davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

One Of the neatest drug stores in this
section of the State is the Standard
Drug Company, ON Depot street.
About twenty general stores enjoy a
large trade.
Two graded schools running ten months
year. six churches with good member
ship.
The Courier. published weekly, is one
of the best political papers in this Sec
ton of the State with a circulation OF
over 1000 There is also a Republican
paper published here.
Among the senior members of the bar
are found Messrs. Robbins and Blair. The
younger element is composed of Hammer,
Britain. Sapp and Hammond. 1t has
been said there is not q stronger bar In
the State.
The outlook for 1900 is very good in
every line of business.
Historic Asbeboro. beautifully situated
as it is, on a high plateau in Piedmont,
North Carolina, and inhabited by pa
triotic citizens is one of the most lovely
little towns in the country-being the
home Of Governor Worth, Colonel Bulla
and the present solicitor for the Eighth
Judicial district, Willy Rush, besides
many other distinguished North Caro-
linians.
1t is with pride that we point to our
historical and progressive town.
NJ. O. HAMMOND,
Mayor.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
LEXINGTON.
A Steady and Substantial Improve
ment.

Lexington, n. c., Dec. 81, 1899.
To the Editor: In reply to your in
curry of recent date, / will state that
while there has been no boom in any
lire of business in Lexington, there has
nevertheless been a steady and substan-
tial improvement along all lines. The
cotton mills, flour mills, Shops, sash and
blind works, furniture factory and wood
finishing factories have all had a pros
porous year, and have turned out more
work than during any year of the last
decade
1t is impossible to get the exact amount
of capital invested in the various enter
prises at this point According to the
hest estimates we can get tneee was
about $150,000 invested mere ID the vi
rious enterprises in 1890. To-Day, 'ar-
nary |. 1900, there is about S23tt q IN
vested in these manufacturing stablish-
ments. Many OF the old factories have
been enlarged, and the outlook for the Oh
suing year is fairly encouraging. Ihe
school at this place and tn. public schools
of community have been well attended
this writer. The people seem 10 be in
terested in education and contribute NIB
orally to the support Of the same.
JOHN II. MOVER, Mayor.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

| best of such institutions, and already
| lrawing large patronage from the
town and the tributary country.
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR 1900.
The prospect for next year is a bright
one. The city authorities and the cot
ton mills have entered into an agree
ment with the Cape Fear Electric
Power Company to take some 1000
horse-power--for re-establishiDg. and on
a large scale, the electric lighting OF
the streets, and for driving the mill
machinery. 1t is understood that this
new motive power will be ready for use
by June, 1900, when the possibilities in
the way of establishing, cheaply. all
manner of industries, seem boundless.
Besides this, our excellent Congress
man, Mr.. Thomas, at the request OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, has introduced
bills for the creation Of q three-foot-
deep channel for steamboats, between
Fayetteville and Wilmington, through
out the year: and for the re-establish-
ment of the great arsenal Of conStFuc-
lion and storage which General Sher-
man so foolishly destroyed in 1865. An
other bank and ether tobacco ware
houses are also Ill prospect, besides
more cotton and silk mills, and Il bleach
cry to take advantage of the exception
ally fine water supplied by the sand
hill creeks that enter the town.
no LONGER HEWERS OF WOOD
AND DRAWERS OF WATER.
1t is interesting to make note of the
revolution taking place in the industries
of this section Illustrated by the intro
duction here of the manufacture OF
silk, the most expensive of the textiles.
Between 1885 and 1910, Fayetteville
was the center of the ''Morum Multi
caulis" mania. which had for It's object
the raising of silk worms and the export
of the cocoons. After the lapse of
three-score years, we have so far emer-
ged from the modest ambition to export
the raw material Of that luxury, that
we are importing it and converting 1t
into the finished product on the very
spot where then the mulberry trees, the
rawest of its raw material, We're grown.
The trucking industry continues to
grow; the farmers seem to have reaped
the full benefit of the enhanced price
of cotton, employing better methods year
by year and raising more food supplies;
and the cultivation of tobacco, a new
industry, has proved to be great sue
cess.
Besides the cotton mills in the town.
those nearby at Hope Mills, Beaver
Creek and Manchester, are all doing
well--the Hope Mills Company having
recently re-stocked with the latest makes
Of machinery the Cumberland and the
Bluff Mills on Beaver Greek, which
properties they had purchased within
the year. At both the Hope Mills facto-
ries very handsome dress goods are
made probably of a higher grade than
elsewhere in the South.
The year closes with brighter pros
poets and more hopeful feelings than this
community has known since the entry of
Sherlnan's army at the close OF the war
Of 81. Several new railways are sale
to be headed this way; new businesses
are constantly being added, and even
the most conservative observers admit
that we are on the high road to be-
coming great manufacturing as well
as a considerable wholesale centre.
e. j. HALE.
Editor Of Observer.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
WAKE FOREST.
A New Cotton Factory and Canning
Plant to be Built.

