i.liHn'J,M
Dr. B. K. Hays
Dec .23,05
UBiU
VOL. 20.
OXFORD, N. C, FRIDAY, MAY 3 1907.
NO. 25
5b
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION,
GREAT CROWDS GATHER TO
WITNESS THE CEREMONIES
Impressive Program-The President
Given an Ovation Cannons Roar
, ed and People Rejoiced.
Official camp: Jamestown TerCen
tenial Exposition.
Character: Military, naval marine
" " and historical exposition.
Nature: State, national and interna
tional historic celebration.
Purpose:- Commemoration of the
first permanent settlement of English
speaking people in America.
Location: Exposition grounds on
Hampton Roads, near Norfolk Ports
mouth and Newport News Virginia.
Size of exposition grounds: 400
acres of land space and a40-&cre water
space between the grand piers.
The prevailing style of architecture
at thelsxposition is Colonial.
The ceremonies which presented the
Jamestown Ter Centenial Exposition
to the world were performed at noon
Friday with all the dignity and splen
dor befitting the occasion. Thousands
of men, women and children crowded
about the speakers' stand on Lee's pa
rade where, in the presence of a most
"distinguished assemblage, President
Roosevelt spoke the words of dedica
tion and at the same time pressed a
gold button that started the machinery ;
of the Exposition in motion. Simul
taneously the thousands of flags and
banners on the beautiful buildings
were thrown to the wind and a deafen
ing salute boomed forth from the scores
of warships of the United States and
foreign powers that dotted the historic
waters of Hampton Boads.
The salute was applauded by thou
sands of people, who had been waiting
for that glad moment for many months,
and they were happy. In truth the
three cities that are within a stone's
throw of the exposition, and in fact all
"Virginia wTas never so happy in all its
eventful history as it was Friday.
The great state that has given the
Nation seven Presidents, whose men
and women have been famous in days
of peace and renowned in war, whose
citizens are as patriotic as are those of
any of the galaxy of states in the Un
ion, whose history is a book of great
achievements of romance and industry,
whose products are among the best
that the country can offer, is today the
liappiest among the many over which
the old flag floats in grace and in
pride.
Friday's celebration was participated
in by the President of the United
States, the foreign diplomats from
Washington, members of Congress, of
the army and navy, together with the
governors and staffs of a score of states.
The patriotic and historical societies
were well represented, among them the
Sons of the American Revolution,
Daughters of the American Revolution,
the Society of the Cincinnati, Society
pf Colonial Wars, United Confederate
Veterans and Grand Army of the Re
public. The cities of Norfolk, Ports
mouth, and Newport News, the mayor,
of which had declared the day a pub
lic holiday, sent thousands of visitors
to the opening.
Everything being in readiness, at
11:30 o'clock the President and his
party landed from the yacht .May
flower at the pier and were received
with an artillery salute. Flanked on
either side by a line of troops, the par
ty were escorted to the speaker's stand
amid the cheers of a large crowd.
Promptly at noon President Harry St
George Tucker of the exposition com
pany arose, and announced the begin
ning of the ceremonies, and the Right
Rev. Alfred Magill Randolph, bishop
of the diocese of southern Virginia, in
voked the divine blessing.
Bishop Randolph concluded his in
vocation with the Lord's prayer, in
which the audience joined The offi
cial exposition hymn was then sung by
a grand, chorus of 500 voices assisted
by the Washington Choral Societj.
The music of the hymn was written by
Wilber Force Owst, of Boston, and
the words were by W. A. Pegram, of
Baltimore.
Governor Swanson spoke briefly,
extending to the people of the United
States and to the residents of countries
abroad a cordial welcome to Virginia,
President Tucker, as the chief execu
tive of the exposition, then delivered
an address at the conclusion of which
he introduced President Roosevelt
There was tremendous cheering for the
President when he arose to speak. The
President's address, which was of an
historical character and one of his
most successful efforts along that line,
was listened to with .close attention by
the vast multitude.
