davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

ing TO aid in any movement to set afOo
new enterprises in the community. Thu
officers are J. c. Braswell, President
J. w. Sherrod Vice President, and W
p Hamilton, Cashier.
EDUCATION A FEATURE.
The people of the progressive COM
tency of good schools to attract people
to their town. and have not hesitated tC
tax themselves in order that the best
Of opportunities might be at hand for
the rising youth.
There is splendid system of graded
schools conducted, with Il strong educa-
tor, Prof. w. V. Boyle, as superintend-
ent. and an excellent corps Of teachers
twelve in the white schools and three
in the colOred.
There are now enrolled in these schools
635 pupils, OF whom 49, are in the white
school and 200 in the cOlored school, and
these come from total of $50 children
of school age in the community.
The session of the schools continues
for nine months and the course of study
prepares pupils to enter the State Uni
vcrsity and other colleges. In con-
nection with the regular course Of study
there is an instrumental music depart
ment which now has in attendance forty
pupils. The Rocky Mount schools are
to be characterized By the fact that they
are truly primary schools, that IS schools
of first principles
There are ten grades taught and the
new and handsome school building built
Of brick has in it ten rooms, not in
Guiding an assembly hall. In every de-
partment there is a modern school equip
ment. The building is heated by hot air
driven through the building by fans run
by a gasoline engine. The class-rooms
are we'll lighted with seven windows to
each room, and Rocky Mount is able to
offer the best school opportunities under
all conditions favorable to the health
and comfort of the pupils.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS GROW.
In the way of manufacturing Rocky
Mount is now doing excellent work in q
number of enterprises and there is a
feeling among the people that this is TO
continue to grow, because of the success
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
ROCKY MOUNT
PRESENTS SPLENDID
OPPORTUNITIES

tory of these in Rocky Mount has been
a history of success.
THE LUMBER INTERESTS.
The openings here for investment in
lumber mills is excellent as is shown
by the success of the Tar River Lumber
Company, started here in a small way
in 1896. The business has gradually in
creased and the plant is now one of the
largest in the section. 1t manufactures
all kinds of dressed lumber and inside
trimmings, including mantels and stair
fixtures. The company operates thirteen
miles of logging railroad and employ $50
hands The success of this enterprise
is an invitation to others in similar lines.
THE BANKING AND MONEY.
There are two strong banks in Rocky
Mount, whose officers are men of alert
business character and which provide
for the financial needs of the section
most admirably.
The Bank of Rocky Mount up to Jan
uary 1st had a capital stock of $4,000,
which has since been increased to $40,-
600, the stock being eagerly bought. The
bank was established in 1889 by the Of
ficers now in charge and ID has been a
leading factor in all the financial and
material matters of Rocky Mount.
The town and bank have grown to-
gether and both are indicative of the
value of on investment in the place.
When the bank was first opened the
population of Rocky Mount was less
than one thousand people, but the town
has grown and the bank has kept pace
with the town. It's strength is not only
recognized in this community, but all
over North Carolina. The President,
Mr. Thomas Fl. Battle, takes a promi-
nent pat in the North Carolina State
Bankers Association, and was the first
president of that organization. Mr.. l..
f. Tillery is the cashier.
The Planters Bank is another strong
financial institution of Rocky Mount. 1t
began business on March 27, 1899, and a
statement made on the first of January
following showed a deposit of $S3, 999.61.
A statement made on the first of jan
rary Of this year shows a deposit of
$172,8525i, this amount representing a
gain of over one hundred per cent. with
in two years.
On April 1st the capital stock was in
creased to forty thousand dollars. The
largest stockholders in the bank are Mr..
T. p. Braswell, father of the president
of the bank, and DR.. j. w. Sherrod, the
vice president. The management Of the
bank is in the hands Of young, energetic,
conservative men who are able and will
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