Wake Forest, \. c., Dec. 81, 1899.
To the Editor: Replying to your let
ter of recent date l am pleased to re-
port marked progress for Wake Forest.
i. In 1890 we had about $1,000 invest
cd in manufacturing; now we have 49,
000.
2. During the year 1899 the Royal
Cotton Mills have been incorporated.
More than 100000 has been subscribed
to the capital stock of this enterprise,
which was Incorporated on October 2,
1899. Mr.. c. r. Makepeace, of Provi-
dence, r. l., one of the highest authori-
ties ON mill architecture in the United
States, has been employed as engineer
and architect. and the erection of build
ings will begin as early rs practicable
in 1900, under the superintendent Of
Mr.. J. D. Briggs, of Raleigh.
\ canning factory is also to be estab-
lished during the coming year with
capital stock of $4,000.
3. During the year about S13,500 has
been expended in the erection of new
buildings and in repairing houses already
built.
4. In Wake Forest College a new
Chair of Physics has been established
and several thousand dollars expended
in the purchase of new apparatus.
). During the coming year several inn
portant changes and improvements in
the college buildings are contemplated.
The business outlook for our town is
brighter than l have ever known it be-
fore. SOL j. ALLEN,
Mayor.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
SALISBURY.
Three Million Dollars Invested Since
1890.

To the Editor: Replying to your re-
quest relative to the industrial develop
ment and general progress of Salisbury
within the past few years, l am pleased
To furnish you with the following, rath-
en- hastily prepared and, i'll many par
ticulars. incomplete statement. For the
purposes of this article / shall include
the immediate suburbs of the city in
my estimates.
l. The population OF Salisbury IS
about $4,000 as against less than 5000
in 1890.
2. Capital invested in Salisbury and
vicinity along industrial lines since 1890
about as follows:
Cotton mills, 100000; Southern shops
and other railroad property, $5OO,OOO;
Union Copper Mining Company, $1,000
600; Whiteney Reduction Company,
$4,000; Dunn's Mountain Granite Com
pany Capitalized att $350,O0o; Cordage
Mill, Knitting Factory, Electropating
Works, roller mills, iron and wood
works. etc, etc, 100000. Added to this
numerous other industries which l have
not the space to particularize and the
grand total Of investments i'll manufac-
turing and other industrial branches
since 1880 Is approximately So,UUU,Ooo.
3. The amount Of wages paid by these
industries annually to their labor is
about as follows:
Cotton mills, $4,000; Southern shops,
S600,000; Union Copper Mine, 100000;
all other manufactures about, 100000;
grand total of $1,230,000.
4. The aggregate number of employees
at the various cotton mills is about
500; the Southern shops, 800; Union
Copper Mine, 600; Southern transfer
shed, 100; Granite works, 250; other in
dustries, 200; total, 2,450.
5. The total product of these indus
tries during the year from the best in
formation obtainable was about $780,
600.
6. There has been during the year 1899
between 100000 and 100000 expend-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
GREENSBORO.
Over 81, 100000 Invested in New Fac.
tories.
Greensboro, N. c., Dec. IS.

