Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / March 1, 1918, edition 1 / Page 3
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ARE MINING COAL IN GUMNOGK FIELO EGYPT" REGION IN LEE AND CHATHAM COUNTIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED. DISPATCHES FROM RALEIGH Doings and Happenings That MarK the Progress of North Carolina Peo ple, Gathered Around the State Capital. Raleigh. The "Egypt" coal region lying chief ly in Lee and Chatham counties is be ing developed by two interests at present and it is gratifying to learn that the operators in both instances are getting satisfactory results. Both have mined coal of superior quality for steaming, heating and even grate and stove purposes. If this development reaches the scale that the prospects seem to hold out in every respect, it will mean much for Wilmington, for the mines are on the Atlantic & Yadkin rail road (Coast Line and Southern Rail way) which runs directly to the port ' of Wilmington. The coal region is only 130 miles from the Cape -Fear ocean gateway. Coal seams which are six feet thick are yielding bitum nous coal that government tests prove to be equal to the famous Poca hontas coal of the Virginia fields. The older, or original development, is the Cumnock mine, once known as the Egypt mine, .when it was first operated just prior to and during the civil war, and later operated on a small scale about 20 or 40 years ago when a disastrous mine explosion put the operaitng company out of com mission. It is now being operated by the Norfolk Southern railroad, the main line of which also runs through this North Carolina coal field. After years of abandonment, the Cumnock mine, .425 feet deep, filled with water, so the Norfolk Southern operators have been engaged since last summer in pumping out the shaft. That work was accomplished late in December and about two -weeks ago the company began to mine coal and make experiments with it for supplying the locomotives of the railroad company. A couple of car loads of coal was used in a steaming test on Norfolk Southern locomotives with the most eminently satisfactory results. The company is proceeding with mining operations in a seam six feet thick, and from now on the railroad expects to handle its own coal proposition. It controls about 3, 000 acres in the old Egypt coal tract. The Cumnock mine is in Lee county, adjoining the Chatham county line. Just across the line, in Chatham, on the Norfolk Southern railroad, lies an other coal tract of some 1.200 acres, which is being developed successfully by the Carolina Coal Company, in corporated and .organized a few months ago by some enterprising home capi talists, including the famous North Carolinian, Bion H. Butler, who came from Pennsylvania years ago and domesticated as a state-wide citizen. The Carolina Coal Company is now doing business with an organization as follows: President, John It. Mc Queen, of Southern Pines; vice presi dent, Bion H. Butler, of Southern Southern Pines; superintendent, How ard M. Butler, of Southern Pines. The Carolina Company has sunk an incline shaft to a depth of 150 feet, following the coal seam down at an angle of about 30 degrees, pitching east. The coal seam is six feet or more thick all the way down and the company proposes to go on and de velop the mine on a commercial basis. People all over the country are beg ging this company for coal, but it can not afford to make contracts till the developments reach a regular operat ing scale. It is hoped to be able to do that this summer and fall. Meanwhile that company has taken out a couple of carloads of coal and has supplied the Southland hotel in Southern Pines during the winter. Mr. J. N. Powell, proprietor of the hotel as well as secretary of the coal com pany, has not had to worry about any V-l supply for his hotel. He has been defying the arcti! wave with good North Carolina coal. The Carolina Coal Company at present is working twenty hands and has driven two lev els out from its main shaft, stripping a six foot coal seam in each direction. The long i.nd short of it is that the Norfolk Southern's Cumnock shaft , and the Carolina Coal Company's shaft discloses such vast quantities that -when operations get down to the regular mining basis contemplated, coal will be plentiful. Commended by Daniels. William B. Gray, of Avon, Dare coun ty, ship's cook, U. S. N. R. F., has been commended by Secretary Daniels for bravery and skill in making a perilous trip over the ice of the North Caro lina sounds and taking provisions from the ship to the lighthouse keeper of the Roanoke marshes lighthouse. The amendment for the government con and irregular, the navy department's announcement said, and Gray's trip, made in a ship's boat to which run ners had been attached, was dangerous Saved State $15,000,000. v War gardens in North Carolina last (year saved North Carolina consumers $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 which