The news & observer., 1904-09-25
MOUNT AIRY HAS
RISEN TO POWER
Rapid Industrial Growth
Briefly Told.
GREAT MARKET TOWN
Enormous Trade in Fruit, Vegetables,
Poultry and Tobacco. Furniture
and Other Manufacturing En-
terprizes Contribute to
the Swift Growth.
BY f. l.. TOWNSEND.


Mt. Airy, N. C.-Prior to the COM
ing of the railroad to this place six
teen years ago, Mt. Airy was quiet
little isolated village of a few hum
dred inhabitants a few stores, and
few shops. Then Winston, forty
miles away, was the nearest railroad
point, and roads were bad, ana in
winter very muddy, so that communi-
cation with the outside world was ex-
ceedingly difficult.
Now everything is changed and Mt.
Airy feels the throbs of life from
busy centres of commerce and civili-
zation and is growing apace with
vitality and energy that would sur
prise the unnformed. She has grown
until now she is no longer consi1erei
one of the small towns of the btatei
but one of the leading business cen'
tres with a population approximating
1000. She has but recently equipped
herself with system of water
works, and electric lights as well.
Being situated at the foot of the
Blue Ridge mountains 1t is naturally
a great fruit and vegetable market.
At this season of the year the streets
are often crowded with wagons from
the mountains loaded with cabbages
apples and potatoes. No better cab
bages and potatoes are to be found
than such as are shipped from thla
market. The apples also are unsur.
passed for beauty and eXcellency OF
flavor In the spring one may az
times see apples of the past year anl
apples of the new year in Vesseis
side by side to tempt the Appetite
of the purchaser.
The trade i'm chickens. eggs and
butter is also enormous. 80 that the
farmers in this section have splent
| did market and. l am informed, are IN
good circumstances. Speaking Oh
| farming, | learn that the tobacco
made in this and the adjoining coun-
| ties is of an excellent quallty TO-
! bacco was not grown to g. large eA-
| tent about here until recent years.
1t has been found that the SOIL IL
we'll adapted to the production or me
grades Of tobacco. and since Its intro
duction the financial condition or tho
| farmers has been greatly improved
Much of the ridge land that oe1ore
was considered almost worthless, IL
now considered quite valuable.
The city furnishes ample arrange
ments for handling these crops OF To-
bacco. Three or four large ware
houses are here where immense GUAM
titles of leaf are sold and two very
| important factories are here, to con"
vert the leaf into plug and other forms
of manufactured tobacco for the con-
sumer.
Another thing that has added im-
mensely to Mt. Airy'g life and growth
! is her furniture factories. These fac
tories have added greatly to the pop
ulation of the place, bringing In q
class Of people-honorable. seiI-sus-
tanning and thrifty.
To speak somewhat in detail ABOUT
these factories we may mention the
oldest first.
Mount Airy Furniture Company.
This factory has been in operation
about eight and one-half years, ana
has had a wonderful growth. Ine
growth in the last two years is nifty
per cent. Their shipments are over
SIS, 100000 per month. Their territory
extends from Maine to California, ana
| from Washington to Florida. Piana
are on foot now for greatly enlarginR
the finishing and storage departments
of this plant. These people makA
very handsome full room suits.
| The National Furniture Company
furnishes steady and lucrative employ
ment for from 75 to 100 hands, ana
makes a fine quality of goods, making
chiffoniers and odd dressers and Will
add full room suits about January l.
1905. Their shipments go from CIV
of Mexico and along the racine
throughout middle west. covering tne
/ eastern States, anu W "oA'As~A~~
South Africa. Trade has grown
rapidly, having doubled during the
past year.
Mt. Airy Mantle and Table Com
pany. This factory makes spccleity
of tables and hall racks. Here is done
also an excellent clans or work az
their trade will indicate. They have
| a. good export as we'll as local trade,
| making recent shipments to Cuba, the
PHILIPPINES. England and South
Africa. This plant is but two years
old, and the last months trade Waa
| the best of all.
| The Banner Manufacturing Com
pany is only a little over year old,
but is already doing very gratifying
business. These people make tobacco
| boxes. chairs and baby cradles, and do
| not expect to go out of business as
| long as babies are born and people
care to sit down. They take the
green log and turn 1T over to you ready
for use.
The Fulton Manufacturing Com
pany is the youngest enterprise in the
furniture line, but is starting off with
a zest and earnestness that gives
prophecy of the good success that the
men who are behind 1t merit.
It will be remembered that less than
one year ago, the graded school build
ing of this place was burned to the
ground. Through the energy and
enterprise of the people, another
building is being rapidly pushed to
completion. 1t is located on same
(Continued on Second Page1