THE PRESS- VISITOR. VOL. XXXVI.--NO. 60. RALEIGH, N. C., FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 189^. $3.00 PER YEAR. WILL REBUILD AGAIN. The Street Car Company to Put in a New Plant, THE LOSS IS $25,000. The Company Will, in all Probability, Operate Three Cars by Horse Power— The Fire a Severe Blow to Raleigh. The worst conflagration that has visited Raleigh in years, last night swept away the power house and general headquarters of the Raleigh electric Company, which is located on the corner of Jones West streets, together with all the machinery, costly electrical appliances and ten street cars. It was near ten o’clock last night When engineer Corbett saw a small flame issuing from the roof of the boiler room, near the partition that cuts off the car shed room. Engineer Corbett with quick presence of mind turned the company's hose on the flame, which at that time covered only a space of a few feet. In fight ing the flame, the fire was driven through the thin partition into the car shed. Once in the shed the flames spread with remarkable rapi dity Shooting out in every direction. The shed was nothing less than a fire trap and in an incredibly short time the whole building was en cased in flames. At 10 z :10 the fire alarm was turned on, but then the flames were already beyond humane control. The regular and the re serve fire forces were called out and fought the flames valiantly, saving several adjacent buildings. Several streams were turned on Ellington and Royster's lumber plant, which adjoined the power house and in this way it was saved from destruction. The heavens were lit up by the glare of the fire which blazed fiercely. For several blocks it was as bright as day and the flames were visible for some miles. Thousands of citizens went to the scene of the conflagration which died out as the New Year was ushered in. The fire is a severe blow to Ral eigh. Besides tying up our excel lent street car system, the larger number of our business people who patronized the campany are incon venienced in their lighting arrange ments. The boilers, engines, machinery and all the cars that were in the house are a complete loss. The company owned] 13 cars and ten of these were consumed. The other three are on the streets where they were checked last night when the circuit was broken by the fire. One car is standing on the Hillsboro bridge, another is on Fayetteville street near the market and the third is on Peace street. The loss sustained by the com pany is estimated at $25,000. Presi dent Alf. A. Thompson said the property cost about $35,000 when purchased and that the actual loss was $25,000. The company carried insurance to the extent of $12,500. Several prominent business citizens of Raleigh were largely interested in the company. The general elec tric company of which J. H, Cutler, ef Boston, is the representative, was the largest owner. The city will only be temporarily without electric cars. The Press- Visitor has every assurance that a new plant, even more modern and better than the old one, will be put in. The enterprise had been made to pay during the past few months. It will take at least two months to equip the plant so that it will be in working order, In order that the street railway service may not be suspended en tirely it is proposed by the manage ment to use horse-power if it is found to be practicable, and as soon as possible the cars will be operated in this way until the plant is again ready for operation. In regard to the lighting, if it is possible to secure power temporarily the company will continue to oper ate the lights. The company has shown considerable enterprise in the last two years and we have no doubt but that they will feel greatly encouraged to again equip their plant for both street railway and lighting service if they have liberal encourag- ment in the way of contaacts for lighting. It is hoped that they will receive such encouragement as they undoubtedly deserve. It will bene fit the whole city. . Mr. Alf. A. Thompson, president of the Street Railway company, in an interview, spoke very hopefully to the Press-Visitor this morning as to the prospects for the early re building and re-equipping of the plant and system. Mr. Thompson will at once call a meeting of the stockholders of the company which will be held as early as possible, some of the stockholders living at a distance from the city. The gentle men composing the company repre sent ample capital and can rebuild the plant in a short period of time -if they decide to do so. There is every reason to believe that this will bedone. Mr. Thompson informs us that the business of the company has been growing and that it was becoming reasonably profitable. It is earnestly hoped that the com pany will decide to rebuild the plant and begin operation at an early day and it is thought to be al most certain that they will, NO JOINT CAUCUS. Chairman Ayer Says the Populist Legisla tors will not Enter Into Them. The Populist members of the leg islature will enter into no joint cau cuses at this session of the legisla ture, The Hon. Chairman Hal Ayer is authority for the above informa tion. At the last session of the leg islature the Populists and Republi cans caucused jointly on many mat ters, but this year, Mr. Ayer says the Populists will caucus by them selves. We asked the noble chairman if the Populists would act with Repub licans as they did in ’95. “In some particulars,” said the chairman diplomatically, “provided