other wise would have been spent for food I products imported into the state from other sections and, in the opinion of health experts, saved tens of thous ands of dollars in doctors' bills by im proving the general healthy of the people through the increased variety in their diet. "More Gardens and Better Gardens" is the motto for this year, and with the forces of the food administration and the agricultural extension service behind the movement there should be a further incrase of sevral million dol lars in the aggregate value of garden products. State Food Administrator Henry A. Page calls upon the merchants of the cities and towns of North Carolina to adopt early in the season the policy of early afternoon closing and at least One half-holiday each week so as to en able all employees to cultivate gar dens. A uniform policy of early clos ing and of a half-holiday one or two days during the week would not re duce the quantity of goods sold in any degree, and would result not only in an increased number of and produc tion from gardens, but would result in better health and more efficient work by employees in such stores. This policy w's adopted in the city of Raleigh and some other cities and towns of the state last year with won derful results and it is expected that it will become a uniform and a uni versally adopted practice throughout the state this summer. Mr. Page is particularly anxious that it should be adopted in the various towns early eno.igh to enable all clerks and other employees to prepare their gardens and have tiem seeded as early as the weather will permit. Garden bulletins and plans may be secured from the Agricultural Exten sion Service at Raleigh without cost. Was a North Carolinian. This bit of lore will be of interest to North Carolina, Admiral Farragut's wife being born near Kinston in this State: (The name Mclven referred to may be Mclver.) "Dr. C. Alfonso Smith, of the de partment of English at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, has given out the following information: "On the blank leaf of an old Bible, still in the possession of Admiral Far ragut's family, there is the following record transmitted by the Admiral to his son: " 'My Son, Your rather. George Farragut, was born in the Island of Minorca, in the Mediterranean, in 1770, th 29th of September, in CIu dadella, and cme away from that isl and the second day of April, 1772. Came to America in March, 1773. Your mother, Elizabeth Shine, was born in North Carolina, Dobbs county, near Kinston, on the Neuse river, in 1765, on the 7th of June. Her father, John Shine; mother, Ellenor Mc lven'." Should Be AM American. Dr. J. Y. Joyner, State superintend ent of public instruction, is calling the attention of public school trustees in the State to importance of making sure that the teachers of the schools are patriotically American. There have been a few instances brought to the attention of the department of teachers who were not thoroughly in accord with the efforts being made by the country to win the war, and the danger of poisoning the minds of the children in this matter has been fully recognized. That such cases in the State should prove exceedingly un usual was to be expected, but the trustees of the schools are being warn ed to be on the alert in seeing that the teachers engaged are American in the fullest sense of the word. Examination Tor Clerks. Notices have been issued by the United States civil service commis sion announcing open competitive ex aminations for clerks, both men and women, on March 9, 1918. Vacancies in the departmental service, at Wash ington, will be filled from this exami nation. The usual entrance salary, the notice stated, is $900 or $1,000 a year, but the war department has decided to allow, during the continuance of the war, $1,100 a year as the entrance rate of pay for Clerks. Applications should be filed with the commission at Washington in time to arrange for thd examination at the place selected by the applicant, said tho notice. Control Short Lines. There was great rejoicing when the senate adopted the Cummins amendment for the govprnment con trol of the short line railroads. Sena tors Simmons and Overman spoke for the amendment. North Carolina has at least 40f the roads affected. Form er Representative Page went to Wash ington some time ago and took up the matter of the short line roads with Mr. McAdoo. Creat Benefit to Farmers. The farmers of North Carolina will be benefited to the extent of several hundred thousand dollars as a result of the order of the food administra Mor forbidding the sale of wheat flour except in combination with an equal c;vantity of cereal substitutes in the opinion of the food administration of ficials. It is stated that North Caro lir.f farmers are today receiving a higher price for corn than those prob--!ly of any other state in the Union. ASKS FOR RE-CLASSIFIGATION Young Raleigh Man Asks Board to Reclassify Him Only Case in