The conclusion of the President's
jspeech was the signal for the opening
THE ROAD QUESTION.
Mr. Wyatt Walters, of Brassfield,
Heard From Again.
Mr. Editor will you allow me space
to express myself again on the road
question which is deservedly attracting
so much attention at present? xhe
idea seems quite prevalent that the
money obtained from the proposed
bond issue should all be spent in mak
ing macadam roads.j
Now I cannot see auy practical judg
ment in attempting to make macadam
roads in this part of the county, where
rock is very scarce and very hard and
sand is the most bountiful thing in
sight.
However, I suppose it is not propos
ed to make any macadam roads in this
part of the county or any other kind
for that matter judging the future by
the past.
The idea that a good Toad can be
made of nothing: but crushed rock is a
serious mistake. This fact has been
proven to me both by observation and
experiment.
Where a clay road is properly thrown
up and graded and then covered deep
enough with sand, gravel or some ma
terial that will not work into mud, it
will prove as good as any macadam
road.
Now what would be the judgement
in hauling rock long distances and
crushing it with costly machinery when
some such material is near at hand?
Certainly I admit that in very many
cases using crushed rock is the most
practical thing to do. But let us not
forget that while a dirt road will cost
about 200 a mile a macadam road
will cost about 82,000.
Let us also remember that there
was no reason to expect most of the
dirt roads which have been, made in
Granville to be proof against mud, be
cause they were not properly made.
Let those who advocate macadam roads
exclusively do just a little calculating.
There could be made with the $100,
000, only about 50 miles of such road,
but little more than 5 miles to the
township. This would scarcely be a
good start. But as an experiment it
would be entirely too ,, mpch. ,1 .am
convinced that as a people, we do not
know how to make roads,and so should
go slow until we learn. 1 believe that
a suitable man should be employed
for all his time and put in charge of j
the work. He should be required to
inform himself thoroughly and by
every possible means on the subject
of road making. There should be used
during the first year only a small part
of the proposed bond issue. We
cannot afford to waste the money. Mud
alone is bad enough, but mud and
bonds are a little too much.
W. R. WALTERS.
A New Enterprise Near Town.
Messrs. Ham Powell and Titus
Currin will embark in a new enter
prise near Oxford. They will enter
into at once the manafacture of cement
brick and blocks for building purposes,
which will no doubt prove a paying
business. The Plant will be near the
home of Mr. Currin where nice white
sand is convenient, and work has al
ready commenced on the sheds. These
gentlemen will get the Southern to put
in a siding at their yards as they ex
pect to manufacture blocks on a large
scale. The Public Ledger wishes them
much success.
Lecture Before Shakespeare Club.
The Shakspeare Club and its friends
listened to a delightful lecture-talk
from Dr. Benjamin H. Sledd, of Wake
Forest College, last Friday night at
the home of Rev. Francis W. Hilliard.
The term lecture-talk is used because
while Dr. Sledd held a carefully pre
pared manuscript he did not confine
himself to it, but' interspersed the lec
ture with bits of humor, pathos and
poetical imagery sufficient to place him
thoroughly en rapport with his hearers.
His lecture was on Shakspeare, his
life, his methods, his teachings, how to
study and how to teach hini, was both
delightful and suggestive. He dis
cussed at length several plays and his
talk was full of such genuine poetical
feeling, expression and insight that it
made many of us feel that we wished
he were to give us some of his own
charming verses. A delightful hour
was spent in social concourse at the
close of the lecture. 1
of the Exposition. All eyes were fix
ed on the president as he touched the
golden key that set in motion the ma
chinery of the exposition. Simultan
eously hundreds of flags broke to the
breeze' and cannon roared their accom
paniment to the strains of "America,"
played by the massed bands. So loud
was the uproar that the benediction
closing the exercises was unheard.