the Republicans act with us. I don’t think there will be difficulty in arranging things satisfactorily.” Mr. Ayer had nothing new to say about the senatorial situation. It is learned that Mr. Ayer has engaged 49 rooms at Barney’s Hotel (the old Central Hotel) for Populist members of the legislature. This hotel is to be Populist headquarters. Just why it was seen proper to gather all the Pops together in one household has not been stated, but the knowing ones have their ideas. Some go so far as to say that Butler had the Pops corralled in order to keep 'them" from'FritcuaTu influ ences. POPULISTS WARNED By Jim Young that Colored people Will Not Support Them if They Defeat Pritchard. Jim Young says in this week’s issue of the Gazette: “As we understand it, the popu lists have nothing against Senator Pritchard, per se, but, upon the other hand, they have great respect for and confidence in him. That being so, we take it for granted (and do not see how it can be other wise) that if Senator Pritchard says that he will continue in the future as in the past to stand up for silver, that he ought to and will receive the vote of every populist member of the general assembly who were elected by populist-republican co-operation. By pursuing this course the popu lists would haye everything to gain and nothing to lose. The colored people of the state regard Senator Pritchard as their friend, and are very desirous of his re-election, and to such an extent that they would look with disfavor upon efforts in the future to get them to support co-operation candidates of the popu list party if he is defeated. The populists recognize the fact that the colored voters, with few and rare exceptions (who yielded to Demo cratic boodle) have been among their strongest, most zealous and potent allies in planning and carrying out co-operation in this state. We want to see this friendly relation between the populists and colored people perpetuated instead of destroyed, as webelieve it to be for the best interest of all concerned. The populistshave it in their power to make perpetual this relation by helping to re-elect Pritchard, or to greatly impair it by defeating him. Mass Meeting ol Baptists. Rev. John E. White will preach at the Baptist Tabernacle Sunday morning for pastor Simms. All members of the church are invited to be present to hear Mr. White. Sunday night there will be a mass meeting of all the Baptists in the city at the First Baptist Church. This is the annual meeting of Baptists which is held in the interest of city missions. Missionary work for the New Year will be mapped out. Mr. and Mrs, J. M. Wyatt and son, John Mitchell, of Durham are visiting friends in this city. THE PRESS-VISITOR Annual Meeting of the Stock holders and Directors. 5 PER CENT DIVIDEND Declared Upon the Stock of the Company —The President’s Report Shows The Press-Visitor to be in a Healthy Condition. The stockholders and directors of the Press-Visitor held their annual meeting last night at 8:30 o'clock at the office of the company in the Pul len building. Mr, Greek 0. Andrews, president of the company, presided, and a large majority of the stock was represented in person. The presi dent made a report of the business of the company for 1896, which made a highly gratifying and satisfactory showing of the sound and healthy and prosperous business condition of the Press-Visitor. The presi dent after making his report stated to the stockholders that the financial condition of the company was such as to justify the company in declar ing a dividend of at least 5 per cent upon the stock of the company for the year 1896, After the meeting of the stock holders a meeting of the board of directors was at once held and the election of officers for the ensuing year was gone into. Mr. Greek 0. Andrews was elect, ed president and treasurer of the company, Mr. J. N. McRary was elected vice president and Mr. Ver non F. McRary was elected secre tary. On motion a dividend of 5 per cent upon the stock of the company was declared, and was ordered to be paid at once by the treasurer. Mr. Greek 0. Andrews was re-elected editor and manager of the Press- Visisor for the ensuing year, and after some congratulatory expres sions upon the successful manage ment of the paper, the meeting ad journed. The Press-Visitor took the after noon field in Raleigh nearly eighteen months ago, and the successful'and permanent place which it has taken in the field of Raleigh journalism has been maintained by a steady and aggressive policy to keep the paper always in the lead and to keep its standard always up to the highest point. It has never been allowed to lag. Its business department has been pushed every day and its patrons have learned to look upon it as a live and up-to-date medium through which to reach the ear and eye of the entire Raleigh public, while its readers have grown to feel that its always bright, readable and interesting columns are indispensi- ble to the fireside at the close of each day. It is the verdict of the people that the Press-Visitor is a first-class newspaper in all respects and this is the secret of its success, Wejiever give our readers half a loaf, and for this they are appreci ative. They take the paper,they read it, they advertise in it and they are willing to pay for it, The Press- Visitor will be a better newspaper in 1897 than it was in 1896, and with the hope that it will lose none of the host of its old friends but that it will add many new ones during the next twelve-month it wishes them all a most cordial, a most prosperous and a most happy new year. The Atlanta Postoffice. By Telegraph to the Press-Visitor. Washington, D. C., Jan. 1.