Charlotte 1899: Eve of the New Century

 

Local News from April 1899

Local News from May 1899

Local News from June 1899

Local News from July 1899

Local News from August 1899

Local News from September 1899

Local News from October 1899

Local News from November 1899

Local News from December 1899

 

 

 

April 1, 1899

• Edwin A. Anderson, U.S.N. gave Dr. J. B. Alexander, President of the Mecklenburg Historical Society, relics of the Spanish-American War that he personally selected from the battlefields of Cuba. Anderson wanted them in safe keeping in his native North Carolina as a testimony to the bravery of American soldiers and sailors.
• The girls from Presbyterian and Elizabeth Colleges left for the holidays.  
• An editorial was printed about how unfair the government pension fund was. There were fewer veterans and widows alive but pension pay and pension appropriations were increasing.

 

April 2, 1899

• The War Department announced that troops returning from Cuba may bring yellow fever infection.
• David Wallace, Sr., of Charlotte, dies at home after an illness. He had been a member of the firm of Wallace Bros. Co. and had been a rabbi of the Congregational Emmanuel.

 

April 4, 1899

• Mr. E. D. Latta of the Four Cs company bought the Charlotte Gas Light Company. He promised Charlotte that "gas shall never again be sold in Charlotte for more than $1.50 for illuminating and $1.25 for fuel purposes...."

 

April 5, 1899

• Wade Hampton Harris is completing his third edition of Sketches of Charlotte. 10,000 copies will be available in the fall.
• A corporation was formed named the Charlotte Opera House Company. It purchased land from A. B. Davidson to build a new opera house. The land cost $3,200 and was located behind the courthouse.
• Citizens of Mt. Holly were asking that a bridge be built in their area to help farmers get their produce to market faster than farmers from Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties.

 

April 7, 1899

• The Charlotte Observer cost $8.00 for one year, $4.00 for six months, and $2.00 for three months. The semi-weekly Observer cost $1.00 for one year, 50 cents for six months, and 25 cents for three months.

 

April 9, 1899

• Joel Chandler Harris wrote a syndicated column for The Charlotte Daily Observer called "Plantation Pageants" about Brer Rabbit.
• Colonel Fred Olds contributed an article that suggests those opposing annexation of Cuba might change their mind if they visited there.

 

April 14, 1899

• The Boston Bloomers (girls) played 9 Charlotte men in baseball. The men won 12-7. Many elderly gentlemen had never seen the game before and sat up front.

 

April 16, 1899

• The Saturday Morning Club held a tea and dinner for the benefit of the library. It was at the Manufacturers’ Club.
• There was much press about the Spanish-American War in Cuba and the current war that was in the Philippines. Troops from all over were moving through Charlotte. John R. Ritch, a soldier from Charlotte, has a letter published from overseas.
• Mr. D. A. Tompkins spoke to the newspaper men of Richmond, VA concerning his thoughts on the cotton industry. He believed that the area could make millions of dollars by sending raw cotton to the mills of New England and Old England.

 

 April 26, 1899

• Mayor Springs thanked the board for their cooperation and cordial treatment during his term of office. Aldermen Myers, Hill and Robertson were pleased with his time in office. This was the last meeting of this board of elected officials.

 

 

 

May 2   

• J. D. McCall was elected mayor. People voted by force of habit. There was no interest or opposition to this Democratic nominee. He won in all 4 wards.

 May 3 

• Thompson Orphanage & Training institution held a board meeting. There are now 62 children.
• Grace AME Zion on S. Brevard St. decided to build a larger, more modern building.        
• Buford Hotel and Belmont Hotel Annex advertised the "First & Finest Elevator Ever placed in Charlotte."

May 4

• W. E. Christian was appointed general agent of the passenger department of Seaboard Air Line. He was once editor of The Charlotte Democrat and associated with the Washington Bureau of The New York Herald.               

