The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-04-03
FROM WASHINGTON TO PLY.
MOUTH.

O1tC0 " iNs-s'.3 NAaAS 3OeA'
The Washington & plymouth Rail-
road track Is completed and the trains
n DIV come in to their depot which will
soon be completed. This road Is
narrow gauge for the present. The
bridges are wide enough to take a
standard guage and not very far in the
future it is thought that the Norfolk
& Southern road viii own it, change
1t to standard gauge and exte2d 1t
from Plymouth to Roper, distance OF
nine miles. For the present, however,
it will connect with the steamer at
Plymouth for Edenton twice a day.
This road will be quite an advantage
to Washington. 1t Is thought that
should the Norfolk & Southern road
| own This road it vii. bs extended to
New Berne, distance Of thirty miles
The Washington & Plymouth road is
thirty-six miles long ard one-half OF
the distance goes through a section
that can be developed into fine farm
ing section. There is still considerable
timber adjaceot to this read.
| There seems to be deplorable state
OF affairs existing in Richland town
ship In this county. Some years ago
one or two Illicit stills were operated
In that vicinity. At first the people
winked a. it, and rather thought 1t a
Joke, there being no bar-rooms In that
section. They little thought what 1t
would lead to. It seems that the bust
ness was prosperous one, the revenue
department paid no attention to them,
and this was an inducement which led
o:hsrs to engage in the business.
Some few have been cut up by revenue
officers, but as a rule they have engag-
ed in this illegal business unmolested
until there IS quite number OF them ;
and now the best people In that section
are terrorized in such way that they
fear for their lives in case they at
tempt to inform against them.
Recently John Cation was shot and
killed while sitting by his fathers fire.
Idle and no other cause can lie assign
ed but that he vas a witness in case
against some parties who are said to BE
engaged in this business. The people
have taken the matter up and are try
ing to suppress it. Mr.. B. A. Thomp-
son, one OF the county commissioners,
has bsen active in this work and 1t is
learned that only few nights ago
some cne tried to shoot him, but the
pistol failed to fire. The government
is either short-hanaed Or it Is not do
ing its duty in not exterminating this
business. It would be blessing to
be whole people if it were extermlnat-
I'd. These who are engaged in the
business would be made better citizens
if they could be made to kn1w that
they will not be allowed to conduct
such business, for then 1t is hoped
that they would take up an avocation
! which would be more honorable and
make them better men.
Washington has building spirit at
the present such as it has not had be-
fore in the history of the town. There
IS new hotel and seven or eight new
stores going up and preparations
are being made for several other brick
buildings. We are informed that an
other cotton seed mill will be built ir
time fer the fall crop. This mill vii
only be ten-ton mill and will be own
cd by number of glnners in this, Pit,
and Hyde counties.
Steps are being taken to build an
, other foundry and machine shop here
Much OF the stock has been raised.
will be owned largely by the mill met
Of this section.
1t is stated as fact that Washing
: ton is to have hospital. For som
I time efforts have been put forth lock
: ing towards this end. Mr.. James !.
Fowle, president OF the First Nations
Bank here, has secured a donation c
$4,000 from Mr.. Bruce, of New Yorf
aud others have made donations.
i Is proposed to name 1t the S. r. Fowl
Memorial Association Hospital. Tn
town will BE- called upon to give 81
snd the buildings and equipments ar
to cost not less than $l5, 600 A meet
] lag of the physicians of the town h:
been acid and committees appointe
Tor The purpose Of taking lmmedia'
steps to lnaugurate full plans and pus
the work forward. This will be
}. much benefit to Washington aud tn
y section OF the State.