The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-02
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
Wilson'S Sales of Tobacco
for the Year.
Her People Face the New Year With Brig ht
Hopes Built Upon Success of the
Past.
(Staff Correspondence

Wilson, n. c.. Jan. with the dawn
OF the New Year the citizens of Wilson
look back through 1902 with pleasure and
qualification to the heaviest tobacco sea-
son the market has ever had (there hav-
ing been sold up to this time not less
than twenty million pounds) and there is
general satisfaction in every branch of
business. AS is usually the case at the
beginning of the New Year there are
some changes here in business That live
enterprising merchant, w. D. Ruffin has
bought the grocery store of White &.
Coppersmith, adjoining his store and will
connect the two stores. He will carry a
large and select stock of dry goods,
clothing, notions and shoes in one, and
in the other, a full line of choice family
groceries.
P. L. Woodland will continue the busi-
ness at the same stand, as successor to
Woodland & Davis, doing general supply
and time business. Mr.. Davis will be-
come one of the firm, Davis, Barnes &,
Co., to conduct the fertilizer and supply
trade.
Mr.. H. D. Brown. who has been en-
rloyed by the Wilson Grocery Company
and Mr.. Cutchen. now with j. Oettinger.
have formed a copartnership and will
nut in a full line Of clothing and gents
furnishing goods in the new brick store
on Nash street, recently built by Mrs. j.
=. Wells.
Boykin & Company have broken ground
and material is being hauled on their
, vacant lot, adjoining their wholesale gro
Gerry store. for the purpose of erecting
, another large brick tobacco warehouse,
1G0x20O feet
Hackney & Bros, have recently in
creased their force to over 100 they are
behind in their orders to such an extent
that they had to call in their travelling
salesman three months ago. These live
energetic buggy builders are now putting
out over seventy five vehicles per week
and Mr.. Geo. Hackney says he expects
| to put up IS many as 100 per week in
a few weeks. This firm Is now contem-
plating building a wagon and cart fac
tory on a lot it owns down below the
Coast Line station. This will be a big
thing for Wilson and will be quite a
convenience TO Hackney Bros. as it will
separate the wagon business from their
buggy plant, and will give employment
to about fifty Or more skilled mechanics.
Work is still progressing on the new
| Briggs Hotel annex The steam plant has
| been COMPLETED and steam will be turned
On in a few days. The owners and mana
! gers of the new Briggs Hotel say there
will be no more comfortable or up-to-date
/ house in the State than this when COM
pleted
| The Atlantic Christian College now has
enrolled 100 pupils. DR.. Coggins, the prin-
| cipal, tells me that the outlook for a
continuous growth of this excellent school
| is very fine.
| The question Of a dispensary or saloons
is being discussed land by some cussed)
here. Papers are being circulated to be
signed by voters favoring the dispen-
sary and (as l understand IT'D if majority
| of the voters of Wilson signify their
wish for the dispensary petition will
be made TO the Legislature to pass a
bill allowing Wilson to have it.
| don't know whether Or not there will
DC a disnensary established in Wilson,
but do believe that with the start Will
son now has 20 rapidly become live
little city she will continue to grow and
| flourish, regardless of the result of the
| present agitation of this important ques-
| tion. After it is settled these live en-
ierprising people will get together and
pull as one man for the upbuilding of
| Wilson. H. B. HARDY.