davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23
Edenton, the Beautiful Naples Of North
Carolina.
rs PAST, PRESENT AND FU7
Rich In History, Richer in Development
and Possibilities.
THE MILLS AND MANUFACTURES
In Fi,h Rich Plantations Pleasant
Charming Prosperous Peope--ts Forests, Fieids
BAYS Sounds and Their Teemins Wealth.

Edenton is a gem set in the circle of
its crescent bay.
.sSee Naples and die" said famous
traveller as he looked across the blue
Neapolitan waters that stretched TO
Capri.
Edenton is the Naples of the State.
1t has a charm all it's own, beauty
of green shade and fine sky and rip
ping wave. The shell-paved streets
stretch long lines of white under the
over-hanging trees that have for gen
erations offered their generous shade
to the happy resident and the charmed
visitor.
The halo of history hangs about the
town. Here was the seat of govern
ment from which the appointees OF the
Lords Proprietors and His Majesty
sent out their edicts and governed the
good people of the Plantations of Al
bemarle and the Carolina colony.
To one side of this beautiful Court
Square whose lawn stretches like a
green carpet to the waters edge stood,
until few years ago, the Tea Party
House" in which the ladies of Edenton
gathered when news of the Act inn
posing duty on tea came, and In IN
dignant independence resolved that
they and the people OF the town should
drink no more tea until the obnoxious
Act of Parliament should be repealed.
Mrs. Sarah Barker, the wife of the
leading barrister of the colony, pre-
sided at this meeting, The portraits
of her and her learned husband hang
on the walls of the old 'Cupola House"
that was their residence. This old
"Cupola House is a treasury of his
toric lore and legend Most of the in
habitants call it Governor Eden's
Palace" but it is well-known that
this able officer of the King lived on
the opposite side of the Sound from
Edenton, and the house was built after
his term and his life had come to an
end. This "Cupola House" is occupied
by the Misses Bond, direct descend
ants of the original Bond who pur-
chased the residence from Barrister
Barker. Everything in the house is
kept intact and for the most part it is
just as it stood in colonial days when
squires and danes danced the minuet
to the strumming of the spinet.
On the principal corner OF Main
street, set in large brick store is a
little marble tablet that reads: This
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

year, and the immense trade has been
steadily and surely extended. This IS
due to the wise management OF the en-
terprise, the fine business acumen OF
Mr.. Branning, the head of the immense
establishment, who gives his personal
attention to all the details of the vast
business Few enterprises of any kind
in North Carolina or the South excel
this in magnitude, and yet the able
proprietor has every detail of the great
establishment firmly in his grasp.
He married Miss Hogan. an accom-
plished lady of Lock Haven, Pennsyl-
vania, and they have a charming home
in this pleasant town of Edenton.
He has held a number of Offices OF
trust and honor. He was one time
a member of the State Assembly OF
New Jersey, County Clerk of Camden
county, Councilman-at-Large and
Mayor pro tenn. Of the city of Camden,
and in all these positions he has ac-
quilted himself with credit and dis
tinction. He is a member Of the Whole
sale National Lumbermen's Associa-
ton, the Manufacturers Club (Phila-
delphia); the Virginia Club (Norfolk)
the Business Mems Association of Nor
folk and other organizations. He en-
joys the jolly good fellowship Of the
Great American Order of Hoo-Hoos.
He has been a Master Mason since he
was twenty-one years OF age, and
ranks high in Masonry.
This is but brief sketch of man
whose life has been a record of sue
cess, and whose personality permeates
every department Of the great business
he controls.
The Branning Manufacturing Com
pany not only operates these two great
mills at Edenton, but owns vast quanti-
ties of lands in other counties, has n
town of its own, "Branning," operates
two railroads OF it's own and a line OF
steam tugs, and from the forest to the
finished product manufactures about
everything that can be made from
wood.
It is incorporated under the laws OF
North Carolina, with a stated capital
OF 100000, but has surplus Of $780,
900. All the stock is owned by Mr.
Draining and the Church estate in
New York. The late Mr. Church be-
came famous through mis- Arm and
Hammer Brand" of soda.
The plant was located at Edenton in
1888, but the mills were burned in 1892.
They were Immediately rebuilt and In
creased twenty per cent in size.
The company employs about 500 OF
more men, of whom 300 are employed
in Edenton. Tt owns three electric
light plants and it's own telephone sys-
tenn.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

