The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-17

4
| Washington can hardly be called an
! industrial town; yet in addition to those
/ already mentioned there are other in
| dustries that should be known. Besides
| the lumber mills, there are the Moss
planning Mill and the Washington Plan
| ing Mills that plane the lumber and
do any kind Of turning work.
The Crystal lee Company finds n
steady business in supplying the fish
houses Mr.. IL. I. Stewart owns a
| well-equipped machine shop and foun-
dry Jonathan Ravens grist mill sells
meal over a wide territory. There are
two carriage shops, that of Ed. Long
and THAT of Miles 4 Corey. and Il mar
hle-yard owned by Il. #. Sugg & Son.
The two ship-yards. operated by #. II.
r. Myers and ]. A. Farrow, are always
rushed with work. During the past
year. the latter has built eight large
freight barges
Sunday was great day here. The
up-countly folks. who visited the
wharves, were surprised at the hand
some steamers that brought the people
here TO attend Conference. There Were
not less than twenty-five Of these steam
ers-great and small-loaded with PEG.
pie. The traffic uT and down the river
and sound that can support these steam
ers must he large. | was told that the
trade and commerce of this place require
43 steam craft and 30 barges and a
large fleet OF sailing vessels.
| had always supposed that this town
was named Tor 1.-The father of his conn-
try" until today when DR. J. NJ. Gal
lagher the keeps the drug store estab-
lished by his father in the fortress told
me that it was named for native
whose grave can be seen at the foot
of Main street.
Growing tobacco is new industry in
this section. Washington has TWO large
and commodioIs warehouses for the sale
of leaf tobacco Though the market is
vet young, there is the certain promise
of great things.
1t is believed here that the Norfolk.
Newbern and Wilmington railroad will
ne completed to Norfolk and will pass
through here, making a true coast line
road. The only gap from Columbia, S.
c., to Norfolk, Va, is so miles.
There is one thing about this place that
distinguishes it in a way that ought to be
emphasized. 1T is the spirit of courtesy
of the people. They take delight in ex-
tending courtesies to strangers and WISH
tors 1t is universal and permeates pub
lie. railway, and corporation officials. A
striking example that came under my
observation was the courteous treatment
| received from MIR. Il. j. Hocutt. man
ager of the Western Union Telegraph
Company and agent eff the Southern Elk
press Company. In some places know
the telegraph operator seems to feel that
he condescends to accept a telegram from
You and that he owes no duty to expe-
dite business or give information. | had
business every day during my stay with
Mr.. Hocutt. and it was pleasure to do
business with gentleman who showed
me so many courtesies.
The people here are deeply interested in
the passage of the constitutional amend
ment. They have had taste of Re-
pop-li-can and Republican rule, and want
no more Of it, The business men are
desirious of conditions that put business
in such a position that it cannot be put
in jeopardy by negro rule. They want
a political situation that win take the
sword of bad government always over
their heads away forever. This is not
only true of this county, but also of the
surrounding counties. Il hope" said a
prominent Citizen that the amendment
will carry for / dread another cam
paign like the last one through which we
passed. We want peace, Some folks tell
me that if the amendment carries, the
Republican party will win. | do not
believe it, but if it il a white party /
prefer to risk Republican rule to the
dangers that we know confront rs now
under Republican success Anything is
preferable to that"
No campaign has been made here
yet about the amendment, but the people
are beginning to talk it. The Republi-
can bosses and Pritchard Populists
are telling the people here the same lies
they are telling them i'm other parts of
the State-that it will disfranchise white
folks and the like. One man here, who
mingles freely with all classes. says that
at present the rank and file of the voters
are having little to say about the amend
ment, and because they are not talking
the antlS 1nlnk That tney nave their
ear, but he added, when the lines
are drawn the Democratic voters will be
solidly in line. You can't fool Beau
fort county Democrat into believing that
the Democrats will disfranchise a sin-
gle white man, and they want as many
negroes DISTINGUISHED as possible. They
are of the true sort who will not only
vote for the amendment, but do so
gladly
The Democrats are in control here.
Mr.. w. NJ. Chauncey is mayor and UNI
der his wise administration the streets
are being made as good as asphalt streets
by the use of oyster shells. Second street,
macadamized fso to speak, with oyster
shells, is as fine a street for driving
as you will find anywhere. "A contract
has been made thus to pave all the
streets. The county is also in Demo-
cratic hands. From 1894 to 1893, the
Fusionists had the court house with the
exception Of the sheriff They couldn't
defeat Sheriff Hodges, who has been
high sheriff of Beaufort so long that the
people wouldn't think it was court week
q IN, n, -,