—Feb ruary 1, 1897, the postoffice at At lanta, Ga., will become a presidenti al office of the first class. This ad vance was pursuant to the postal regulations, which provide that every free delivery city of 75,000 in habitants or more shall be entitled to a postoffice of the first class. The recent State census showed Atlanta to have a population of over 83,000. Female Deputy Sheriff. By Telegraph to the Press-Visitor. Buckhannon, W. Va., January 1.—This county is the first State to have a female deputy Sheriff. Mrs. Susan Smith, daughter of Sheriff- elect Fowkes, has been sworn in as his chief deputy, and has given bond the same as the male deputies. She will do her turn in the court room and jail. Mrs. Smith is a robust woman and is amply able to do her duty, no matter what it may be. Dr. I. E. Emerson, the discoverer and inventor of the famous Bromo Seltzer is in the city. A BUSINESS CHANGE Mr. John A . MacRae Sells Out to Hicks & Rogers. Mr. John Y. MacRae, the oldest druggist in Raleigh in business, but certainly not in age, has sold out his entire drug business in this city to the firm of Hicks & Rogers, and the purchasers today took charge of Mr. MacRae’s Wilmington street drug store and will succeed him there, doing business at both this and their former stores. Mr. Mac Rae will retain the stand at the corner of Fayetteville and Mar tin streets, where he will conduct a first-class cigar and tobacco store, and will serve all kinds of tempting beverages from his beautiful soda fountain, also all kinds of mineral drinks and cold and warm weather drinks in season. It will be a pop ular resort and Mr. MacRae will no doubt have many visitors and pat rons. The entire stock of drugs has been removed from the Fayetteville street store to the Wilmington street store and Messrs. Hicks & Rogers will immediately take charge of the latter place and will carry on busi ness at their two stands. Mr. MacRae's retirement from the drug business in Raleigh will be heard with general re gret, Besides being the oldest drug man in Raleigh he is the best known and most widely advertised man in the drug business in the city and probably in the State. The name of John Y. MacRae is known in every hamlet in this part of North Carolina. Mr. MacRae has always believed in advertising and has re alized it as one of the chief elements of success. He has been a liberal user of printers ink and this has been one of the secrets of his suc- cese. It is interesting to note as a bit of history that John Y. MacRae's drug store is the oldest drug house in Raleigh that has continued with out change of name. Mr. MacRae came to Raleigh twenty years ago and took charge of the drug business of Pescud, Lee & Co., at the stand now occupied by Mr. James I. John son. He retained this connection for seven years and then went into business for himself and the name and store of John Y. MacRae at the corner of Wilmington and Martin streets has been familiar to the peo ple of Raleigh and surrounding country for twelve years. In Octo ber, a year ago, Mr. MacRae opened his handsome branch store on Fay etteville street where he will now continue his cigar and tobacco busi ness. There is not a man in Raleigh or Wake county who has more friends than has John Y. MacRae and they all will miss him from his old familiar stand and wish him good luck and success in the future. Messrs. Hicks & Rogers, who succeed Mr. MacRae, are among our most popular and successful drug gists and we bespeak for them the good will and patronage of all the old friends of Mr. MacRae and of the entire Raleigh public. MR MOYE RETIRES DBH1 FIRST UK •—I In Advance of the other Leg islators, • i BUTLER, MONDAY Senator Pritchard Will Arrive not Later Than Sundav-’-Secretary Hyams Is on His Way From Washington. Mr. E. C. Duncan, the representa tive from Carteret county is the first member of the legislature to arrive on the scene of the State’s political battle ground for the next 70 days. Mr. Duncan, who is an ardent republican and a very clever fellow with it,is very much interest ed in the re-election of Senator But ler and this is probably the true reason of his early arrival. The legislature meets Wednesday the sixth of January. Senator Butler is coming Monday afternoon. A letter received in this city today from the populist Senator by Chari- man Ayer gave this information, Senator Butler will remain in the city until after the election of a Sena tor. The Senator comes here to play a little part in that election. Senator Pritchard will probably arrive here Sunday. This citizen of Madison county, who is striving to secure a re-election is not posi tively certain as to the hour that he will be able to get away from Wash ington, He hopes to reach here by Sunday at the latest. His chief lieu tenant, and the gentleman who will be in charge of the Senator's bead- quarters, Mr. W. S. Hyams, is already on his way to Raleigh from Washington. It will be imposible to ascertain anything definite about Senator Pritchard’s chances of defeat until all the populist members get on the ground. Matters will begin to grow interesting when Butler and Pritch ard arrive. Clerk of Court Young Appoints George 1. Tonoffskl, Chief Clerk. Mr. D H Young, clerk of Wake superior court has appointed Mr. George