South is here situated, it's hungry saws
consuming 10000 feet of lumber ca
cry day.
A great deal of lumber is lowed to
this point, where it is placed on Nor
folk and Southern cars and shipped
North.
This industry supports a large and
increasing population.
The lands around Edenton are adj
mirabIy adapted to truck farming,
and all kinds of vegetables here grow
to perfection and come to maturity In
time to bring high prices in the mar
kets of the North. This industry, al
ready large. is only in its beginning,
and is likely to become one of tho
largest industries and most profitable
occupations that are afforded man IN
this favored Southern section.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

and James Iredell. Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court OF the United
States. This eminent jurist, the most
distinguished that North Carolina ever
claimed as a son, was born in Lewes,
England, came to this country and
made Edenton his home and the people
of the Albemarle section his clients.
His library. in many respects one OF
the most valuable in the United States,
is preserved in the annex to the man
zion at Hayes. 1t contains hundreds
of rare volumes of almost priceless
value and manuscripts of vast histori-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23
coURT soUARE EDENToN. NoRTH CAROLINA.

taxed to its utmost capacity TO keep
up with the demand for the fine North
Carolina lumber turned out.
The company owns "A large amount
of timbered land in BERTHE. Washing
ton and ChoWan counties There the
logs are cut and towed down the Eden
ton. where they are sawed into lumber.
Thirty men are constantly employed
in the logging camps and thirty more
are required TO operate the plant at
Edenton.
The plant not only turns out all
kinds of plain lumber, but manufac--
lures every variety of pea boxes,
truck boxes. fish boxes and almost
everything made from lumber. They
will be pleased to quote prices TO any
one interested in the matter Their
large and increasing trade in this line
is the best guarantee of the fine salts
faction that all their products give.
Nearly all the product of the mills
is shipped north, where it finds a ready
market. The company sells both to
commission merchants. and direct TO
the consumer.
The firm of d. w. Raper and Co, is
composed of Mr.. d. W. Raper, Of Eden
ton. and Mr.. w. A. Jackson. a prom
inent business man of Norfolk, Va.
Mr.. Raper gives his personal supervi-
sion to every detail of the large enter
prise. His watchful eye is everywhere
and the success the enterprise has at
tanned is due entirely TO him. He is
genial gentleman and a fine business
man. He is a native OF Pasquotank
county, and was born in 1860. At
twenty one years of age he began the
lumber business in Norfolk county, and
has been in it ever since. For twelve
years he has done business in Chowan
county. Five years ago he organized
the ID. w. Raper Co., and established
the mills at Edenton He was mar
ried to Miss Coffield. of Chowan coun-
ty. in 1855. and has pleasant home
in Edenton. and runs a successful farm
five miles from the town.
The Raper company is forging ahead
year by year, and its prosperity grows
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

