Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-07
GROWING OXFORD.
A PRETTY AND THRIFTY TOWN OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
Social and Business Advsntagss-Prstty
Streets and Tasteful and Elegant
Houscs-rhe Tobacco Business
rcorrsspOpdsD,s Of ne Richmond Di'p,'cn.l

This Ia q lively town, ana recenuy
made easily accessible by the completion
OF tho connecting link from Clarksyllle,
IL offers splendid trade which will be
tributary to your city.
The situation is elevated about five
hundred feet above iide-watcr and suf-
ficiently undulating 70 afford thorough
drainage and health. The surrounding
landscapes are attractive in every dircc-
ton. The soil is sandy and the streets
free from mud and dust. The side
walks are lined with magnificent elms,
affording dense shade. The private
residences are numerous, tastefully con-
ssructed, and extensive with spacious
lawns handsomely enclosed. The archi-
tectural design ofallthe new residences Is
modern and the large yerandas and bay,
windows indicate abodes OF comfort and
elegance.
There are churches Of various denomi'
nations and preparations are beng MADE
to enlarge and beautify them.
Many new business-houses are IN
course Of construction, including thir-
teen new brick stores. Some of these
for the large stocks. with their spacious
and well-hghted interiors, will compare
favorably with those Of larger cities.
Electric lights were introduced few
months ago, and the streets ct night pre-
sent brilliant appearance
A commodious operachouse IS now the
pride OF the town. and under 1t clean
and well.supplied market.
The educational advantages are OF
superiU order. There are two female
and two male schools, with suitable
buildings. extensive and shady grounds,
and with teachers and convenieDces for
thorough training of the youth of both
sexes.
There is also n Young Mems Christian
Association with large membership and
a Commonwealth Club for business and
social purposes. 100
There is now population OF 1000
and real estate is readily sold at good
prices. Rents are moderate and new
improvements greet the eye IN every dl-
TectiOn.
The chief business OF the town Is In
leaf tobacco, and nearly all of 1t IS from
the golden belt OF the State. 1 saw
scarcely any Of the dark varieties
There are six extensive warehouses for
its sale. and the number of pounds sold
in the last twelve months will exceed
10000 Poor men since the war have
made fortunes in raising bright tobacco,
and some who cannot write their names
now live in splendid houses and count
their money by the thousands Of dollars
There are several stemming and plug
operators here in tobacco and the Nc
Kimball Company recently commenced
will employ 800 hands.
The railroads centring here are the
GAINESVILLE and Oxford. giving al outlet
for the North, the Durham and Oxford
for the South, the Hendersonand Oxford
for the East. and projected line for the
West extending by way Of Roxboro IN
Person TO Reidsvllle in this State.
The courthouse of Granville county
here is large brick structure. | met
there Captain II. =. Hughes, formerly
United States marshal for the Eastern
district of Virginia, acting in the capacity
of deputy clerk. There are large num-
Der Of lawyers IN the town, but the pros
perity OF the section is 80 phenomenal
that litigation has greatly diminished.
There Is a weIl-equipped and discl-
plined military company always ready to
answer the cali of the authorities.
Baseball is popular, and one Of the
best clubs in the State exists here and
have shown their skill in various contests
here and in Virginia.
Captain A. II. A. Williams was re-
Gently elected chairman of the Demo
cratic party for this county and ex-
presses confidence in obtaining good
majority for the party this fall. His
well-knOwn activity, efficiency and pub
licspirit give assurance that he will make
a vigorous and successful campaign.
One of the most notable institutions
here is the Orphan Asylum. 1t WAS
started by the Masonic fraternity soon
after the war to educate the orphans OF
Confederate soldiers. Its benevolent
purposes have now been extended to all
indfgent orphans in the State, and there
are nov 236 under discharge. TheState
appropriates 80, 600 per year to aid the
laudable enterprise. The buildings,
groves, gardens, printing establish
ment, Geographic instruction, and farm
ing operations are on large scale, and
the institution is almost self-sustaining.
The town needs a first-class hotel.
Enterprising capitalists are maturing
plans for the erection of one, and the
KIngsbury place, IN the centre OF the
business part Of the town, would make a
splendid site and is the favored location.
The Bank Of Oxford, with capital of
over $50, 600, is the only chartered bank
ing-house here, but there are private
bankers, and project to organize an
other incorporated bank.
Eight years ago the population of the
place was 1900, and its rapid growth
and increase to its present condition is
wonderful.
In the afternoon l was taken charge
OF by Captain A. II. Williams, president
of the Oxford and Henderson railroad,
and with a splendid team driven all
over the place and witnessed the aston
ishing progress and prosperity made
aince the completion of two lines OF rail
roads TO the City OF Beauty.
/ rode through fields of tobacco on the
outskirts of the town that were luxu-
RANT one of Colonel Cooper's EN-
bracing 140, 600 hills on thirty-fiye acres,
now being cut and cured, and its esti-
mated value placed at $1,000. In fact
all through this section the crop is placed
at an average one Of good quality
Lands apparently poor sell for twenty to
thirty dollars per acre. The people
have the bright-tobacco fever, and the
talk Of all the farmers and warehouse
men is about the golden color of this
years curing, the silky texture, and pros
pective money value. The corn crop is
insignificant I. ID. j.