The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-05-07
NORTH CAROLINA.
A Large and Prosperous Town,
BEAUTIFULLY Expanding into Metro
Dolitan Promotions.

BEAUTIFULLY Expanding into Metro
politan Proportions.
We take the following interesting
facts about Henderson from the last
number of .Sahmagundi, the official
publication of the Seaboard Air Line.
1t was written by the editor Mr.. Stan
ley G. Fowler, who recently visited
our town for the purpose:
Henderson,, in Vance county, is one OF
the most important Of the large towns
on the Seaboard Air Line. Its present
population is estimated at over $500,
showing a rapid increase during the
past year. Its business interests are re-
spending generously to the stimulus OF
immigration with capital and industry.
II is the place from which Il branch of
the SeabOard DIVORCES through the fam
GUS golden leaf tobacco belt to Durham,
where some of the largest manufactures
in the world of smoking and cigarette
tobacco are conferred. Henderson is the
second largest tobacco market winston
being the frst in the State, and handles
1O,OOO,OOO of pounds yearly. The
American Tobacco Co. alone have four
large buildings here, in which hundreds
OF men, women and girls are employed
stripping the leaf, which is shipped to its
factories. Even the bare stems are
punched and exported chiefly to Bre-
men, where they are sorted over, chopped
and ground for the cheaper grades OF
smoking tobacco.
Among recent enterprises in whose es-
Enlistment resident citizens feel iusti-
fable pride is the completion of a cotton
| mill which cost, with it's machinery (near-
~ all OF it in place., in round figures
$125,OOO. This mill will commence OPP
erations early next June, and afford a
profitable market for large tributary
area devoted to the raising of cotton.
Growers of this staple are much pleased
with the prospect, and will plant and
cultivate cotton with more confidence
| than ever before.
One of the most popular dining sta
tons on the Seaboard Air Line is the
Massenburg Hotel, only few rods dis
| tant, known far and near for the eff
cheney Of its service and superiority of
| it's meals. One feature of the table is the
| delicious wine made from the Scupper-
nOng grape, noteworthy for it's rarity
among patrons from the north, and its
really nutritious as well at palatable
qualities. The rooms of the hosiery
are large, pleasantly furnished, and the
! bedding all that the fastidious could
wish Everything within and about the
premises is kept scrupuiously sweet and
clean. The proprietor previous to his
taking charge of this place (Which he has
conducted for seven years. was manager
for a similar period OF Il hotel at Frank
| linton.
But the hungry passenger who dill
gently devOtes his allotted twenty min
utes to filling up that vacuum which ma
ture abhors about nOontime, sees little
of Henderson, and is perhaps not very
favorably impressed by what he does
see in the near vicinity. An agreeable
surprise awaits the traveller who stays
ovcra few hours or all night for the next
train. William street (alOng the rail-
way track extends a mile Or more north
and south, and on it are situated some
very prettily ornamented grounds and
private residences. Garnett, the next
running parallel to it, is the principal
| business street. Here is witnessed daily
more than ordinary activity in all
branches of trade. The past year of 1895
was an exceptionally good one for mer-
chants as well as those dealing in agri-
cultural implements, and they are more
| than satisfied with the magnitude and
profit of their sales.
The majority of homes and private
residence properties, however, are To-
Gated on the streets which intersect the
main thorOughfare at right angles,
and run east and west a considerable
distance into the open ad AGENT cOun-
try. These dwellings,, interspersed with
schools and churches, have pleasant
lawns and gardens, and are made at
tractive with flowers, shrubbery and
ornamental vines. A great deal of land
in the vicinity of Henderson is under cul-
tivation and every year this area is
enlarged. The land has gently undu-
Iating surface. Some of it is used for
pasturing and truck, but the leading
products are tobacco, cotton and corn
Between Henderson and Durham there
is a great stretch of land as yet in its al
most primitive condition which could be
purchased and made very productive at
a comparatively small expense. There
is no reason why the entire acreage be-
tween these two points cannot be con.
verted within a few years into continu-
|
comparably the finest leaf for smoking
in the world. When that stage of deveI,
opment is reached, Henderson will rate
as city of the first class with $4,000
or more inhabitants.
Vance county is distinguished for the
purity of its water and numerous miner.
al springs. Among the latter, however
| doc, cd n,,hn to
i'll the esteem OF medical men and the
public than what is called the "Star AL
kalne Water owned by Major. J. f.
Harris, whose place is situated in the
very heart of the city and presents q
very inviting aspect.
The source OF supply is an ordinary
well in his back yard, the "old oaken
bucket still serving as the means for
raising the fluid to the surface. The
value of this water forced itsel: on public
attention gradually, by reason of its SUI
periOr tonic, curative and remedial eff
fccts in cases of chronic dyspepsia, indi
gestion and especially diseases peculiar
to the liver and kidneys. SO surprising
wee the results accomplished by its ust
in the immediate neighborhood, tina,
samples OF the water were sent to the
eminent chemist, Prof. H. B. Battle, O
Raleigh, for analysis. His scientific tests
confirmed the high opinions entertained
OF its value as Il medical agent, to which
It subsequent analysis by Prof j. H
Mallet, of the University of Virginia
gave additional authority. No speca
efforts as yet have been made to adver
tise this water to the world, but if "tht
proof of the pudding is in the eating
there are scores and hundreds of citizens
in Henderson who will gladly testify tC
: its efficacy: and who consider it almos
as essential to health as their daily
food.
Major Harris is himself a living ex
ample of its renovating and sustainin.
virtues. No one would believe to lool
at him, that he was seventy-eight year
old: lie is handsome, hale. vigorous
and apparently still in the very you'll
OF old age which DR.. Holmes fixed a
fifty years or Whereabouts. His chief re
creation is To take q % milo fro,np Wit !