edge of Court Square and facing the
waters of beautiful Edenton Bay. The
table is well supplied with oil the sta
plies and delicacies Of the region, and
MIR. f. A. White, the proprietor makes
il indeed a home for the tired travel
Ter. It is a pleasure to stop here alike
for the commercial traveller and the
seeker after pleasure and recreation.
Here are some OF thefnestspecimen
Of old English and Colonial arohitec~
ture to be found in the South. One Of
the finest specimens of residential
architecture is the mansion Page"
n picture of which is presented on this
page. Messrs. G. S. Vann and Ernest
l.. Woodland are the owners OF this
property, and it is now for sale 1t il
pure Colonial in style, and is one of the
handsomest private residences in the
State.
THE BRANNTNG MANUFACTURING
COMPANY.
The largest saw-mills in tho South
are located at Edenton. The Branning
Manufacturing Company covers
enough ground and employs enough
workmen to be city in itself
The two large mills OF this company
are located directly on the line Of the
Norfolk and Southern railroad, and
they front on the waters OF the bay.
Quick transportation for the product
of the mills is offered both by land
and water.
These mills cover many acres Oh
ground, and the whirring bands and
whirling saws make loud music that
tells of tireless industry.
Mr.. j. w Branning, the president
treasurer and general manager of this
vast business enterprise, is one Of the
highest types of the modern
business man. OF fine ply
sique. brig Drained, broad-mind-
ed. and possessing the highest ex-
ecutive ability, he would have made
a success OF any occupation he might
have chosen. He is a successful man
in the best sense of the word, man
who has achieved success because he
deserved it and fairly won it,
Mr.. Branning was born in Sullivan
county, New York, in 1847, and is now
in the very prime of life, a fine speci-
men of physical and mental manhood.
At twenty years OF age he left his
native county, and went to Philadel-
phia4 engaging in the lumber business.
He became associated with Mr. Stan
ton in the firm of Stanton & Draining,
at Camden, New Jersey, just across
the river from the Quaker City" and
there spent eight successful years.
Later he came to North Carolina, and
for two years carried on large lum-
Der business on his own account at q
location on Pamlco sound The Bran
ming Manufacturing Company was
formed in 1888, the principal plant be-
ing located on it's present site at Eden
ton. Since that time it has had one Of
the steadiest and most successful ca
reers of any business enterprise in the
country. The mills have grown 70
immense size. the enormous interests
of the concern have increased year by
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

churches of it's style in the State.
There are four churches for colored
people.
The city governments of Edenton is
excellent, and the taxes are as low as
they are in amy town of like size in
America.
Mr. C. S. Vann, the mayor, is q lead
ing lawyer a member of the firm OF
Pruden, Vann & Pruden. He was born
in 1857, in Hartford county, and after
graduating at Wake Forest College in
1879. studied law at Dick q billiards.
school, Greensboro, and began to prac-
tice at Edenton in 1880.
In 1884 he came to Edenton and aSso-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

tHS largest Mills III tllt fltilC oOutll'
cal interest. This old library is
treasure-house for the hunter of his
tory.
Almost every square in Edenton and
every mile of the country surrounding
has attached to it some history or ie-
gend, and to merely catalogue the long
| list would make list too extended for
this limited paper.
The first thing that impresses the
mind of visitor to Edenton is it's re-
markable beauty, a beauty of nature
upon which is founded the town, the
handi-work of man.
THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
Edenton is situated on Edenton Bay,
beautiful sheet of water that is let
in from Albemarle Sound 1t is the
centre of the largest fishing district in
the world.
The waters OF the Albemarle TEEN
with shad, rock and herring and a hun
dred other varieties of the finest fish
on earth The great steam seines and
the hundreds of pound nets drag them
out by the ten thousand, but they
seem to increase in miraculous multi
plication, enough to feed the peoples
of the earth.
This trade in fish is one of the great
staples of Edenton and the country it
depends on
Sturgeon fishing was first intro
duced by Capt. a. T. Cam, Della
ware fisherman. The catching OF
sturgeon and the preparation of caviar
form profitable industry that in
creases apace- The finest improved
Russian caviar that the epicure ever
tasted comes from this section.
The waists forests of long leaf pine
and juniper afford the finest timber
that goes to the Northern markets,
and this timber supply seems almost
inexhaustible. The cutting, saving
and marketing of this timber gives en-
ployment to thousands of laborers all
through this section. The busy hum
of the saw is heard on every hand, and
| the undertaken schooner and timber
loaded train are hourly sights.
| Edenton is a timber centre, one OF
the largest in a section that is be-
coming famous by reason of the in
dustry.
The largest single lumber mill in the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

ated himself with w. d. Pruden in the
practice of his profession. He was
married in 1885 to Miss Pendleton, of
Edenton, and has one beautiful little
daughter. He has been chairman of the
County Democratic Executive COM
mittee several years, a delegate TO va
rious Democratic conventions, and
treasurer of the county.
The town commissioners are w. Is.
Shepard, j n Woodland, Robert Blount
and Isaac Blount, colored.
The business men of Edenton are
live, progressive and are constantly
reaching out for trade, and extending
their territory.
The two hotels, the Hotel Woodland,
and the Bay View House, are both
excellent. The Bay View has an excel
cellent location. situated just at the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

