iilje JHcralii
prioe one dollar per tear. "TRUE TO OURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOD.' single copies five cents.
VOL. 25. SMITHFIELD. X. C.. FRIDAY. APRIL 27. 1906. NO. 8.
STATUS OF RURAL DELIVERY.
Letter From Fourth Assistant Post
master General to Con
gressman Pou.
Congressman Pou, who has
. ever been alert in the matter of
the rural delivery service in his
district, recently called on the |
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General regarding the service.
Through Mr. Pou we are enabled
to publish this important letter
this week. The letter bears date
of April 19, and is as follows:
Hon. Edward W. Pou,
House of Representatives.
Sir:
Referring to your recent call at!
the Department, at which time
you asked for a statement out
lining the Btatus of rural delivery
service in North Carolina, I have
to say that up to date there
have been filed 2292 petitions
for rural delivery service in that
State. Of this number the pro
posed routes in 2189 eases have
been examined and reported on.
There are now in operation 1137
routes, and orders have been
issued for the establishment of 8
additional routes effective May
15, 1906, and 5 additional'
routes effective June 1, 1906.
Twenty-nine cases are pending
in the Department awaiting ex
amination and approval, or,
having neen app roved, are await
ing certificate of the postmaster
that three-fonrths of the families
who are accessible to service on
the routes will pledge themselves
to provide approved boxes.
Of the petitions filed 1010 have
been adversely reported. The
conditions precedent to the es
tablishment of rural delivery are
roads in good condition, unob
structed by gates, with no un- ]
bridged creeks or streams not
fordable at all ordinary seasons
of the year; and a possible
patronage of 100 families on all
routes of 24 or more miles in
length, and proportionate num
ber of families on routes of less
length. Adverse reports on peti
tions for rural delivery are usual- j
ly based on some one of these
requirements, such as lack of
public roads, roads in bad con
dition or obstructed by gates, or
unbridged streams; or it may be
found that better service can be
given the petitioners by rural
delivery irom another point, or
that they are already served by
rural delivery from other post
offices, or by existing star route
service; or lack of patronage.
One hundred and three petitions
have not yet been reported on.
The reports of the amount of
mail of all classes bandied on the
routes in North Carolina for the
fiscalyear ended June 30, 1905,
(975 in number) disclosed that
there was an apparent lack of
patronage on about one-third of
the routes then in operation,
and an inspection of these routes j
has been ordered with a view to
bringing all sucn routes to a
proper standard of efficiency.
On discovering that there is a
lack of patronage on a given
route, consideration is given first !
to the possibility of increasing J'
the interest in the service on the !
route; second, to the possibility
of rearranging the route so as to 1
increase the patronage; third, to ]
the possibility of readjusting
other routes in the locality so as 1
to serve the existing patronage;
fourth, to the advisability of es- 1
tablishiug every-other-day ser- j
vice in lieu of daily service, and
last to its discontinuance where J
the conditions are such that the ; \
expenditure involved is unwar
ranted.
It is not anticipated that any 1
considerable number of routes 1
will be discontinued, and it will
be possible in the large majority
of instances where it becomes!
necessary to discontinue a route,
to rearrange other routes so
that the patronage of the discon 1
tinued route will not be deprived : i
of the service Up to this time i
but one route has been discon- j '
tinued in North Carolina, and i
such action in that case was be- s
cause of the patrons being indif- i
ferent to the service, there being f
but 14 boxes erected on the route r
and a very small amount of mail
handled. Tn- weekly service has
been substituted for daily service
on five routes because of lack of
patronage and the small amount
of mail handled, and it is hoped
that the patrons on these routes
will eventually so appreciate the
service that the patronage will
be increased sufficiently to war
rant the Department in re-estab
lishing daily delivery.
In the Fourth Congressional
District of North Carolina 210
petitions for rural delivery ser
vice have been tiled. Of this
number 98 have been adversely ,
reported, 107 have been favora-i
bly reported and 5 are pending.
