The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-04-12
PIEDMONT CAROLINA.
VIII AT SOME ENTERPRISING TAR
III f. r LIS ARE DOING IN s SALISBURY.
An Old Town With Happy Blending
of Old Fashioned Hospitality and New
Fashioned Energy.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRON

All OlO own " HAPPY BIen0lnS
of Old Fashioned ospitaiity and New
Fashioned Energy.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE
SALISBURY, N. c., April 9, 1889 Sails
bury was town away back yonder in he
colonial days. Lord CORVALLIS had head
quarters few blocks from where | write
while a short distance up the same street
little ancient looking building once stood
from which hung an unpretentious shin
ge' bearing the following inscription:
Andrew Jackson, Attorney at Law"
This old Office was removed in 1876 10y
man, with Mulberry Sellars' ideas, and cal
ried to the Philadelphia Centennial; but
his scheme didn't work, and the name of
this SpecuatOr IN ancient relies does not
appear in America S list of millionaires- A
few evenings ago l was sitting In company
with some other gentlemen on some stone
steps in front of an old landmark here,
when one of them remarked, ION these
same steps George Washington once stood
and addressed small crowd of patriots,
rallying them to the standard of this re-
public not then year old Salisbury has
been town ever since, and while 1t may
not have kept pace With some more fO1tu-
nate towns, yet it has always been able 10
show cause for its continued existence. 1t
don't run on limited schedule but it is
going to get there all the same The peo-
pie are and have always been conservative
and not given to bOmbast, buncOmbe or
braggadocio. They don't go with rush.
but they take a step at the time and never
slip backward. 1t is an ''eaI to- bed and
early tOrlse town, and the lamp lighter
has generally turned off the lights and is
snoring away for dear life before | O'Clock
p. III. So if a fellow does happen to stay
OF he nly,t. r. t,..., hon
later than 10, unless he carries the regua
ton lantern, he has to feel his way home
often over rather moist streets, but elec
trlc lights To burn all night and pernna-
nent street improvements are receiving
their share Of attention and are among
the near probabilities. A most excellent
system of water supply is already M oper
alton and system of sewerage and street
cars are among the remote possibilities.
While these public Improvements are
going on, individual enterprise is far III
the lead and is rapidly developing he re
sources of the town and the surrounding
country. | could mention many instances,
but few must suffice.
Tobacco.
Salisbury has for a number OF years been
prominent tobacco market. Three large
and we'll managed warehouses afford am
pie accommodations for the tobacco grow
ers of Rowan and adjoining counties, and
a large proportion of the leaf sold here
finds buyers from among the enterpri,ng
manufacturers of the town. one Of the
first things that commands your attention
when you land at the depot in Salisbury
is large five story brick building upon
which may be seen in letters two yards
long, ''J. D. Gaskill's Tobacco Works ="
This factory was established a few ytarS
ago by Jno. d. Gaskill and the late Moses
l.. Holmes, and under the management of
these two active and energetic men, Ii was
soon made TO rank among the most sue
cessful tobacco factories in the >outh.
In the death Of Mr.. Holmes thi. enter
prise, as well as many others here and
hereabouts, lost substantial friend, one
who was able and not only able but always
willing TO help them along.
Mr.. j. ID. Gasklll, the surviving partner,
is comparatively young man and he has
as much energy to the square inch as any
man IN the State. He is never idle and
yet he is never too busy to give aid or en-
couragement to any man or measures that
tends TO build up the town III either a
moral, intellectual or Industrial seuse. He
is a small man with bright, keen pair of
eyes, a clean shaven face and gets about
IN rapid not to say hurried manner. He
is not schemer nor a manipulation but he
is an lndefatigable worker aud most eX
celent manager. Ninety thousand pounds
of plug tobacco sold in the month OF Feb
ruary attests the popularity OF the brands
he makes. Most popular of these brands
is his Famous Lula Lunn, of which he
has sold TO one customer during the past
so days more than 500 packages. After
the death of Mr.. Holmes, Mr. Gasklll
bought from his representatives, Mr..
Holmes half interest in the factory,
and subsequently admitted his brother,
Mr.. D. l.. Gaskill, into partnership and
organ ized the firm of Gaskill Bros. Dave
Gaskill as everybody calls him is one of
the most popular and successful knights
of the grip sack" that ever boarded a train
and he has successfully Introduced the
Gaskil tobacco's throughout he South
and Southwest. He has both brass and
brains and he will tackle a vii! Irish ira
der in New Mexico with as much ssur-
ance as he would Methodist class leader
in Concord. 1t is perfectly safe to predict
for this firm a large measure of success
Another enterprising tobacco firm is
Messrs. Holmes 4 Miller. Mr.. K J Holmes
Of tuis firm is one of the wealth est and
cleverest citizeus of Salisbury and his
name appears in many places Of honor and
trust Mr. D. NJ. Miller the junior of the
firm is a Davle county man from whence
comes so many successful tobacconists
He has thorough knowledge of the busi-
ness and unuer his excellent management
his new firm will soon march to the front
Mr.. Eugene johnson is another enter
prising manufacturer. He too is a young
man but he knows his business, and his
factory is already regarded among he
permanent and profitable enterprises OF
the town.
Still another manufacturer young IL
years but advanced in experience is Mr. 9
A. Rice. He is handsome as well as en-
ergetie, he is bachelor, which is sur
prising, but with his energy and good
looks both wealth and wife await him
Messrs Beall 4 Co, recently organized
for the manufacture of smoking tobacco,
and their popular brand. Maggie Bell "
is gaming friends in dozen States
Other Enterprises.
Among North Cardinals enterprioine
men none are ahead of Mr.. J. B. Lanier
He has grit and git up-and git enough in
him for half dozen men of his-Size. He
weighs about 1877 pounds, wears slouch
hat that threatens to flap everytime be
steps and from under this hat peeps pail
| of keen blue eyes that fairly sparkle with
| good humor. His face is covered over
with short iron gray whiskers, and from
among them protrudes short stem pipe
and momentary puffs of blue, curline
smoke He wears a pair of number five
boots and costly gold watch nestles un