Greensboro, n. c., Dec. IS.
To the Editor: There was invested in
manufacturing enterprises in this city in
the year 1890 about the sum of 100000.
Today careful estimate discloses the
fact that $2,000,000.00 will not more
than cover the amount invested in the
various manufacturing enterprises which
are in actual operation.
The fact that during the year 1899
without any blare of trumpets, Green's
Iboro has had invested in the new indus
tries established and the old ones en-
larged, the sum of $1,040,O0O, tells the
story of our progress more forcibly than
any words could utter. The Proximity
Mills, to the establishment of which I'm
our city we are in large measure i'm
debted for the industrial stimulus which
has caused our rapid development, spent
during the year 1899 the sum of $780,
600 in the enlargement of its plant The
Revolution Cotton Mills, which has been
built during this year, and which is near
ing completion. represents an outlay of
100000. During the year there has been
erected Carpet Mill which is the only
plant in the South of its kind. The
Hunter Manufacturing Company, which
began the manufacture of pants and
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

John NJ. Hollis, and many other large
residences, these being especially hand
some ones.
A new foundry has also been estab-
lished, and several other industries too
numerous to be mentioned have been
successfully launched in our town this
year.
The new board OF town commissioners
have entered into the spirit of improve
ment, and have had Main street hand
somely macadamized, and will soon
greatly improve other streets. They
will also, at an early date. we under
stand. compel each property owner to
pave the sidewalk in front OF his build
ing. This will especially add much to
the appearance of our town. Wen, in
fact, Burlington lacks a lot Of being a
dead town, and when it is considered
that our town was so seriously injured
last spring by the smallpox epidemic
which cost us thousands of dollars, We
consider we make a good showing. AND
then the county is on boom. We pre-
diet that within the next year or so
several new factories will be built in the
county. Last week Mr.. j. A. Long, of
Graham, sold the old Austin Quarter
place to a Northern company, who will
erect a barge mill thereon and before
long the Seaboard Air Line will have its
extension from Chatham county running
up Haw River, and this will give us
competing rates, and then the music Of
the shuttle will be heard from one end of
the county to the other. Alamance is
a coming county, and Burlington is a
growing town.
To the capitalists we offer unlimited
resources and inducements, and we ex-
tend to them a reckoning hand. Come
to see us, and see what we are doing.
OGDEN +. CROWSON,
Editor News.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
s. II. LORD, Mayor.
Salisbury, n. c., Dec. "a. 1899.
CHARLOTTE,
It is Growing as Fast as it Ought to
Grow,

To the Editor: Charlotte is growing
as fast as she ought to. There is no
boom here, but a general Developments
along many lines. The macadamized
roads OF the county are a great stimulus
TO the country trade, and the develop
ment OF cotton manufacturing and other
industries is continually adding to the
growth and prosperity of the city.
The cotton mills of the city are run
ming ON full time, many Of them both
day and night. The pants factories, of
which there are five here, have all done
well the past year. The iron foun-
dries and machine shops have have all
the work they can do. The merchants
report trade good.
Charlotte's location with reference to
cotton mills has, however, done more to
add to her material welfare during the
past year than any other agency. This
viii be evident at a glance when it is
remembered that within a radius Of 100
miles Of Charlotte there are 300 cot
ton mills, operating 2,23S,451 spindles
and 62,3J5 looms, about 50 per cent
of all the spindles, and 81 per cent or
ALI the looms in operation in the South.
These facts explain Charlotte's wonder
full growth, and account for much Of her
material prosperity.
w. C. DOWD.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

ed in the erection of residences and bus
mess houses.
Z. Salisbury now has three banks, viz
Davis and Wiley. capital stock, $780,
900: First National, capitol stock, $780,
600; Salisbury Savings Bank, capital
stock, $4,000.
s. Our educational facilities are ex-
cellent. The public school for the whites
has recently been enlarged by the ad-
dtion of two rooms and is conducted
hy the superintendent assisted by
splendid corps of ten teachers. There Is
also largely attended and well-man-
aged public school for the colored race.
9. Salisbury is perhaps the most inn
portant railroad centre in the State. 1t
il, the Southern gateway to the West
and eighteen passenger trains stop here
daily. The Southern shops here are
the largest on the entire system and
the transfer depot is a scene of industry
by day and night. There all the freight
going South and West is consolidated
into carload lots
10. Salisbury has always possessed
natural advantages in location, drain
age and the Ike which protect it from
cpidemics of any consequence. The gen
eral health of the community is excel
lent, andsour city is destined to become
famous as health resort. There are
two finely equipped sanatariums here
the Whitehead-StOkes Sanatarium and
the Walter George Newman, Jr., Hos
pital The latter will he located as soon
as the building is completed III S0O,-
coo structure built especially for tine
purpose.
II All religious denominations are
represented here and the moral tone OF
the community is high.
u. The city has one Of the most ex-
cellent systems OF water-works III the
State and the aldermen are now nego-
tiating with its owners with view
of purchasing the system. The city IS
enlendidly lighted with a frst-class sys-
tenn Of electric lights and the contract
for q system of sewerage will shortly
be let. Our streets are being improved
and numerous other progressive features
are being attended to. But while this
is being done our tax rate. which has
always been low by comparison with
that of other cities, has this year been
reduced.
You asked me what the prospects are
for Salisbury in 1900. If the past year
is to serve as a guide to my Judgment, l
believe that by the expiration OF anoth-
er year Salisbury will be one of the
foremost cities of the State. Her growth
during recent years while nothing less
than phenomenal, has been substantial
and for time.
Respectfully,
s. r. LORD, Mayor
~
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
ROxB0R0.
A New Cotton and Pants Factory.
Water Works.

