Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-29
DUR NJ.
Sots. of the Press Convention

Agricultural Society, the members
tho Press Association, delegatio
from the Raleigh Board of Trade, an
other invited guests, took passage in
Special Train on the North Carolin
railroad for Haw River, to partake G
the hospitalities of that gentleman.
Having previously accepted an invi
tation from the Tobacco Exchange O
Durham to spend an hour at tina
point, the schedule was SO arranged
We reached Durham at $50 o'clock
where we were formally received OF
the part of the Tobacco Exchange b,
Mr.. Tomlinson, to whose speech We
are indebted for many of the facts re
garding the growth of the business Of
Durham. Major Engelhard replied
on behalf of the Press Association, ano
Mr.. John Nichols in behalf of the
Raleigh Board of Trade. After these
cOurtesies were over, refreshments OF
all kinds were furnished to the hungry
and thirsty after which we were shown
around some of the leading Tobacco
Factories, time not permitting all ex-
animation of all.
No one can visit Durham without be-
ing astonished at its grown. Even the
casual observer can nctice from the
car windows how rapidly it grows from
wear to year yes, from month to
month How much more are We aston
Ished, who a few years ago, remember
the place under the euphonious name
of PIN Hook" where "Chapel Hill
bows" were wont to run the 'blockade"
to enjoy the ''feats of the ring" under
the direction of old John Robinson and
Dan Rice, or witness the "Ight fam
tastic" by the Carncross Sister, taking
care to report promptly at the roll-call
for prayer next morning. Even so late
as the close of the war there were not
more than a half-dozen families resi-
dent there, Durham being merely the
depot at which passengers for the
University left the cars, and indeed it
was chiefly known as such.
Durham now contains fifteen hun
dred inhabitants, with more than
twenty Tobacco Factories, thirty
stores, four churches, a tiourishing
newspaper and all the other surround
ings of an enterprising and growing
town. 1t is probably the largest manu-
featuring place in the State.
The first leaf tobacco sold at auction
in Durham was on the 18th Of May,
1871, by Mr.. H. A. Reams. He began
by having one sale each week until
1872 During that year he held two
sales each week, and during 1873 the
firm of Reams X Walker had four sales
each week, selling during the year two
millions of pounds, Notwithstanding
the panic. This firm sold during the
month of April last, 314, 1900 pounds,
amounting to $28, ,17S 60. The day of
the Press Excursion, fifty-one lots of
tobacco averaging ST % per cwt.,
and two tierces, one for $94 90 per
cwt, and the other for $142 per cwt.
We're sold.
The Farmers Warehouse, opened at
later date, sold during the past three
months, seven hundred thousand
pounds Of tobacco.
During the month Of April, which
Is the beginning of the dull season,
the shipments Of manufactured tobac-
co from Durham footed up more than
two hundred thousand pounds, and if
the town realized a profit Of five cents
pound, ten thousand dollars from
this source alone were added to the
wealth of the place i'll one month.
When we consider how limited the
territory from which Durham draws
ITS supplies of tobacco and the vast
amount of money paid for the leaf TO-
bacco, frequently as much as ten
thousand dollars day, we can readily
account for the prosperity of that i'm
mediate section.
The following comprise the full list
OF the manufacturers of Dur ham to-
bacco:
Rug aud ,Sntokiug T1Lorco.-W.
L. Blackwell 4 Co. w. r. Hughes x
Co. Faucet; T. NJ Reams Thomas
y Hunt, and t. W. Thomas.
Hn1Dki,tg TI,ttcco.-E. F. Morris K
Son; L. J. Lyon & Co; Lockhart &
Co; W. Duke; B. l.. Duke; Webb,
houlhac i Co; i. B. Morris Il Bro.
durham Mangum, and ID. G.. Parrish.
We regret we have not been fur.
hlshed with fuller statistics from these
various firms. We learn, however,
That y, t. Blackwell & Co., manu-
'aetnfe seven thousand pounds daily,
a'ld Their business is rapidly increas-
ing. They intend to build during the
summer, two large factories of brick,
ere proof, with a capacity of twelve
thousand pounds per day.
mos factories paid upwards of
MFe" huui,4d tA0uso1ad doIurs in
'zes To the United States last year,
una unless something is done to lower
"-e TAX will pay much more this year.
lhe mannfature oe Tobacco Bags in
r, on's town IS no lnconsiderable item.
ln'' industry gives employment to
very large number of women and
ellldfen. Capt. W. X. Styron, who is
sa8fo largely in this business,
WORKS up eight hundred yards of
'iee'ing day. The total number OF
manufactured in April will
th -o''nt to one million, requiring fifty
l"o''sand yards of sheeting, enough to
p one large Cotton Factory con-
stantly employed.
besides these Tobacco Factories. a
u'gar iaetory has commenced opera-
L As under favorable auspices. An
nh Manufactory, and Boot and Shoe
ioi'sh Mandatory are turning out
fs.'les f'a.i OF superior merit. which are