May 5

• The Commercial National Bank reports $175,000 in capital and $210,000 in surplus.

May 9

• The Confederate reunion starts today in Charleston. Mrs. Stonewall Jackson and her granddaughter, Miss Julie Jackson Christian and Mrs. General Rufus Barringer left Charlotte to attend.           
• Mr. C. F. King, general manager of the New England Newspaper League has been touring the south and wishes to come to Charlotte on May 25th. He writes Vinton Liddell, President of the Manufacturer's Club, to request cooperation for their visit.

May 11

• The convention of Southern Cotton Spinners met in the Superior Court Room of the new court house. Many of the most prominent cotton mill men attended.

May 14

• The Souvenir Silver Jubilee 2nd Presbyterian Church publication containing the addresses and sermons of the previous pastors and their sermons were for sale for $ .25 at Stone and Barringers and the Queen City Paper Co.
• Professor Thomson's school at Sharon closed Friday for a big picnic.
• The auditorium in Charleston, SC was designed by Charlotte architect Milburn. It normally seats 7,000 but held 10,000 during the Confederate reunion.
• The new Elks Temple was taking shape. The iron work arrived and was being placed.
• The YMCA board met and approved a handsome souvenir to celebrate the association's 25th anniversary,which will be on November 11th.   

May 16

• The Hornet's Nest Riflemen had a meeting at the armory.
• A teller at the Merchants & Farmers Bank caught a bill that had been tampered with by someone changing the "1" to a "V."
• Advertisement for
• Merchants and Farmers Bank    

 

May 17

• Charlotte public schools had 24 students in the Class of 1899.

May 18

• Presbyterian College will send out invitations for commencements, to be held May 28-June 1st. They have 10 students.      

May 19

• Newell High School had commencements last night.
• Bones were found this week at the Rudisill Mine, but they turned out to be from a hog.

 May 20

• Co. E, Second N.C. State Guard, known as the Lee Rifles, celebrated today by having competitions and awarding medals.

 May 21

• The congregation of Seventh Street Presbyterian Church worshiped in the new church today. The church was reported to be the most handsome colored church in the city and had in their membership the faculty and students from Biddle University. Dr. Wyche was pastor.
• Dixie high school will graduate Wednesday and Thursday.
• People came from all over yesterday to celebrate Mecklenburg Independence Day, even though there were no official activities.

May 23

• The bathing pool at Latta Park opened to the public.

May 25

• A party of Charlotte cyclists plan to arrange a century run to Statesville. Even though it's not 100 miles, they plan to lap and make it 100.
• The Cranford Book Club had its last meeting for the year.            

May 26

• Davidson College announces their 62nd commence on June 4-7.
• Pineville High School's commencements just ended yesterday.

May 27

• Mr. F. D. Alexander attended the Davidson-Parks wedding in Hopewell on Thursday. He was enthusiastic about the road work that had been completed. He thought that having one supervisor over each township was better than having different overseers for different roads.
• St. Mark's Lutheran will be closed tomorrow. The pastor will be delivering the commencement at N. C. College in Mt. Pleasant. The timing was good, since the church is being painted.
• Honorable Amos J. Cummings of New York stopped by The Observer office yesterday. He is a Democratic Representative in Congress from New York and a leader in the House. He is a very gifted politician and newspaper man that spent several days in Charlotte in that capacity several years ago.

May 28

• Presbyterian College started its commencements.         

May 30

• The Eclectic Book Club met today.
• A meeting was held last night at the court house to organize a chamber of commerce or board of trade. About 50-60 people showed up.

 

 

 

June 1

• A Statesville publication, The Landmark, reports that Mr. S. J. Brawley, who was working to put in a telephone line at Mooresville, is working to put in another line from Statesville to Charlotte.

