T
THTF
COMMONS
A Family Newspaper: For the Promotion of the Political JSpcial, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the Peopi
volume mm.
TWICE-A-WEEK
SCOTLAND NECK, N. C, I'JfJDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916
READ IT FIRST IN THIS PAPER
NUMBER 54.
I , .
? "
R. R. PRESIDENTS
ARE SUMMONED
TO WHITE HOUSE
Washington, Aug. 17. President
Wilson today laid his plans for avert
ing the threatened railway strike be
fore the employes' committee of 640,
and, having found the managers' com
mittee adamant to his proposal that
they accept the eight hour day, he ap
pealed to the railroad presidents and
.ipked them to come to the White House
for a conference.
There is every indication that if the
railroad presidents sustain their mana
gers President Wilson will appeal fin
ally to the financial powers which
control the roads, for it is his purpose
to leal with the ultimate authority
before lie gives up his effort.
The President's plan, which is ex
pected to be formally accepted by the
employes' committee at a meeting to
be held at 9 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing proposes:
An eight hour day as the basis for
computing wages.
Regular pay at the eight hour dajr
rate for over time.
To refer to all collateral issues to
a small commission, to be created by
Congress on which the employes, the
railroads and the public would be re
presented. Acceptance of the proposal by the em
ployes was forecast by expressions of
their leaders after they left the Pres
ident 's conference. One of them de
clared: "The men would be fools not
to accept it."
The attitude of the railroad presi
dents is not so clear. They began ar
riving tonight; all are expected to be
here tomorrow. No one can say what
will be the effect of an appeal such as a
President of the United States, speak
ing in the name of the welfare of a na
tion, can make. But from such in
formation as can be gathered, it ap
pears that the railroad presidents, if
the managers' committee understands
them, are unalterably opposed to con
ceding the eight hour day or anything
else out of hand, but are quite ready
to arbitrate anything and everything
in almost any form of arbitration up
on which tiie employes and the com
mittee may agree.
The railroad presidents, it is under
stood, justify their stand upon the
broad ground of maintaining the prin
ciple of arbitration, which, if sacri
ficed in this instance, they intend to
tell the President will be destroyed as
a factor in the settlement of indus
trial disputes.
If the railroad presidents persist in
that view and are supported by the
financial powers, only the future can
tell the outcome.
With the growing seriousness of the
situation, Congress began paying more
real attention to the crisis today, and
there were many indications of inter
vention to prevent a nation-wide tie
np. The general expectation is that the
railroad officials, after seeing the Pres
ident tomorrow, will ask that they be
given several days, perhaps a week
or more, to consider their course. It
was emphasized by those of the offi
cials Who arrived tonignt, nowevei,
that all of these plans were tentative.
A score who came to New York on a
special train went into session soon
after their arrival with the managers'
committee, and it was said that one
of the possibilities under consideration
was the preparation of a statement to
be given out before their visit to the
President, letting their position before
the country.
While the railroad presidents would
not make any predictions until they
familiarize themselves with the situa
tion here, there was more than one in
dication that it would take a strong
appeal to induce them to reverse the
attitude that has' been taken by their
representatives on the managers' com
mittee. Asked whether the managers
would be backed, up by their decision,
President Daniel E. Willard of the
Baltimore & Ohio, said:
' ' I assume they will be."
Two plans are. being considered for
the make-up of the proposed commis
sion in case the President's plan is ac
cepted. The first provides for the ap
pointment of all three members, if that
rhould be the size of the commission,
bv the President, and the other for
selection of one of the members by.
him, and of the other two by the rail
road employers and employes, respect
ively. The plan as presented by the
President to the employes was couched
in general terms and did not go into
details.
It is proposed that the commission
be given power to summon witnesses
ami examine books in order to arrive
at the true cost of the proposed plan
to the railroads. Suggestions have
Tin rv.o.if V.1 tho commission be
made permanent..
The conference between the Prsi
'lent and the general committee of em
rlnveM bdeH nhnnt an hour. After tli?
