The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-13
HOW 1T SETS THE PACE
In 1891 Its Property Was 1862, 800 50
Now It Is ST, 1851.
SOME FACTS THAT TELL OF PROSPERITY
Postoffice Receipts, Railroad Receipts, Bank
!ng Houses and Coal Consumption
Tell Of Rocky Mounts
Wonderful Growth.
Wonderful Growth.
Editorial Correspondence

Editorial Correspondence
Rocky Mount, N. c., July 12.-"Rocky
Mount sets the pace for North Carolina
towns" said Mr.. j. C. Braswell, presi-
dent of the Planters Bank of this town.
as we trotted along behind his fine horse.
I'VE have the most elegant club house
outside the larger cities in North Caro-
lima. 1t was the first club house built in
!! the smaller cities and it is gem as you
see." And MIR. Braswell is right about it.
In beauty, convenience and equipment
though there are more pretentions clubs
in the State, there is not a more COM
Portable and elegant place in the State,
as all who have enjoyed the hospitality
of its members will say.
1--WE, are proud of our public school"
continued Mr.. Braswell. Look at the
building" he added as he pointed to the
large new brick structure in the new
part Of this growing town. There are
buildings in the State that cost more
money" said MIR. Braswell, "but there is
not one that is better constructed or bet
ter equipped. The committee did not
have enough money to erect the building
on the plans that gave all the facilities
desired. Then Messrs. r. II. Hicks and
Thos. Fl. Battle, two of our leading citi-
zens, asked to be permitted out of their
private means to supplement the fund
necessary to the completion of the build
mig so as to make it all that could be
desired
/ said to Mr.. Braswell that 1 had un-
derstood that the Rocky Mount school
committee and teachers also deserved to
be congratulated because they set the
pace fer thoroughness of instruction
Yes he said. II am a member of the
ommittee, and that is the thing that
the committee insists most upon. We
Prefer that our school should be thorough
rather than snowy. We insist upon old
time methods that are approved by eX-
perience, and as result our school has
a reputation in educational circles as be-
ing the most thorough graded school in
the State" and this sentiment / had heard
uttered before by Messrs. Thos. II. Bat
tie and James w. Hines, members of the
school committee. There is one thing
about the Rocky Mount school commit
tee that ought to be widely emulated by
members of the board in other cities.
They are not figure heads who meet oc-
casionally to approve what the superin-
tendent has done. They take the deep
est interest in the school, it's methods,
it's instruction as well as it's finances.
They let the teachers know that they
ere in hearty accord with their efforts
to improve the instruction in the school.
Such school committees make certain
that taxation for schools will be approved
by the taxpayers who see and feel the
good results.
The thing that most impreSses a WISH
tor to this place is the number and mag
nitude of it's tobacco warehouses, prize
houses. stemmeries and other buildings
erected since Rocky Mount became one
of the leading tobacco towns OF the State.
Prior to that time it enjoyed large
trade with the rich surrounding coun-
try. but it was not until 1890 that it be-
gan to extend it's limits and to attract
hundreds of new settlers. In 1SS9-9O
there was sold on this market 425,O0O
hounds of tobacco for 500, $50. To see
how the market has grown it is only
necessary to give the figures for the past
wear, when the sales aggregated over
nine million pounds and brought 1885,
500.
For the past four years the record is
wonderful one and these are the fig
ures:
Season. Pounds. Prlce' aver.
1897 -9S ..... 7,32S,7S0 5 56S,4S9.7O 7.N
1888 .... 7,645,69S 93,449,46 7.77
$4,000 .....11, 663, SOL 713,523.62 -
1GOOO1 49,. 8.25S,275 675,573.10 $50
1901 -02 ..... 1900, 900 1,166,500.O0 11.85
The total for the above shows that in
four years there were sold in Rocky
Mount 43, 500 ,9O4 pounds OF tobacco, for
81 III. 535.SS. these figures showing the
magnitude of the business.
To handle this crop there are five large
tobacco warehouses, five steam drying
nlants. four stemmeries, five dry prize
ries and two large brick storage ware
houses with a capacity of 1900 hogs
heads In the factories, warehouses,
machinery. ETC.. there is 100000 invest
cd the capital employed is about $780,
600 and employment is given to 1900 or
800 hands.
Since 1895 the Rocky Mount cotton
mills. (of which Mr.. R. H. Kicks is pres
ident. Thos. H. Battle, treasurer, and +.
G.. Ferguson superintendent has been
enlarged from 1900 to $4,000 spindles,
and is easily one of the most prosperous
mills in the State. The cotton oil mill
is one of Rocky Mounts successful en-
terprises Hackney Brothers carriage
factory is one of the first in the South.
Other prosperous establishments, such