it's president, and the other is the South
ern Ice Company, of which Mr.. j. w.
Hines is the general manager.
Rocky Mount is one of the icing points
on the Atlantic Coast Line and the
Southern Ice Company has had to in
crease its plant to meet the increasing
demand made upon it. The output is a
very large one and Mr.. Hines has ex-
tended the business so that Rocky Mount
supplies many cities with ice. 1t is an
admirably managed business.
RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL
Rocky Mount has in it ar efficient
body of Christian ministers and an ear
nest corps of Christian workers. Among
the whites there is the NJ. E. Church,
South with Rev. l.. l.. Nash as pastor,
this being the Oldest and perhaps the
strongest denomination. 1t now has I'M
der consideration the erection of hand
some brick church. soon to be COM
meneed The Baptist church has for its
pastor Rev. Braxton Craig, the Presby-
terian Rev. w. D. Morton, the Methodist
Protestant Rev. A. G. Dixon, the Epis-
copal Rev. Charles Fetter and the Print
tive Bantist Rev. P D. Gold. At South
Rocky Mount Rev. P. d. Woodall is in
charge of the Methodist church. The
churches have large Sunday Schools and
there is harmonious working between
all denominations. Home-seekerss will
find in Rocky Mount a warm welcome
from the church people of the place.
Rocky Mount is a great fraternity town
and there are f1ourishing lodges of Ma
sens, knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows,
Junior Order of American Mechanics and
Red Men. The Masonic Temple, one of
the handsomest buildings in the town,
has in it the postoffice and one among
the very best opera houses to be found
in the State. The splendid building be-
.Cngs to the Masons.
The Sycamore Club is a social organi-
cation, and has a membership of about
seventy-five of the best people of the
town. A very handsome building has
lately been erected by the club, which is
perfect in it's appointments, being magni-
ficently furnished.
SOME SPLENDID OPPORTUNITIES.
In this place of electric lights, water
works, sewerage system, telephone SER
vice, with it's growing population and
wealth there are many splendid oprortu-
mites for investment.
Among the plants which would pay
here are knitting mills cotton factories,
brick and tile manufactures. furniture
and canning factories. 1t is destined TO
lie a wholesale centre. 1t has a splendid
elm. ate, its health record is excellent,
labor is plentiful, reasonable and peace
full. Surrounded by fine farming lands
that will grow almost anything it offers
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

A striking illustration of the rapid de-
VelOpment of towns in North Carolina
is afforded by Rocky Mount, in fact it's
progress has been truly marvellous.
A few years ago it was a small town,
without any particular claims to atten-
ton, bat now it has jumped into promi-
nence as live young city, with graded
schools, electric lights, water-works,
sewerage system, telephone system, line
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

great opportunities to truck growers,
dairymen and stock raisers, as is shown
by the experience of men already in this
line of enterprise.
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
Situated in both Ashe and Edgecombe
counties Rocky Mount has an excellent
! back country.
Fine country land can be had at from
IS to $40 an acre and as there is a great
| diversity of soil almost any crop can be
grown. An average of a bale Of cotton,
say 450 pounds. to the acre is easy, while
700 to 200 pounds of tobacco, at an av-
erage of 10 cents a pound, is not doing
badly.
There is an excellent timber country
in the section, where are to be had oak
hickory and other economic woods, IS
well as much pine.
The trucking lands are producing gTc at
crops. and the outlook is for more aero
age in truck this season. canning
factory would find a great field for it.
The section is as healthy as any in ;he
State and every energetic man is doing
well.
The people are in better shape than
ten years ago by Is per cent. Dozens of
men could be named who were renters
ten years ago. but who have by this time
become capitalists with from ten to fif-
teen thousand dollars.
j. Nj. Robertson, who lives near Rocky
Mount, was a tenant ten years ago. He
is now worth $1,000 three or four hun
dred acres Of land and a brick store.
Dave Everett, of Rocky Mount, fifteen
years ago had $500; he now has SIS, 900
made in farming
T. ]. Jones, of Red Oak, with nothing
but pluck in fifteen years has grown from
a renter to man worth 5000, while
J. c. Beall, of Red Oak, from man of
no means ten years ago, has done fully
as We'll
These instances go to show what can
be done on the farms of this section, and
to saw to the world that nowhere in
Eastern North Carolina can there be
found superior advantages to those that
are at hand in all the country about
Rocky Mount a favored and growing
town IN a region filled with the choicest
gifts of nature.
People who go to this section of North
Carolina will make no mistake, as the
conditions are such that success will
come where energy is put behind every
effort
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

