The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-17
NE 7ROPOL|S OF
THE PAML|CO
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE

mention lust il few of the many excel
lent business houses; hut there are three
that should be alluded to. The firm of
:. r. Fowle a. Son was established in
the early Part of the century and has
had large and successful career in
general merchandise. In the palmy days
OF WaShington's shipping "befo dc
wah." they sailed several vessels be-
tween the West Indies and this port:
and they still run oRe importing West
Indian products. II. Peterson Company
is large Wholesale grocery firm--ex-
clusively wholesale, They have com
modious store ON the waterfront. and
keep salesman constantly ON the road,
travelling the Eastern counties n. s.
Fulford Hardware Company, is both re-
tail and wholesale; they sell All kinds
of hardware, leather goods, mill sup
plies, etc. and do IN immense volume
OF business. They employ travelling
salesman and cover a large territory.
Washington enjoys exceptional trans
porta,ion advantages, having that by
water in addition TO that by rail. 1t is
the water transportation that makes the
freight raes lower than at any other
North Carolina point. and enables the
merchants to lindersel competitors in
other places. The Old Dominion Steam
ship Company runs steamers up Tar
River to Greenvilie and Tarboro, and
down the river to Bell Haven, where
they connect with the Norfolk and
Southern Railroad and others of their
boats. Then there is another line Of
up-riyer boats that on account of their
lighter draught can reach higher points.
a very important factor in Washing
tons present prosperity and future pro-
gress is the system of graded schools,
maintained by a special town tax These
schools were established two years ago,
but an adverse decision of the court up
set the tax and postponed their opera
tion until this year. The chairman is
Congressman j H. Small, who led in the
fight for the establishment of the
schools: and on the board are two of
the largest property-holders, which show
how that class of citizens regard them.
The schools are under the mama cement
of Superintendent Harry Howell and
thirteen teachers; they have enrolled $50
pupils. Already the material benefit to be
derived from such an institution is
seen in the large number of families
that have moved into the town so as
TO place their children in the schools.
Prof. Howell is justly held in high es-
TEEN as a man and an educator. 1t
may be truly said that no graded school
in the State has a better faculty The
school buildings are being enlarged to
meet the needs of the growing popula-
ton.
Transportation facilities here are of the
best The Atlantic Coast Line runs two
trains to Washington and out of Wash
ington daily, giving close connection to
the North. This road has done wonders
in the development of the trucking and
lumber interests Of all this section of
country by its network of railroads
which honeycomb all this section with
Parnlee as the hub. 1t has given new
life to Washington. The shippers here
have every advantage, having the choice
of three routes, either all rail by the At
lantic Coast Line, by steamer land a
fine line makes two trips daily to Bel
haven and then over to Norfolk and
Southern road to Norfolk, or by the fine
line of steamers and railway vessels TO
Northern ard Southern points. This
water competition in freight rates is
great factor in Washington's develop
anent, and now that it is reaching out.
it viii help TO EXPAND that trade.
This has always BEEN the home of
strong and able bar, and its public men
have from its earliest settlement ranked
with the States greatest leaders 1t
is the home of ex- Chief Justice Shepherd.
Hon. George Fl. Brown. Superior Court
Judge, and Hon. John Fl. Small-three
of the States first men. There is hered-
ity in legal brains here. as is seen N
the TACT that two of the leaders of the
Washington bar are sons Of great law
yers-Hon. Charles f. Warren, son of
Judge Warren. one of the biggest men
the State has known. and Col W. Il. Rod
man. son of Judge Rodman, who as SUI
preme Court Judge showed his great
ability. These sons are worthy Of their
sires. The younger members of the bar
promise worthily to wear the mantle of
the men who have made the Washing
ton bar famous for hundred years.
Washington is about the only large
town in the cotton country that has
no cotton mill. While other towns have
been building cotton mills. Washington
capital has been employed in the lumber
business and other interests that have
given employment TO many. The lum-
her interests are so profitable and active
now that capitalists see bigger profits in
lumber than in cotton mills. but the time
will come when lumber will grow scarce.
Far-seeing business men see this and
movement is now ON foot to organize
company with capital of S200,0o0 to
build Il cotton mill. Some parties have
been in correspondence with Northern
firm controlling a million of dollars who
wish to invest from one to two hundred
thousand Local capital is fully alive
TO the wisdom and even the necessity OF
n cotton mill, and will not allow tie OPP
g,ortunity to slip. E'oreigri capital is al
ready largely interested in Washington.
The most recent investment II that Of
some Boston men in the Washington
mlaning mill They work not only with
nine. but the hard woods as well. The
business advantages of the town are 50
great that they are bound to be rec
ognized. and the place undoubtedly has
ahead a great industrial life.
The fish and oyster business Of Wash
ington is one of its large items. There
. Il, Is