June 2 

• During their meeting on Monday night, the board of aldermen will elect two water commissioners, a street commissioner, and a city physician.
• The Saturday Morning club will leave the square on the 10 o"clock car tomorrow for Latta Park, where they will hold their usual meeting, have a picnic and read "As You Like It."
• Biddle University graduated 21 students last night in the school of theology and the school of arts and sciences. 

June 4 

• At the request of the Charlotte bar, Judge Coble will not convene court until Wednesday.
• The Steel Creek band has been hired to perform at the July 4th celebration in Gaffney.
• For Sale: 3-Room Cottage on E. 7th St., lot 50 x 50; new house. Ready for occupancy- $700.
• The Brooklyn Athletics and Biddleville, colored ball teams, will play 3 games in a series in the park this week, starting tomorrow afternoon.
• A 50,000 gallon standpipe in Dilworth has been constructed. A contract has been let for a new hydraulic system of pumping, which will give high pressure in case of fire.

June 6 

• The first brick of the new Methodist church on N. Brevard St. was laid yesterday. The church will be completed as quickly as possible.

June 7 

• Dr. Annie L. Alexander read an interesting paper before the Medical Society last night.
• A cooler is needed at the Southern station waiting room. The public is very dry these days.
• First Presbyterian Church will get their new organ shipped here within the next 2 weeks. 

June 9 

• Senator Pritchard sent George B. Hiss a telegram informing him that he had secured one of the captured Spanish (Spanish-American War) guns for Charlotte. It will probably be placed in the Mint yard or Vance Park.

June 10

• The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is sending out forms of examination for life certificates of public school teachers.

June 11 

• Mecklenburg Summer School will run June 26 to July 14 for teachers and anyone interested in education. The course of instruction is intended to meet all the needs and requirements of public schools. All frills and tassels are to be laid aside, and a practical, common sense presentation of practical, every-day work in the public schools is to be the object. The library of the Y.M. C. A. will be open to all who wish to use it during the session.

June 15

• About 2,000 carloads of lumber have been received in Charlotte over the Seaboard Air Lines, and about 700 carloads over the Southern since January 1, 1895, yet work is at present suspended on nearby 100 houses and stores for want of lumber.
• Building is going on all over Charlotte. The city is growing steadily and real estate is constantly in demand."
• There is a rumor that President McKinley has purchased a farm in Transylvania Co. 

June 16 

• The Charlotte Rough Riders will play Concord this afternoon. Captain Asbury said they are the strongest team in the state, large or small. Their mascot is Sidney McAden.
• The Federal Court yesterday found 7 men guilty of distilling.

June 17 

• The Mutual Building and Loan Association has 19 applications for loans, which shows how much Charlotte is growing.
• Mr. Latta is shaping up the sidewalks in Dilworth, putting in curbing and doing other street work that helps the appearance of the suburban area greatly. The trees along the boulevard are growing nicely and in a few years the boulevard will be a beautiful avenue.

June 18 

• A few years ago, some citizens from New Jersey came to Charlotte to see how roads are built in Mecklenburg Co. Now New Jersey is building more roads than any other state, but North Carolina is a pioneer in stone road building.

June 20 

• "Charlotte in a Chicago Paper" In The American Land and Title Register, of Chicago, for June, is a very agreeable reference to Charlotte, as follows: "The splendid industrial triumphs of the South are aptly illustrated in the remarkable upbuilding of this busy city. Ten years ago it was a rather unimportant small town. Today it counts upwards of 25,000 people, is growing fast and presents all the elements of a live, thrifty city. The twelve cotton mills run night and day, its five clothing factories run overtime to keep up with orders, and general business is brisk. Building is brisk and property holds at firm prices, considerable activity existing."