Garretson, their spokesman. In a
short speech, Mr. Garretson pointed out
that the President's position in sum
moning representatives of a large num
ber of workingmen to the White House
without others present for a discussion
of a labor problem stood until paral
lelled. The employes remained un
demonstrative during the remarks of
Mr. Garretson and the President. At
the conclusion of the meeting they
formed in line and shook hands with
Mr. Wilson. Many smiled broadly as
they left the White House.
In his talk to the men the President
explained his feelings that a strike
must be avoided at any cost because
of the disastrous effects on the coun
try. He then said that after review-
MANUFACTURES IN THE ,
UNITED STATES FOR 1914,
Census Bureau's Summary Concern
ing the Country as Prepared by
Chief Statistician.
Washington, D. C., August 17. A
preliminary statement of the general
results of the census of manufactures
for the United States has been issued
by Director Sam. L. Rogers, of the
Bureau of the Census, Department of
Commerce. It consists of a summary
comparing the figures for 1909 and
1914, by totals, prepared under the di
rection of Mr. William M. Steuart, the
chief statistician for manufactures.
The figures are preliminary and sub
jeet to such change and correction as
ing the situation thoroughly with the' may be found necessary from a further
W. J. BRYAN TO
BECOME CITIZEN
OF THIS STATE?
(Anderson in Greensboro News.)
Washington, Aug. 17. William Jen
nings Bryan, thrice candidate for Presi
dent and for two yaafs secretary of
state in President Wgson's cabinet, is
to give up his residence in Nebraska
and establish citizenship at Ashevillc,
according to Henry T. Smith of Omaha,
Neb., who is spending a few days
in Washington. Mr. Bryan, according
'O Mr. Smith, will leavft'NflhrnsVa
small committee representing the em- examination of the original reports, f tfter the November election. Mr. Bry-
census ui x, line mat oi uy , an is going to do someactive campaign
" i derelict; to manuiactures, ex
cluded the hand trades, the building
trades, and the neighborhood industries,
and took account only of establishments
conducted under the factory system.
In the last census also, as in that for
1909, statistics were not collected for
establishments having products for the
census year valued at less than $500,
except that reports were taken for es
tablishments idle during a portion of
the eensus year, or which began oper
ations during that year, and whose pro
ducts for such reason were valued at
less than $500.
The word "establishment" as used
in the census reports may mean more
than one mill or plant provided they
are owned or controlled and operated
by a single individual, partnership,
corporation, or other owner or opera
tor, and are located in the same town
or eity.
The reports were taken for the cal
endar year ending December 31, 1914,
wherever the system of bookkeeping
permitted figurs for that period to be
secured, but when the fiscal ' year of
an establishment differed from the cal
endar year a report was obtained for
the operations of that establishment
for its fiscal year falling most largely
within the calendar year 1914.
Percentage of increase:
The population of the United States
at the census of 1910 was. 91,972,266,
ami it- i est invited thai Is aa 98,781,.
000 on July 1, 1914.
The summary shows increases at the
census of 1914, as compared with that
for 1909, for all items except proprie
tors and firm members, for which ' a
slight decrease is shown.
In the order of their importance from
a percentage standpoint, the increases
for the several items rank as follows:
Salaries, 37.2 per cent; capital 23.7
per cent; salaried employees, 22 per
cent; primary horsepower, 20.7 per cent;
wages, 19 per cent; materials, 18.3 per
cent; value of products, 17.3 per cent;
value added by manufacture, 15.8 per
cent; wage earnerB, 6.4 per cent; and
number of establishments, 2.7 per cent.
Capital invested:
The capital invested, as reported in
1914, was $22,790,880,000, a gain of
$4,362,610,000, or 23.7 per cent, over
$18,428,270,000 in 1919. The average
capital per establishment was approxi
mately $83,000 in 1914 and $69,000
in 1919. In this connection it should
vent any save members of the brother- be gtated that the inquiry contained
hood from obtaining admission to the .Q the ceDStl8 schedule calls for the to
yarious meetings today. At the White tal amount Gf capital, both owned and
House brotherhood men carefully iden- borrowed, invested in the business,, but
tified every man in the meeting be- exciU(jeg the value of rented property,
fore the President spoke. plant or equipment which was employed
The President's decision to invite -in the conduct of manufacturing wi
the railroad presidents to the . White terprises. In the final bulletin and re
House was reached after he had be- ports the rental paid for such property
come convinced that the committee of wm be shown separately.