the State. Raleigh. .Married and placed ' in Class IV by the Wake exemption board, It. .P. Michael, who registered in Wake county but is now Jiving in Charlotte, has offered his services to the United States and asked the coun ty board to reclassify him. Since he was classified, Mr. Michael has written Dr. Caveness that his wife is not dependent now upon him for support and that the only hardship on her, if he is called would be their separation. The registrant's frank statement in regard to the change in his wife's dependency is the first of it3 kind the Wake exemption board' has received and the young man's attitude has made a profound impression upon the members of the board. His letter to Dr. Caveness is as fol lows : "I am taking the liberty of writing you in regard to my classification. Since returning my questionnaire there has been a change in regard to my wife's dependency on my salary for her support, the change being such that she would be able with the allow ance made by the government to sup port herself in a manner not exceed ing that which she is receiving at the presen.. In fact it would not be up to :he present standard but the differ ence entailed would not work any hardship on her with the exception of our separation. "Realizing the need, the government has for men in this emergency, I be lieve it to be my dirty to inform you of fhe exact conditions of my case. If the local board ma see fit to re classify my questionnaire, I assure you there will be no objection on the part of my wife and myself. "Assuring you of my hearty support and willingness to serve, I am, "Yours very truly. "R. P. MICHAEL." Writes From German Camp. Stony Point. Newspaper readers will remember that arrtng the first Americans reported missmg as a re sult of contact with the German lines in France was Sergeant Edgar M. Halyburton, of Stony Point, N. C. Later the national news services an nounced that he had been located in a German p-ison camp. His father, G. B. Kalyburton, has received the fol lowing letter from him, which was, of course, censored by the German authorities : "Darmstadt, Germany, "Dear Father: "Will write you a few lines. I am well and all right. "Write the First National bank, of EI Paso, Texas, and tell them to put mj money on interest in savings de posits until they hear from me. "I will see you after the war is ever. Tell Jim and Mae to write me. Also Bub. "Also tell the bank I am here aril don't know when I will get back, but to put all deposits to my credit on savings and give them my address and tell them to send me a statement of balance. "Well, I will close for this time, and will write you again soon. "With love to all, "Your son. "EDGAR M. HALYBURTON. "20th Company, 5th Battalion, Civil War Bomb Explodes. Raleigh. News reaches here of & peculiar accident that occurred at Fort Caswell, at the mouth of the Cape Fear river a few days ago, in which two of the soldier boys in training there were painfully injured. An old field range was being used as a tem porary quarantine camp, the surface of the ground serving as the base of the stove firebox. Some of the inner adjustment fell in and the cook found an old cannon ball that had been out there in the weather for over forty years, having been thrown there by the federal fleet in the civil war bom bardment of Fort Caswell. The cook used this as a support for the part of the stove that broke in. But, presently, there was a terrific explosion from the powder that the old ball, which was really a bomb, contained. The cooking quarters were demolished and the two soldiers injured. NORTH CAROLINA BRIEFS. The. Guilford county health depart ment, according to Dr. Wm. M. Jones, the county health officer, is planning to employ a county denist by the month to go about from place to place throughout the county and hold free dental clinics for school children. This is a part of the plan in connection with the state campaign for medical inspec tion of schools. Three hundred and twenty-five men in Pitts county have been classed as delinquents by the lotcl board. Major William II. Bernard, founder of the Wilmington Star, and one of the ablest editors in the state, died at the home of his son' in Wilmington at the age of 81 years. The quarantine on Camp Greene has been lifted and soldiers are allowed to visit Charlotte and the theatres. Earle Neville must die in the elec tric chair, "No Error" being the ver dict rendered in the appeal to the supreme court. Lumberton now has a curfew l?w and youths under seventeen must rt be found on the streets after ninr o'clock at night. BIG ACREAGE OF SPRING WHEAT Government Calls on Farmer to Increase Food Supply. SOUTH SHOULD FEED ITSELF Agricultural Program for 1918 Urges Necessity for Producing Large Sup ply of Foods and Feedstuff to Feed America and Its Allies. Washington, D. C The planting of an increased acreage to spring wheat and the production of an increased sup ply of other food products and