The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-14
Loads NopG Carolina Daily apers n Both Ngys amid Circulation

/ saw one residence lot--not large one
which recently brought $4,000. Ten years
ago 81 900 would have been high price
for it. North Kinston is an entirely new
town. Twenty years ago the elegant
home of Mr. j. w. Granger and lew
smaller residences were the only houses
north of the Atlantic and North Carolina
Railroad Most of the immense tobacco
warehouses and plants and other factories,
and many of the handsomest residences in
the town have been built in what was
then cotton and corn fields Land that
sold at SIS an acre is now worth almost
that sum a front foot. Mr.. Mitchell sold
to Prof Rhodes, when he came here to
establish Rhodes Military School, thirty
acres at SIS an acre. That price was made
as an inducement to Prof Rhodes to To-
cate his school in Kinston and on that
eligible site. A gentleman told me
this morning that the land would today
bring for private purposes $500 an acre
Perhaps the best proof of the increase
in the price of real estate will be seen
on the textbooks. The tax-assessors, said
to be conscientious and capable officials,
have gone to work to put the property
on the tax lists at its ''true value in
money" One store has been increas-
ed three hundred per cent and other
property nearly as much. 1t seems to be
generally understood that the tax valua-
lions on Kinston real estate will be in.
creased at least one hundred per cent and
it may be even greater. If property is
worth for taxation what it brings. Kin
ston's increase win be as large as that of
any town in the State.
The name Kinston is said by tradition
to have been derived from the fact that
nearly all the families in this town had
inter-married and become AKIN and ton
is contraction of town, hence it was
called Kinston. This tradition is hardly
correct, for the town was first chartered
by the name of Kingstown. The name
evidently meant Kings-town, town of
the King. It's principal street was and is
Queen street. This is borne out by the
fact that on April 18th, 1884. after the
Revolution had terminated successfully
for the Americans, fg'' was knocked out
of the town as a token that no more
would this people pay homage to kings
or call their town Kingstown. The people
here have always believed in proper sani-
tary provisions, for in the towns first
charter of 1852 it was enacted that "none
of the inhabitants shall on any pretence
suffer any of their hogs or geese to run
OF be at large within the bounds of said
town; and any hog or hogs. goose or geese
at large in the said town, shall be for
feited to any person who shall kill or seize
the same"
Kinston has had good schools in all its
history AS early as 1885 Dobbs AGA
denny was incorporated. The schools that
have succeeded it have been taught by
some eminent men, the most distinguish
ed of the past $50 far as 1 can recall from
memory) being DR.. John T. Walsh, Rev.
Joseph II. Foy, d. D., Ii. D., DR.. r.. II,
Lewis, Profs. p. p. Claxton, +. NICK.
Goodwin, @. A. Grimsley, c.. w Howard,
G. H. Crowell, E. p Mangum, and Joseph
Kinsey. Only one of this distinguished
company remains in the active work of
teaching in Kinston-the accomplished
and versatile instructor, DR.. Richard III.
Lewis, who fills the chairs of English,
Latin and Modern Languages in Rhodes
Military Institute. May he be long
spared to direct aspiring youth to the
Pierian Spring!
The two most progressive steps taken
by Kinston during the past year have
been in its educational life. 1t secured
the removal here from Trenton of the
Rhodes Military School, and upon an en-
lnence commanding the town it has erect
ed handsome, imposing and large school
building that is the pride of the town. 1t
voted bonds for the erection of modern
graded school building which is now in
process OF construction. Under the wise
direction OF Prof. H. G. Brogden, super
ntendent, the Kinston Graded School
ranks easily with the best in the South.
Just one year ago Prof. w. H. Rhodes
moved to this place from Trenton. Jones
county. He bad conducted a Furnishing
school there, with the assistance of his
accomplished wife, for eleven years. He
was a lI,tive of Jones county, and had
done great work for education, not only
in that county, but in all this section. He
felt that for wider usefulness he ought
to move his school to a railroad town
After comforting with the progressive men
OF this community, he located here Dur
ing the past year very handsome, three
story school building has been erected,
containing seventy rooms. This has been
commencement week-the first commence
ment Of the school in its new and larger
home. The annual sermon was preached
Sunday morning by Rev. e. H. Cowan,
the brilliant new pastor of the Baptist
church; there was contest for a prize
IN extemporaneous debate, which showed
talent of high order, Hon. George
Rountree, declaring that the winner (Mr
o. o. HEWITT was youth of splendid
talent; there were Rotations decama-
tlcns, dialogues, pantomimes, excellently
rendered, interspersed with music of a
high order. The commencement exercises
were held in the Opera House and the
address was delivered by the editor of the
News and Observer, who was introduced
by Dr. II. D. Harper, who has fine gifts
as pubic speaker. Rev. Mr.. Hail. the
Disciple church pastor, in a sensible and
wise speech, presented the following
medals:
The medal for best debate presented
by Prof. F.. NJ. Ellerbe) to Mr.. o. O.
Hewitt, of Mcdowell county.
The medal for the best skill in drilling
(presented by d. Klein & Brothers, Phil