with the prob ability of success to set apart for that purpose, fome time ago, a por.ion of the area originally intended for cotton this year. As to the time and method of planting. Select the land, giving preference to low-lying lands and bottoms. Prepare it as if for cotton. The planting should begin about the same time as corn or a little later. Having selected the seed carefully, open the bed with au old bull tongue or the plow foot. Then drop three to six grains of rice at intervals of ti teen to eighteen inches. Brush over lightly with a board fastened to a plow. Be careful not to cover too deep; and if packing rains come, it may be necessary to run a light harrow or light rake over the beds when the plants begin to come up. There i more danger of h.fving too many stalks thai too few in the hill. Subsequent culture is very similar to th .t of cotton Selection from Editorltl "Cotton Plant." Oravgtbvrg, C. II., S. C. Vc are informed that the nnge of "upland" rice is 20 to 40 bushels per acie and have heard iu exceptional in stances of 50 and 60 bush Is. Dan, Tal mage's Sons, New York. "ILLED A NEGRO BISHOP. He Preached Perfect Holiness and Was Sitting in His Pulpit Whe Shot Augusta, Ga. News has been re ceived here of the murder of Bishop Jones, a noted colored preacher in Al lendale, S. C, on Thursday night. .Tnin-s formerlv nreached here, but went to All ndale to preach sanctincation and perfect h..Hne?s. He succeeded in get ting a following, m s ly women. Some of the iiusbands of the women objected, and there was a division among the colored people of the town. The auti-heliness people tried to dislodge the Bishop. They prosecuted him for var grancy, but he made a good showing on the trial, many women testifying that they willingly contributed to his sup port, and that they would give him the last cent of tleir earnings if necessary. Then several men, disguised as wo men, waylaid the bishop 1ft night. He was bewildered and overwhelmed at so much feminine attention and readily fell into the arms of his assailants. A short lime aftward his adherents built a church, in which the Bishop preached. On Thursdnv night last service was going on in what they called the Holy IVniplc. The Bishop had prayed and taken a chair in the pulpit, :md an as sistant had besun to preach. A side window was stealthily opened, the muz zle of a gun was thrust through, and a report followed. The door of the church was shut. The murderers had taken the precaution to fasten it from the outside. Upon the d.fcharge of the gun every light was ex tinguisned. Then there was great con fushm. Women screamed and expected instant death. . . Some one finally struck a light, and it was found that the Bishop was dead. Justice Mixson and a jnry of fourteen white citizens investigated the matter for two days, but up to a late hour no clue was found tjw'arrant the arrest of any one. A World's Fair, envoy to Africa as tonished the natives with an Edison' phonograph and talking dolls. ALLIANCE INFORMATION. The Plan of the Alliance Aid De gree Explained. News Notes and Current Comment Upon the Great Be form Movement. Washington, D. C Hundreds of inquiries come rtnnrint in for raore complete explanation and in 1"' formation relative to the new degree au thorized by the Supreme Council at In dianapolis, showing a deep interest in plan, and a desire to know more of it and to avail themselves of its benefits. The degree is a fraternal aud co-operative one, designed to fulfill a part of the original intention of the organization, viz., to help ourselves irtstcad of helpless ly and blindly depending upon others, whose only interest in us was what they could make out of us. The resolution establishing the degree reads as follows : Whereas, one of the cardinal tenets of our Order is the duty we owe our breth ren in distress, their widows and o'phans"; and whereas, our charter expressly pro vides for a fund for their relief; there fore, be it Resolved, That a co-operative degree be instituted in the Order for the pur pose of creating and maintaining a fund for the benefit of families of deceased worthy members, and that the executive committee be instructed to establish said degree as soon as practicable. The National Alliance Aid Degree is the result, and it provides for life insur ance on the assessment plan precisely similar in general features to the ancient order of United Workmen, Knights of Honor, Wojdmen, Odd Fellows, and Masonic and other secret-order aid asso ciations. It admits all members of the Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, men or women, between the ages of eighteen and fifty-five years, who can pass the required careful medical cxmi -nation. 