June 24 

• Mooresville is trying to have perfectly pure water. They have hired Mr. Thomas Hall, who furnished several wells for Davidson, to go to 100 feet. He is currently at 85 ft. He is trying to get past the granite.
• "Ye Country Club" was opened last night with a membership of 20 men. It was built by Architect Milburn of logs. It consists of one story and a tower. It has a verandah around it entirely, which leads to a ballroom. In the rear of the building is a pantry, kitchen and parlour. It is at the head of Lake Stewart in the future to be called Lake Leisel. Several hundred people attending the opening and enjoyed the music and dancing. The cafe is run by John Logan, formerly of the Manufacturer's Club.

June 27 

• Charlotte organized its first ball team. Last night, a meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A. and Mr. Edward Culbertson was manager. The team will be selected from the following names: Jones, Ross, Graham, A; Graham, G; Shannonhouse, Donelly, McAden, Allison, Thompson, Brunson, Levi, Williamson, Thompson, Graham, E.R. Baseball games will be scheduled with Mountain Island, Concord, Gastonia, King's Mountain and Cheraw.

June 28 

• Southern Railway stock jumped to 52 yesterday. Their earnings have increased to $60,000 over this month last year, even though large numbers of troops increased revenues in 1898. It has only paid dividends of 1% once on preferred stock, since most profit is going into making it one of the finest in the country. It has proven to be a great developer of North Carolina and the South.

 

 

 

 

July 1

• Today a new anti-spitting ordinance goes into effect along with a new anti-banana peel ordinance. The old banana peel ordinance has never been enforced so that several people have taken severe falls. Citizens should look forward to greater cleanliness. There are some things of which it is only necessary to remind well-behaved people. (This ordinance was following the lead of Atlanta and other southern cities that had already passed this law.)
• The committee on buildings recommended to the board of aldermen the erection of an 18 room school, designed by architect F. I. Milburn, with an additional story of 6 rooms. The mayor is to secure passage of a bill in the next meeting of the Legislature giving the city the power to issue school bonds, not to exceed $100,000. This money raised will pay for building in Wards 3 & 4, and the remodeling of the building in Ward 1. 

July 2

• A trolley ride is planned in Charlotte for tomorrow night. It’s a Dutch treat as far as the men are concerned.
• After only one day the spitting ordinance has made a difference. The streets of Charlotte look cleaner.

July 5

• The board of school commissioners met yesterday and voted to re-elect all teachers. Six new teachers are being added next year.
• They also changed the wording so that teachers could make less than an 85% average on an examination. They now had to pass only to the superintendent’s satisfaction. Student’s deportment grades for passing to the next grade were also lowered from 85% to 80%, and attendance was no longer considered mandatory.

July 7

• The East Avenue Nine and the Hilliard Chreitzberg’s Nine cross bats at the park tonight.
• A traveling salesman got into an argument after returning from a trip to Augusta over the number of arrivals at hotels in Charlotte vs. Augusta. After counting the arrivals in both cities, he found Charlotte had 3 times as many in the Central and Buford alone as in all the hotels in Augusta.
• The Messenger is a new weekly newspaper just started in Waxhaw by D. M. Litaker. The first issue was well received.

July 8

• The Charlotte baseball team will play baseball against the Mountain Islanders for the first time today. The Mountain Island team will be coached by Oldham, one of the finest coaches and catchers in the South.
• Mr. F. W. Woolworth of New York and his attorney spent yesterday in Charlotte looking after the Woolworth mining interest. Mr. Woolworth is now having the Greir mine, below the Oliver Oil Mill, worked as an option to buy it. While he was here, he decided to have the Earnhardt property opened up.
• The next handsome house to go up in Dilworth will be built by Mr. E. D. Latta, president of the 4 C’s, and for whom Dilworth takes its name. Mr. Latta will build on the corner of the boulevard, by the big tree at the pavilion turn. He will erect a house in keeping with his own ideas of elegance, and which will still further beautify his namesake.

July 12

• Ensign Walker of Charlotte arrived yesterday to visit friends and family. He had been stationed on the Nashville and was the officer in charge of the gun that fired the first shot of the War (Spanish-American).