Of the 107 routes favorably re
ported, 105 are now in operation,
and the remaining 2 have been
ordered established effective May
15 and June 1, 1905.
Very respectfully,
P. V. DeGraw,
Fourth Assistant
Postmaster-General.
The Reunion at New Orleans.
New Orleans, La., April 25th.?
To-day in the heart- of a city
which has borne the brunt of
battle and worn the weeds of
mourning for its sake, the Con
federacy was revived again by
those who cherish it for every
thing that it was intended to be,
and who will love it until they
die. for what it means to them
Anil thp Smith Thp t,A.llr nf tho
heroism, the sacrifice, the agony
and the glory ot the great days
were told again to those who
never weary of the story, and
who cheered and wept by turns,
as the bright or sombre side of the
picture was turned to view. No
reunion was ever held under fair
er auspices and none ever showed
greater promise of success. The
weather was perfect, the arrange
ments of the temporary building
erected for the reunion wtre un
surpassed and tne details of the
vast work of handling the great
throng of visitors were carried
out with precision and care.
The first session of the day
saw the reunion formally launch
ed upon its career. Generals:
Stephen 1). Lee, the commander
in-chief; Adjutant General Mickle,
and other officers of the organi-;
zation presented their reports,
and General Lee delivered his
formal address. There were oth
er speeches, almost without num
ber. The veterans were welcomed
by Governor Blanchard for the
State, and former Mayor Bier
man for the city.
There were songs by young
women and reverent prayers by
ministers of the gospel.
The afternoon was given over
to the memory of the Confeder
ate dead and addresses extolling
their valor, patriotism and mem
ory cheered again and again.
Rlq Gold Vein Has Been Cut.
Salisbury, N. C., April 23.?
President Walter George New
man is making collossal claims
for his Gold Hill Copper Mining
Compay, though this is a gold j
yield that he is enthusing over
so much. He says a vein was cut
Saturday morning, and at the
200 foot line was 4 feet wide, at
the 400 it was 8 and at the 800;
it has reached the enormous thick
ness of 12 feet. This he feels sure
will enhance the value of his
mine $20,000,000.
It is remembered that in times
past the Gold Hill has vielded an
immense wealth of gold, a mint
having been established at Char
lotte on Gold Hill's account!
alone This mine has produced;
$7,000,000, and Mr. Newman'
is satisfied that this is but a
drop in the bucket. It is the
deepest shaft in the south. Mr.
Newman is backing his faith with
his own money.
Wilmington, N. C., April 25.?
It was officially announced today
that the Atlantic Coast Line will
spend $175,000 in the improve
ment of its terminal facilities at
Wilmington. These improve
ments will consist of an exten
sion of the freight, vard limits
ind enlargement of trackage
acilities through the wholesale
ind manufacturing districts.
STIRS WITH NEW LIFE.
San Franclrco Takes Up the Work
Of Restoration?Property Loss
Estimated at S300.000.000
San Francisco. April 24.?This
was the seventh day since the
earthquake jarred the city so
severely and started the fires
that laid it in ashes, and as on
the preceding days, Tuesday
took up the accu mulated impetus
of Monday and added much
volume of force of its own, so
that Wednesday will dawu on a
situation that is a long way to
ward the normal.
Such marts of trade as remain
unburned were opening for the
transaction of ordinary business,
temporary structures were being
run up for the accommodation
of others. Clearing of the devas
tated area was well under way.
Artillerymen worked all day
blowing up dangerous ruins.
The street car company is
stretching trolley wires down
Market street the main thorough
fare, and will have cars running
I in a day or two.
(Jen. A. W. Greely, command,
ing the Department of the Pacific,
has arrived, but Gen. Funston
will retain active command of
of the army work. In a report
to Washington, Gen. Greely
jjlaces the number of dead at 227.
mis reters, douDless to the num
ber of bodies disposed of by the
soldiers, for the coroner's office
has reported that the loss of life
is about a thousand, and per
haps more.
The local board of underwriters
places the damage to property
at $300,000,000. They esti
mate the amount of insurance
cariied in the burned district at I
$175,000,000 or more.