L. Tonoffskl of this city, his chief clerk to succeed Mr. A W Moye, who has filled the position so acceptably for a number of years. Mr. Moye is one of the most clever and accommodating gentlemen imagi nable and he understands the duties of the clerk’s office as few people do. Theoffice is a very difficult one and it is not easy to learn the duties at tached to it. Clerk Young though of a different political faith from Mr. Moye found it to bis interest to retain Mr. Moye in office two years although the pressure brought to bear on him from certain sources to replace Mr. Moye by a republican has been strong. Particularly has the kicking been strong since the election. Mr. Moye has made for himself a host of friends by his universal at tention and kindness to the public in his official capacity and they will join with the Press-Visitor in wishing the retiring clerk a happy and prosperous new year. Phantom Party. Last night some of the ladies at the Park hotel extended to their gentlemen friends a farewell to Leap Year in the form of a “Phantom Party ” The costumes were sheets and white masks and weird and ghastly look ing were the participants as they wandered about the ball room and corriders sheeted. The dancing was not much enjoyed until all were unmasked, when gaily tripped the dancers keeping time to the music The Old Virginia Reel was danced, and at 12 o’clock the soft strains of “Home Sweet Home” floated out. and swiftly and smoothly couple after couple glided over the smooth floor, and “a happy new year” was called cut as each passed the other. The evening was a decided success and many were the thanks extended to the fair hostesses, and especially to the two who first proposed the party and who carried it through. R. R. ORDER AMEN STATEMENTS. ^ Minor Matters Manipulated for the Many. • AROUND THE CITY. Railway Commission Requires Railroads to Post Arrivals of Trains Promptly. TheRailway Commission has issued circular no 57 amending rule No. 14 of the rules governing the posting of bullitins regarding the transpor tation of passengers. Complaint was made by a gentle man from Wake Forest that the rail road did not post the time of arrival of passenger trains regularly. Rule No, 14 requires the railroads to post the arrival of trains at all telegraph stations ten minntes in advance of the schedule time and when late to approximate as closely as possible the time of arrival. To remedy the existing evil as complained of by the Wake Forest citizen, the commission today issued the following order : “Rule 14 is hereby amended by adding at the end of same the follow ing: ‘The bulletin board shall be placed in a conspicuous^ place at the ticket office, and notices thereon of arrival or departure of trains, shall be erased immediately after the depart ure of trains.” THE COUNtYoMPLETED. The Offical Vote Prepared by Clerk Young Gives Jim Young 2 Majority. The recount of ballots received by Mr. N B Broughton and James H Young for a seat in the general as sembly in the examination before Justice Marconi was concluded to day at 12 m. There is a variance in the official vote as kept by Clerk of the Court Young and that kept by friends of Mr. Broughton, The vote kept by Mr. Young gives Young a majority of two, while the vote kept by Mr ZT Broughton give Mr Broughton a net gain of 20 over the former vote, which is a majority of two in favor of Mr. Broughton. According to the official count Mr. Broughton received 4,719 votes and Young, 4,721 in the recount. The vote received by Mr. Broughton in the original count at the general election was 4,720, while that receiv ed by Young was 4,738. This shows a loss of one vote for Mr. Broughton and seventeen for Young. The legislature will not be governed entirely by the recount. If Mr. Broughton establishes his other contentions he should win. The examination will be continued tomorrow oat ten o'clock when Mr. Dan Young’s deposition will be completed. TO RETAIN CONTROL. Held a Bale Twenty-Five Years. A special from Rome, Ga., to the Atlanta Constitution says: “Mr. W C Mills, of this county, brought a bale of cotton to town recently which had been lying under his father’s ginhouse ever since the fall of 1872. John Mills grew the cotton on his plantation in Chattooga county du ring that year and in the fall, after it was picked and ginned, the price went down and the old man decided to hold it, feeling confident that it would go to 20 cents a pound. In stead of that the pric e continued to decline and during all these years it has lain there awaiting the rise in value that never came. Last winter the old man died and his son took charge of his estate and among the assets was the old bale of cotton, much weather-beaten with the bag ging very badly frayed and ties rusted, but the lint as white as on the day that it was ginned. The son tried to sell it and it was purchased by Bass Bros. & Co. for 5.80 cents a pound, a fraction more than one- fourth the price for which the old man had held it so long. Stockholders of the A. & N. C. Road Lease Rob the President of His Power. The stockholders of the Atlantic & North Carolina railroad met yes terday in Goldsboro. A mandamus signed by Judge Robinson restraining the stock holders from changing the by laws so as to fix the lease was served upon them. From gentlemen who arrived in the city today it was learned that the stockholders took the manage ment of the road from under the control of the directors and presi dent. The executive power