SUPERIOR COURT SESSION.
CONVENED WEDNESDAY WITH
JUDGE JUSTICE PRESIDING.
It will be a two weeks Term with a
Larger Docket than Usual, both
Criminal and Civil.
Granville Superior Court convened
Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock for
a two weeks term. The plain, practi
cal Judge M. H. Justice, of Ruther
fordton, is presiding, who could not
reach Oxford until Wednesday morn
ing. His charge to. the grand jury
was comprehensive on their duties and
on the various grades of crime. It
was a clear, instructive dissertation on
the law, and no doubt every member
of the grand jury is thoroughly cogni
zant of his duties.
On account of the length of the charge
consideration of the criminal docket
was not taken up until after the din
ner recess.
All the regular court officers are in
attendance, these being Solicitor A. L.
Brooks, Clerk Charles Crews and as
sistant W. T. Lyon, Sheriff Howard
and Deputies Charley Turner, R. E.
Booth and Conrad Walters.
The following were drawn and duly
sworn as members of the grand jury
wTith R. C. Puckett, foreman, L. H.
Dement, J. W. Daniel, J. L. Carring
ton, J. W. Holeman, C. J. Roberts, G.
F. Downey, N. H. Woodlief; H. E.
Overton, W. T. Blackwell, J. G. Hunt,
W. E. Tunstall, L: M. Duncan, N. B.
Dickerson, D. C. Frazier, H. S. Wilk
ins, J. M. Currin, R. W. Allen.
The following cases were disposed
of Wednesday afternoon:
State vs Elmore Gooch, disposing
of mortgage property, not guilty.
State vs Dock i razier, and others,
failing to make report, plead guilty,
judgment suspended upon payment of
half cost.
State vs Frank Davis, c c. w., guil
ty; $10 fine and cost
State vs Calvin Lyon, retailing with
out license at Creedmoor, guilty, 9
months on public roads. -He, is an
frid offender and been on theiad- be
fore, but was pardoned on the plea of
consumption. He should be allowed
to serve out his term this time.
State vs Jack Blalock and Wm.
Glover, a. w. d. w., guilty, judgment
suspended upon payment of cost .
fetate vs Frank McGhee, removing
crop, guilty, judgment suspended upon
payment ot cost.
State vs Frank Davis, a. w. d. w.,
guilty, judgment suspended upon pay
ment of cost.
State vs D. Weaver, c. c. w., guilty,
$10 fine and cost.
State vs Lewis Heflin, a. w. d.'w.,
guilty, $10 fine and cost.
State vs Robtert Burwell, c. c. w.,
guilty, 4 months on public roads.
State vs John Mallory, Sherman
Thorp and Paul Jones, guilty only as
to Mallory.
Beulah Church.
Sabbath, April 28th, was rather an
ugly day. The clouds were dark and
lowering and wTe were threatened with
a cold rain. But unfavorable as the
morning was a goodly number of peo
ple gathered for Sabbath School' at
Beulah Church, located at Providence.
The school numbered 40 and the pen
nie collection for benevolence was 41
cents. The school has only been or
ganized four weeks. Our aim is to
gather in at least 75 scholars.
Their was a boy at this school last
Sabbath who walked six miles and
was there in good time. Two girls
were, there who had walked two and a
half miles. The Superintendent said
he wanted the six miles boy, and the
two and a half miles girls to shake
hands with each other. They did so.
This shows what people can do when
they try. The Sabbath school is worthy
of such effort.
The large class of Mr. T. J. Smith
was glad to have him with them again
after af three weeks tussle with the
grip. Mrs. Bessie Piper is making
herself very useful in the school by
leading the singing and in other ways.
Mr. G. W. Royster bids fair to make
a live Superintendent. He is putting
his whole soul into the work.
Beulah church will have preaching
and church conference on Saturday be
fore the second Sabbath in May at 3
o'clock p. m,, and Sabbath school at
10 a. m. and preaching at 11 a. m.
second Sabbath mornings. You are
cordially invited to meet with us.