The total for the above shows that in
four years there were sold in Rocky
Mount 1886, 304 pounds of tobacco for
So, III, 535.SS, these figures showing the
magnitude of the business.
To handle this crop there are five large
tobacco warehouses. five steam drying
plants, four stemmerieS, five dry prize
ries and two large brick storage ware
houses with capacity of 1000 hogsheads.
In the factories, warehouses, machinery
etc. there is 5000, 900 invested. the capital
employed is about $25O,00 and employ
ment is given to 200 or 100 hands
The trade extends to every country in
the world, large portion being prepared
for export shipments being made direct
to England, Germany, Austria, Japan and
other foreign countries. The market is
on an upward growth and the financial
stability of the large corps of buyers is
equal to any in the country. The crops
in the tributary country are being in
creased and it is expected that over 12.-
100000 pounds will be sold the coming
season.
The interests of the market are looked
after by Tobacco Board of Trade, char
tered by the State, and it's officers are
W. i. Petty. President; C. c. Cooper
Vice President, and E. w Smith, Secre-
tary and Treasurer.
The conditions in Rocky Mount are
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
One of Eastern North Cardinals Great
Tobacco Centres.
A FOUNDATION OF SOLID BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
Manufacturing ard Distributing Point 1t Has Unrived Ad
vantages Which Promise the Most Magnificent Returns.

Its History and Growth an Example of the Vast Pos
sibiIities of the Future in Thriving Little City
Which Has Grown Up as if by Magic Because of
the Splendid Resources of Fine Back Country
and Because Its Business Men Have Put Energy
and Life Into Many Lines of ACtivity=-In It's De-
velopment it Has Built So Wisely That There Will
Continue to Be the Greatest of Inducen1ent to the
Settler, the Man of Moderate Means and the Great
Capitalist.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
Masonic Temple. Opera House and
Postofficc. Rocky Mount.

hotels, big stores, great railroad shops
and all the surroundings that go to make
up che of the Invest cities of a State of
live cities.
What has brought this about?'' is
your question. Well, the answer is easy.
1t is because of the natural resources
of great back country, the happy loca-
ton Of the place, the fine lands and
splendid climate, the hustle and enter
prise of its wide-a wake business men.
The town was Incorporated as far
back as 1868, and struggled along
through the years. 1t is situated in both
Nash and Edgecombe counties in East
cfn North Carolina on the main line of
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and is
distant three and one-half hours from
seven hours from Washington and thir-
teen hours from New York. In 1890 the
population was little over 500. but it.
fushed forward for the next ten years
and IN 1900 the census showed a gain in
population of over $50 per cent. For the
TWO years past Rocky Mount has grown as
fast, II not faster, as in any OF the years
before, so that the present poDulation
by a conservative estimate can be put
down as 1000, with a Suburban popula-
toE OF 1880, making a total of $500.
NO less wonderful has been the in
crease in the value of property. In 1891
the tax lists showed 1852. 3O9 95. while in
1871 the total valuation was s., 199. GIL 90
and this amount does not include the
value Of the Rocky Mount mills or The
Atlantic>Coast Line shops, just beyond
the corporate limits. which would in
crease these amounts TO about s. 600
100000
The truth of the matter is that people
who knew Rocky Mount ten years ago
would not recognize it TODAY, so greatly
mas II grown. 1t is a new city, teeming
with opportunities for profitable invest
ments.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
COTTON DOES ITS SHARE.

Rocky Mount is also a cotton market,
ana a prominent one. 1t is surrounded
by a rich cotton growing section and it
mas exceptionally good railroad and wa
ter facilities for collecting and shipping.
Much Of the leecy staple is sold here
Being right 1t the fields it has a most
successful cotton factory. the Oldest in
the state. 1t was burned during the civil
war and reorganized in 1885, having a
capacity of 1000 spindles, since in
creased to $4,000. 1t makes high grade
goods. is one of the largest spinning
mills in the South and has a reputation
for thorough work. No better instance
of Southern success is to be had. All
of its officers and all of its capital come
from the South, and Mr.. j. H. Ruffin,
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

Pitt, Greene, Craven and other counties
of the Golden Tobacco Belt.
Prior to 1890 the business was small,
but it soon after began to grow, and the
growth. was so phenomenal that it at
tracted the attention of the markets of
the world. In 1SS9-90 there was sold
425,C COO pounds for $e3, $50 while for the
season just past the sales reached over
nine million pounds, the amount in
money being 81, 1866 500, which shows an
enormous gain.
Fer the past four wears the record is
wonderful one and these are the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
WHAT TOBACCO HAS DONE.