managers here would not consent to Cost of materials:
the eight hour day plan. The invita- - The cost of materials used was $14.-
tions were sent to 19 railroad presidents 368,089,000 in 1914, as against $12,
at first, but it was extended to all 142,791,000 in 1909, an increase of
presidents "immediately accessible." $2,225,298,000, or 18.3 per cent. The
They will see the President at 11:30 average cost of materials per estab-1
a. m., tomorrow when he will explain Hshment was .approximately $52,000 in
to them every detail his plan, and make 1914 ana $45,000 in 1909. In addition
practically the same speech which he as the component materials which n
delivered to the employes today. Those ter into the products of the establish
who arrived tonight from New York ment f6r the census year there are in
included: eluded the cost of fuel, mill supplies,
Frank Trumbull, chairman of the and rent of power and heat. The cost
Chesapeake & Ohio; E. J. Pearson, vice- of materials, however, does not in
president New York, : New : Haven & elude unused materials and supplies
Hartford; W. J. Harahan, president bought either for speculation or for
Seaboard Air Line; Daniel E.Willard, use during a subsequent period,
president Baltimore & Ohio; G. W. Ste- ; The census inquiry does not include
v-pn resident. Chesapeake & Ohio; amounts paid for miscellaneous ex-
and A. II. Smith, president New York penses, such as rent of offices, royalties,
Central. insurance, ordinary repairs, traveling
Fairfax Harrison, president of the expenses, or allowance for depreciation.
tanooga & St. Louis, had left Nash- -
ville for Washington and that L. JS. .r"Y Zv 8S 000 Tin
Johnson, president of the Norfolk & lenient was approximately $88,000 m
L ' L.,i ,w borrow from 1914 and $77,000 in 1909.
Roanoke. Other officials are expected v-,u - 'T"
their selling vaiue, or price ai iuc
as actually turned out by the factories
during the census year and does not
necessarily have any relation to the
amount of sales for that year. The
values under this head also include
amounts received for work done on ma
terials furnished by others.
Value Added by Manufacture:
The value added by manufacture
plovers and employes, he had drawn up
a plan which he hoped would be ac
cepted by both.
The President declared he believed in
the principle of the eight hour day,
and that he thought the greater part
of the people of the United States held
a similar view. He also sought to im
press on the men that he knew what
it meant to work for a living. He said
he had learned early in his life the
trials of "making both ends meet."
Regarding the collateral issue the
President admitted that he was at a
loss to say how they should be settled.
If the question of overtime and other
problems were left to him, he said, he
would have to ask for a commission to
help him decide what would be fair.
He added that in his belief there were
enough honest men in the United
States to decide these questions fairly
to both sides and that they would do
so if called upon.
At the conclusion of the President's
talk the four brotherhood heads ques
tioned him in order to bring out all the
points for the benefit of the members
of the general committee who have not
been at the previous White House con
ferences. If the men desired, the President
said, they could remain in the room
and decide whether they would ap
prove or reject his proposition. He
was willing, he said, to withdraw and
let them come to a deeiion. Mr. GaT
ret6atRanlierthe ! silent,but x:
plained that, he believed it would be
best for the men to go to their hall
for a meeting.
When they left, the men were in
vited to shake hands with the Presi
dent. When about half of them had
done so W. S. Carter, head of the en
ginemen, noticed Mr. Wilson wincing
occasionally as husky employes gripped
his hand tightly.
"Just touch the President's hand,
men," Mr. Carter said. "He is un
accustomed to your kind of grips."
The President smiled his appreciation
of Carter's thoughtfulness. After they
left the White House the men were in
conference for two hour.s at their hall
but decided to delay a formal decision
until tomorrow's meeting.
The brotherhood men were pleased
over the President's plan and every
where the feeling existed that they
would approve it overwhelmingly.
Every precaution was used to pre-
STATE BANKERS AGREE THAT
EXCHANGE ORDER WAS AS
CLAUDE KITCHIN SAID.
tomorrow from Chicago.
