The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-06-21

is 1SO miles west of Raleigh and rs miles
east of Asheville. Its railroad facilities
are equal to those enjoyed by any town in
Western North Carolina The Narrow
Guage which runs through it from Ches-
ter, s. c., to Lenoir is the property of
gentlemen residing here and in other
counties. 1t is now operated under
lease to the Richmond Il Danville Rail
road. Since this big and progressive
company has leased it the condition of the
road has been greatly improved By this
road it is only forty miles from Charlotte
to Newton. 1t is in the centre of
Catawba county and is peopled by indus
trious, moral, wide-awake Catawba peo-
pie. The town, or the village rather, (for
no place ought to be called town unless
it has 5000 population) is as lovely viii
lage as one can find in a years
travel of nearly two thousand population.
1t is beautifully shaded with large elm and
oak trees. 1t is delightful to ride through
Newton and let the eye rest upon the
neat and tasty and freshly painted resi-
dencessof the thrifty people. Every yard
is a flower garden. Cleanliness rules
supreme
If any man is looking for home among
as good people as the sun shines on;
where industry is honored and finds its
sure reward; where idleness is a crime;
where the people estimate a man accord
ing to what he is and what he does, and
not according TO what he has or pretends
to be; where he can hear the hum of ma
chinery in the cotton mill and other mills
and yet have a quiet home in another
part of the town; where he can educate
his children in thorough schools where
great regard is paid TO learning thing
we'll and little to superficial show; where
every religious advantage is afforded and
the moral tone of the community Is high
where the race problem is not problem
| and where political ascerbity does not
reign; where society is based on merit and
character ana not artificial distinctions;
and where a fair and equal chance is Civ
| en- TO every man-if any man is looking
for such place, ne will be happy at
Newton.
| In the centre of the town is the court
house which is now being enlarged 1t is
surrounded by two acres of oaks which
give a pleasant shade. In old times in
most counties, the iurieS, after the case
was given to them, would leave the court
house and go out into the open air and
there decide the case. In Catawbt this
practice has been kept up from the time
whereof the memory of man runneth nor
to the contrary and in the court house
yard are benches put there for this pur-
pose. Here in thesessacred groves has many
an important decision been rendered. 1t
is onl. this year that the modern spirit of
a jury room has taken hold of these con-
| servative people (the most conservative in
the State) and they are enlarglug their
court house at a cost of So, 900 to provide
| this room and other cOnvenlencleS. | am
glad they are adding to the court house,
but hope the good old Catawba juries
will continue to deliberate in the open
air.
The chief business of the town is cen
tered on the four streets that surround
the court house. The annual volume of
| business exceeds 1925, 900. There is d
very large barter trade done here and as
most of the people raise their bread and
meat, business of 1928 900 is equal TO
| much larger volume of business III the
| cotton sections where Western bacon
| and Yankee -four are sold in large
| quantities. There are upwards o. Z
/ dozen general merchandise stores which
| carry eyeryt hing that a Cata"oa farmer
will need I'll owners are live men who
| understand their business and who have
wrought well IN building up the town.
| There are two drug stores here, but the
| people are too healthy for the druggists
! o get rich. Besides there are TWO saddle
/ and harness shops, one clothing store, one
marble yard where the people buy their
| monuments for their deceased friends and
relatives, and the other usual establish
ments except bar-rooms. There is not a
! bar-room in Newton, and there has not
| been one in many years. | asked gen
tleman bow long Newton had been a
dry" town. He replied: Ever since
| | can recolect." The absence of bar
rooms is to be. accounted for by the fact
that the Legislature by special act in
cooperating Catawba college provided
that liquor should not be sold within two
miles of the college which is in the town
of Newton. The peace and good order of
| the town is remarkable.