of live stock, especially hogs, is recommend ed In a supplementary food production program issued by the United States department of agriculture. This program re-emphasizes and am plifies the food-production progruni for 1913 issued by the department in August, 1017, and other suggestions made in the fall and the first of this year regarding increased pork produc tion and increased production of food stuffs in the South. Taken In connec tion with the recommendations previ ously made, it suggests in full the pro posals which the department thinks it desirable to offer with a view to se cure enough meat and dairy prod ucts, cereals, sugar and other staple ami perishable foods, wool and cotton for the nation, its armies, and the al lies. It gives suggestions for the ap proaching spring operations, based i upon the latest available information as to the condition of the fall-planted crops of winter wheat and rye and as to the number of meat and dairy ani mals reported for 1917. They repre sent the best thought of the special ists of the department who have had the benefit of advice from, agricultu ral leaders throughout the country. Our Best Efforts Required. "Notwithstanding an increased pro duction of staple crops In the United States In 1917, there is need for more food," the program states. "Taking Into account our own needs, theneeds of the nations associated with us in j thir war, and the needs of friendly j neutral nations, our best efforts will ; be required to provide enough food in i 1918. Whether the war continues or ' not, the demands on this country, be- cause of the increasing population and ; the needs of Europe will be great. An j especially strong demand will be made on this country for meats and live i stock. In 1917, notwithstanding the ' many difficulties encountered, the i farmers planted the largest acreages in the history of the nation, harvested record crops of most things except ! wheat, and succeeded In greatly in ' creasing the number of live stock." j "The situation is such that chief em phasis should be given to the produc i tion of the great staple food products, j with special stress on wheat and hogs, : the lending war foods." The South is uiged to provide food for its own people and feed for its live , stock and then to plant as much cotton : as can well be cultivated and harvest ' ed. To raisers of hogs and beef anl j nials the world need for meats and i fats Is made clear. Farmers are urged to Join with the men on the ranges in providing sheep whose wool is needed j to equip soldiers. The program discusses the farm la , bor problem, points out the lines of ef j fort for relief, and outlines the actlvi . ties of the federal and state agencies to furnish assistance. Spring Wheat. In dealing with the question of spring wheat, the program states : I The acreage of spring wheat should I be increased in order to make certain that we shall have an adequate supply of wheat for our own uses and to meet ' the needs of the allies, j "While the area of winter wheat I sown in 1917 was the largest on record, the condition of the crop, as reported on December 1, was th lowest ever ! recorded, indicating u probable produc ! tion of only f4O,(HXU)00 bushels, i Whether the actual production will be greater or less than the estimate will depend upon conditions prevailing be- tween now and the time of harvest. If j there were planted to spring wheat in ! the United States this year an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting in each spring wheat state within the last ten years, there would be sown ap proximately 23,300,0X) acres. If there should be planted an acreage equal to the sum of the record planting for each state within the last five years there would be sown approximately 21,000, 000 acres. The record planting for any year was 20.381.000, in 11)11. The acre age for 1917 was 18,."ll,OO0. "The department of agriculture has carefully studied all these records and other data In connection with the pres ent war conditions and needs, and be lieves that it will be possible this year to secure an acreage in excess of the record acreage which was planted in 1911. It is believed that increased Reached His Capacity. The first floor of the home was reached at the rear by climbing a flight of stairs. One evening the family came from town with a good many parcels, which the father, mother and son, Eu gene, proceeded to carry into the house, Eugene going up the steps Hist. As they neared the top step the father said, forgetting momentarily that the joungster's arms were full, too, "Open the screen door, son," to which the youngster repUed : "I can't papa, I'm all used." SK acreages ctn be st-mred In state and sections where Kprii.