William Jennings Bryan, it developed
today, has sought unsuccessfully to set
tle the strike by the application of his
temporary truce peace plan, having
telegraphed pleas to heads of the var
ious brotherhoods and the President
asking that it be put into effect. It
would provide for a truce of one year
during which time the contentions of
both sides to the controversy should
ing for the party this fall and when
that is over he will make plans to move
to Asheville and establish his residence
there. .'
In the opinion of Mr. Smith, Mr. Bry
an will take an active part in North
Carolina politics after he becomes a ci
tizen of the State and may become a
candidate for office, probably United
States senator. It is not known wheth
er Mr. Bryan has any such desire, but,
according to Mr. Smith, this is being
discussed in Nebraska "
"It is pretty well understood that
Mr. Bryan is not going to live much
longer in Nebraska,"' said Mr. Smith,
at the Williard. "Mrs. Bryan, it is
said, recently told friends that Fair
view, the home of th; Bryans at Lin
coln, would be rented arhile Mr. Bryan
is participating in the coming cam
paign, and that after the campaign it
will be closed, perhaps forever. Friends
of the Bryans declare they propose
moving to North Carolina, where Mr
Bryan has an estate at Asheville, and
that he aspires to the United States
senate from that state. Bryan own
a farm in Texas, one in Florida, and a
piece of land at Sunset mountain, ov
erlooking the famous Grove inn at
Asheville, as well as a pretty home in
Nebraska. Some years ago it was re
ported that Mr. Bryan intended to
move to Texas and run for the senate
from that state. The former head of
the Democrat; parley iC"is bej&sI",
will earnestly support the President in
the campaign. His influence in Ne
braska is not as great as it was al
though he still has a large personal
following. His defeat as a delegate to
the recent convention was a bitter
blow to him. But it is well known
among his opponents that it was due to
his action at Baltimore, when he bolt
ed his instructions for Champ Clark,
and Nebraskans will not stand for a
bolter. Then, too, he attacked the
'wets' and this was not popular. AH
together, the Bryan influence in Ne
braska is practicall' gone.
"Mr. Bryan became a resident, of
Nebraska in October, 1887. He was
not a successful lawyer, although he
practiced in Lincoln for some time be
fore he was elected to Congress in
1890."
WILSON IS TO BE NOTIFIED SEP
TEMBER 2nd.
Washington, August 17. Formal no
tification to President Wilson of his
nomination will take place September
2. Arrangements have been made for
the President to go to Long Eranch, N.
J. for the ceremony.
The President has already complet
ed his speech of acceptance. The noti
fication speech will be made by Sena
tor James.
OVER MILLION SHELLS
FIRED EACH 24 HOURS
Financial Cost to Entente Allies of Of
fensive on West Front is Tre
mendously High.
Headquarters of German Army Group
on the Somme Front, Saturday, Aug
12, via Berlin to London, Aug. 17.
The expenditure of artillery ammuni
tion by the entente allies on this front
has reached a. prodigious volume, often
striking the rate of 32 shells a second
during drum fire. Not infrequently
along the entire Somme front neatly
90,000 shells have been dropped in an
hour, while a conservative estimate
puts the average for the 24 hours peri
od at more than 1,000,000 shells.
With this rate of fire the financial
cost of the offensive is naturally high
What the approximate losses in hu
man material amount to it is difficult
to estimate. That the losses of the
British in certain actions have been
frightfully affirmed by German offi
cers, who, on the other hand, frankly
admit that their own losses have been
far from light, though all insist that
they were not nearly as heavy as the
British.
The German expenditure in ammuni
tion has been much lighter than tha
of the British for the reason that th
German artillery concentrated its ef
forts on special objects, such as trench
es, transports and reserve bases, while
the British often screen off whole Fee
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
MADE LAW IN GEORGIA
Wed in the East room they were in-! mission
troduced to the President by A. B. its findings.
represents the difference between the tors, taking mightly under their fire all J uniform,
cost of materials used and the value j the villages and roads behind the Ger-jand banl
One of Them Yearns to Hurl McAdoo
Dito the Deep. For Uniform Ex
change, but Association Goes
on Record Commending
Simmons, Overman
and Kitchin.