S. S. WORKER.
IF YOUR watch has gone on a
strike and your clock has quit striking
why bring them to W. D. Stimson
and he will adjust the matter prompt
ly and properly. Located at Paris Dry
Goods store.
Subscribe to the Public Ledger.
THE ROAD BONO ISSUE.
DON'T MUDDY THE WATERS, AS
; WE HAVE MUD ENOUGH.
The Power Given Commissioners,
or Highway Commission to
Dispense Money.
In order that there may be no mis
understanding in regard to a certain
feature of the road bond question
which is being discussed we desire to
say to those who are alarmed as to how
the interest on the proposed bonds is to
be paid, that this interest may be paid
out of funds received from the dispen
saries or from any other source where
there are funds available for that pur
pose. The fact that this is not specifi
ed in the bill providing for the bond
issue does not mean, as we take it,
that our county authorities cannot and
will not use the dispensary money on
the bonds. Now let us have no mud
dying the waters as we have mud
enough, so as to confuse the people.
We have a bill which if not voted
down by our people that will give us
permanent improvement on our roads.
To"fe sure it does not please some peo
ple yi every particular, nor would any
bill which might be passed. While
we ' know some good petfple in our
couuty really oppose this measure, yet
we fiave an idea that there are certain
oneSi who are using these objections to
prejudice the people against the bond
issue, in other words their objection is
a mere subterfuge to influence others to
Vote against the measure, which they,
really in truth oppose.
Let every man come out and take a
bold stand on this important question.
Now we come back to the main ques
tion', we started to discuss.
The act authorizing the issue of
bonds by 'Granville county to build,
macadamize and improve the public
roads of- the county provides that in
ordegto pay the interest on said bonds
and, to create a sinking fund for tak
ing ; up said bonds at maturity, the
Board of Commissioners shall annual
ly leyy a sufficient special tax on pfop-
tion of ten years from the issuing of
said bonds then shall be levied, in ad
dition to the tax for interest, a suffi
cient tax to pay off one thousand dol
lars of said bonds, and the Commis
sioners may, after ten years from the
issue of the bonds levy a tax sufficient
to take up five thousand dollars of
said bonds. .
The acts creating the dispensaries in
Oxford and Creedmoor provides that
one fourth of the profits of said dispen
saries shall be paid to the road fund of
Granville county. These acts do not
specify how this dispensary money
shall be expended on the roads.
, The Commissioners, or the Highway
Commission, have the right to apply
these profits to the payment of the in
terest on the road bonds if they so de
sire, or they may have the same ex
pended in working the roads, or they
may set it aparajs .a sinking fund for
the purpositBftaking up the road
bonds at maturity, .'
Theauthorities of the county having
in charge the- road work of the county
we belie ve-can be depended on to levy
as small af ax as is possible, and their
good business judgment will suggest.to
them the imjeartance of applying as
much of the dispensary profits as they
can to meet the interest and principle
of the road bonds.
We doubt if the bonds could have
been sold on the market if the act had
provided that the interest and princi
pal should be paid with the dispensa
ry profits. Purchasers of bonds de
mand .something more certain for the
payment of the interest and principal
of such bonds than the continuance of
dispensaries and the uncertainty of the
profits therefrom. While these insti
tutions continue, and while we are get
ting profits from them, we can use such
profits to pay the interest and princi
pal of the bonds," and thus reduce the
special tax or render it entirely unnec
essary, but suppose our dispensaries
should be abolished, how can the inter
est and principal be met except by tax
ation. Let the people of the county have
good roads and let them be paid for as
far as is possible with the dispensary
profits, but do not let the people vote
against the bond issue because the act
does not guarantee that the principal
and interest will be paid with such
profits.