(ien. Funston and the mayor
have decided to withdraw the
militia. The citizens' patrol also
will be abolished. Indignation
over the shooting of H. 0. Tilden
had something to do with this.
In his report to Washington
Gen. Greel.y referred to the slay
ers of Tilden as "thugs."
The troops are maintaining
good order and some of the regu
lations have been relaxed. Gen
Greel.y favors adm'ttiug persons
having legitimate business in
San Francisco.
The public health is excellent,
according to the army surgeons, j
and the epidemic scare is dying
out.
It is certain that no person is
hungry in tsan Francisco to-night i
unless he is wilfully so. There is
food for all, and the method of
distribution has been so perfect
ed that it is within reach of all.
Dismal Swamp Drying up.
Suffolk, Va., April 24.?As a
further proof of supposed vol
canic disturbances in the Ilismal
Swamp and along territory con
tiguous to Lake Drummond,
wuiu utiuiB uert; luui^ut mat
Jericho Canal, which has not
been waterless for many .years,
is dry. Jericho ('anal is a feeder
for the lake, and if it carries no
water the lake may disappear.
The news of the canal's condition
was brought here by Dr. E. ft.
Hart. Should this condition
prevail all summer the histo.ic
old lake may be converted into
baked and cracked land surface.
Police Chief Brinkley, Saturday
night, reported an eruption of
boiling mud in the swamp.
Is The Noon Inhabited.
Science has proven that the
moon has an atmosphere, which
makes life in some form possible
on that satellite; but not for hu
man beings, who have a hard
enough time on this earth of
ours; especially those who don't
know that Electric Bitters cure
Headache, Biliousness, Malaria,
Chills and Fever, Jaundice, Dys
pepsia, Dizziness, Torpid Liver,
Kidney conrplaints, General De- j
bility and Female weaknesses, i
Unequalled as a general Tonic
and Appetizer for weak persons
and especially for the aged. It
induces sound sleep. Fully guar
toed by Hood Bros., Druggists.
Price only 50c.
GAPON REPORTED HANGED.
Hero of "Bloody Sunday" Trapped
and Strung up.
Manchester, April 23.?A die
patch from St. Petersburg to th(
Guardian says that Father
jtiapon was banged in secret on
April 10. The correspondent
adds, as is well known, that af
ter the famous march to tht
Winter Palaceon "RedSunday,"
January 22, 100.1, Gapon tied
from Russia.
The leaders of the revolutiona
ry movement, who live, for tht
most part, out of Russia, and
whom he then came across for
the first time, soon discovered
him to be what he was, a rnert
charlatan, and refused to put
j any considerable trust in him.
He, on his side, very soon saw
J that he would not be allowed tc
pose as a modern Savonarola,
i He joiued the police as a spy.
He wus rash enough to ap
j proach a revolutionary friend
j with proposals that he, too, turn
j spy Some of the leaders wert
! for drawing his claws by kid
napping him aud inducing him
to sigu a confession for publica
tion.
Certain others determined upon
his death. It was necessary first,
however, to convince the labor
ing classes, many of whom still
believed in him, of his real char
acter.
He was invited by his former
friend to a villa in the country,
where a conversation that took
place was overheard by four
laborers who were members of
the revolutionary party, and
who were concealed in an adjoin
ing room.
Then a door was flung open
and the wretched man was con
fronted by four men, who, he
realized, were not only witnesses,
but judges and executioners as
well. The men, infuriated to
madness by what they had heard,
made short work of the business,
and soon the former Savonarola
of Russia was daugling from the
ceiling of the sitting room, where
he probably remains to this
moment.
Another Quake In San Francisco.
San Francisco, April 25 th.?An
earthquake shock this afternoon
toppled over several tottering
walls and cracked chimneys, left
by the severe shock of last Wed
nesday and the fire that follow
ed and killed one woman in her
home. The shock was not severe
but the partly wrecked condition
of walls and chimneys resulted
in the upsetting of some mason
ry. The shock was barely per
ceptible in Oakland and vicinity,
and was not felt far from San
Francisco according to reports
received to-night.