(W. T. Bost in Greensboro News, 16.)
Raleigh, Aug. 16. Banker Billie San
ders, of Smithfield, wanted to throw
Billie 'McAdoo in the middle of the At
lantic ocean today, but the North Car
olina Bankers' association in special
session this morning compromised upon
a rousing vote of commendation for
Simmons, Overman and Kitchin for
their opposition to Albert Burleson's
order making post offices clearing
houses. They resolved, too, for uni
form exchange.
The special meeting of the bankers
brought a great number here. Quite
a large number could not come, but
sent proxies and every sentiment ex
pressed was in sympathy with Con
gressman Kitchin 's characterization of
Burleson's order "outrageous." The
name of Kitchin was coniuring. The
first time it was mentioned the ap
plause was spirited and each time there
after it caused shuffling of the feet.
President W. S. Blakeney of Monroe,
presided and stated the purposes of the
meeting. He declared that the motive
which impelled him to call the money
men here was the same that actuates
a governor in calling for extraordinary
session of the general assembly. Ttie
president of the bankers is a capital
speaker. He talks just like money,
uses few needless words and is ac
cepted at par. When he told how
Claude Kitchin "promptly took up the
gauntlet thrown down by Mr. Burle
son, ' ' the bankers applauded h ind
somely. Mr. Blakeney reminded the bankers
that despite the temporaary vict rr f
Mr. Kitchin and those beneficiary of
his order, the order may be resusciated.
"When the election is over and the
smoke of battle has cleared away," he
said, "we may hear again from this
order. " He knew that North Caro
lina is but one of the sisters in the
natiow'but- one state Jnaking -protest
could do great good.
I am in sympathy with the federal
reserve act," he continued, "and be-
icve it is a great piece of legislation,
the crowning achievement of the ad
ministration. In mv opinion it pre
vents panics and distributes money
among the several federal banks rath
er than the concentration of our funds
in one place. It gives us a flexible
currency. It is, as I said, the crowning
glory of the administration."
I think the trouble has, been that
we have been punished for the sins of
the few. Some banks have been guil-
of extortionate rates of exchange.
We ought to have a maximum and a
uniform exchange. We ought to have
a law similar to that in Mississippi
and I am going to tell somj phases of
it later on." 1
Mr. Blakeney declared that all the
representatives from the state are op
posed to the order and letters from
Senators Simmons and Overman were
read. Two were read from Claude
Kitchin and both caused applause. The
Kitchin letter was characteristic. He
told the state bankers that they had
stirred the federal reserve board up
and that it appeared to have small
sympathy for the small banks, much
feeling for the big fellows.
President Blakeney then read a set
of resolutions tliat touched upon the
several things that he thought should
be discussed by the associatlo:i and
later ten members of the association,
apportioned according to congressional
districts, albeit, not all represented
geographically the ten were appointed
to draft resolutions. They retired
while the association debated other
matters.
J. C. Evans of Smithfield, offered a
resolution which would have transmit
ted to Claude Kitchin demanding the
unconditional repeal of the sxteenth
section of the federal reserve p.'X
"and then we will see what the Dem
ocrats are next to do," he said.
Billie Sanders then spoke. He had
heard that McAdoo had told peopl-
about the small banks and the ex
change and McAdoo declared that he
will reach the country banks if he had
to collect checks through the post
office. This didn't please the Smith
field man, who is mixed up with about
six banks. ' ' So far as I am concern
ed, I am in favor of throwing him
in the middle of the Atlantic ocean,"
Mr. Sanders said.
The committee went out to prepare
resolutions and the remaining members
sat in the rooms of the chamber of
commerce on the tenth floor of the
Commercial National bank building
and there in a mile-high altitude dis
cussed things coolly.
It was agreed that the banks have
brought much of the trouble upon them
selves. They have charged all sorts
of exchange and been unquestionably
extortionate. They ' have not been
They have gone any old way
Annual Session of the State Legislature
Ends 50 Days Session With En
actment of Few Laws.
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 17. The annual
session of the Georgia legislature,
which did its 50 days work during an
active gubernatorial campaign, ended
tonight with few bills of more than lo
cal interest passed. The enactment of
a compulsory education bill probably
has been the subject of more comment
than any other general measure de
bated at this session.
