The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-25
r.PRoeREss1N: MONTGOMERY.
NewlTndnstries in Troy and Biscoe Noted by
Correspondents
(Staff Correspondence.l

Biscoe, N. c., Jan. 23-I have just re-
session since Monday morning, Judge
Shaw presiding. Solicitor Harmon made
fine impression at this his first court
since his appointment Owing to very
inclement weather the crowd was small.
There was no case of much Importance
on the docket for trial. All were dispos-
ed of by II o'clock today and court has
adjourned. 1t has been about two years
since my last visit to MONTGOMERY, alls
! it is an agreeable surprise to note the
marked improvements and growth of the
country since by last trip. About six
weeks ago some valuable property, most
| ly business houses near the courthouse,
was burned, but l learn that they will
be rebuilt this summer. There has been
much Improvement near the depot, sew
eral new residences and stores have been
| erected and new brick bank building,
known as the Bank of Montgomery, has
been built and has been in operation
about twelve months. There was a
meeting Of the directors yesterday; the
business was found TO be very satisfac-
tory, and above all expenses dividend
of five per cent. was declared.
| 1t is a revelation to me to recall back
about ten or twelve years ago, when Mr..
Frank Page, one of the principal pio-
neers of the lumber business through
this country, first started his pine
scantling tram road from Aberdeen; to
! see how, so to speak, from what a lit
| tie thing a successful railroad business
has developed through to Ashboro, dis
tance of fifty-six miles, and now running
/ through cars from Pinehurst to Wash
! ington, d. G. And by the way, / want
to say in this letter, that Mr. Frank
Page was one of the best men l ever
knew.
/ The Aberdeen and Ashboro Railroad
/ has eighty-tw6 miles Of track tifby-six
! from Aberdeen to ASHORE, twenty-five
| from Biscoe to Mt. Guilliard, and four
miles from West End to- Jackson
Springs. This railroad system is owned
and operated solely by the Page boys,
sons of Mr.. Frank Page. There is nc
outside stock Mr.. Henry Page is Pres
ident of the company, Mr.. Robt. Page is
Treasurer and j. r. Page General super
intendent. / don't know, but will ven
ture to say, that for the same number
of miles, there is no better managed or
more desirable railroad property in the
State In twelve years operation this
road has never had collision or any
thing like a serious accident. The com
pany has here at Biscoe thoroughly
equipped repair shops. They take no
| chances; as soon as one of their engines
or cars need repairing they go to work
on it at once.
Since my last visit I notice several
new, neat residences.
A hame factory was started up here
about three months ago by Messrs. Burk
and Hicks. and | predict that it will be
d satisfactory success to the owners.
Why send outside of the State to buy
names, when just as good, at low prices,
can be bought RICH here at Biscoe.
learn from Mr.. w. w. Mills. Presi-
dent of the Biscoe Lumber Company,
that they have within radius of eleven
miles from Biscoe, eight saw mills with
a capacity of seventy-five thousand feet
per day. They have eight machines,
planning and dressing mills here at Bis
coe with a capacity of thirty thousand
feet per day; they have railroad of
eleven miles, running out to three of
their saw mills. They ship about one
hundred and thirty carloads of lumber
per month. The Aberdeen and Ashboro
abroad hauls altogether over six hum
dred carloads of lumber, rough and dress
ed, per month Mr. Mills says they
have on the stump several years of cut
ting yet left.
The population of Biscee has doubled
since the census of 1900. 1t is now over
500. They are as clever people as live
anywhere, and don't you forget, they read
ana appreciate the old reliable News and
Observer. H. b. HARDY.