North Carolina Newspapers

ftli.llHIb AT ii.MiNGTON. fx. (. .00 A YEAR.IN ADVANCE. 3553833335333388? " 8S3S38SSSSSsiiii? , 3338333S88888888& 58833833388888883 338SS338SS38833? ",22-s8a8SS5S.- 383383385383888 oc,"aD2S22222$)S9?' - 8 -8888883388S8S8?1 f-v I S.tered it the Pom i(Jffi& at Umtgton, N. C, as Second Clin Ma -r.l SUBSCRIPTION P ICE. The subscription price of tha We - ly Star it ai fiMteCopy 1 year, postage pald.......,........l 00 a " 6 months " " .j- eo S montht " ..... n " - WHY WE CAN COMPETE. English manufacturers are very much concerned about American competition, the success of which they do not fully undefstand. They would like very much to know what - is hitting them and how it is that the hitters hit so hard. One of the London engineering, journals under takes to enlighten theini the sub ject, and prefaces its task as fol lows: I I "No industrial question at the present time has so been an interest to British manufacturers as that con nected with ! American competition. It has been brought prominently into nntica on more than one oocaairm during the past six months, but for several years past our manufacturers, merchants and shippers have been, un able to close their eyes to the fact that since the United States have recovered from the effects of the great panic of 1893 they have steadily become mure dangerous antagonists, not only in this country, but in foreign markets, and especially in those markets which we- have bee a accustomed to regard as our own. I' It is still urged by not a few persons that this competition is factitious; that in order to take away ourcuxtouuers goods are supolied by enterprising Americans at a loss; that the artiel", forced on the, markets of the ward in preference to our own ar of inferior quality and will not stand the t-st of time and use, and that this spurious phase of manufacture and commerce is but transient. But those who are able to take a broader view know that these statements are fallacious; they know that in many manufactured products the United States can beat us. in price, and at least eq Jal us in quality The causes of these ad vantattrs are proba bly not understood by any. one per son, th iugh the results my kneely felt by all; and we believe that we shall be rendering a service of the highest value to British manufacturers if wn are able to thro w some light on the many aspects of a complicated pro blem,, y j It is not surprising - that a good many Englishmen have an idea that the success of American competi-s tion will be merely transitory and that this success has been largely due to the efforts of American manu facturers to dispose of their surplus stocks, and of stuff that is not sa'a ble at home. Isn't that what we have been repeatedly told by the pro tectionists when replying J-to the charge by anti-protectionists that the manufacturers to whom protection was asserted to be a necessity were shipping their manufactures to for eign countries and selling them for less than they sold the same kind of goods in our own market? This was admitted, because it could not be de nied, but was accounted for as above stated, namely, that the manufac turers were simply exporting their surplus or out-of-date goods and sell ing them for what they could get, rather than dump them into the rubbish heap. This seems to have made some impression on our Eng - lish friends,) who didn't know these protection boomers as well as home folks do, and it seems to have given them so me consolation. ii mil tu uisa ujl uiuiunijr in telligence they will yet, if they have Aot already done so, discover that there is nothing in that. Perhaps the journal which has undertaken to. throw some light on that ques tion may help them to understand it. This may not be a very difficult task, for it will find a large amount of information bearing on this sub ject in our leading papers. There is a good deal embraced in small com pass in the; following from a recent issue of thej Philadelphia Record: An elaborate report upon an in vestigation of the ffect of machinery on the cost of production, prepared by me uommissiooer or Labor, tion. jar roll D. Wright, has juit been issued, and a careful stud of iu exhaustive data will throw a flood of light upon the subject of American competition in manufactures. It is shown, for example. . that Brussels carpet is now woven on power looms with . an expenditure of only a half hour of labor per yard ' of carpet, whereas in 1850. when band looms were used, more than eight times this amount of labor was expended to pro duce one vard. To make one of the old fashioned plows required 118 hours oi iatxr, while the labor expended in the production of a modern plow is less than four hours. In spinning cot ton it is stated that the ratio in favor .of the machine as compared with hand spinning is about 200. to 1; and in various other operations connected With weavinc still presler differences are recorded. In the manufacture of bolts, nuts, screws, and. indeed, all Other finish aH nrnrinnt. nt ii-nn a.ri steel, the economy of labor due to the introduction of modern labor saving machinery has been astounding. . "A few years ago it was customary in Eofirland to sneer at min? nnvl machines which were called "Yankee inventions." All this is now changed. nowever. and since the vremt strife a of mechanics a few years ago England The Weekly Star VOL. XXXI. WILMINGTON, N. C;, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1899. T 1 TXoTl nas oeen the most prominent market ior iue introduction of novel Ameri can machines. It is, however, in an other branch of business that our manufacturers hare made