Rocky Mounts greatest progress has
come with the growth of Eastern North
Carolina as the greatest tobacco section
Oh the State. 1t is easily one of the
most important tobacco markets in
Eastern North Carolina, and its tribu-
tary territory is found in Nash, Edge
eombe, Wilson, Halifax, Martin, BERTHE.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

such that it is a magnificent point for
plug, cigarette and other factories. Col
den opportunities are offered in this
Golden Weed"
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

ROCKY MOUNT
Invites Prospective Settlers, Men of Enter
prise and Capitalists to Visit and Inspect
the Livest Little City in the State.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

great opportunities to truck growers,
dairymen and stock raisers, as is shown
by the experience of men already in this
line of enterprise.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

tory of these in Rocky Mount has been
a history of success
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17
THE SOUTH AND ITS SCHOOL
f. G.. BranSOn in the Worlds Work.

f. G.. BranSon in the Worlds Work.
The greatest need Of agricultural
life in the South today is farming
communes, and there must be natu-
raj forces that will bring the country
people together in such communes in
wholesome ways. Farm communes.
good roads, smaller farms, intensive
farming. rotation of crops, and such
rsmuneratfve household industries as
are to be found everywhere in the
homes Of the peasantry upon the con-
tinent of Europe, good schools, Ii
braries-these are the fundamental
needs. OF course | believe in the su-
preme value OF wholesome religious
instruction; but | also believe that
effective home-mission work will
need to make every church both q
Sundav-school and a dav-school
where head, heart and hand, taste.
conscience and will are all continually
stimulated to activity.
The right kind of schools seems to
be the only possible force TO bring
such result. Southern civilization
will need to be built around the
school house. and we shall need to
steer clear. if possible, of the mis-
takes of other sections Of the country.
The herding instinct. racial in
stinct among some other peoples.
seems almost absent in the farming
classes of the South. Ii, therefore,
we can gradually set up in every
farm community well-ordered
school, where ordinary academic in
struction is intelligently given, and
where at the same time some of the
long hours of the school day are
given to such forms Of handicraft as
can easily be transferred to the
homes of the community and become
source of occupation and income;
and If, IN addition, nature studies,
school libraries, mothers clubs and
village industries OF all sorts gradu-
ally come into existence, then we
shall have different kind of country
village in the South. As rule,
country civilization has been built
around the crossroads store. and
often the barroom has been an ad-
lunct to this store.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

For tickets and general information
apply to railroad ticket agents, or to NJ. B.
CROWELL. General Agent. Norfolk. Va
}. F. MAYER, Agent, 1912 Main Street,
Richmond. Va.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

between the tucks is a trimming of
applique taffeta OF graduated size,
framed with crochet rings, worked
with dark blue Corticelli crochet silk.
A similar garniture appears on the
panel front OF the skirt, the latter
being completed with a corded
founce, and above the founce at the
sides are more lengthwise tucks.
Picturesque effects are the rule and
are in evidence on all sides, and flow
cred silks, lowered mousselines and
gorgeously lowered parasols greet
the eye everywhere. In fancy, at
least, the pages of fashion have
turned backward to the flower de-
signs once SO much in vogue. On
the whole the trend of dress at the
moment is toward greater elegance
reaching out in all directions. The
dainty mousselines in small patterns
with wide and narrow borders OF
large flowers are in great demand.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17
THE CONFEDERATES AND THE
BOERS.