3Iembcra over fifty five, or th so physically disqualified, arc welcomed as honorary members without fees, and do not participate in the insurance, but do in the other advantages. A member can take either a $500, $1,000, or $2,000 policy, or a man and wife can take a joint $1,000 or $2,000 policy, in which case the survivor receives entire amount of joint policy. A joint policy cos's one half more thin a single policy of same amount. ' The entry fees are low; just enough to pay expenses of securing members, viz., 3 for $500, $5 for $1,0j0, $0 for $2,000. A registry fee of $1 on all policies, re gardless of amount, except joint policies, which are $1.50, is also collected for office expenses. All unused fees are turned into the benefit fund at close of each year. Where a sub-Alliance or county Al liance wishes to establish a degree lodge, and seven or more members join at one time, seven being lowest number a char ter will be issued to. The fees may be reduced to $3 each, but only to charter members, and regardless of size of poli cies taken, thus making it an object for an Alliance to join in a body. Assessments are made not oftcner than Once in two month1, and then only when deaths occur, and are graded according to age, and never advance after a mem ber once joins. A member 18 to 25 is as sessed $1 00 on each $1,0C0 carried by him; from 25 to 80. $1.10; SO to 35, $1.20; 35 to 40, $1.35; 40 to 45, $1.50; 45 to 50, $1.75; 50 to 55, $2; $500 pol icies one-half as much, and joint policies one and one-half times as much. On a joint policy where the ages differ, one half the sum of their, ages is taken as a basis. A Washington dispatch fays: The Farmers' Alliance has opened a campaign headquarters in thi city, and will com mence this mouth the publication of a party organ to be known as the National Advocate. Stenographers of Congress declare the present House superior in grammar to the Fifty-first Congress. Ye demagog ues of plutocracy! Is it possible that "hayseeds' are . not only better posted upon legislative enactments and common law, but surpass ye in diction and syn tax? National Economist. "At a mortgage sale in Yorkville beat last Frida , a full grown, wtll broken ox sold for $2; a good nii'ch cow with young calf for $3 25; a three quarter Jersey heifer for $4 75, a good six year-old mare for $25. Still the fanners, ought not to talk about hard times, dis cuss finance or take anv hand in poli tics." 1'iclens (3. V ) Aeics. Washington, D. C. At the Agricul tural Department it is learned that the production of cotton in 1889 was far in excess of the consumption, and for 1890 and 1891 was about 2,000,000 bales in excess. The following s'ateruent of the frodiiction in corn nnd wheat for the ast three years, is of interest: Bushels In 1S89, Corn, " 2.!12,&y2,000 181K), 1,489,970,000 1691, 2,060. 154,00 1889, Wheat, 490,560,000 ir0, 44 399,262,000 1891, " 611,780,000 Our exchanges are glowing with the most glowing report. from ail parts of the country of the progress of our cause. A great Alliance revival is going on from New York to California, and from Mich igan to Texas. lh-St. Louis Conven tion produced a mighty jrround swell that will show its power in the coming elec tions. Let the friends of Reform take fresh courage. A brighter day is dawn ioe. Be up and doing. Work for the cause. Stand by your principles, and allN will be welL Progreive Farmer. Washikgtoit, D. C Ex-Minister Frederick Douglas (colored) has pro cured, by personal effort, for a niece of his former master a position in the de partment of agriculture. She is a farm er's daughter, and, while conscientiously endeavoring to earn the talray drawn from the government, bears cratcful witness to the large-heartednesa of tho man who owes no grudge, but, on tho contrary, feels the tenderest and noblest sentiments towards the family who once "owned him." COURT MARTIAL OF AN OFFICER- For Disrespect to the Memory of Ad miral Porter and for General Profanity and Obscenity. Richuosd, Va. The court martial trying Commander Jas. D. Graham, re cently commandant of the United States monitor lying below Richmond, met for the second time iu the custom house in this city. Captain Montgomery Scard," who had not arrived on Monday, wat present and was sworn in as a member of the court. The pleadings of the accus ed were presented by one of his counsel) Capt. James Parker, ex-naval captain, and allegations were spread on the record bringing the charges. After an exciting legal tilt between Judge Advocate Lauch heiiner and Capt. Parker, the prosecu tion was announced as ready to begin, and Past Assistant Surgeon George P. Lumsden, was the first witness called. He testified in reference to the offensive language used by Commander Graham, relative to the death of Admiral David B. Porter, and tho 6urgeoa testified that the accused said "Porter is dead. He ought to have been