-wluat production is known to be reasonably promising, and that such increases can be made without upsetting farju plans. It is hoped that many farmers, espe cially In the northern part of the corn belt, will find it possible to plant five to ten acres additional in wheat. In some cases they will plant more. In a number of states in the eastern and central portions of the country where spring .wheat lias not been grown in recent years, the crop is now being re established and it is recommended that this movement be encouraged. To a small extent the acreage In oats, if necessary, could be reduced in the Interest of wheat. Likewise, a very small portion of the acreage which normally would be planted to corn in the northern part of the corn belt might be sown to spring wheat. If the acreage of spring wheat Indi cated for some of the state.? cannot be planted, the barley acreage, which is known to grow better in some locali ties, might be Increased. The use of barley for food is increasing in this country and it Is a welcome food in Europe. Summary of Other Recommendations. Following is a summary of other im portant recommendations regarding cereals, meat, poultry, and perishables. Hogs. The number of hogs should be increased by at least 15 per cent during the year 1918. Sugar. Effort should be made to maintain the acreage of sugar cane and sugar beets, and to Increase these areas in so far as these crops are well established or are necessary to sound agricultural practice. Production of satisfactory substi tutes for sugar, Including sorghum, corn and cane sirup, maple products and honey can and should be In creased. Dairy Products. The supply of dairy products should be maintained to meet the needs of this country and to help supply the increasing demands of the allies. Poultry. Poultry production should be increased greatly, especially in back yards and on farms where waste mate rial is available and the purchase "of expensive grains and other material Is not required. Corn. An acreage of corn approxi mately equal to that of 1917 should be planted, with possible slight reductions in t-ertain sections to free areas for spring wheat. Oats, Barley, Rite, Buckwheat and Flaxseed. The aresi in oats should be maintained, especially in regions and on soils which are not so well adapted to other grains, but vdth a small reduc tion to provide for increasing the wheat acreage. Parley production should be Increased in regions where It grows best, especially In the north ern edge of the corn belt and In sec tions north and weftt of the belt; and rice, buckwheat and flaxseed produc tion should be maintained and, !f pos sible, Increased. Potatoes. The normal acreage of Irish and sweet pctfctoes should be maintained in 1918, notwithstanding the large crops in 1917. Hay, Forage and Pastures. Wher ever feasible, the ara devoted to hay, forage and silage crops should be in creased and these products should be used to a greater extent in place of grains and other con?entrates. Beef Animals. The'number of beef animals should be maintained and, in areas where it is clearly the best range and farm practice, should be increased. Beans, Peas and Peanuts. The pro duction of beans ar-d peas should be increased in regions to which they are adapted, because of their high food value, keeping qualities,, and availabil ity for domestic or export trade. Soy beans and peanuts should be Increased in order to supplement beans and peas as human -food, as source of much needed oil, and as aolmal feeds. Perishables, (a) Market gardens near large consumlrg centers should be increased so as to" meet, as nearly as possible, the needs of the communi ty, and in order to obviate the neces sity of transporting such products from distant points. It is important to do all that is pos sible to relieve the strain upon trans portation facilities. (b) The planting Cf home gardens, especially for famllt needs and for preserving food for future use, again should be emphasized. (c) The commerciitl production of perishables generally should be In creased above normal wherever it is reasonably clear tMX transportation and marketing facilities will be available. What Was n Him. "Children," said ire teacher while instructing the class in composition, "you shouM not attempt any flights of fancy, but simply re yourselves and write what is in you. Do not imitate any ether person's Vrltlngs or draw inspiration from outsiie sources." As a result of thh advice Johnny Wise turned in the following composi tion : "We should not aflempt any flltes of fancy, but rite what is in us. In me thare is my stumniick, lungs, hart, liver, twe apples, one piece of pie, one stick lemon candy and my dinner." Baltimore Bulletin. True Gospel of Work. Work Is the glory and delight of life, and the only acceptable excuse for being in this world, and the ob ject of all practh-al Investigations of the principle of fatigue and recovery is to find eut, not what Is the least possible amount of work that a hu man being can get along on, but what !s the greatest amouut that he cam du without decreasing bis working capac ity. Such is the gospel of work, wh'h those who are not of the elect J regard us hard doctrine. Exch' CALL FOR 250,0011 IP 10 HELPERS Each State Asked to Contribute Volunteers to Speed Meri chant Fleet. ', ' FORM RESERVE ORGANIZATION Workmen to Stand Ready When Called Standard Seal of Wages and Good Housing Conditions Assured. Two hundred and fifty thousand workmen are to be enrolled In a re serve organization of American me chanics, skilled workers in many lines, to bring to completion the gigantic shipbuilding program to win the war. The organization is known as the Unit ed States Shipyard Volunteers of th- -Public Reserve. Those who enroL wi.