Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1896-03-20
FROM NEWPORT NEWS.
Nr. ". B. FELTON, Writes an In
teieSfirn Letter
Of That
Great Commercial Port.
HAVING ACCEPTED POSITION Ae IN
SPEcToR OF CUSTOM, MR. FELTON,
WILL MAKE NEWPORT NEWS
HIS FUTURE HOME.
Newport News, Va.

Newport News, Va.
Editor FISHERMAN & FARMER.
SIR was very sorry to learn
of the great excitement which
recently occurred III the old his
toric town of Edenton, town
which has long been noted for
it's peaceable and laW-abiding
citizens. What great pity that
in the closing years of the 10Th
century, a blot should appear on
a page in the history of the me
tropolis of Chowan county. 1t IS
to be hoped that the leaders in
the late riot have ere this seen
their folly and have repented i'll
sackcloth and ashes. But for the
courage and wisdom Of the lead
ing citizens Of Edenton, how sad
and damaging must have been
the consequences. l do hope
that all excitement has abated
and that qllietness and security
reign supreme ere this, and that
the peace and happiness of
ChoWan shall never again be dis
turbed in like manner.
Your correspondent is still
residing in Newport News, hav-
ing accepted a position as In
spector Of Customs i'll the civil
service. Some of your readers
may be surprised to learn that |
hold a position under the govern
ment of the United States, and
may naturally enquire how l OBJ
tanned it. I can assure them
that I did not secure it through
any political preferment,a AS Meth
er politics nor religion has any
influence in securing a position
under the Civil Service regula>
tious. An applicant for such a
| position has to stand on his own
merits, and before securing the
same, he has to stand rigid eX>
animation; and in order to be
eligible tor an appointment he
must attain a general average OF
70 per cent OH photography, pens
manship, copying, letter-writing
arithmetic and geography. A
very large per cent. of those ex-
amined usually fail to secure the
required average. The class OF
February I, of which l was a
member, numbered twenty-five
only seven of that number pass
ed. The band of examiners
said it was the largest and most
intelligent class that has ever
been examined at this place.
AS Newport News is a great
commercial port. at whose piers
a large number of foreign ships
may be daily seen loading and
unloading, quite a number oI
Custom House officers is requir,
ed to look after the interest o.
| the government
To give your readers some
idea of the vast amount of ship
ping done here, l will state tha
during the month of February
the exports alone amounted tc
$2,3o4,o65, and more foreign
vessels entered the port thar
during any previous month il
the history of the town, 81 ship!
cleared for foreign ports, four
hfths of which sailed with com
plete cargoes. A good trade il
also done with Boston and New
York.
The little city is growing rap
idly; scores and scores Of build
ing are being erected, which ar
rented out even before compile
ton.
The great steamship Paris i
/ now III the dry dock undergoing
repairs. l learn that the nov
already great ship yard is t
, have its capacities still more ex
= tended.
What wonderful stride New
port News is making. Some c
8 the larger cities are beconln
Jealous of her.
6 w. B. FELTON,.