To-day's quake caused slight
excitement of short duration
among many persons who have
been wrought to a high state of
excitement by the awful happen
ings of the last week but quiet
and assurance was soon restored.
Awful Catastrophe a Warning.
Dr. Thomas N. Ivey, Editor of
the Raleigh Christian Advocate,
closes an editorial on the San
Francisco disaster in the follow
ing words:
"San Francisco was one of the
gayest, most wicked cities in the
Union. There were many good
people there, yet, as a rule, God
occupied a very small place in
the mind and heart of the city.
We do not take the ground that
the earthquake and fire were sent
as a judgment on San Francisco,
yet we feel that God is using the
whole awful catastrophe as warn
ing to his people. "When thy
judgments are in the earth the
people will learn righteousness."
There Is a God and the fact has
been emphasized in a tragic way.
May San Francisco and all other
cities learn the lesson The suf
ferers at the Golden Cate and in
other places whete the horror
fell have the warm prayerful
sympathies of the Christian peo
ple of the land who have already
manifested their desire to help in
a most practical way."
BLACKBURN NOT GUILTY.
I Judge Goff Ordered a Verdict ot
Acquittal?A Demonstration
In the Court Room.
., The Hlackburu case came to a
? halt this uioruiag rather sooner
? thau the average spectator and
; perhaps a good many attorneys
thought .1 udgeUoff,after.)udge
' Lewis had tluished addressing
the jury, started in to deliver
what was supposed to be his
J charge, but he did not proceed
very far before he took the case
out of their hands and ordered a
verdict of acquittal.
| tie was proceeding as if he had
| a lengthv charge to deliver, but
, in a moment got down to busi
ness and the next thing the re
' porter was able to hear was, ad
' dressing the jury:
"And so, should vou return a
verdict of guilty under these con
1 ditions, I would at once set it
aside. It is therefore useless to
have you go through theformali
, ty of considering the case or re
turning a verdict."
To the average layman this
! came as a thunderclap and in a
second there was an outburst of
applause which the court made
no effort to check and numbers
of ladies crowded up and shook
bauds with Judge Goff?in fact
there was a regular demonstra
tion?a glory-hallelujah kind of
a time, his honor seeming not to
| mind it in the least.
It, irniv hp Hft.il! thftt fhnuo wrhrv
Lave kept track of the trial fully
expected a verdict of acquittal,
but not that the judge would
take it out of the hands of the
jury and order a verdict of not
guilty.
The "hilarity" over, Judge Goff
asked if there was any further
charge against the defendant.
The district attorney said no
"Then let him be discharged,"
was the order of the court, and
the Blackburn case passed out of
court?Greensboro Record, 2()th.
The first Baptist church, col
ored, of Raleigh, last Sunday
raised $ 1,514.40 for the new
church now being erected at the
corner of Wilmington and Mor
gan streets.
Fairest and Most Deadly
The most deadly lands were
ever the fairest, the most opulent
in nature's bloom and glory.
The gofden coast of America is
the unstable coast. The great
i est profusion of flowers and the
| richest groves and orchards
flourish in an earthquake land.
! St. Pierre lay in a marvelous
profusion of tropical vegetation
looking out on a sea of sapphire,
\ until Mount Pelee blasted all the
life and beauty in & breath of
flame. The Bay of Naples is
world-famed for loveliness J apan
is a dream of exquisite blossoms,
foaming waterfalls, noble trees
| and every alluring form of
nature's beautv. It is also a
country of many earthquakes
and some most terrfflc storms.
The irlory of life and the doom of
sudden death and destruction
run riot together in the East
and West Indies. Equatorial
America is a marvel of gorgeous
color and magnificence in form.
Lisbon is famous for the beauty
of its site and also for the awful
work of the earthquake which
laid it in ruins in 1755.?Cleve.
land Leader.