Baltimore Sun.
Thirty-seven years have passed
since the close of the Civil war, but
the South honors the heroes who died
for the Confederacy as greatly now
as when Memorial Day was first in
stituted. A people without monu-
ments, it has been aptly said, is a
people without a history. A people
which does not cherish the memory
of its heroes is Il people without
gratitude: incapable of approaching
valor, loyalty and self-sacritice. The
Southern people have always placed
an exalted estimate upon men willing
to die for their convictions. They
always honor the Confederate soldier.
They may become new in some
, things but it will ever remain the
cold" South in its admiration of the
noble qualities displayed by the fol-
lowers of Lee and Jackson.
The Civil war lasted four years.
When it ended with the surrender OF
General Robert f. Lee, at Appomat-
tox the Army of Northern Vir ginia,
as grand body of fighting men as
ever assembled under the flag OF any
nation, consisted of few thousand
poorly clad, half starved warriors.
But the fighting spirit was there. II
the influence of General Lee had not
been eXerted for peace; if he had adj
vised the continuance of the conflict,
the war mi ght have been waged for
an indefinite period. Mr.. Charles
Francis Adams, OF Boston, has made
this fact very clear in a recent pub
LEGATION. Gen. Lee, Mr.. Adams well
says, is entitled to the gratitude Of
the American people for deciding to
end the war at Appomattox. In max
ing this decision the Confederate
leader was actuated by spirit of no.
BILE humanity. If he had counseled
war the Southern people would have
followed him to the last extremity,
and what the consequences would
have been no man can tell. Lee the
peacemaker was as Incompatible as
Lee the soldier.
Since the Southern flag was furled
in glory, even in defeat, the world
has been thrilled by the superb fight
of the Dutch farmers of South Africa
Another cause has been submitted to
the arbitrament of arms and adjudi
Gated a '.lost cause" The Boer:
fought for two years and sever
months before they yielded, The
Southern Confederacy gave up the
struggle after years of desperate
| fighting in which the losses on both
sides were stupendous. The casual
ties sustained by the British in the
most holly contested battle of The
Boer war did not exceed 1900 killed
and wounded. At Gettysburg, dur
ing the Civil war, the casualties on
both sides aggregated about 10000
In the "Wilderness" the slaughter
was indescrbable. Never before or
the American continent had there
been such prodigal waste of human
life. Compared with the great bat
ties of the Civil war, the bloodiest en-.
gagements in the Anglo-Boer conflict
seem scarcely more than skirniistes
But this does not reflect upon the in
vincible courage of the Dutch farm
ers. Their fight for independence
has brought them mperishable glory
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

the liberly-loving and fair-minded
people of North Carolina will coun-
tenance such conduct on the part Of
any one. Senator Simmons is either
very reckless, or has been misled by
some one who seeks to have him
occupy ridiculous attitude before
the people of the State.
In conclusion I desire to say to
Senator Simmons and the machine
Democrats of North Carolina that
the Republican party, and all those
who are opposed to the Democracy as
now constituted propose to conduct
decent and orderly campaign, but at
the same time we do not propose to
be deferred from asserting our rights,
either at the ballot box or elsewhere,
by such threats as are to be found in
Senator Simmons statement, and it
will he we'll for these gentlemen to
remember that those who are OPP
posed to Democratic machine rule
will never submit to the fraudulent
and corrupt methods that have been
practiced in Eastern North Carolina
under the manipulation OF the Demo-
cratic machine for the past twenty
years. These things have been toll
Grated in that section in the past on
account of the cry of negro domina-
ton, but Governor Aycock assures us
that the adoption of the Constitu-
tional Amendment would forever set
tie that question, and that in the flu
ture corrupt practices would not be
tolerated. With this assurance on
the part of our State administration,
made by our Governor, who is gen
tleman of high character and stand
ing, we have right to expect fair
treatment at the polls. This much
we have a right to demand, aud we
shall do SO with the assurance that
those who seek to inaugurats Eastern
election methods in the future will
receive but little comfort from the
present State administration.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

The Democratic Executive Commit
tee of the Fifth Congressional District
of Tennessee has declared James D.
Richa rdson the nominee for re-elec-
ton to Congress. Mr.. Richardson
had no opposition. He has served
several terms in Congress.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

President Roosevelt's speech at
Pittsburg sounded very much like an
appeal to the people against the
Republican majority in Congress on
the Cuban reciprocity question:
Wilmington Messenger.