the most important progress in recent years namely, in the invention and improve ment of appliances for handling raw products of all kinds and heavy materials used in great engineering constructions with economy of time and labor. We must look to Egypt, the oldest nation in the world, for the most stupendous monument in stone ever erected by the hand of man the great pyramid of Cheops. It is record ed in classical history that over 100, 000 slaves were employed continuously for a Ion period of years in the erec tion of that wonderful tomb. Should a demand arise for the erection of a similar structure at the present day American engineers would undertake to complete the contract in one tenth the time, and with less than one-hundredth the number of men reputed to have been employed on the pyramid.. "In the erecting shops of the Bald win Locomotive Works, when it is desirable to move a ' ponderous engine from one place to another, immense chains, are lowered from the huge re volving iron drums oft an electric travelling crane. The locomotive is quickly lifted from the floor, carried over the heads of the workmen and deposited on the spot assigned to it. All of the motions of the crane are easily controlled by one man, seated on an elevated platform, who operates a few little levers or switches. In the handling of steel ingots for great guns (weighing nearly as much as com plete locomotives) similar appliances are now used. In transporting iron ore from the mines in the West tn th furnaces in Pittsburg all the appliances are of the most powerful kind, and are designed to economize labor in every possible way. these are only a few suggestions which mav serve to exnlain whv American manufacturers have now attained a point where they are enabled to compete with those of the older na tions in nearly all finished nroducts. and to undersell foreign competitors in many, while Da vine far hio-her wages than are paid in any other country." If our English contemporary uses ordinary diligence in pursuit of in formation it will find a good deal of this kind and of other kinds to throw light on the .question and show how it is that American manu facturers can compete with the man ufactures of other countries. Labor saving machinery tells the story, but not all the story, for with that there is the universally conceded skill of the American in managing ma- chinery and in economizing labor even where machinery is not em ployed. This, quite as much as the marvellous machinery, some of which is referred to in this extract which we make Jfrom the Record, is what excites the admiration of mechanical Europeans who visit our large ; manufactories, especially our great iron mills and machine shops, where one man guiding an auto matic machine does what it would take hundreds of hands to-day. A striking object lesson on this line was furnished on the Eastern Chinese Railway, part of the trunk line of the Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Port Arthur, which will be completed in twelve months less time than was calcula ted upon, because American railway construction machinery was em ployed. The builders looked and wondered as they saw the appar ently impossible accomplished with a bewildering npidity. The suc cessful experiments with their labor- saving' implements and machinery has put ship loads of it on that road, which is now being built at a rate that estimators never contemplated. Diamond drills operated with elec tricity, drill holes into mountains of stone, dynamite charges tear them ud and steam shovels remove a the loosened rock; great plows do the work of hundreds of . men, and steam shovels remove the earth and thus in a few days what it would take thousands of men weeks to do is - done, Detter aone ana mure cheaply. This is an illustration on American inventive genius, an ob ject lesson which the Russians have turned to good account, and serves, in Addition to other facts cited above, to show whv Americans can successfully compete with the world. ACTIVITY IN MINING. There probably never has been more activity in mining in North Carolina than there is now, both for gold and copper. Some of the gold minjes are said to be paying hand somely, while it is claimed that there are bonanzas in some of the copper mines. The principal activity in this is in Kowan county, , where in terest in it seems to center, concern ing which we clip the following from a letter of a correspondent in the Raleigh Post : 'The mining industry in Rowan county has certainly taken a new lease on life this year. At the beginning of the present year there is not a mine oi anv oescrimion in operauuu, uu the Union Copper, the Dutch Creek. the Morzan. GroDV. Whitney. 11am- bley and others are in operation, and are being worked mainly for copper. Since the first discovery of gold in Rowan, something, over one hundred -vnara ae-o. there have been no less than forty five different mines opened and ooerated for gold, but in the main these mines produced such low grade ores that one bv one they were aban doned. However, as all the auriferous ores of this section . contain copper, and a low grade copper mine being valuable and productive than a low grade gold mine, the result is that one by one tney are oeing ro ujwuou and worked for copper ore. The gold and the silver in the ore is saved, too, and generally pays for the cost of pro duction and smelting, leaving the cop per as a clear profit. Two of these mines are now- reckoned as among the best ! copper properties in America. I refer 1 . to the Union, which is now turning out hundreds of tons daily, and the Groupy, which has just