July 13

• The Household of Ruth, an order among colored people, had a long parade in Charlotte yesterday.

July 14

• Mrs. E. C. Harris, the aged lady who made the trip from Texas here alone, recently has presented Miss Fannie Harris with a table that belonged to Hezekiah Alexander, one of the signers (of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence) and an ancestor of the Harris family.

July 18

• The Chamber of Commerce committee, the full 11, will meet today.
• Mr. E. D. Latta awarded the contract for the 4 C’s building on South Tryon St. to Hayden, Wheeler, and Schwend.
• Rev. Royel G. Shannonhouse, son of Mr. Joseph G. Shannonhouse of Charlotte, was ordained by Rev. C. L. Hoffmann. He preached his first sermon at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

July 22

• Mrs. Amanda Gibson has 2 new musical compositions-"I Will Be True" and a waltz "My Love’s Praises." Both are excellent. Mrs. Gibson is from Charlotte, and Charlotte people can claim her work with pride.

July 26

• A cedar gavel from a tree at the battlefield at Manassas, VA was given to the Julia Jackson Chapter of the Children of the Confederacy.

July 27

• The colored firemen of the city will go to Washington, NC on Monday to attend the annual tournament.
• The large, open street car purchased last summer cost $1,400. The smaller ones cost $1,000.
• The school board has decided to let teachers already in the schools compete for the vacancy left in the 9th grade. A man has always been hired by special examinations. However, Chairman Anderson feels that women are as capable of filling the position as a man. If they could pass the exam and were due a promotion, they would be eligible. The board acted on this suggestion.

July 28

• The 4C’s Co. filed a deed of trust yesterday in the clerk’s office with the Mercantile Trust & Deposit Co. of Baltimore to secure a payment of $500,000 with a 30 year interest rate. This is the largest moneyed transaction, individual or corporate, ever recorded in the clerk’s office of this county.

July 30

         Dr. Chauncey Rakestraw will begin a residence on Elizabeth Ave. that will be an ornament to Charlotte's eastern suburbs. Dr. Rakestraw will have a suite of offices in his residence. The building will be of colonial style with large porches, tower and porte cochere. It will command a beautiful view of the city, and the house will be the gateway to Highland Park.

 

 

 

August 1 

• Mr. Burton Smith gave The Observer two of the more than dozens of old shells he found at the old platform and compress, the site of the old Navy yard. These relics are interesting and have a number of inquiries about them.

August 2 

• The Medical Society met last night. After discussion the group agreed to a resolution that would forbid a doctor to allow his name in print in connection with his professional services.

August 3 

• A survey of mills has been taken. The statistics show within 100 miles of Charlotte are more than 300 cotton mills, operating 2,238,451 spindles and 62,353 looms or 55% of all spindles and 57% of all looms in the South.
• Mint Hill will have telephone connection with Charlotte soon.
• The Arlington Hotel is making an effort to secure a phone. 
• Davidson is on a boom. Work on the cotton seed oil mill has begun, and the work on the streets is in progress. Davidson is to be a new village from center to circumference.
• The Women's Christian Temperance Union will give an ice cream supper one night next week.
• The Little Rock Glee Club, colored, had a picnic near Derita yesterday morning.

August 4 

• Concord and Charlotte will try again for a conclusion on the baseball diamond at Latta Park. Charlotte won the 1st game 8-5. Concord won the second 7-0. The third was tied 2-2.
• A meeting was called for the purpose of building a steel bridge over the Catawba at Rozzelle's ferry

August 5   

• Charlotte lost their final baseball game to Concord, 2-9.

August 6 

•  Dr. J. B. Alexander spoke at the Confederate Veterans reunion and mentioned his forthcoming book on the history of Mecklenburg Co., which he was appointed to write.

August 8   

• John Springs Davidson died yesterday, one of Charlotte's well known citizens. He and Capt. S. B. Alexander were founders of Mecklenburg's road law. He was formerly one of the three road commissioners appointed by the Populist party.