It is a well known fact that the ad
joining counties to Granville, in fact
nearly all the counties in the State
which have built permanent roads have
done so by issuing bonds. The fact is
this is the only way any county can
ever build macadam roads unless it
has sources of wealth to draw from
which we have not. Are we to contin
ue to travel over roads full of holes
JOYOUS BIRTHDAY PARTY.
Thirty Odd Sweet Little Girls En
tertained by Allene Hicks.
As the editor was wending his way
home Saturday afternoon tired and
weary from the week's work, wonder
ing it he had accomplished any good
a larsre number or sweet eiri voices
rang out from the porch of the pleas
ant home of our good friend A. A.
Hicks: "Hello Brother Britt" It
shed a bright ray across our path and
we rorgot ail about being urea ana
careworn, and went in and joined the
beauties that represented so many of
the dear homes of our prosperous
town.
We soon found the cause of the hap
py assemblage that of celebrating
the birthday of our dear little friend
Allene Hicks.
Mrs. Hicks was in her glory enter
taining the children, which she knows
how to do to perfection, and had pre
pared elegant and tempting refresh
ments in honor of the event that had
called such a galaxy of beauty and
grace together.
When they had all gathered around
the sweetly decorated table in the
handsome dining room it wras indeed a
grand scene and a feast for the lovers
of the beautiful to look upon. The
girls were all tastily dressed in white,
the emblem of purity.
There were there sweet maidens fair,
With brown eyes and golden hair;
And others fair with blue eyes and
golden curls.
And as they crooked their elbows,
The ice cream slipped down with a
whirl.
They indulged in a number of games
and their sweet voices echoed through
the grove, and the joy of the afternoon
will not soon be forgotten by the dear
little lassies as ' Sister" Hicks proved
a charming little hostess. '
WILL BE TRIED FOR HIS LIFE.
Ruffin Fuller, Colored, of Oxford,
Charged With Rape.
Ruffin Fuller, a well known colored
butcher"bf Oxford,' carried "'"'Mr. J. H;
Adams to his home last Friday near
Lyon's, and claims that he was drink
ing. Whe.n near the station they met
on the side of the road two daughters
of Dennis Lyon, colored, and Fuller
got out and asked Mr. Adams, so the
stories goes, to drive up to the station
as he would be along in a few minutes.
He asked the girls where they lived
and they pointed to the house a short
distance away, and Fuller walked
home with them. After getting into
the house Ruffin Fuller made an
indecent proposal to the oldest one
which was refused, and it is said that
Fuller pulled out his pistol and told
her she must or he would shoot her.
About this time the small girl run out
of the house and left. The girl being
frightened to death said she was forced
to yield to Fuller's wishes.
Fuller then left and joined Mr.
Adams and carried him on home.
While he was gone the girls told what
had happened and on Fuller's return
he was arrested, tried before a magis
trate and sent to jail in Oxford to
await trial this week.
If these facts are true it was a high
hand outrage and he should receive
the full penalty of the law.
Later The grand jury found a true
bill against him and he will be tried
for his life. J
Moved into New Postoffice.
The postmaster opened his first
mail in the beautiful new postoffice
Tuesday morning, and all who had
lock boxes were very busy learning
the combination on their boxes. Mr.
Peace and his worthy assistants are
quite happy to get into their handsome
and up-to-date quarters. The Oxford
people-are very proud of their new
postoffice which would do credit to a
town of 20,000 population. By the
last of the week everything will be
running smooth, and the excellent car
riers will have their department well
arranged.
Stop borrowing your neighbors pa
per and subscribe yourself
and mud, and our county progress to
be checked by reason of a little cost
which none of us would really feel?
A county, like an individual, is
often forced to go in debt through
bonds or otherwise. Is not the busi
ness of the county done on a credit
more or less.
The editor, as has been charged
against him, is not trying to force this
measure, he is just working for what
he conceives to be for the best interest
of the people of the county he is only
striving, as he has always tried to do,
to build up his good old county.