The right to practice law in Georgia
was given to women after a lonj fight,
but the equal suffrage question died in
a house committee and in the senate
was set for committee hearing August
17 one day after the legislature was
forced to adjourn by law.
The senate "anti-lynch" law, pro
vided that sheriffs of counties wherein
lynchings took place could be imme
diately removed by the governor, was
tabled in the house by a vote of 113
to 29. After much argument the liquor
tax measure passed. Every shipment
is to be taxed 10 cents if the governor
signs the bill. The ordinary of each
county is to keep-the first $600 obtain
ed and the balance goes into the state
treasury.
At the earnest appeal of Governor
Harris a bill providing six judges in
stead of three for the court of appeals
was passed.
A highway commissoin bill giving
doubtful authority in the minds of
many lawyers who have studied its pro
visions, was passed. It was pointed
out that Georgia was one of only three
states in the union not having a high
way commission.
The compulsory education bill pro
vides that children shall attend school
at least four months in each year and
its details were so worked out, its pro
ponents believe, to circumvent certain
race conditions which have had to be
overcome in making compulsory educa
tion bills in the south meet the desired
end.
Another bill passed gives state grand
juries the right to investigate any
eelemosenary institution in the State.
Opponents - of ' the v measure "-openly
charged on the floor of the house that
it was "directed at Catholic Institu
tions. ' '
GERMANS PAIL
TO BEND BACK
BRITISH LINES
For the first time in weeks no change
of importance was' reported in any
theatre of the war Thursday. The most
violent fighting took place on the
western end of the British salient on
the Somme. Six times the Germans ad
vanced in Jorce in a desperate effort
to bend back the British lines north
west of Pozieres. London reports that
all of these assaults were repulsed with
heavy losses and that the British in
turn captured about 100 yards of
trenches northwest of Basentin.
The Germans, contrary to their usu
al practice, have so far made no at
tempt to deliver a counter-attack in
the region where the French and Brit
ish claim to have captured nearly three
miles of trenches on Wednesday. Tha
French are busily consolidating their
gains and report no action of impor
tance on the section of their front, in
cluding the Verdun region.
Some mystery exists as to the situa
tion on the eastern front. For two
consecutive days the Russians have
confined themselves to brief state- '
ments that nothing of importance had
occurred. The Austrian and German
war offices have been almost equally
uncommunicative. The only fighting
mentioned by Vienna was the repulse
of Russian attacks on the lines of Gen.
von Boehm-Ermolli, who is in command
of the Teutonic forces retiring from
the Tarnapol front. Berlin reports
the repulse of Russian attacks north
of Brody.
The lull in the Italian operations
against Trieste is unofficially explain
ed from Rome as due to General Ca
dorno 's desire to straighten his lines
before proceeding with a general of
fensive against the great Austrian
seaport. Austrian seaplanes have once
more raided Venice, but Rome says
they caused only slight damage.
CRUSHERS FINDING MARKET
PICNIC AT RIVER TODAY.
The annual picnic at Shields' Com
missary is being held today. A large
crowd from town went out this morn
ing to enjoy a day and partake of the
excellent dinner which is always serv
ed there.
Hundred Thousand Bushels of N. C.
Crop Sold Last Year.
Raleigh, N. C, . Aug. 16. Last year
in Eastern North Carolina was begun
a new industrv in the utilization of the
S03'bean by the cotton oil mills of the
section. This was the first time in
America that oil had been crushed
from domestic beans on a commercial
scale. The North Carolina mills dur
ing the fall, winter and spring utilized
something like 100,000 bushels of beans.
These efforts On the part of the North
Carolina oil mills has attracted wide at
tention not only from soap, paint, var
nish, glycerine and special invalid food
manufacturers in different parts of the
country, but a large number of the
State Cotton Seed Crushers' Associa
tions of the South have decided to pro
mote the industry in their respective
States.
That the industry will grow from
year to year and thereby bring money
from another source to the state, and
at the same time give permanent im
provements to the soil is what Mr. C. B.