August 15 

• Julia Jackson Christian, the granddaughter of Stonewall Jackson, is coming to Charlotte in a few days to enter Presbyterian College. She has been in Buffalo Lithia Springs with her grandmother, who is suffering from inflammation of the orbital nerve. Mrs. Stonewall Jackson will then go to a sanitarium, after leaving her doctor's care.

August 16 

• Mr. Joseph McCarver cultivates the Irvin vineyard on W. Trade St.
• A large balcony is being built over the sidewalk in front of the Elk Temple. 

August 18 

• Elizabeth College will now have a new transportation line from the city to the college. Opportunities will start for married ladies and others to take decorative glass and china painting.
• The Mint Hill Dramatic Club will give an entertainment at Sharon tonight.

August 20

• McCausland & Co's new building is nearing completion on S. Tryon opposite the new 4 C's Bldg. It will be 3 stories.  

August 22 

• The pastor of Tryon St. Methodist Church died yesterday. Dr. Walter S. Creasy had served other churches in North Carolina before coming to Charlotte. He was considered the ablest minister of the Methodist Church in North Carolina. 

August 24

• The Davidson Academy will open Tuesday, Sept. 6th. Miss Currie will be principal again, and Miss Lucy Martin will be in charge of the primary departments.
• F. P. Milburn says he's never seen so many people flocking to the mountains to escape the yellow fever districts. Every available house is full, and many are living in tents.
• Sheriff Wallace attended the picnic at Ebenezer yesterday, at least that was what was told to parties who called at the courthouse to get tickets to the hanging.
• The 15th annual lawn party at Pineville will be held on 8-31.

August 31 

• Today is the anniversary of the big earthquake in 1886.

 

 

 

 

September 1

• The army worm, about 1" long, has been on a destructive march in Long Creek and Mallard Creek. It has been eating millet and cotton, grass and anything else in its path. According to W. M. Abernathy of Mallard Creek, it was seen in this area in 1867. The destruction it causes was compared to what South Carolina looked like after Sherman's march.

September 2

• Charlotte is to fall heir to another great improvement. Miss Kate Russell has sold her property on N. Tryon, next to the Baptist Church, to Mr. C. S. Donaldson, and he will build a handsome business block thereon. The property went for $5,500.            

September 8

• Pineville will be talking over the Queen City 'phone tonight.
• East 4th St. between Tryon and College should be called Textileville. The mill men and machinery men are as thick as hops round there.
• Capt. Stitt, colored, who with his orchestra spent the season at the Haywood White Sulphur Springs, has returned. He will open a barber shop for the winter.
• The iron bridge over Briar Creek, on the Monroe and Lawyer's road, is up and in use.
• Trinity Methodist and Brevard St. Methodist Church will each be open for the first time Sunday but will not be dedicated until they are entirely paid for. Trinity Church is one of the handsomest churches-and certainly there are none more beautiful in design and proportion-in the city. The building is situated on the corner of Tryon and Second streets.

September 9

• Charlotte has several hay fever patients who are suffering at present.
• A number of Mr. W. H. Harris' books, Sketches of Charlotte, have been sent to the post office for insufficient postage. It requires four cents instead of two. Books will be held at the post office until parties can be notified.
• At a meeting of the directors of the Charlotte National Bank yesterday, Mr. Lucian Walker was elected teller, to suceed Mr. Moore, the present teller, who resigned his position in order to accept one with the Charlotte Trouser Co.        