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
MEET IN OXFORD WEDNESDAY
AND ELECT OFFICERS.
Judge Graham Chosen Commander
Major Gattis Resolutions of
Thanks and Reunion.
The Veterans of Granville county
met Wednesday, May 1st, and on mo
tion of A. W. Graham Milton Blalock
was called to the chair ond James K.
Wood acted as Adjutant. There was
a large attendance.
The election of officers being in or
der Spencer R. O'Briant nominated
Judge Graham for Commander. The
Judge asked to be excused -and begged
them to elect some Veteran as com
mander, but they declined to do so and
elected him by a unanimous vote; Capt.
Abner D. Peace was elected 1st Lieut.
Commander, Milton Blalock 2d Lieut.
Commander, and James K. Wood Ad
jutant.
On motion it was ordered that the
Commander appoint the non-commission
and all other necessary officers.
The matter of attendingV the Reun
ion was then called up and Major C.
H. Gattis, Traveling Passenger Agent
of the Seaboard Railroad, being present
was requested to address the meeting
and did so, explaining the arrange
ments for taking the Veterans to Rich
mond and then to Jamestown. He
made a very pleasant impression on
the meeting and upon motion it was
decided that the Granville Veterans
would go to Richmond by the Sea-.
board route.
Upon motion of Judge Graham the
following resolution was adopted:
The Confederate Veterans of . Gran
ville county assembled in Camp Mau
rice T. Smith, No. 1277 U. C. V.,
hereby express our appreciation of the
action of our Senator, Hon. A. A.
Hicks, and our Representative, Hon.
B. S. Royster, in having passed the
bill to provide for the erection of a
monument to the memory of the Con
federate Soldiers and Sailors of Gran
ville county, Therefore be it resolved,
.That .we- tender -our thanks to our
Senator and Representative for their
patriotic services in thus attempting to
perpetuate the memory of our com
rades. 2. That a coinmitte be appointed
by our commander to act with the
Daughters of the Confederacy to wait
upon the commissioners of the county
ot Granville and the Town of Oxford
and urge the appropriation of amount
designated by the General Assembly
for the erection of said monument, and
that said committee shall also assist in
the selection of a design for said mon
ument and in the erection of the same.
The names of the committee and of
the non-commiissoned officers will be
announced later.
The Veterans will assemble in Ox
ford at 9:80 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing, May 29th, and will take the Sea
board train about 11 o clock in Oxford
and will meet the special train from
Durham at Dickerson and the special
from Charlotte and Raleigh at Hen
derson. The train will arrive in Rich
mond about 4:30 o'clock p. m. There
will be excursions to Petersburg,Seven
Pines and others places and on the fol
lowing Tuesday the Granville men
will go to the Jamestown Exposition
and spend two days and return home.
The railroad fare will be small amount
of 4. The veterans will be entertain
ed in Richmond, but will pay their
lodgings and meals at Jamestown which
will not exceed 1 per day.
The families and sons of veterans
can go at the same price as thq Vete
rans,but will have to lookout for them
selves in Richmond.
Judge Graham will goto Richmond
before the 29th and complete arrange
ments for lodging the Veterans.
All Veterans and sons of Veterans
who intend going should at once send
in their names to James K. Wood, Ad
jutant.
The meeting adjourned subject to the
call of the JJommander.
M. BLALOCK, Commander.
J. K. Wood, Adjutant.
The Smallpox has Disappeared.
We are pleased to learn that Dr. S.
D: Booth has entirely recovered from
a severe attack of the grippe, and has
resumed his practice. He was in tho
Southern part of the county Friday,
and discharged all the smallpox cases
and thoroughly disinfected the houses.
We" have no smallpox in Granville
now, and it goes without saying that
Dr. Booth from his long experience
with the disease knows exactly how to
treat it to the best advantage. It is a '
pleasure to us to say that he ranks '
among the best health officers in our
good old State.
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