been-reopened. xne revival or interest and work in these mines has resulted in the tale of mining machinery and material to an amount running considerably over $100,000. Appropos the Rowan mines, it ia not generally known, but Ro wan county has produced and sent to the mint more gold than any other county east of the minimr regions of th West." The high price of copper is giving a boom to copper mining just now, and this may last for some time for the increased application of electri city as a motive power, and the vari ous other uses found for copper may keep up the demand, but if there be any truth in the reports of the dis coveries of cheap processes for work- -l I . . . , iug iow graae goia ores, there is a bright prospect in the future for gold mining in this State, where the supply of low grade ores is practi cally inexhaustible. PBITCHARD CAPTURES BUTLER A Washington dispatch to the Raleigh Post states that Senator Marion Butler, after wrestling with his great mind for some time, has finally decided to climb oVer on to the antf-side of the constitutional amendment question and pool issues with Senator Pritchard. It is said that he and Pritchard have had several confabs ,m Washington recently and.it is intimated that there has been some understanding as to the dealing out of government pap, but there may be nothing in this, for there isn't much to divide down this way now, and Butler will go out before another administra tion comes in. We incline to the opinion that it is simply Bntler's consuming desire to be conspicuous and pose as a leader that has decided his course on this question, as he will have a better opportunity to shine there, for there will be few looming figure in that side to overshadow him. . His effort will doubtles be to wheel what there is left of the Populist party into line in opposition to the amend ment, not so much on account of the opposition to the amendment as because it is a Democratic measure, and he thinks if he can rally the re maining Populists and get them to follow him this will put him in bet ter shape to manipulate his wires in the future and make deals that may redound to the advantage of Marion. He always had a pretty large sized opinion of himself, but in his late decision he has not only overesti mated that but also underestimated the intelligence of the Populists, whom he thinks he can lead in op position to white supremacy. But as far as the amendment is con cerned it doesn't make a particle of difference which side Marion Butler is on. Uur dairy exports amounted, in 1890 to 9 13,081,856. .Last year they had fallen to 19,095,570, a loss of about $4,000,000 the result of dishonest practices, and palming off fraudulent compounds. By honest dealing the Canadian dairymen have built up their foreign trade in twen ty years from $500,000 to $17,000,000 a striking proof that in the long run honesty is the best policy. The dishonest man not only destroys his own business but also that of the honest dealer who wants to do busi ness straight. Esterhazy, who did the writing which got -Dreyfus banished, has been practically . banished himself. He has been convicted of swindling his cousin out of $7,000, has been sentenced to jail for several months, to a fine and been ordered to refund the $7,000. As he don't want to re fund nor go to jail he will probably get as far away from France as he can. Prof, Kalb, of Germany, predicts a mash up of the earth to-morrow at 3 o'clock P. M. sharp, by a col lide with the Temple comet. This doesn't give us much time to get ready for it, but Kalb has been in the predicting business for some time, and the only things mashed were his predictions. An anti-trust baking powder con cern has been started in the West with a capital 'of $1,000,000. It proposes to spena $ouu,uuu in ad -. . . i vertising m the papers. This is no concern of ours, hut that thing is starting out right. A new explosive, called iheorite, has been invented, which, ft is said, will not explode in fire nor by con- mission, it never goes on wunuut, . -.-. rm il 4. being told to go. Claim for Damares Settled The Clvde Steamship Company has settled a claim for damages with Mrs. Sarah A. Lindquist, widow of the late Charles Lindquist, who was burned to death as the result of an explosion on one of the company's steamships in Kew York, particulars of. which are known to Star readers. The accident oc curred on July 23rd of the present year, and $1,000 was paid to Mrs. Lindquist, as administratrix. She is a daughter of Mr. J. W. Branchof this city.' A deed of release was filed by Mrs. Lind- auist to the Clyde Steamship Company with the Register of Deeds yesterday. THE SCHOONER GOLD LEAR Captain Williamson Tells An Interesting Story of His Adventure With the Storm Last Week, j MM1 4 Capt. W. J Williamson' of4he schooner Gold Leaf, which went ashore at Tubbs. Brunswick county; during the recent storm, was in the city yesterday and tells a most interest ing story of his. extraordinary experiT ences with wind and wave on this oc casion. I Capt. Williamson with his mate, young James Sommersett, and two colored seamen, were bound on board the Gold Leaf from Tubbs to Wil mington with naval stores and pro duce and encountered the storm off Fort Caswell on Monday afternoon. They attempted to put in at South port for shelter during the storm but the outgoing tide and high winds pre vented such movement and at 3 o'clock they were forced to anchor off Caswell. i At 8 o'clock Monday night the storm became so terrific that the cables of the sturdy little craft were parted with a snap aad the schooner went adrift', moving at great speed