September 10

• The Mooresville Record-Times seems to be having trouble with stable ownership. It has had at least six owners- Mr. T. L. Moore of Lexington; Mr. Ivy of South Carolina; Mr. Neaton of Atlanta, GA.; Mr. Jones of Charlotte; Mr. Deaton of Concord; Mr. Nealon of GA; and possibly Mr. J. W. McKenzie of Salisbury.
• Mrs. M. A. Osborne is again thinking of building up her corner on the square (Charlotte). There has been talk many times but the project has been abandoned. She will put up, it is said, a $35,000 building.
• Mr. Rob Dowd was the successful knight at the Steele Creek bicycle tournament. He crowned as queen of love and beauty, Miss Nan Sadler.
• Mr. John Rutledge, bookkeeper at the Southern Pants Co., has secured a position with the Cannon Co. in Concord. His brother, Mr. George Rutledge, will succeed him.     

September 13

• Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt died yesterday in New York City at age 56.

September 19

• General and Mrs. James Longstreet spent Sunday night at the Central, and left yesterday for Washington. It is the general's custom to always break the trip by stopping all night here.

September 21

• A new business was incorporated yesterday called The Charlotte Casket Co. The site has not been selected. Mr. J. D. Brumfield, named superintendent, will move his family here from Gastonia.

September 22

• Wriston is the name of the new Paw Creek post office. It will be at Hoover and Co's mill, near Mr. Lloyd Wriston's place. Paw Creek had a post office that was discontinued. Local residents were inconvenienced and had to go 3-4 miles to get their mail. A petition was sent, and Postmaster Mullen will be in charge.

September 24

• Observer readers will be astonished to know that a large hotel, "Carolina," is being constructed in Pinehurst by Mr. Tufts, of soda fountain fame. Mr. W. F. Dowd, who just returned from there, states the hotel will have 300 car loads of lumber and be 1/2 miles around the wall. Mr. Dowd secured for his firm, Dowd and King, the order for plumbing materials for 100 bathrooms, which is perhaps the largest order of the kind ever captured by a Southern supply house.
• Mr. John P. R. Polk, cousin of President Polk, died yesterday. He was born in Delaware and graduated from Princeton University. He moved to Charlotte, after leaving the law profession, to raise strawberries on the old Julius P. Alexander farm.
• Charlotte is a city of many poles. The principal streets are lined on either side with the telephone, telegraph, street cars and electric light poles. It would seem a good idea that when the streets are up for the laying of the double car tracks, that the wire be run under ground, as they are in large cities. This would add much to the beauty of the city.

September 26

• One of Charlotte's most popular drummers is Clarence Kuester.

September 29

• Belk Bros. has opened a millinery shop. The room was decorated with pink, green and white accessories. Tea was served by young ladies in dainty white cups. The Davis Orchestra played pretty music while hundreds of people came and went.

September 31

• Mr. Edward D. Latta, Jr., has made a name for himself at Princeton University. He took top honors in a class of 350. He is continuing his studies at Princeton. Charlotte claims him with pride.

 

 

 

 

October 1

• Until further notice, the Charlotte Library will be opened at 4 and close at 6 P.M. The morning hours will be from 10 A.M. until 1 A.M. Strangers are invited to visit the library, and new members are solicited.
• An entertainment is proposed for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Hospital for colored people, which, it is hoped, will prove attractive.
• A minstrel show by home talent, choruses and music by Stitt's orchestra will be a new feature. Everyone goes to see Al Field, and other minstrel troupes. They will have an opportunity of comparing Charlotte negro minstrels with these. Those who know say the talent here will not suffer by comparison.

October 6

• The Carolina Manufacturing Company will put in electric lights today and tomorrow, so that work can be done at night. This concern makes doors, sash, blinds, etc., and is so rushed with orders that it will be necessary to work several hours at night this fall. The D. A. Tompkins Company will do the electrical work.
• Charlotte operates 61,234 spindles and 1,433 looms. Gastonia operates three-fourths as many, while Mt. Holly operates one-fourth as many spindles.
• We would like to inform our neighbor that Concord operates 54,000 spindles and is now putting in 6,000 more, making 60,000 in all. She also operates 2,500 looms and employs as many operatives as, if not more than, any town or city in the state. While Concord has a few less spindles than Charlotte, she has 1,047 more looms, and this is, of course, the larger and more important item. We point with pride to our factories. They have been successfully managed and have always paid good dividends. The old mills are constantly enlarging and improving, and new mills are being added with cheering frequency.

