The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-05


acter of the buildings erected, for both
business houses and private residences,
are fashioned after more modern styles
Of architecture and of greater value
and durability.
Tie business interests Of the town
are great. Henderson is market for
a large section Of surrounding country,
and about 12,000,000 pounds of tobacco
besides large quantities Of cotton, grain
and other country produce, are sold
here annually. Tobacco rs the principal
crop, and the growth of this industry
alone has been almost phenomenal.
There are four large and we'll APP
pointed warehouses for the sale of leaf
tobacco, in each of which are held
daily sales, and between fifty and sixty
regular buyers. On every hand, in
different quarters Of the town, are To
be found immense structures devoted
to the handling and storing of this
great staple. There are four large
stemmeries in which strips" are pre-
pared for foreign export as well as
local demand. The principal re-drying
and stemming business of the Allen &
| Ginter Branch of the American To-
While i'm its truest sense Henderson
is tobacco town" and owes it's
growth and prosperity TO its impor-
tance as a leaf market, it's interests
are by no means confined to that in
dustry alone. The mercantile and
manufacturing interests have been
carefully looked after and kept
| abreast with the spirit of improvement
that has at all times marked it's pro-
gress and development as one of the
leading and most important bright to-
bacco markets Of North Carolina.
1t has a splendid system of water
works; electric light plant furnishing
| both arc and incandescent lighting
for streets and buildings; telephone
exchange which gives perfect service,
and a S125,000 cotton mill which viii
| soon be ready to commence opera
tions. These enterprises the town is
/ justly proud Of, and which are but
/ the foundation for others TO be built
upon.
/ Henderson boasts number Of fine
/ business blocks of brick that would do
credit to city Of rs, 900 inhabitants. 1t
/ has one of the largest and handsomest
| theatrical halls in the State; many
| large and handsome stores two news
papers; two JOB printing offices; bank
with ample capital; two sash and blind
/ Histories; planning mills; carriage and
wagon works; iron foundry and pillow
factory: two smoking tobacco facto-
ries; three livery sales stables; two
vegetable canning factories; bakery
and candy factory; photograph gal
lery; woodworking establishments;
/ blacksmith shops; bottling establish
ment; cotton gins; good hotel; board
ing houses, etc.
| In brief, Henderson has upwards of
fifty business houses, stores Of one
kind or another, and a hundred other
things and enterprises which go to
make up q live, progressive, modern
| little city. 10 has the advantages Of
excellent natural drainage, pure drink
ing water, healthy location, delightful
climate, and d refined, generous and
hospitable people, ever ready to well
come the stranger within their gates.
There are five churches, all protest
ant, viz: Methodist Episcopal, Meth
odist Protestant, Baptist, Presbyterian
and Episcopal; all nice houses of wor-
ship, with large membership. An ex-
cellent male school, female seminary
and number Of primary schools af-
ford ample facilities for the proper
and careful training of the minds of
the youth. Thus it viii be seen that
both the religious and educational i'm
terests Of the town and community are
well provided for.
The colored people have their own
churches and schools, and as a class are
intelligent, prosperous and good citi-
zens. They have splendid college,
with ample and expensive buildings,
under the auspices of the Northern