TO the Editor: Roxboro is situated
on the Norfolk and Western Railroad,
and has a population of about 1,S00.
The year 1880 witnessed the completion
of the above mentioned road passing
this place. The town then was a mere
village of about 400 people, having a
court house and Jail, and few stores.
There was then not a dollar invested
in manufacturing enterprises. Today
there is more than $4,000 invested in
this manner. The Roxboro Cotton Mills
which will begin work January 10Th,
have subscribed about 0,000-nearly
all of which has been paid in. The to-
bacco stemmery of Weodson, Long &,
Co. works more than one hundred
laborers, and has $4,000 invested. NOEL
Bros. Pants Factory work about thirty
FIVE laborers, and have $1,000 invested.
Brooks & Coryin, cannery, have $1,000
in their business, and are rapidly in
creasing it. All of these industries We're
established here since the year 1898. The
year 1899 witnessed the largest increase
in the prosperity of Roxboro in all its
history. During the year the Roxboro
Cotton Mills were begun, and NOEL
Bros. Pants Factory moved from South
Boston, Va, to this place 1t was this
year that witnessed the union of the
Peoples Bank and the Farmers Bank
in one strong banking institution--the
pride of the county and town. Three
large tobacco warehouses; sold more to-
bacco this year than ever was sold in
the history of the town during the same
period.
The Reade Hotel changed hands, and
was newly equipped, nicely furnished
and provided with every modern conye-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
FAYETTEVILLE.
The Most Prosperous Year in its His
tory.

To the Editor: When the Atlantic
Coast Line purchased the Cape Fear
and Yadkin Valley Railway, at the sale
of the latter road, a year ago this
month, thereby destroying Fayetteville
ag competitive point for railway rates,
the industrial and commercial prospects
of the town seemed to suffer an al
most irreparable blow. When, a few
weeks later, the railway shops were re-
moyed-the shops which had come down
from the time that Fayetteville capital
and enterprise inaugurated the Western
Railroad, the parent of the Cape Fear
and Yadkin Valley system-and then the
railway Headquarters Were removed,
and after that the main stem to Mount
Airy was dismembered, many persons
thought that this ancient commercial
capital had received its coup-de grace
For, small as the shops We're and in
significant the headquarters, compared
with those OF the great systems, they
disbursed large amount of ready cash
every month, which mostly found its
way into our merchants pockets; and
short as the 35T miles of railway Were,
compared with the thousands controlled
by the great systems, they made Fay
etteyille the terminal point for many
train crews, who had built homes and
We're otherwise rooted in the community.
These disturbing conditions, however,
served only to rouse the half-sleep town;
its people felt that they had before
them a life-and-death struggle; and they
determined, God willing. that the issue
should not be death. The leading men
got together in a way that had been
unknown for years; the Chamber of
Commerce, which had signalized its or
ganization a few years ago by securing
the location here of the Holt-Morgan
and the Holt Williamson mills, and then
fell asleep, was reorganized; and the re-
suit has been the Inauguration of many
new and important enterprises. Chief
OF these are the Tolar-Hart and Holt
mills 10000 spindles), and the Ashley
Bailey spinning and weaving silk mills
The establishment of the latter marks
the beginning of q new era in North
Carolina, because it introduces a more
advanced and therefore, generally speak
ing, more profitable form of manufac-
ture.
The effect of the railroad consolidation
has been broken, if not entirely met, by
the cheap river freights offered by the
steamers ON the Cape Fear. BY these
the cotton mills receive their dyes, oils
and other supplies at rates that would
astonish the up-country mill owners, and
ship their output. Because of this
recourse, also, the merchants are able
to lay down the most of their goods
SO cheaply that their trade has not only
not suffered but has been largely in
creased over last years, notwithstanding
the loss of the patronage of the railroad
people.
Perhaps the most important of the
new enterprises established here dur
ing the year is the erection of large
tobacco warehouse and the complete sue
cess of the tobacco market created by
ii.
In addition to the foregoing, a large
and completely appointed hospital has
just been erected here, supplied with
all the latest appliances employed in the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
DUNN
Much Building and Excellent Pros
poets For 1900.