--. I stand ready to respond when they are called to report at the shipyards for duty. An appeal for volunteers has bee' made by the department of labor the council of national defense, th shipping board, the 20,000 four-min' men, governors of the various statt organized labor and business men. Tr$ aim Is to fill all the present and future -needs of the government's shipyards. Pay of volunteers will be In accord ance with the prevailing wage In the " shipyards at the time they are called. Construction of houses for the workers Is being pushed with energy, and the necessary homes will be ready when ' the men are called. ". Cards are Issued to all applicants, bearing statements of the purpose of "" the shipyard volunteers, classifying them according to trades and asking signers to respond when called. But tons will be given to volunteers bear ing the Inscription, "U. S. Shlpyar Volunteers." In addition, the wor. er will receive a certificate signe, by Chairman Hurley, which reads: "This Is to certify (name of vol unteer) of (city, state), has enrolled in the United States Shipyard Volunteers of Pub lic Service Reserve to aid the nation In Its Imperative needs for merchant ships with which to overcome the submarine menace . and maintain our forces at the front." I Shipyards to Win or Lost. "The world war will be won or losf j in the American shipyards. Every ' rivet driven is a blow at the kaiser. Every ship turned out brings America ! nearer to victory." "Those who give their strength and. Influence to the speedy constructs n of ' ships rendw service that Is patriotic ! and highly essential to the succersfi'' j termination of the war." ' j rians for the organization of tr Shipyard Volunteers were laid ivT , the view to Interfere as little as pos. ble with the private industrial con- cerns and to cause the minimuci of -Inconvenience to the workers them selves. Under this system, when an acet lene or electrical welder, blaeksmlrr boiler maker, carpenter or any othe1" of the skilled workers or laborers Is er rolled, he need not fear that he willAe called upon to quit his present posi tion without notice and go Immediate ly to a shipyard. The government does not contemplate issuing calls to the volunteers until the yards are ready to receive them. When a man Is enrolled he may make his personal plans in accordance with the government's wishes and be ready when the call comes. He will then have awaiting him a definite Job'' at a definite place, at a definite, ge erous rate of pay. Quota of Each State. . Each state has been assigned a -quota, based upon the population and industries. The quota is as follows : Maine 2,972 New Hamp... 1.G9S Vermont 1,390 Massachusettsl4,321 Rhode Island.. 2,353 Connecticut ... 4.7SG New York ....39,526 Minnesota .... 8,762 Iowa 8,531 Missouri 11.812 North Dakota. 2.5S4 South Dakota. 2.3S3 Nebraska 4.400 Kansas 6.330 Delaware 811 Maryland .... 6,250 Dlst. of Col... 1.3S0 Virginia 8.45.1 West VlrKtnia. 5.3J7 N. Carolina... 9.264 S. Carolina.... 8.253 Oeorjtla 11.001 Florida S.4M Kentucky .... 8.260 Tennessee .... 7,952 New Jersey... 11,5 IS , Pennsylvania. 32,7?I Ohio 19.M2" Indiana 10,817 Illinois 23,62 Michigan 11.7J4 Wisconsin .... 8.6U Alabama 8.9$4t Mississippi ... ?,4S Arkansas 8,022" Louisiana Oklahoma . 7.084?. 8,492' Texas 17,0 Montana l.Sf Idaho 1.6.1. Wyoming Colorado . New Mexico..,, Arizona . Utah i Nevada Washington Oresron ..... California , Trades Needed In Shipbuilding. " The department of labor has provid ed the following list showing the kind of trades most needed in shipbuilding, and a special appeal is addressed to men in those occupations to enroll in the United States Shipyard volun teers : Acetylene and electrical welders, as bestos workers, blacksmiths, angle niths. drop-forge men, flange turners, .iniaee men, bollermakers, riveters, reamers, carpenters, ship carpenters, dock builders, ehlppers and cnlkers, electrical workers, electricians, wire men, crane operators, foundry work ers, laborers (all kinds), loftsmen. template makers, machinists and machine hands (all sorts), help ers, painters, plumbers and pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, copper smiths, shipfitters, structural Iron workers, erectors, bolters up, cement rs and crane men. ! u i
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 1, 1918, edition 1
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