OLD "CUPOLA HOUSE"
Famous in the History of the Colony.
and its trade increases as the days go
by. And Mr.. Raper richly deserves the
success he has won.
Edenton has a great historic past.
IT has a prosperous and vigorous pre-
sent. And the future that opens out
before the town is full of all the good
things that a great. section developed
into fullest prosperity can bring. For
when the outside world knows of this
section, the world will desire it, and
will come.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17
-as go sse.-=ALtss.szzz$-
AGARMoF0g
aSs 7ND GARDEN
SECOND GROWTH OF CLOVER.
1t Makes Hay of Fine Quality - Glover
Seed Profitable Crop.

Seed Profitable Crop.
No part of the growth of clover is
more important for increasing soil fer
tility or more valuable for the farmer
than is that made during the latter part
of summer, after the first crop has been
removed. 1t is always less in bulk than
the first crop, but the hay made is of
finer quality and has greater nutritive
value than the first in proportion to its
weight. The fact that there is progress
i've development of the clover plant dur
ing the entire season shows the mistake
of farmers i'll olden times in blowing
under clover i'll June for wheat There
is an immense increase in clover roots
during the second growth. 1t is at this
time, too, that the greatest number of
the nodules are formed on clover roots
by means of which the air in the soil is
decomposed and its nitrogen is made
available.
Growing clover seed is made one of
the most profitable crops that the farmer
can produce. 1t always follows a crop
of clover grown for hay, which of itself
pays the use Of the land, leaving the
clover seed and the extra hay crop as
cleor nrof;t The clover sood srattored
in horvoetino i Inv M means lost II ra.
mains in the soil FOR vears and as snc-
ceee;vo e+ra+o arc broncht totbc surface
nv tho nlo,v il will increase the chances
If n GOOD clover cotch This second
growth does not always seed we'll. The
farmer ran soon know how This ;s nv
going into tbc field and examining the
heads viold Of six ar oicht seeds nor
head will rive a fair crcn If much less
Than This tho clover shonl, bo emf earlier
and made into hov Tine earlier the hav
is made tbo bctt,r will Inc tEo chances
for getting if in without n,uch staining
The bov should ba cnrod in the cock for
II will tnrn bIacl, if exnosed to rains
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

At the Iowa station the following
conclusions have been made: G) Cot
tonseed meal is fatal to hogs when fed
in sufficient quantity, the total amount
required to prove fatal being i'll this case
from ~ to 33 pounds per hog. (2) Cot
tonseed meal added to IA corn and cob
meal ration for hogs materially increas-
ed and cheapened the gains over corn
and cob meal alone. CD Cut clover hay
added to II corn and cob meal ration and
soaked 10 hours before feeding gave no
advantage in gain over corn and cob
meal alone. No injury was sustained by
the hogs running II weeks with cattle
consuming to z pounds Of cottonseed
meal daily.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

In report sent out from the Cornell
IN. Y. station it is told that Mr.. Raw
son, one of Massachusetts progressive
farmers, now uses the electric light in
the commercial forcing of lettuce. He
has three lamps of 1900 candle power
each, which run all night. The hot
house covers nearly One-third of an acre.
Mr.. RawsOn finds that he obtains gain
of five days per crop during the winter,
which makes Il gain of three weeks for
the three crops during the winter. The
gain from one crop he estimates as sufti-
cient to pay the expenses of operating
the electric light during the whole sea-
son. Professor Bailey's experiments at
Cornell confirm those of Mr.. RawsOn,
as he states he finds many plants grow
more rapidly when under the influence
of the electric light at night.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17
A Rabbit Farm.

Near the village of Farmer, N. Y, is
rabbit farm that depends on New
York city for a market According to
the Ovid Independent there is an in
closure about 200 feet square, along one
side of which are pens where the rabbits
live and dig their burrows. They seem
to have some social law, as the same
burrOw is kept by one family and trans
mitted from parents to children, being
enlarged as the family increases. The
life of rabbit is from four to five years.
The grown rabbits are allowed the free
dom of the Enclosure, but the young are
kept out of the reach of the old males
which sometimes kill them. The cost of
keeping is slight, as the rabbits subsist
on grass and water, with oats twice "A
week for dessert Besides the common
rabbit, there are on the farm German
and Belgian hares.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17
News and Notes.

