Year: 1860

Dear Progress Seeing there is 10 one here
who has taken the responsibility of dropping you
an occasional line or two, since your friend Tow
Wad.' has ceased to interest your readers, and
thinking a paragraph from this section of 1.-The
Old North State might now, we'll rs then,
tend to interest your numerous readers, submit
to you my advent into the columns Of public
journal Nothing, admit, should be care
fully arranged than matter for the printer. And,
neither, indeed, does think, before assuming
such position, the responsibility attending it.


Statesville, though small mountain town. is
rapidly increasing both in population and busi-
ness, and l think you would hardly recogize the
place now, though it has been but a short time
since you passed through it, and not great while
since you helped yourself to of Iredells fair
daughters" Several large and commodious
buildings have lately been constructed and others
are now under Roadway. The Stockton build.
ing the corner of Main street and College
Avenue. is handsome, large, brick building. fit
ted up for store rooms, with an appropriate Town
Hall on the second floor Reeses brick building
finished III time for this seasons stock and occu-
pied by Wallace & Elias, is another excellent
store-house. The Simonton House, as you know,
worth being noticed as building well fitted
flor the purpose for which it is used, viz: large
hotel and two extensive stores. Merchants in
this place have laid in larger stocks for the present
season than ever before and when consider
this, in connection with the firms which have
sprung up at the opening of this season, and the
rapidity with which they have all thus far, dis
posed of their goods,-we must at once conclude
that Statesve is fast being made the gateway
of commercial enterprise, an opening for mechan-
ical industry. and ali other pursuits consequent
thereto. Our merchants have not only sold an
unusual amonnt of goods for the cash, at retail
but they have disposed of great quantity, in
barter at wholesale, thus still more increasing
their facilities for bringing the " necdfuk" into
the town.


A larger trade has been opened with merchants
still more remote from the chief markets, and
many of those sturdy mountain farmers now find
a market for their produce in a much more con-
venient locality than they have heretofore found
Now, instead of driving to Charlotte and Sails
bury-thus injuring their teams and losing time
they can dispose of their loading in Statesville
where they get good prices for all, and actually
better for some articles in demand in Southern
and Eastern markets. either in cash therwse,
Should the A. T. & o. r. r reach this place
which is very probable. it will become the
tral point of all the mountain Wagon trade, be-
ing a near market and convenient depot for
produce going either South or East to find moro
profitable market.


We can also boast of Female College in this
place which is not surpassed by any nor even
equalled by many similar institutions. The next
session of this institution commences the 4th
inst Several pupils have already arrived and
many others will be here in few days to commit
themselves to the care and instruction of the tai
ented faculty.


This place is fast increasing in population.
Several families, to say nothing of persons with
out families, have lately moved into our midst,
bought property and entered irto business others
have bought town lots with the intention,
and in several instances have already commenced
improving. This is looking up for Statesville,
and if we had the above mentioned railroad I'm
ished and a Bank of some kind our village would
soon become town of considerable importance,
and we could then have ''gas light" on the sub
ject, which would be great help on dark nights.


On Saturday, 31st ult pretty heavy snow fell
here to the depth of about three nches ever since
the weather has been pleasant enough over head.


have made my letter longer than l intended.
but, (if you publish it at all,) hope you will ex
cuse its length, for if that the only objection
would feel better satisfied.


Respectfully, OSWELL.