The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-01-04
HENDERSON,.
A LIVE. PROGRESSIVE, PROSPER
Gus TOWN.
Record of Progress Made During 1899
More Building Done Than in Many
Years - Outlook for 1000 Hopeful
and Encouraging.

! and Encouraging.
The Raleigh News and Observer last
Sunday published an interesting and
| instructive resume Of the industrial
progress of the State for 1899 with
the outlook for 1909, which shows a
very gratifying condition Of things
| indeed 1t was such an edition as
cannot fail to be of great benefit to
| the State and was creditable in a
high degree to the enterprise and
public spirit of the publishers. Hen
derson was accorded space for the
following letter which explains itself
| HENDERSON, n. c., Dec. q.
TO the Editor: You as ask me to
write a short letter reviewing the
industrial progress Of Henderson for
| 1899 with the outlook for 1900. That
were task difficult to perform on
short notice, nor indeed could such a
story fifty told be confined to the
| limits of a short letter.
The enterprise and development Of
this community connot be set forth
in the space at my disposal. Such a
fine showing of business energy,
manufacturing enterprise, shipping
interests, lucrative employment,
| commercial life and mental progress
would require a series Of articles to
do it justice.
The growth and prosperity of Hen
| derson during the year now drawing
| to close has been steady and sub
stantial-onc of the best, in fact, lin
many years. There have been many
causes contributing thereto, but as
time and space forbid "bill of par
| ticlulars,' it must be with effect
rather than cause that have to deal
in this communication.
This wear has witnessed more
building in Henderson than for many
years previous. And the class of
| building done has been above the
| average, representing business houses,
| private residences, churches, manu-
factories, school houses, &c.
The people of Henderson have faith
| in themselves and their town. Arous-
| ed to the necessities of the times
instead of waiting for success and
help from without, they have gone to
| work to achieve it by their own
efforts. And Judging from the past
! and the present it is safe to say they
| will never be content with small
results but will keep on until it be-
| comes an important manufacturing
and commercial centre.
A glance at the country surround
| ing the town will show it to be rich
in agricultural fertility and blessed
| with a diversity of soil and products
which afford full scope for develop
ment and growth of prosperity. 1t
| is indeed country well able to
bring forth 4 metropolis of wealth
| and influence, of manufacturing in
terests and commercial Importance,
such as is to be found in but few
| interior sections of the State.
Several new enterprises are on
foot. Plans are maturing for another
cotton mill. A large brick yard will
be established in the early spring
A clothing factory is talked Of, and a
| knitting mill is a possibility of the not
| remote future.
The Methodist Protestants are
| building a handsome brick church at
a cost of $4,000 to $4,000. The
| Presbyterians have made extensive
additions and Improvements to their
house OF worship, doubling the seat
| ing capacity, with lecture room and
Sunday-school class rooms, at an ex-
| peniture of several thousand dollars.
cotton ginning plant operating
| the Munger Complete System, with a
capacity of % bales day, is worthy
of mention among the new enter
prises. The cotton is handled en-
tirely by machinery from the wagon
to the bale Large sales stables and
storage warehouse have been built
by the same firm CThe Parham Bros.
Supply Co.. besides adding 60 feet
to their store, making it CONGO feet.
A tannery, with a capacity of 800
to 900 hides is a new and needed
industry, and there is no good reason
why such an enterprise, furnishing
as it will ready market for hides,
besides supplying much Of the local
demand for a good quality of leather,
may not grow into extensive pro-
portions.
More tobacco has been sold and at
better prices as compared with last
year. The same thing may be said
of cotton. Receipts have been largely
in excess of what they have been in
many years and the advance in price
has had stimulating effect upon
business in all lines.
The Henderson cotton mills, with
paid up capital of $240, 900, started
with 5000 spindles three years ago
and has been as many times enlarged
since 1t now has $1,000 spindles,
extensive additions having been made
within the last few months. The
mill is run day and night, using at
the rate of 5000 bales of cotton
annually. Two sets of operatives
are employed, with about 425 persons
on the pay roll. There is constant
and increasing demand for its pro-
duct. and the enterprise has been a
success from the beginning, paving
5 per cent. annual dividend. Among
its stockholders are some Of the
wealthiest men in the country, sew
eral of them being millionaires.
The amount of freight handled is a
good indication of the volume of bust
ness done. Henderson is the largest
shipping and distributing point be-
tween Norfolk and Raleigh. The
quantity of stuff brought into and
shipped out of here every twentv-four
hours is something wonderful in pro-
portions-almost incredulous.
Another good sign indicating con-
dition of affairs which speaks we'll for
the merchants and business men of
the community, is the amount of
money on deposit in the bank subject
to check. In the report of the Citizens
Bank to the State Corporation Com
mission. made at the close of bust
ness on December 2nd. as published
in the GOLD LEAF, it was shown that
=, G.ln