Figures furnished by the department
of agriculture indicate large falling
off in the value Of agricultural exports
for 1888 as compared with preceding
years.
1t is stated on excellent authority
that it is possible, as long as the potato
plants retained vitality, to perfectly
control the blight by proper use of the
bordeaux mixture.
Corn should be put i'll the silo after
the grain is glazed, before there is much
drying of the leaves or stalk.
Oil of tar, mixed half and half with
cottonseed oil or inseed oil, is very re-
pellant to flies, mosquitoes, etc.
A car of watermelons is supposed to
be 1000 melons, but when the melons
run small it is possible to get l, 100 or
1900 melons in a car
Pampas grass is, properly speaking, a
grpss which covers the pampas of South
America, but it is now cultivated all
over California for the sake of its
plumes, which are sold by florists for
room decoration.
Nut culture promises to be recog-
nized industry in this country within a
few years. Many groves of chestnuts
have been started, and along the Pacific
coast filbert culture is being considered.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

Bursting of the heads will often fol-
low sudden stimulation of the plants
after period Of relatively slow growth
e. g., stirring the soil while the heads
are forming, after period of neglect,
or a heavy rain after a long drought. a
preventive suggested by Rural New
Yorker is to give frequent but shallow
cultivation and keep the plants grow
ing as uniformly as possible. If the
heads are completely formed before the
close of the growing season. partially
pulling the roots from the ground will
check the growth This may be done
rapidly and easily by means Of a potato
hook, pulling the cabbages over to one
side, thus loosening the roots on one
side
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

"Sire, quoth the chief of staff, the
amazons are assembling on the right
wing and evidently intend to turn our left
with a vigorous charge"
do you mean the amazonian wheel
corps?'
Yes, sire and they are n gallant sight.
Their wheels have al been renckeled, and
they have dunncd their new ashes of roses
bloomcrs for the first time. What shall
we do to avert the danger"
Order out the royal sprinkling carts -
Yes, sire.
Let them make the battle-ground in
front Of our lift wing as muddy as posi-
Bile"
Yes, sire
"Juet as soon as the charging amazons
in their new silk boomers strike that mud
they will whirl about and ride back as fast
as they can pedal
For what, sireY"
For their mud guards, stupid Then
If we advance rapidly enough to surprise
them before they can get their helmets on
straight the day is ours"
And it was even so. Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

Strawberry growers i'll southern New
Jersey are having a lesson now in straw
berry growing. The crop is a failure.
Some say it is because of the wcevil !;
others ascribe it to a fungOus growth,
while few think it is due to the sud
den changes from the long continued
cold to unusual heat and to cold again,
this being the weather that made their
spring. The Philadelphia Ledger quotes
Mr.. Eli Minch, Shiloh, as saying that
the disease appears to be a kind of
blight, somewhat resembling winter
kill. 1t appears first on the leaf stem
near the plant-this turning black, the
leaves becoming of sickly color. The
disease spreads to the crown; then to the
roots. which soon rot. The disease will
be likely to spread through the state UNI
less the growers everywhere turn to and
spray with the bordeaux. This will
check the disease, and, what is of more
importance, will prevent it.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

each class to be found, and common
place. much less inferior, receive no at
tention either from the visitors or the
committee. There is now plenty of
time to make your plans to have good
exhibit in your special line and you
should see to it that YOU attend to this
matter without further delay, for after
hayiug it is TOO late
In recent interview. Orrin a. llickok
said: "There are brighter prospects for
the trotting horse industry today than
there has been during the past three
years. Breeders who have sent their
horses to the forced sales in New York
and elsewhere will realize this before long,
for demand for frst.class trotters will
he increasing, and the supply is not to he
had. New markets are springing up in
all parts of the world, and inside of five
years the taste of the English for horses
with plenty of action without tails or
speed will change. and the breeders
there who nave been successful in breed
ing race horses will try TO raise horses
that will give the American breeders all
they can do 10 beat them