The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-22

Especial to News and Observer
Littleton, N. c., Feb. 1.-THE town of
Littleton lies in both Halifax and War
rem counties. About nine-t enths of its
business is carried on in Halifax county
territory, including the two drug stores,
the postoffice, the Postal and Western
Union Telegraph offices, all the hotels
except the Spring Park, which is barely
across the line, the Henderson Telephone
Exchange. the dental and law offices, the
mayors office, the cotton market, where
between five and siX thousand bales are
sold annually, and besides these places
Of business there are over twenty gen
eral stores on the Halifax side of the
town while there are only five or six on
the Warren side. Heretofore this divls-
ion line has been more imaginary than
real Our good people were seldom re-
minded of the fact save when some
transgressor Of the law would evade a
justices writ issued by the authorities
in one or the other counties. But now
this invisible line promises to be a
source of controversy among those who
are interested in the liquor question and
IL ying to minimize the obnoxious features
of the sale of the same by the establish
ment of a dispensary for the whole town
at the same time receiving the bentfit
arising therefrom in the way of taxes to
maintain the town government, improve
cur street lights, etc, and others of diff
ferent views as to which is the better
plan to deal with the question. 1t will
be remembered that in July, 1901, the
board of commissioners of Halifax coun-
!, IN
to sell liquor in the town of Littleton-
ell of the bars at that time and always
therefore being in Halifax county terri
tory
This action by the commissioners was
based upon the petition of the qualified
voters of Littleton and upon the advice
that the territory was already prohibited
by statute prohibiting the sale and
manufacture within one mile of Littleton
College and this view has since been
sustained by the Supreme Court in the
case of State VS.. Knots.
No sooner had the people rid them
selves of the saloons than the authorities
of Warren with a branch dispensary pro-
vision, established and has ever since.
maintained a branch dispensary in the
town of Littleton drawing its revenue
to a very large extent If not four-hfths
of all its income from the people OF Hall
fax county,, while the town of Littleton
ror the county of Halifax has not re-
ceived one cent of the profits from 1t.
At the February term of Warren coun-
ty Superior court the keeper OF this dis
pensary in Littleton was presented to
the grand jury and a true bill found fol
selling whiskey in territory prohibited
by law. Now, when the proposition is
made TO the Warren people to have a
dispensary for the town Of Llttleton, with
a fair division of the profits among war
rem, Halifax and the town Of Littletor,
the position of the Warren county au-
thorities seem to be by their refusal TO
make fair terms, that they already have
a business which is paying them hand
some income and therefore they do not
care for any partnership. If absolute
Inhibition" did actually prohibit the
people of this town would favor that.
But experience here teaches to the con-
trary, therefore business men have de-
cided to ask the Legislature for char-
ter for dispensary for the town.
With nearly all the business in Hall
fax, two-thirds of the population ana
two-t thirds Of the territory in Halifax we
residents of Littleton on the Halifax
side shall look to our Senator and Rep
resentatives in the Legislature to take
care of our interests and the interests
of the people of the county. The ABOVE
is the true conditions of things mere