south by south west straight out to sea. Capt. Wil liamson at once recognized the peril of his situation and set about to make the best of it circumstances would allow. The deck load was quickly dumped overboard and with great effort on account of the surging sea the masts were cut away by the captain's own hand, after which the crew shut themselves in the cabin and nailed the hatches down, the vessel all the while drifting far out . to sea. The aft hatch was once torn away and the lit tle schooner began to quickly 11 with water The crew alternately came from the cabin and by holding on to the mast stumps, managed to keep her pumped out until an mprovised hatch could be placed in position. At 2 o'clock Tuesday morning when the little schooner was sev enty-five miles out to sea, accord ing to the reckoning of Capt. William son, the wind shifted to the south, and they began to drift in. At daylight Tuesday morning, when five miles from shore, Capt. Williamson sighted land And steered for the shore, where a little later the vessel and all on ooard i were thrown high and dry only two miles from Capt. Williamson's home and about twenty-five miles from where the schooner- went adrift. It was a narrow escape from death beneath the waves, and the fine sea manship of the captain, who is only twenty-three years of sge, has won for him an enviable position in the eyes of. seafarers. COUNTY TREASURER'S MONTHLY REPORT. Audited by the Commissioners yesterday. Routine Business Considered at Meeting The County Pence. There was an adjourned meeting of the Board of County Commissioners yesterday afternoon, Col. Moore, the chairman, and Commissioners Alex ander and Holmes being present. Upon application of Mr. W. B. Canady for a slight change in the course of the lino fence on his lands, was ordered that with the consent of the Wilmington Iron Works, the ntractors for building the fence, the changes petitioned for could be made if there was not attendant thereto an increase of expense for the county. The proposition is solely agreed toby the board upon condi tion that as long as Mr. Canady keeps the fence in repair the agreement will stand, but if the fence is not kept up by Mr. Canady, it shall be moved to the line proscribed in the original plat. It was ordered that" Robert H. Stamp fer have an abatement in the tax as sessment of his property in Block 198 from $6,000 to $3,500 and his per sonal property be listed at $1,000. It appearing to the board that an error was made in the tax . valuation of the permanent and rolling stock of the Wilmington Street, Railway Co., an abatement of $8,000 was allowed. The October report of County Treas urer H McL. Green, which was ap proved, shows the following receipts7 and disbursements: , " Receipts Balance from September account, $3,832.43; W. H. Biddle, marriage licenses, $25.65; Clerk Su perior Court, $6.00; Sheriff falter G. MacRae, property tax, $11,203.30; rents, $59.00; back taxes. $56 01; Sher iff Walter G. McRae, Schedule B tax, $1,147.51; dividend from' IFtrst Na tional Bank, $194 3l. Total, $16, 524.21. . ' Disbursements f Outdoor poor, $379,19; Hospital, $271.75; County Home, $132,35; public buildings, $116 49; roads and bridges, $205,47; tax listing $157,00; stationery and advertising. $15.75; Superior Court, $353 80 Criminal Court, $18 90; jail, $294 75; migistrates, $3.16: attorney, $25.00; R-gister of Deeds, $13 75; coroner, $65 55; Superintendent of Health, $75; Commissioners, $50; Cierk for Commissioners, $50: janitor, $45; Treasurer, $187,21. Total $2,473 22. The report shows a balance to No vember account of $24,050.99. There 1 . i ll. ' I!l it. is a balance aiso to me creuit oi me special county fund of $732.44. A $200,000,000 bicyle, automobile and rubber trust is the latest project reported. There is probably a good deal of stretching in that. An exchange hopefully remarks that "Kentucky may do better next year." If she doesn't she had bet- ter 0 out of the voting business. MR. GEORGE HARRISS DIED YESTERDAY. End of a Loaf, Useful and Honorable Ca reer Prominent in Commercial Clr cles Over a Half Century. : There passed away yesterday morn ing one of Wilmington's most promi nent citizens. Mr. George Harriss, who died at 5.30 A. "M., at his resi dence 515 Princess street. His death ends a long and active business career and there goes out from our midst a man who ever had the confidence and universal esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Harriss was engaged in business up to three weeks ago, but for the past year his health has been such that he was not able to give active at tention to his duties. He steadily de clined during the last twelve months, and three months ago it was realized by his relatives and friends that he would soon pass away. . For . about three weeks 1 he had been confined to his room and the spark of life gradually went out, being sus tained by a remarkable vitality de spite his weight of years. The deceased was a native of Wil mington and was the son of the late Dr. William James Harriss and Mrs. Mary P. Harriss, both of whom died many years ago. He was born July 27, 1827, in the building on Market street where the jewelry store of Dingelhoef Bros, now is. His father was also a native of Wilmington and was a very prominent and influential citizen in his day. The subject of this sketch was edu cated at Donaldson academy, Fayette ville, and when he finished school he returned to Wilmington and began life as a clerk for the late Mr. R. W. Brown, who previous to the civil war did a large wholesale grocery, com mission and naval stores business on Water street, where now