Williams, of the North Carolina Exper
iment Station, believes. Mr. Williams
has written to quite a number of manu
facturers in the North asking what dis
posal could be made of the North Caro
lina output, and every reply has lent
encouragement to the belief that the in
dustry would soon be a large one. One
firm writes: "The oil is more satisfac
tory in connection with the manufac
ture of paints and varnishes than either
isingcorn or cotton seed oil, the most
important reason for this being that
the soy bean oil possesses better dry
ing qualities. It is more rapidly mani
pulated so that proper drying of paints
and varnishes in which it has been used
will result. ' '
Mr. Williams has heard from a num
ber of soap manufacturers, all of whom
claim that there is no reason why the
soy bean oil cannot be utilized in the
manufacture of sweet scented soaps.
Aside from their commercial value
soy beans possess the power of gath
ering nitrogen and depositing it in the
soil. The vines when cut with a disc,
harrow and ployed under yield even
a greater fertilizing benefit. The soy
bean is better adapted to all parts of
the State than is the cowpea. It is not
so easily killed by frost, but also can
be grown in a wider range of climatic
and soil conditions.
Mr. Williams says that a a commer
cial crop soy beans compare favorably
with other money crops, although the
market has not been so well establish
ed. But he believes that there is a
future of the soy bean as a commer
cial crop, and also as a soil improver.
COMMISSION AWARDED
MOST OF CONTRACTS
FOR BLDG., MATERIAL.
As the Commonwealth went to press
with Tuesday's paper the commission
in charge of letting the contracts for
material for the construction of the
town 's water and sewer system, were
still engaged in examining bids. In
addition to those reported Tuesday, the
following material was contracted for:
R. D. Cole Manufacturing Company,
Newnan, Ga., for tower tank, $3,759.
Piatt Iron Works, Dayton, Ohio, two
fire pumps, $2,025 for both.
Dcming Company, Salem, Ohio, one
triplex pump, $3,082.
General Electric Co., through L. R.
Mills, local agent, motor and controller
$318.33.
Contracts for sewer pipe, castings,
hydrants, brick, etc., has not yet been
let, but they will be bought in ample
time for the work.
All contracts are f. o. b., Scotland
Neck. A part of the McCrary Co's.,
equipment is expected here most any
day now.
Contrary to the various estimations
it will require at least five months in
which to complete the system, accord
ing to those in position to know.
TWENTY COLUMNS.
Old Colonel Linotype has made it
possible for the Commonwealth to pre
sent its readers today with more, than
r
20 columns of good reading matter.
TRAIN CREEPS INTO LENOIR;
IS HAILED WITH DELIGHT
Lenoir, Aug. 17. The first train into
Lenoir since Saturday, the 14 of July,
came creeping in today from Hickory
over the Carolina and Northwestern
railway. A large per cent of the popu
lation of the town turned out to wel
come it.
ITALIAN DEEADNAUGHT
BLEW-UP IN HARBOR.
nVs -io liair Vtaoii nTVIft t.n col-
... .-i-a xi 1,W K-r o ,nm. p.nat of materials used anu Hie vamw tiie vinj.gca a... v.0
members of the committee had assem- be investigate. J J ,nw.nr,1 from man lines within the range of their tlect big fees for exchange have been
and a settlement attempted on ; uj. mo - - . .. ,
anu r j o i,nc (Continued on pa ee 2)
Paris, Aug. 17. The Italian dread
naught Leonardo-Da-Vinci caught fire
and blew up in the harbor of Taranto,
Italy, and 300 of her crew were drown
ed, says a Turin disxatch to a local
newspaper. The date of the disaster
is given as a day in August.
The fire, 6ays the Dispatch, was dis
covered in the dreadnaught 's kitchen
and spread rapidly. The captain im
mediately ordered the magazines flood
ed, in an effort to save the battleship
but one magazine exploded before this
could be done. The vessel was turned
over on its side and a large number of
A dollar left at the Commonwealth ! its crew were thrown into the sea. It
office for subscription will get you was belieVed the battleship could be
twice as much reading as you can get righted and refloated. The dreadnought
from anv other paper in the county, i was a 22.UUU ton vessel.
I -