The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
NORTH CAROLlNA'S
CHIEF CITY
Continued from Page Ten.)

an important range of agricultural terri |
tory, is the natural market for the pro- !
ducts OF this region, thus large amount |
or trade is drawn to swell the ag-
gregate of retail business.
THE PORT OF WILMINGTON.
Wilmington is we'll known among the
Southern ports of the Atlantic coast line
OF North America, achieving a prominent
place as long ago as the beginning OF
the past century. The calamities of war
and the enlargement of sea-going YES
sells, requiring deeper water than it
could offer, reduced it for a time in i'm
portance. But the enterprise of its mer-
chants and the successful work of the
government has completely removed the
restraints on it's commerce, but there is
still room for deeper water, and there is
every reason to hope that the facilities
will be still further enhanced in the near
future. The deepest draft vessel could
draw in ante-bellum days was ten to
twelve feet, now are often unloaded ships
at the wharfs up to twenty feet, and this
without detention, with the result that
the annual tonnage Is steadily increas-
ing.
The following figures give some idea
of the growth and development of the
shipping interests of the port. In 1898
the tonnage of sea-going American ves-
sells entering and leaving this port was
100000 tons, $4,000 tons of which were
steam vessels. Foreign tonnage was
S4,S17 tons. OF which $4,000 tons were
steam. Total tonnage for year. 190O12.
In 1899, American tonnage 10000 tons,
of which $1,000 tons were steam; for
eign, 62,476 tons, of which 46,052 were
steam numbering 81 vessels. Total tom
mage for 1S99 2,000 In 1900 there were
10000 tons American, 81 steamers, of
10000 tons; foreign, SO steamship aggre-
eating 200 tons. Total tonnage 1900
261 vessels, amounting to 212385 tons
In 1901, there were 234 American vessels
of 1874 1888 tons, of which 113 were steam
aggregating 145,150 TONS Foreign, YES
sells of S0,055 tons, of which 40 were
steamers, amounting to 67,027 tons.
Grand total fir 1901, 3O7 vessels of 274,-
9SS tons. The above refers to ea-going
vessels
Not only is the beautiful harbor of
Wilmington the pride of the city, and
land locked but the river haven in
to load and discharge gives to them the
security and smooth water of the Liver
pool docks. Towage and port charges
are moderate, and coal is readily obtain
able and is not exorbtant. The port is
connected with New York by a regular
line of steamers, and another line is
contemplated and will probably soon be
in operation. Two rivers meet near to
the city and there are number OF
steamboats, plying between various
places along the shores of the Cape
Fear and the ocean and sound, the Mer-
chants and Farmers Steamboat Com
pany and the Cape Fear Steamboat and
Transportation Company from Whining
ton to Fayetteville, and the Wilmington,
Carolina and Southport Steamboat Line
from Wilmington to Southport, and all
lower Cape Fear landings. There is also
a line of steamboats, running to Little
River, S. c. From the congresses are
dispatched many steamships to all parts
of Europe. and sailing vessels of all
KINDS carry cargoes of lumber, naval
stores, etc, to various ports of the old
and new world, and in lumber, notably
to the West Indies, Central and South
America.
WILMINGTON'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In Wilmington, las elsewhere in the most
advanced of Southern, equally with
Northern and Eastern cities, the first at
tempts at universal and common educa-
tion were of rather a desultory charac-
ter. Prior to 1869 the city did not own
a single public school building, but to-
day the school property is worth but
little short of 5000, and the facilities
for public education are not elsewhere
equaled in the State, and are surpassed
in no other city of the same population
in the entire country
The population of Wilmington is es-
sentially church going people. All
leading denominations are represented
and all the places of worship are we'll
attended and prosperous. There are
about twenty churches in the city for
white people, divided as follows: One
Advent Christian Church. three Baptist,
one Roman Catholic, four Episcopal
one Jewish Synagogue, one Lutheran,
four Methodist, three Presbyterian and
one Seamens' Bethel. The colored citi-
zens have thirteen churches of various
denominations. The Young Mems Chris
tian Association have a handsome build
ms oAoAS lhC iiHS VI Tie principal InOr-
oughfare of the city, where visitors to
Wilmington are always welcome.
A PROGRESSIVE CITY GOVERNMENT.
The industrial revival of Wilmington
received an impetus from the wise and
progressive administration of it's NUM-
cipal affairs. Hon. Alfred Moore Wad-
DELL the scholarly and eloquent states
man of the Cape Fear, as Mayor of the
chief city of the State, gives statement
elsewhere in to-day's paper of
Wilmington's advantages for business.
manufacturing and home making The
Board OF Aldermen embraces number of
the wisest business men of Wilmington.
They are Messrs. w. G. Claim, E. P.
Bailey, C. c. Parker, w. E. Mann, Louis
Skinner, Frank Maunder, c. l.. Spencer,
E. F. Johnson and George Harris. In ad-
dition 10 their duties of an administra-
tive nature, these gentlemen have been
foremost in advancing the commercial
and industrial progress of the city Oh
whose welfare they are the guardians.
Wilmington has made generous provis-
ion for the sick and needy. All the