stands the west end of the market house. He also received ad ditional training as a clerk from the late Mr. George W. Davis, who did a large business as a ship-broker and commission merchant. It was in the latter establishment that Mr. Harriss was started on a business career that made him the argest, the oldest, and, in early life, the most successful ship- broker in the United States. In 1847 he entered into co-partnership with the late Mr. Henry P. Russell and did a large and successful ship brokerage and commission business under the firm name of Harriss & Russell. Mr. Russell removed to Charleston and he continued the business as George Har riss, subsequently organizing the firm of Harriss & Howell, the members of the .firm being himself, Mr. A. J. "Howell" and Dr. WL W. Harriss. When the latter firm dissolved, his son, ex-Mayor W. N. Harriss, was admit ted as a partner, and for the past ten or twelve years and up to the time of his death the business has been carried on under the firm name of George Harriss, Son & Co. Mr. Harriss for many years has been more prominently identified with v the shipping and commercial interests of Wilmington than any person in the history of the city. Before the wai he did an immense business, being agent for the packet lines between Wilmington and New York and Wil mington and Philadelphia, and be sides was a broker for a large number of vessels engaged in the coasting and foreign trade. When Wilmington was the first naval stores port in the world, the ships he represented par ried valuable cargoes to foreign ports, and he also did a tremendous business in the shipment of cotton, and produce of all kinds, handling the large busi ness which came down from Fayette villa and hundreds of miles beyond. Being so thoroughly identified with the shipping interests, he has been a life member of the Seamen's Friend Society, in which he took great in terest. He was president of the society many years, and was a liberal con tributor to the support of the Seamen's Bethel, always attending the services there when his health was good. He was zealous in behalf of the welfare of seafaring men of all classes, and was truly the sailor's friend. Previous to the civil war, Mr. Har riss was a director of the Commercial Bank of this city, and for many years was also a director of the Wilmington & Weldon railroad, being a promi nent stockholder of that road. During the civil war, in 1862, he was aide to Governor Joe Brown, of Georgia, being his State agent and directing at this port the Georgia shipments of cotton through the blockade and distributing supplies for , the vol unteers of that State in the Confed erate Army. While on Governor Brown's staff he had the rank of colonel. Mr. Harriss was one of the charter members of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and was active through out his life in promoting the commer cial interests of the city. For forty years he was a member of that body, and for many years and up to the time of his death was chairman of the executive council. He and Mr. James H. Chadbourn were the only resident survivors of the charter members, and now that he is gone Mr. Chadbourn is the, only one of about seventy-five members named in the charter now living here. Most of them have "passed over the river," and only a few live, in other cities. For years past and up to his death he was a member of the board of commis sioners of navigation and pilotage of the port of Wilmington. Yesterday and to-day the flags of all vessels in the harbor are at half-mast in memo riam of him. Mr. Harriss during most of his life was a member of the Produce Ex change, and for a number of yearn was president of that hpdy. giace 1876and up to his death he was consul here for the Argentine Republic. Since about 1850, the deceased has been a Mason, being a member of Wil mington Lodge and of Concord Chap ter, and an honorary member of Plan- tagenet Commandery, Knights Tem plar. For years he has been a baptized member of the First Presbyterian Church and was liberal in his contri butions for all church and charitable purposes. The ball of the first church was presented by him and bear's his name upon its rim in raised letters It was always pleasant, for him to hear its tones regularly summoning God's people to worship each Sunday, and it is a singular coincidence that it will toll for the funeral of its giver to day. Few men have been so prominent in a city's affairs as Mr. Harriss, and dur ing the 72 years of his life he has borne a most exalted character for honor and integrity. He was'dignified, courteous and affable in his manner, and yester day Mr. James H. Chadbourn, who has known-him for 52 years, said he was a man of the firmest oourage, generous to a fault and always pleasant in his business trans actions. In his social life he was ur bane and was the embodiment of the typical Southern gentleman. The nature of his business was such that newspaper reporters had to call on him every day for shipping reports, and they can testify to his extreme cordiality and obliging disposition at all times. Mr. Harriss was married in 1861 to Miss Julia O. Sanders, daughter of the late Mr. John A. Sanders, a promi nent citizen who resided near this city. They lost several children, and a few. years ago his beloved wife departed this life, leaving him bowed in sorrow from which he never recovered. Their surviving children are six sons and one daughter Messrs. John S. Harriss, George Harriss, ex Mayor W. N. Harriss, Dr. Andrew H. Harriss, and Messrs. Bellamy and Robert N. Har riss, and Miss Ruth Harriss, all of Wilmington. He leaves