of admin istering the affairs of the road was placed in the hands of the chair man of the finance committee. In other words the management of the road was delegated from the Presi dent to the chairman of the finance committee. The President's office is merely a nominal one now. The salary of the President was also decreased from $1,800 to $1,200 The election of a Superintendent and Secretary and Treasurer was taken from the control of the direc tors. This action on the part of the stockholders has made the repub licans very indignant. They say they have been temporarily phased, but that a new charter will be ob tained from the legislature and the action of the stockholders reversed. Mr, Alf A. Thompson, President of the Raleigh Street Railway, de sires to tender through the Press- Visitor the thanks of the company to the Raleigh Fire Department for their prompt appearance and effici ent work last night. While the alarm was too late to admit of suc cessfully fighting the flames the activity with which the department worked was thoroughly appreciated. A telegram was received here to day from Henderson announcing the death of Mrs. D. Y. Cooper which occurred there this morning. Emancipation Day was observed with appropriate exercises as in former years by a number of our colored citizens today. Mr. J. R. Williams, returned to his home in Baltimore to-day. NO INCREASE IN PRICE: The Raleigh Gas Company Fully Equipped To Supply Electric Lights. Capt. B. P. Williamson, President of the Raleigh Gas company,sayshis company is fully equipped tosupply Raleigh with all the electric lights that may be needed, Capt. William son said that the company was not disposed to take advantage of the public and that there would be no increase in their prices. “Con tracts for electric lights will be taken at the same rate today as yesterday and the day before,” said the presi dent. Pot-Pourri of the News Pictured on Pa per—Points and People Pertinently Picked and Pithily Pu* in Print. The Junior German Club vill to- night give its New Year’s german in the ball room of the Park hotel. The lady who lost a pair of gold spectacles and who advertised for them in yesterday’s Press-Visitor will please call at or send to this of fice and get them. Dr. Kilgo, president of Trinity college, will speak at Metropolitan Hall on Sunday afternoon ata “men's mass meeting, " at 3:30 o’clock,under YMCA auspices,. The Raleigh Male Academy, Mes srs. Morson and Denson principals, will open Monday and parents are asked to send their boys promptly. The first evidence of the early assemblage of the legislature is the arrival of book agents. Mr. W. R. Walker, the representative of Ginn & Co. has arrived on the scene, Mr. E. B, C. Hambley, who has been running the Rockwell Park Farm for several years, has sold out his dairy and cattle to Mr. Joe. H. NcNeely of Salisbury. Clarence Alston, the well known cornetist, has received a flattering offer from Richard and Pringle’s minstrels and will probably sign a contract with that well known or ganization. On Monday, Jan. 4th, the Univer sity Glee and Mandolin Clubs will give a performance at Metropolitan Hall. It is said that this year's clubs are the bast that ever left the Hill. Admission, 25 and 50 cents. On Sunday night there will be a meeting in the First Baptist church in the interest of city missions, by all the Baptist congregations in the city, There will be no services in any of the other Baptist churches. The members of the Baptist Tab ernacle Church held their regular monthly meeting and elected Trus tees of the church for the year. They are: J. M. Broughton, C. P. Spruill and E. G, Horton. Mr Walter Woolcott has returned from New York and on Monday will, exhibit an excellent line of dress goods, wrappers, etc. One lot of fifteen cent dress goods will be closed out at nine and a half cents per yard. Last evening Mrs. James McKim- mon entertained a number of young people ather home on Halifax street. The party was given in honor of Mrs. McKimmon’s relative, Mr. Hull, of Athens, Ga., who is spend ing his holidays in the city. Robert Nourse, who will imper sonate Dr. Jeykill and Mr. Hyde, the last of the star course attrac tions will appear at Metropolitan hall January Sth. Though this is the last of Messrs. King and At kinson’s star course attractions, which have been so highly success ful, it is said to be by far the best. The progressive firm of’ Royall and Borden are always in line with the procession. They say the Press - Visitor. did the proper thing in changing the price of the paper from three to four dollars. They wish all their patrons a happy New Year and say they will give them a new list of prices next year, but they will be lower than last. See their new announcement today and watch their advertisement in the Press Visitor all through 1897. You will see it every day. Mr, D. T. Johnson comes before our readers with the compliments of the season, and as a candidate for your patronage. Knowledge gained by experience, and increased facili ties, is a strong argument in bis favor. With the line of goods car ried by him, coupled with the low prices, polite service, prompt de livery and the satisfaction he guar antees to all customers, we be- speak for him a large trade this New Year. Mr. Johnson makes it a point to give satisfaction to all, and any one who is dissatifled with their purchas or finds it otherwise than as represented can return the goods and get back their money. See his “ad.”