The First National of Tarboro
will soon be organized with a
capitol of $50,000.
Human Blood narks.
A tale of horror was told by
marks of human blood in the i
home of J. W. Williams, a well
known merchant of Bac, Ky. He
writes: "Twenty years ago I i
had severe hemorrhages of the
the lungs, and was near death
! when I began taking Dr. King's 1
New Discovery. It completely
cured me and I have remained
well ever since." It cures Hem- ]
orrhages, Chronic Coughs, Set
tied Colds and Bronchitis, and i
is the only known cure for Weak <
Lungs. Every bottle guaranteed i
by Hood Bros., Druggists. 50c.
| and $1.00. Trial bottle free.
Charleston Lost Eight Million Dol
lars in 1886.
Eleven white persona and twen
ty-eight negroes, a total of thir
.ly-eight persons, lost their lives
in the earthquake at Charleston,
8. C , the night of August 31st,
188(5
Slight shocks had been felt at
Summerville, 8. C., a uearby
summer resort, four days before
the severe shock that damaged
more than half the buddings in
the city of Charleston.
The earthquake came just af
ter 10 o'clock at night, aud in a
few moments the streets of
Charleston were full of falling
walls and the debris of homes
and business houses. Railroads,
telegraph lines and buildings
were destroyed, and the city was
cut off from communication with
the outside world. Hundreds of
persons were injured by Hying
debris and thousauds were ren
dered homeless. The property
damage was estimated at more
than $8,000,000.
The shock was felt from New
Orleans to Mexico, and there
were slight shocks in the eastern
section of South Carolina for
days afterward.
In some places near Charleston
deep Hssures were opened in the
ground, aud theentireformation
of the earth's surface was chang
ed.?Exchange.
GENERAL NEWS.
A Belgian training chip found
ered near Dover, England, Mon
day and 34 men were drowDed.
Four lives were lost and 30
families rendered homeless by a
lire at Conev Island, N. Y., early
Sunday moruing.
Congress Monday appropriat
ed $1,500,000 for the Pacific
eoast earthquake and fire suf
fers, making $2,500,000 in all.
Richmond Pearson Hobson has
won in the primaries in the sixth
Alabama Congressional District
for the nomination against J. H.
liankhead, who has represented
the district for 18 years. Hob
son ran for the nomination two
years ago but was defeated.
As the result of a dust explos
ion in a mine of the Colorado
Fuel ami IronCompanp,40miles
west of Trinidad, Col., Sunday.
22 miners are known to be dead
and one other missing. There
were 40 men in the mine at the
time of the explosion. Seventeen
miners, who were working 3,700
from the entrance, escaped.
Thought World at End.
Pueblo, Colo., April 23rd.?
B. K. Coffman, a traveling sales
man from Fort Worth, Texas,
arrived in Pueblo from Sau Fran
cisco last night. He says he had
nothing to eat or drink from
Tuesday evening until Thursday
morning, and that when he look
ed out over the city and saw the
falling buildings and flames
Mhnntincr into f.ha alrv ha fall
n ~ ?~ utt,7 J "v
upon bis bauds and knees and
buried his face in the sand, be
lieving that the end of the world
had came.
As a result of the strain to
which he was subjected, Mr. Coff
man's hair is now almost perfect
ly white.
Dr. Winston to Deliver Address.
The closing exercises of Wil
son's Mills tiraded School will
take place Wednesday, May 9.
The educational address will be
delivered bv Dr. George 1\ Wins
ton, President of the A. & M.
College at Kaleigh, at 12 m.
The Commencement-Day exer
cises will take place from 10 to
12, Wednesday, May 9. An en
tertaiument will be given in the
school building. Tuesday night.
May H. beginning at 8 o'clock.
Public cordially invited to at
tend.
The Kelhaven Lumber Com
pany's lumber mills at Belhaven,
N. C., together with an imtuens
iiuantity of lumber, was totally
destroyed by fire Friday night,
entailing a los9 rf at least $100,
000. which, if i? understood to
be largely covered by insurance.