four sisters and a brother Mrs Dr. J. D. Bella my, Mrs. A. J. Howell, of this city, Mrs W. S Norment, of Lumberton, aud Miss Mary Harriss, and Dr. W. W. Harriss, who reside here. The be reaved family has the sincere condo lence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances here and elsewhere. Action by the Seamen's Friend Society. A meeting of the board of trustees of the Seamen's Friend Society of Wil mington was called by the president of the society. Mr. James Sprunt, at half past twelve yesterday to consider suitable resolutions of respect to the memory of Mr Harriss, who was for many years the presiding officer of that society. There were present Mr. James Sprunt, president; Col. Roger Moore, . vice president; Col. W. J. Woodward, secretary and treasurer; the Rev. Dr. Robert Strange, Capt. J. I. Metts, Mr R. W. Hicks, Rev. A. D. McClure, Mr. T. E Sprunt, Mr. James McDougal Rev. Milton A. Barber, and Mr. N. Jacobi. The president stated the object of the meeting and remarked that Mr. Harriss was elected a trustee of the society at its 23rd annual meeting. February 8th, 1876, and at this meet ing was made one of the executive committee. He was elected vice presi dent at the 24th annual meeting held February 24th, 1877. and served in this capacity until the 37th annual meeting held February 4th, 1890, when he was elected president to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the lamented Mr. George R. French, president, who died on March the 15th. 1889 ; and that Mr. Harriss served as president until the 45th annual meet-' ing held February 1st, 1898, and as trustee up to the time of his death. Upon motion, a committee, consist ing of Vice President Roger Moore,Sec- retary W. J. Woodward and (Japtain J. I. Metts, was appointed to prepare suitable resolutions, which were pre sented and unanimously adopted, as follows: Whereas, God in His wisdom has removed by death from our midst George Harriss, a member of our Board of Trustees and one of the old est shipping merchants in our com munity, who has served continuously since 1876, and who served from 1877 to 1898 as one of the executive com mittee, vice president and president; therefore, Resolved, That in the death of George Harriss this society has been bereft of one of its oldest members, who was a firm friend and a good counsellor. Resolved, That while we recognize the hand of God in this bereavement, we deeply deplore his death and mourn the loss of one who had been an active co laborer in our work. Resolved, That a page in the records of the society be set apart to his memory and a copy of these resolu tions be entered thereon. r- Resolved, That the sympathy of this Board be tendered to his bereaved family and that the secretary send to them a copy of these resolutions and also to the city papers with request to publish. Remarks eulogistic of the deceased were made and on adoption of the above resolutions, the meeting adjourned. Funeral This Morning. The funeral of Mr. Harriss will take place at 10:30 o'clock this morning at the First Presbyterian Church. By order of Mr. M. W. Jacobi, vice president, acting in the absence of Mr. W. E. Worth, the president, the members of the Chamber of Commerce will leave it's room, No. 225 North Front street, at 9:45 A. M., to attend the funeral in a body as a mark of re spect to Mr. Harriss as a member-of long standing and usefulness in that body, Damage to Fort Caswell. , The Stab learns that the damage to Fort Caswell by the West India hur ricane of October 31st, was of such a serious nature that the government will have to spend $200,000 to restore the work and provide for protection against future storms. The damage to the works is estimated at $50,000," but in order to afford protection from storms in the future, a break-water will have to be constructed around al most the entire island. This, it is es timated, will cost $200,000. THE MASONIC TEMPLE Historical Sketch of the Move ment to Erect the Hand some Structure. TflE TEMPLE CORPORATION. Completion of the Home of the Masons; to Be Celebrated by a Great Pair jNext Week Preparations for the Coming; Event. As the handsome Masonic Temple ap proaches its completion, which is to be celebrated by the great Fair to be held here from November 20th to Decem ber 3i"d, it will be of more than ordin ary interest to Star readers generally, as well to the Masonic brethren of this State, to know something of the history of the undertaking and its successful consummation. The following sketch prepared by a well posted member of the fraternity will, therefore, be read with much pleasure : Tha Masonic Temple Corporation was incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly of North Carolina the 8th day of March. 1895. It was chartered "to erect, establish and main tain a building for the use, benefit and occupancy of the several orders of Ma sonry situated within the Masonic ju risdiction of Wilmington, North Car olina." The capital stock is one thou sand dollars, which is owned and only allowed to be owned by the five Ma sonic bodies of this city. These are St John's Lodge No. 1, Wilmington Lodge No. 319, Orient Lodge No. 395 Concord Chapter No. 1 and Plantagenet Commandery No. 1. The i Eminent Commander, High Priest and Worshipful Masters represent each his com-nandery, chap ter or lodge in all stockholders' meet ings. Its organization was effected at the first meeting of the Masonic bodies mentioned, assembled as stockholders, held on December 2nd, 1895. Dr. W. E. Storm represented the Comman dery, Mr. M. S. Willard Concord Chap ter, Mr. M. C S. Noble Orient Lodge, Mr. John C. Stout