dead loig go, the son of a . lie has gone to hell and I wish I was a first-cUss fireman there, for I would make him roast; God him." - Assistant Paymaster John Quilrnan Lovell testified in reference to the wear ing of the badge of mourning for Admi ral Porter, and stated that the mourning was not put on by Commander Graham the day the department ordered it to be done. Mills Oliver, boatswain, testified in reference to Commander Graham curl ing him. Oliver one day brought back to the monitor a load of provisions on the steam launch, when he should have' brought back coal. He did so through a misunderstanding. When he reached the fleet, Commander Graham, seeing the. provisions and expecting the coal, began, so Oliver alleges, to curse him. Said he , was a fool, a ass, and too God ignorant for anything. Oliver con ferred charges against the Commander to be sent to the department, but Graham signing an agreement with him, Oliver kept the charges back. Thia ngretment provided that Graham should not ill-treat Oliver or the crew of the ship, and that Commander Graham would use all efforts to be detached from the monitor by Feb ruary 10, 1892. The counsel objected to Oliver's testimony. An Example to be Followed. A company has been formed in Bertie county, N. C, for the construction of a typical tar kiln, which is to be exhibited at the Chicago Fair among the many in-l tcresting articles of various kinds which will be sent there from the Old North State in illustratation of its different in-' dlustries. Bertie lies in that part of IVorth Carolina which has long been fa mous for the quantity and quality of the tar which it produces, and it seems pe culiarly appropriate that the design re ferred to should have had ' its origin among its enterprising citizens. Tho idea embodied in it is an excellent one,' and is well worthy of imitation in our States which are distinguished for indus tries equally characteristic of the soil. No State could adopt a plan that would bring before? the; vast multitude who will assemblcHn Chicago during tho Fair a more vivid and graphic picture of its special resources. Deposit this kill in the North Carolina department in the groat exhibition, and the whole operation of the manufacture of tar and the part that it plays in trade and commerce, will be impressed more deeply on the minds of the spectators than a thousand spec imens of the product, cither in its raw or manipulated form, would be" able to do, and to that extent the interests of North. Carolina, which derives such a large revenue from this source, will be more fully promoted. The whole process of putting tobacco nnd cotton into condition for the hind of the manufacturer should be illustrated at Chicago in the same practical way. Indeed, every industry that aids in bring ing wealth and prosperity to the South ern States should be presented to the at tention of the visitors at the Fair in the shape of an object lesson as far as it is feasible to do so. The Southern people do not as yet ap preciate as they should the importance of the Exhibition in its bearings upon the industrial development of their section, ruch an opportunity of displaying tho resources of the South will not again arise, in all probability, for an hundred ears. Among the thousands and tens of thousands and millions of persons who will gather from every quarter of the tJnited States and of the world in Chi ao, there will be countless numbers who will have been influenced in coming to the Fair, not by curiosity alone, but the very strongest desire to obtain infor mation as to new fields in which they can either advance their personal fort unes or invest their capital. It is to this class that the South if it exhibits are thoroughly representative will make a very powerful appeal. It is this class which our section wishes to attract, and under no circumstances could the chance of doing so be more favorable than on such an extraordinary occasion as the Chicago Fair. In the light of this fact, it ia gratify ing to see that many enterprising individ uals, following the example of those ;o whom' we have referred in connection .vith Bertie county. North Carolina, are organizing themselves in many parts of the Southern States into private com panies for purposes which are really essen tially public in the character, and, there fore, calculated to advance the welfare of the South at large. Richmond, Va., Times. Converted to Catholicism. Bostox, Mass Dr. William H. Rod dick, of South Boston, for years a promi inent figure in Masonic circles in this city, and heretofore a leading member of the Church of the Advent, has left the Epis copal Church and become a Roman Cath olic. He was a 32d degree Mason, and was connected with nine different Ma sonic bodies, from all of which he has resigned.