The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-28
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUNDS The MARCH.
a Galaxy of Towns All Ambitious
to Be Cities.
EVERY ONE BUSINESS CENTER
Raleigh, the Capital, Again Takes Place
as Tobacco Market-Great Strides
in All OF Them in MAJ utacturing.
Solid Banking Facilities,
Especial Dispatch to The Tilnes.)

Especial Dispatch to The Tilnes.) .
RALEIGH, n. c., December 27.-Thls
city has made very gratifying progress
during the past year IN the way of In
dustrial development, and there are now
a number OF schemes substantially as
sured. which give every promise for
greater advancement during 1903.
BY odds the most important business
movement Of the pas: year was the re-
establishment o. the Raleigh tobacco
market, which had been closed down for
FIVE years.
Two warehouses were opened last AL
gust and strong company, with prac-
tically all the principal business men as
stockholders formed to back buyers and
encourage the cultivation Of tobacco IN
the surrounding country. The success
was phenomenal, both warehouses hav-
ing large breaks from the opening sales.
and prices ranged high. Sales will
easily reach a.5Go,coo pounds this year.
and the outlook is for from G,ooo,oto to
100000 pounds next year.
Only recently the Oak City Warehouse
and Investment Company was organized,
and has purchased valuable property, 80
feet front, corner Wilmington and Davie
Streets, on which & third large tobacco
warehouse. the largest IL the city, VIII
be erected, also g big stemsry and
three or more prize houses. the latter to
be rented to tobacco dealers. The a :
pany has 100000 capital. Raleigh mas
never ranked as an in portants wholesale
center, but the. three Wholesale dry goods
hcuscs ana seven. who. esaie grocery
houses report big Increase in the vol
ilrnc Of their business. and constant
extension Of territory.
Rae. ~ three cotton mills have had
very PROSPEROUS year. the. Pilot cotton
mill having more than doubled Its ca
pacity by an extension.
The two knitting mills now in opera
Ion report an exceptionally successful
years business. and a third mill that
will be run by ]. B, Maj tin. eS-auditor
for the Seaboard Air Line, will be run
ming by January 18th, giving employment
to sixty operatives.
There was a, material enlargement Of
the Coraletgia Fertilizer Works during
the year and the business Of this NAM
moth concern is: yearly increasing.
The colleges and State institutions are
OF great financial benefit to Raleigh's bus
mess interests. The Agricultural and Me-
chanical College, with 400 students; Bap-
list Female University. with cS5; Peace
Institute. with $50. and St. Marys School.
With nearly POO students, swell the volume
OF trade materially. The Thomas Uni
versity, colored, with an enrolment Of
about 400, and ST. Augustine's School.
with something like 2oO. necessarily occa-
sion the circulation of large sums Of mon
oil for So1y ,, inc 10 n1y1S
Of Raleigh S business interests. Then
there are the Ss1 pupils in the State schools
for the deaf. dumb and blind. which eX-
pena at least $4,000 for maintenance. and
Central Hospital for the insane expending
alone nearly $4,000 annually. Also there
are equally as large expenditures by the
States prison authorities.
1t is estimated that s450.O00 was expend-
ed in building during the year. a valu-
able structure is the Carolina Trust Com
pany bank building. which cost $1,000
This also provided Raleigh with another
strong bank, making six.
Another notable building Is a palatiaI
residence being erected on Fiillsboro
Street. facing Capitol Square, at a cost of
probably $4,000. by Mr.. R. 3. Raney. 1t
is Claimed in some quarters that this will
really be a select hotel for winter tour
lists, and summer ones. too, for that mat
ter. Mr.. Raney is the proprietor of Var
b:ough Hotel.
Mr.. Ed. Chambers Smith has erected a
handsome block Of brick stores on Martin
ard Biount Streets. A great number Of
private residences, costing from $1,000 to
$4,000, have been erected in all parts of
the city. and large numbers are now in
course Of construction. The biggest build
irE enterprise assumed for the coming
year Is the erection of the Masonic Tenn
pie by the North Carolina Grand Lodge,
splendid lot, corner of Fayetteville and
IEarpett Streets. having been purchased
for this purpose at cost Of $4,000 The
temple will be superb. seven-story struc-
ture. costing, $4,000 equipped with cleo
trio elevators and every modern convent
Lnce.
The Raleigh Auditorium Company. COM
posed of many business men Of the city.
has purchased the Academy OF Music. and
as soon as the present theatrical season
closes will commence the work Of con-
,,crting this building into a mammoth
auditorium. designed especially for the
better acconm odation of great State en-
ventions. A seating capacity Of $500 will
be provided The cha nges. will also have
in view the making Of an up-to-date the
atre, that will amply accommodate the
largest troupes that travel this way
Probably 5000 Will be expended on this
Improvement.
The. extension and rehabilitation of the
Raleigh street car system Is another as
sured Improvement for the next year. Up
wards of three miles of new track VIII
ho laid in. making a belt line by the Ma
'tional Cemetery and in laying track to
the Union Depot. Probably 100000 will
DE expended.
AZ the North Carolina Methodist Or
ohanage work is TOW in progress on
handsome s25 coo main building. and it
Will probably be completed during the
early summer OF 1903.
4 building enterprise to be pushed Wig
zorously during the year Is the 10000
i0nse Of -yor.f.ip Of #.he Church Of the
Good Shepherd. &c be y#odds the hand
soonest and most church ly. odidce. IN the
Estata