566 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



l->4463 to 125,093. The average attendance of 

 white children fell off from 144.340 in 1898 to 

 140,162 in 1899. This was probably due to the 

 severe blizzard of February, which almost stopped 

 attendance at many country schools. The enroll- 

 ment of colored males fell from (55.088 in 1898 to 

 00,586 in 1899, and of colored females from 6<,8/5 

 in 1898 to 60,813 in 1899. 



State Institutions. The three hospitals 

 the insane accommodate 1.537 patients, and the 

 whole number under treatment the past year ex- 

 ceeded this hv several hundred. 



In the Central Hospital, at Raleigh, the daily 

 average number of patients treated last year 

 reached 413: admissions were 190 and discharges 

 of the cured 125; as improved, 0. The percentage 

 of mortality on the whole number under treat- 

 ment was 4.8. 



In the State Hospital, at Morganton, 1,073 pa- 

 tients were under treatment for the biennial pe- 

 riod of 1897-'98. The report notes 120 discharged 

 during the year, and 251 for the biennial term. 

 The percentage of mortality was 3.53. 



The Eastern Hospital, at Goldsboro, exhibits a 

 needed improvement in the new building and ma- 

 chinery for electric lighting. The percentage of 

 mortality upon the whole number of patients w r as 

 5.6, and that of cures upon admission 35.77. For 

 two thirds of the year its capacity w r as entirely 

 tilled by 430 patients, and acute cases are largely 

 shut out. 



At the Institution for the Blind, the Deaf, and 

 the Dumb, two new buildings have been erected, 

 giving accommodations to 400 pupils. Another 

 story is being added to the old building. This 

 will bring up the capacity to 500. 



The School for the Deaf, at Morganton, by the 

 erection of a new $20,000 building has increased 

 its capacity to 300. 



Many improvements have been made at the 

 Oxford Orphan Asylum. The amount expended 

 this year was $22,667, of which the State con- 

 tributed $10,000. 



At the colored orphan asylum, a superintend- 

 ent's house has been built and the schoolrooms 

 enlarged to accommodate 200 children. The en- 

 rollment Dec. 1, 1898, w*as 134; at the correspond- 

 ing date of 1897 it was 108. The debt on the 

 farm of 168 acres in cultivation has been reduced 

 to $4(59.20. The general expenses and improve- 

 ments amounted to $6,029 for the year. 



During the year there were 94 veterans on the 

 rolls of the Soldiers' Home, w r ith an average at- 

 tendance of 70. An appropriation of $5,000 has 

 been made for new buildings and for repairs. 



Industries. By far the most striking feature 

 of the year's industrial progress in the State was 

 the projection and building of new cotton mills 

 and the enlargement and better equipment of old 

 mills. In 1870 there were 33 mills with 39,897 

 spindles; in 1886, 80 mills with 199,433 spindles- 

 in 1898, 186 mills with 1,018,000 spindles. To- 

 day the enlargement of the old mills and new 

 ones just beginning operation increase the num- 

 ber of spindles to 1,200,000. In 1896 the cotton 

 crop of the State was about 500,000 bales, and 

 the mills consumed 300,000 bales; for 1899 the 

 crop estimate was 480,000 bales, and the mills 

 would need more than 400,000 bales. 



The capitalization of the mills in the State 

 reaches $20,702,400. There are 11 woolen, 28 

 knitting, 1 silk, and 1 jute bagging mill. 



Nearly all the mills projected are being built, 

 and almost entirely by local capital. 



The increase of the lumber product of 1899 

 that of 1898 is estimated at 30 per cent. 



ighteen new lumber companies were organized 



in 1899, with a total capital of $562,000. Nine 

 furniture factories, with estimated total capital of 

 $100,000, have been added. Twenty-nine other 

 establishments, with aggregated capital of $342,- 

 000, also began work in 1899. 



Mining. In the gold mines work is being 

 pushed in Greer, Capp's Hill, Summerville, and 

 perhaps other mines in Mecklenburg County; at 

 several mines in Cabarrus County; at the Gold 

 Hill, Dutch Creek, and one or two other points 

 in Row T an County; at a new discovery in Caldw r ell 

 County from which encouraging reports come; 

 at the Belle mine, in Moore County; at the Portis 

 mine, in Franklin County; at the Mann-Arring- 

 ton mine, in Nash County; and perhaps at two 

 other points in the Eastern belt; Stanly and 

 Montgomery Counties have small operations go- 

 ,ing on most of the year. 



In silver, the most notable activity is at the 

 old Silver Hill mines, in Davidson County. The 

 operations are perhaps the deepest in the State, 

 reaching a depth of 800 feet below the surface. 

 Other silver mines are the Siler Valley, also in 

 Davidson County, and the Troutman, near the 

 dividing line between Rowan and Cabarrus 

 Counties. 



In copper mining, the most noted recent dis- 

 covery is at what was formerly known as the 

 Union Gold and Copper Mine, between Gold Hill 

 in Rowan County, and the Cabarrus County line. 

 The ore includes' native free copper, cuprite, azu- 

 rite, malachite, red oxide, copper glaze, and the 

 green and blue carbonates of copper. 



The iron mines are active notably the famous 

 Cranberry mines, in Mitchell County. The Or- 

 mond Ore Banks are also active. Ore Hill, in 

 Chatham County, is being operated, and recently 

 some very fine ores have been uncovered. At Wil- 

 son's Mills a new iron property has been opened. 



A company has purchased 5,000. acres in Macon 

 County for the purpose of mining systematically 

 for the gem rhodolite, also ruby, sapphire, and 

 other corundum gems. 



Legislative Session. The Railroad Commis- 

 sion was abolished and the act repealed. In lieu 

 thereof a corporation commission was established, 

 composed of three members elected by the Gen- 

 eral Assembly, to hold their places until the next 

 general election, w r hen their successors will be 

 elected by the people for a term of six years. 



The insurance laws were consolidated and the 

 insurance department was established. 



The agricultural department was reorganized, 

 and provision was made for the election of the 

 commissioner by the people. 



An antitrust law was enacted. Many perplex- 

 ing and serious difficulties presented themselves 

 when the attempt was made to frame a statute. 

 It was found that a number of local industries 

 important in their nature would be seriously af- 

 fected by any drastic legislation. 



A separate car law was passed. 



The subject of municipal government received 

 consideration, and a large number of charters 

 were revised. Many towns and cities secured new 

 charters. 



Labor Day was made a legal holiday. 



The criminal courts of the State were reorgan- 

 ized. 



Provision was made for reorganization of the 

 State Guard. 



A constitutional amendment on the subject of 

 suffrage and office holding is to be voted on by 

 the people in August, 1900. 



Political. The 1899 Legislature consists of 40 

 Democrats in the Senate and 94 in the House; 

 10 fusionists in the Senate and 26 in the House. 



