The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-03-20
HAPPY HENDERSON.
NOVEL OPENING EXERCISES OF A
PLUG TOBACCO FACTORY,

Plug IOBACCU FAClOh1.
Col. Burgwyn's Enterprise-Hender-
sons Beautiful Women and TObac-
co. and Her Enterprising Men. l.
Robert Haydn in Charlotte Daily Chroni-
The opening exercises Of the large
plug tobacco factory of Col. w. H. s.
Burgwyn. at Henderson, on Wednes-
day last, were a novel ceremony that
lost nothing in interest from its refresh
ing uniqueness.
The exercises consisted of addresses
and singing, the programme of which
appeared in last Thursdays Chronicle.
The singing was by colored employees
Of the factory. The bass solos by jet
black young negro, were very fine.
Woodbridge is the bass singers name.
The Burgwyn folks are willing to sing
Woodbridge against any other negro in |
State for handsome purse.
AN AUDIENCE OF TWO THOUSAND.
At two O'Clock in the afternoon, the !
second floor of the factory building
which is l56 feet deep by As wide, was
filled with ladies and gentlemen. Capt.
Ashe of the Raleigh Ners and Observer
estimated the audience at 1000. The
business men and their wives and their
daughters were there; / have no par
ticular recollection about their sons.
All classes were there, for there is har-
mony of public purpose in Henderson;
and the rich and the poor and the cap
italist and the laborer, recognize their
mutual dependence.
HENDERsON'S BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
Not * in passing,' but first and fore
most, let me say that more beautiful
gathering of ladies', have never seen
in any city of the size Of Henderson.
Refinement was stamped on every fea-
ture, and culture softened every outline.
Their dress was modish, and their car
riage was graceful and snappy."
Henderson could not help but be city
of nerve and force, with such women as
were gathered in Col. Burgwyn's fac
tory on last Wednesday.
SOME OF THE VISITORS.
Among the prominent men present
were ex-Congressman Simmons, who
will dispense with the ak at the next
election; r. Goldsborough Keen, a dis
tinguished lawyer of Baltimore, who
came from the Monumental City to
honor his friend, Col. Burgwyn, on the
occasion; State Auditor Sanderlin, who
made the best speech; Commissioner
of Agriculture Robinson; Capt. S. A.
Ashe, the able editor Of the Raleigh
NeUs and Observer; Josephus Daniels,
editor of the State Chronicle; G. w.
Shaw, of Southern Pines and Profes-
: sors Massey and Chamberlain, of the
State Agricultural College.
A SIGNIFICANT FACT.
The exercises lasted from two to five
O'Clock. After the programme had
been completed, letters and kilograms
were read from several invited persons
who were unable to attend; and every
communication but one was applauded
and that was one from Gov. FOwle. L
, was received in dead silence. Before
: closing the exercises Col. Burgwyn wa.
e called on for speech and a most sen
e sible five minutes speech did the gal
< liant Colonel make.
t INSPECTING THE FACTORY.
+ When the exercises were over tn
$ audience inspected the building, ant
q saw the hands at work. The factor,
+ is supplied with the latest improved
Il machinery. 1t is planned most con
{ veniently for handling tobacco in thu
u best manner at the least expense
o There is capacity to manufacture $50,
e 900 pounds of tobacco yearly, whicl
t will require two to three hundred
), hands, at an annual payroll of Ovel
j. 100000. Work in the factory wa
o only begun about month ago; an
- manufacture is not yet full under way
but from this out, the factory will b
run at full capacity.
AN ENTERPRIsING CITIZEN.
10 After the factory had been thorough
inspected, the strangers were drive
about the city, and shown the large tc
bacco factories and all other places {
interest 1t fell to my lot to be es
1 corted by d. Y. Cooper, proprietor {
e the mammoth tobacco warehouse of tn
II State. Mr.. Cooper is the oldest ware
IL houseman in the State. having been a
= the business for II consecutive year.
< He is yet young man, hardly passe
forty. Handsome in person, genial
manner, and thoroughly posted in a
pertaining to the gold leaf belt of Mort
Carolina and Virginia, he made m
is time pass most agreeably.
Mr.. Cooper's brick warehouse is ov'
200 feet long, and it is nearly half :
wide. Besides the warehouse, M
10 Cooper has three prize factories whel
the leaf is prepared for foreign shi
ping.
III ALLEN & GINTER
~ get their fine tobacco in this market #
TO their high price cigarettes. They ha'
,r two mammoth buildings here, whe
if the leaf is stemmed and prepared f
the Richmond factory. 1 saw 5000
worth of fine gold leaf tobacco in the
two houses. The management of tt
houses is under two brothers of D. :
Cooper, who took pains to show n
lis through every department of the va
O. establishment.
~. MORE ABOUT TOBACCO INTERESTS
d, There are about thirty prize factori
On in Henderson besides smoking tobac
~ factory, and one more plug factor
y The latter was inaugurated last Decor
u Der, and it puts on the market a pl
:, that rivals the B. F. Gravely (pr
A' nounced Gravity. Messrs. Rowland
10 Walker own this factory and the smo
ing tobacco factory is run by the He
derson Tobacco Company.
About 500 hands find direct el
ployment in the factories of Henderso
III. ihn whilst. of course, equally as many mo
nd have indirect employment therefor
in Henderson is clean, handsome, Thrift
city of 1000 inhabitants. 1t has elt
trio lights. Waterworks are now bel
arranged for and sewerage system
is | -, n lilo