The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-18

City, closely 2Illed with the edSleIu palI [
Of the old North State is Norfolk, Va. the |
best cotton and peanut, fruit and produce
market in the south Atlantic States. Why
Norfolk has not a population of several
hundred thousand is puzzle
That it is growing, that new
life has taken hold is quite evident
to passing observer. In this connection
it is not amiss in passing to speak of
certain Of Norfolk's produce commission
merchants. cotton and peanut factors and
commission merchants
Strolling up Water street, at the corner
of Roanoke square in Norfolk
] saw the name of shannon
house & Co., on some packages
and bags of produce. The name. took me
at once to Mecklenburg county and Char
lotte. Facing me as / entered the store
was a stalwart young man who greeted
me kindly and soon | clasped the hand OF
j. C. Sr7arnonhouse, Jr., a Charlotte boy
sure enough. We began to talk of the old
North State and then Of his business,
and ! learned that on the 1st of August,
this year, Mr.. Shannonhouse having as
ISOLATED with himself Mr.. V. S. Pruden, of
Chueatuck Va, the firm of j. G. Shan
nonhouse, Jr., e Co. launched out in the.
Wholesale fruit and produce commission
merchants business. Certainly they could
not have selected more desirable loca-
tion than they have at the corner of Roa-
noke square and Water streets and | was
very much gratifed to know that they
were doing quite nice business already.
With youth vigor and ample capital these
young men must need have a bright FIJI
ture. located as they are in so desirably
market as Norfolk.
'.Will you solicit North Carolina bust
ness" was asked of Mr.. Shannonhouse,
and quickly came the response:
Most assllredly. We are getting some
Carolina business already and we are
going to make determined effort for
more of it and we want an advertisement
in the News and Observer" 1t is there.
look for it and give the firm trial.
Over lie the Atlantic City section of
Norfolk are most of the cotton factors
ard commission merchants and among
them is a Tar Heel colony. | thought
while in the city would pay them visit
and did, and l reckon the reading public
will bear with me moment and let me
speak of certain OF these. / love to
speak of folks. it's kind of habit with me
especially if warranted in saying some
thing in their praise. Well, to start with,
r. S. Dawson. of Holmes & Dawson, COM
mission merchants in cotton, peanuts,
peas is a sort of walking encyclopedia,
and like mystelf is given to talking. Yes
sir, we have been in this business quite
long while, since 1880; deal largely with
North Carolina and our business rela-
tions with our Tar Heel friends is stead
lily increasing The year 1900 was the
largest business within the history of our
firm
.Your firm issues an annual peanut
crop report does it not?'' was asked Mr.
Dawson.
eYes," was the reply.
.'Will you not favor the News and OBJ
server with your next report? We reach
many peanut growers and would like to
give them the benefit of this informa-
tion."
Certainly replied Mr.. Dawson, Il
shall be pleased to do So
Il have noticed. Mr. Dawson, quite high
quotations from Norfolk on black eye
peas. Are they in much demand here?
'Most assuredly, Norfolk is the largest
market in the world for black-eye peas
and last year we handled about 70 or so
per cent of all the black-eye peas shipp
ed to Norfolk The demand is not alto
gether local and through agencies estab
lished in the principal cities of the Unit
ed States. and our connection, we large
ly control the export demand from other
countries.
This firm is the second largest peanut
receiver in the city. They have ample
capital and most excellent facilities for
the conduct of their business.
Next I visited Boone and Jen-
kins cotton factors and commits
sion merchants, whose business
experience dates back TO 1881 | was
met by that prince of clever fellows.
John ID. jenkins, of the firm. This firm
handles cotton and peanuts on consign
ment and make liberal advances on same
They handle covering for the crop-bag-
ging, ties and peanut sacks. Their facil-
tiles for handling is equal to any firm in
the trade. They, too. do quite an extern
sive business with North Carolina and
their daily market report has proven very
valuable to their friends in business We
met and talked with others in the col
on.
The firm of Vaughan and Barnes. bank
ers and cotton merchants, was establish
ed in 1872.
This is one of the Oldest and best known
cotton firms in the city. The
senior member of the firm, Col.
John N. Vaughan, is one OF
the charter members of the Cotton En-
change They have for nearly thirty
years been among the largest receivers
of cotton at this port, and have had
remarkably successful career in their
commission and banking business.
Col. Vaughan is prominently identified
with the cotton and banking interests of
the city, being president of the Norfolk
Warehouse Association, with its eight
acres of fire-proof warehouses for stor-
ing cotton, etc, with wharves, docks
modern cotton congresses land plaster
mills, ice factory, etc. He is also a di-
rector in the Norfolk National Bank and
the Norfolk Bank for Savings and Trusts.
and a member of the Board of Harbor
Commissioners, and is q large owner of
city real estate and has materially added
to the wealth of the city in building resi-
dence and business property, to which
he is constantly adding.
Colonel Vaughan is a native OF
the Old North State, where he
has MANY friends and relatives,
who rainipe n SOC tba conlmaudiny pocj-