St. John's Lodge, and ! Mr. R. H. Grant Wilmington Lodge, at the organization meeting. The directors then elected, five in number, were Messrs. H. H. Mun son, T. F. Bagley, M. S. Wil lard, M. C. S. Noble and Dr. J. E. Matthews. At a subsequent meeting of the directors, Mr. H. H. Munson was elected president, Mr. T. F. Bagley vice president, Mr. M. S. Willard, secretary. Afterwards, Mr. Munson, upon his resignation as both president nd 1 director, was succeeded by Mr. M. S. Willard as president and Mr. Iredell Meares aa a director. Mr. Jas. C. Munds succeeded Dr. J. E. Mat thews as a director, and Mr. M. S. Willard as secretary. Mr. E. S. Mar tin, who succeeded Mr. Noble as a director, 'was in turn succeeded by Mr. H. G. Smallbones. At different times between its incor poration and the spring of 1898 vari ous i schemes were considered for the building of a Temple, but did not ma terialize. The erection of a fifteen thousand dollar Temple on the site of the Masonic Temple on Market street was proposed, but abandoned The apparently insurmountable difficulty confronted the directors to meet the expectations and desires of the Masonic brethren with a cash capital only of one thousand dollars. Finally, in the spring of 1898, the then directors, Messrs. M. S. Willard, T. F. Bagley, James C. Munds, H. G. Smallbones and Iredell Meares, con ceived and matured the plan by which the Temple is now building. They purchased the site of the old First Na tional or Dawson Bank, on Front street. On this formerly stood a build ing erected about the year 1808, which in ante-bellum! days was used as a banking house and residence for its cashier. It was constructed of brick, stuccoed, with iron porticoes, and for its day and generation was not an in elegant building. The-.property was purchased for $16,000. One thousand dollars, the corporation's capital, was paid in cash and the property mort gaged for the unpaid balance. On May 2d. 1898, at a stockholders' meet ing after an explanation of the pro posed plan of erecting the Temple, the action of the directors in negotiating for the site was approved and the pur chase authorized. At this meeting St. John's Lodge was represented by Mr. F. H. Fechtig, IW. M. ; Orient Lodge by Mr. M. S. Willatd, W. M. ; Wilming ton Lodge by Mr. Chas. H. Robinson, W. M. ; Concord Chapter by Mr. A. J. Howell, Sr., H. P.; and Plantagenet Commandery by Mr. W. P. Toomer, E. C. There were doubts and mis givings in those days, even among tfasons, as to the uudertaking, but having taken the first step in the selec tion of the site, the directors addressed themselves to the ''Ways and Means Problem." The plan devised, and which it now being carried into effect, was approved by the corporation and authorized. It was to issue thirty five thousand, first mortgage, six per cent., twenty year bonds, for the erec tion of the Temple, and fifteen thou sand, second mortgage, six per cent., fifteen year bonds for the payment of the unpaid balance due for the site. This mates a bonded indebtedness of $50,000 which j now covers the entire property. It was estimated that the, building while affording elegant apart ments for the Masonic bodies, would yield rental enough to pay interest on the bonded debt and create a small surplus for a sinking fund. The first mortgage bonds were taken by two insurance companies and one of the leading citizens of this city. The second mortgage bonds were sub scribed for by citizens and Masons res ident in Wilmington. As the build ing has nearedl completion, the direc tors feel that tbeir estimates as to the rental value of the property will be realized. The entire cost of the prop erty, however,; will amount to about $58,000. The object oi the Masonic Fair soon to be held is to realize money with which to pay the floating debt over and above the bonded indebtedness of the corporation. The plans by which the building is being erected 1 were preparea Dy aar. Charles McMillen, formerly of Duluth, Minn., and have met with very general approval. He is an architect of ex perienced and marked ability. Four teen Masonic temples have been built in different cities by plans and specifi cations prepared by him. He is him self a Mason, i He has personally su pervised, in a most acceptable manner, the erection of the Masonic Temple here. I On March 2, 1899, the building con tract was awarded to Messrs. D. Gatez & Co., of Knoxville, Tenn-. The con struction work has been under the im mediate direction of their representa tive here, Mr. D. Hanna, an expe- rienoed and skilled builder, and has been performe4Jn a satisfactory man ner, except, for the unavoidable delays which have been chiefly caused by the unprecedented demand for skilled labor and material all over the country. The corner stone was laid on May 18,1899, with masonic, ceremonies by the Grand Master and the officers of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Hon. Julian S. Carr delivered an eloquent address on that. memorial occasion. "The dedication of the Temple will oc cur on the 21st day of November, 1899, when the grand officers of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina will be pre sent and participate in the ceremonies. Hon. Fabius H. Busbee of Raleigh, N. C, a Past Grand Master, will de liver the dedication address. . In July last the labors of the direc tors having so greatly increased, at their request the stockholders in creased their number from five to ten, -and elected to serve on the board, in addition to the other directors. Messrs., W. E Springer, James F. Post, Jr., Isaac Bear, W. R. Kenan and Charles . W. Worth. These gentlemen have : given their active support to the enter prise, and since becoming directors have materially aided in the further ance of the work. The Temple will stand as a monu ment to the order to which it is dedi cated. It is a handsome building of brown stone press brick front. The first floor has three handsome stores. These will be occupied by Mr. H. L. Fennell as a harness store, by the Fishblate Clothing . Company as a clothing store, and Mr. Jas. C Munds as a drug store. The second story is devoted to offices eompleted in modern style and many of these are already oc cupied Among those who will occupy the office floor are Messrs. Bridgets cc McKeitbanj Dr. W. C. Galloway, Messrs. Rountree & Carr, the Colo nial Dames Society, -Mr. George H. Howell, Mr. George Harriss, Jr., Mr. Iredell Meares, Mr. E. S. Martin, Mr. Robert Ruark, Drs. Davis & Hawes, Dr. R E Zachery and Mr. W. H. Mc Elwee. The third floor will be occu pied by the Masonic bodies. There will be two handsome balls, one for . the Blue Lodge and for the Comman dery and Chapter, with a banquet hall. The fourth floor, front, is de--voted to a beautiful ball room, with an arch ceiling, and parlors, reception rooms and cafe. Our citizens, as well as the Masons, experience a pride and gratification at the erection of a building which re flects credit upon both the enterprise of the order and of the city. r The conception and erection of this beautiful Temple illustrates strikingly how men by f concert of action and unity of purpose can accomplish great things for the upbuilding of their city and State, as well as for the order in a whose honor and for whose purpose it has been primarily erected. SPIRITS TURPENTINE. Chatham Record: An old col ored man,1 named Nathan Taylor, died near here on last Sunday, who was over 88 years old. Wadesboro Messenger-Intelligencer: Charles Watkins, colored, who lived on the plantation of Mr. J..L. Pratt, on PeB Dee river, Morven town ship, was instantly, killed Tuesday by a pea-thrasher falling on him while he was assisting in unloading it from a wagon. His skull and body were hor ribly crushed. Greenville Reflector: Sheriff Mooring borrowed from the sheriff of Edgecombe county a gallows upon which to hang Elijah Joyner." When the gallows reached the depot here the negro draymen were afraid of it and wouldn't haul it. Finally one was found to move it, but he has been' scared about it ever since. Salisbury Truth: A rather unusual incident sccurred at Whitlock & Rainey's store yesterday, when two one legged men customers entered and asked to be fitted with shoes. One of the men had the misfortune to be mi nus his right foot, while, the other had been deprived of his left pedal extrem ity. A single pair of shoes served to to equip the two customers, and they lett tne store well pieaseu wiin tne novel occurrence. Sanford Express: The "top crop" of cotton is a failure. It was killed by. the early frost. The cotton croD in this section this yeear is short. It was believed by many of the buyers in the early fall that cotton would sell, at ten cents before the 1st of January.! So far the market has not reached 8 cents. Many of the farmers have been forced to sell their cotton at from: 7 to 7i cents to pay their debts. A great deal of the fleecy staple has been put on the market here this week. Hundreds of crates of fine cab bage are shipped every week by San ford from Mt. Airy to different places in this and other States. Vegetables and fruit are furnished by Eastern North Carolina in the' Spring and Summer and by Western North Caro-i Una in the Fall. Some of the finest apples and cabbage raised in the State grow in the mountains and are shipped and sold to the people in the middle and eastern sections at a good profit. Mountain apples and cabbage are very sweet and have a good flavor. N. C. TOBACCO ASSOCIATION Call Issued to Planters to Meet In Raleigh December Sixth to Organize for Mutual Protection. Bv Telegraph to the doming 8 tar. Raleigh. N. C. November 10. t- President J. Bryan Grimes, of the North Carolina Tobacco Association to-day issued a call to the tobacco planters of the State to meet in Ra leigh on December 6th. Planters in every tobacco growing county are res quested to form co-associations and send delegates, as many as they wish, to this convention. In counties where there is no local organization indi vidual growers are urged to attend, so that if possible ail tne tooacco grow ing sections of the State will be repre sented. Planters from -Virginia and South Carolina are also asked to at tend the convention. 1 "The continually diminishing prices," says President unmes, in nis call, "have been keenly felt by every nlanter. and it is hoped that in this convention some practical plan may be evolved by which producers with judicious, conservative and persistent concert of action may better their con dition. If the prevailing low prices are due to over production we should face the situation and endeavor to remedy it. If it is found that the price is nxea oy aroiirary moiuum, we should vigorously protest and de termine to make that protest effectual. -Every intelligent farmer should recog nize the advantages to be secured by intelligent organization and deter mined co-operation." -Vice President Hobart spent another comfortable night and yesterday morning there was no material change in his condition. i -i-.-i -i-u Cures a Couzb or Cold at once. A Conquer 1. roup wnnonx fan. Is the best for Bronchitis, Grippe, Hoarseness. Whoopine-Coufrh, and Mothers praise it. poctorsprescribelt. for tne cure oi consumption, eznau uueci , ttucjb, sure jwm. ijii:wituuMrt!i;ni.n 1