DUNN, n. c., Dec. u.
To the Editor: The town of Dunn, III
Harnett county, is situated ON the main
line of the Atlantic Coast Line, midway
between Fayetteville and Smithfield. 1t
is ON the eastern border of the county.
sixteen miles from the county site at
Ellington.
The growth of Dunn has been Dhe-
nominal as only twelve years have elaps-
ed since the erection of the first building
within its limits. 1t will begin the new
century with a population of 1000; with
about fifty stores and business houses,
two large furniture factories, two tobacco
warehouses, ONE prize house, two banks,
an edge tool factory, with many manu-
featuring enterprises of less pretenslons.
The town is located in the midst of as
fine a section of land for agricultural
uu1.rsoses as can be found in Eastern
Carolina. and the town ships annually
from 5000 to 10000 bales of cotton, with
large quantities of lumber and naval
stores. And although she has just
closed her first season as tobacco mar
ket. yet about 100000 pounds of this pro-
duet has this year been sold on her ware
house floors, and in return for the pro-
ceeds Of these commodities. our mer-
chants sell annually more than nan Il
million dollars worth of goods
-Four miles distant are the famous
Smiley Falls ON the Cape Fear river,
and our town and county have reason to
indulge the hope that this immense water
power will be developed and put to prac-
teal purposes at an early date.
About forty residences, wit@ numerous
business houses. erected within she limits
of our town during this year, m&rk her
continued prosperity And with hey en-
terprising and public-spirited citizenship
perfectly united in the promotion of every
enterprise looking to her prosperity, 1T is
safe to predict that the first fed de-
cades OF the twentieth century Will snow
a wonderful development in this young
and vigorous town. -
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

the company has paid 8 per cent. on its
capital stock since it's organization, and
this year has increased its capital stock
to $4,000. Our leaf tobacco ware
houses have done much larger business
this year than ever before, and the out
look for the remainder OF the season
is exceedingly bright.
Pilot Mountain is located in the finest
tobacco growing section in Western
North Carolina, as is well known to the
States largest manufacturers, the leaf
grown In Stokes and Surry counties, IS
noted for it's rich sweet chewing quail
ties, and always commands the highest
prices on the market. Being thus locat-
ed in the very heart of this tobacco belt.
Pilot Mountain is destined to soon be-
come the leading leaf market west of
Winston, If indeed, it is not already SO.
During the year 1899 there has been in
vested in new business buildings no
less than $4,000. Most all of which
are substantial brick structures. bod
son Bros, our leading tobacco manu-
facturers, have just completed d, their
handsome new brick factory, which is
45N100 feet, three stories high, and they
will as soon as the machinery can be
placed, be ready to continue to supply
their new plant.
Mr.. Daniel Marion has just COM
peted and handsomely furnished large
and well arranged hotel, which fills Il
long felt want in this town, as well as
among the travelling public, but travel
ers need no longer hesitate to stop at
Pilot Mountain, Marion's hotel will give
first class accommodation.
Our town commissioners have just com
pleted laying granite curbing and brick
sidewalks, in the principal part Of the
town. and at an early date the ques-
ton Of issuing bonds for further street
improvements and lights, will be sub
mitted to the people, and L have no
doubt carried, and the year 1900, mark
the real beginning of little city under
the shadow of the grand old Pilot
Mountain, from which the town takes its
name.
J. L. STONE, Mayor.