October 10

• Bishop C. R. Harris delivered his annual address before the Blue Ridge Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church yesterday. Among other things, he addressed lynching. He praised the healthy reaction in the South against recent addresses of the Governors of Georgia and Alabama and other leading officials. He urged the crowd to bring their religion into politics and asked preachers to use courage and sagacity to shape the policy of their people in politics and keep them from the rule of corrupt demagogues of whatever party.

October 8

• From The Lincoln Journal: "Lincolnton to Have the First Automobile" Lincolnton leads in a good many things and, thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Daniel E. Rhyne, the cotton mill king, will lay Charlotte and the other villages composing the suburbs of Lincolnton, in the shade. Mr. Rhyne has bought and is daily expecting an up to date automobile. It is of the latest improved types and is run by gasoline.

October 11

• A movement is on foot to organize a knee-breeches factory. Mr. Claud Brown is at the head, and is interesting other young men who would like to return to the dress and customs of their forefathers.

October 12

• Mr. S. J. Brawley has about completed his telephone system for Mooresville. The wires are so numerous in town that an underground system is spoken of.
• The new chemical laboratory now in course of construction at Davidson College has reached the second story. Architect Hook was up yesterday inspecting the work, and says it will be the most complete building of its kind in the state. Davidson College is one of the few colleges that has a building for the instruction of chemistry. This handsome building is sixty-five feet square, two stories and a basement, built of pressed brick and granite. The architecture is of a classic design, in keeping with the face of the main college building. A fine system of ventilating apparatus will be installed, and the general equipment is to be of the very best. Dr. Martin hopes to occupy the building by December 1st.

October 13

• A gentleman who was shooting bats in Dilworth Wednesday afternoon, also shot, without intending it, a carrier pigeon. On the band around its neck was engraved "J.B.T-113."

October 19

• Some officials of Gaston County spent time this week visiting the convict camps of this county to see Mecklenburg's methods of road building. When Mecklenburg began the work of road building, its first macadam was laid with rock pounded up with stone hammers by the convicts. This delegation, by visiting the convict camps and seeing the wonderful improvements Mecklenburg has made in methods and work, can utilize her experience in starting the good work of road building in their own county.
• The pavement in front of and to the side of the new Liddell Building, on the corner of Tryon and Sixth streets, has been laid in cement. The school at Providence opens Monday. Misses Minnie Downs and Mary Kuykendal are the teachers.

October 20

• Mr. H. U. Davis, a farmer who lives about four miles north of Mooresville, has discovered a very rich vein of iron ore on this place. He spent a specimen to Raleigh and had it examined and tested by State Chemist Kilgore, who declared the metallic ore to be 66.94%. The vein is about 100 yards in width. Some of the rock on the branch that runs across the vein are almost solid iron. The property is within a few hundred yards of the Mocksville-Mooresville Railroad. Now when the money kings come this way, we will take pleasure in showing them around.

October 21

• The finance and street committees met yesterday on the king's highway-North Tryon St., to decide whether the city would open Twelfth St., where it was first laid off last summer for the street car track, or go further toward the railroad and make Thirteenth St. The committee looked over the gound yesterday thoroughly and decided to buy the McNelis property-about 150 yards from the street originally laid off, and on this the car track will be laid.

October 21

• Of course everyone forgot yesterday about the testing of the fire alarm, so when the first alarm rang in, the crowd, as usual, ran to the fire halls and the square to see the departments come out. The boxes were found to be in good condition except one-No 41. There are 26 boxes in all. Today the water-works whistle will be tested. Get ready to stop up your ears.

October 27

• For the first time since about '59 or '60, Charlotte has no military company bearing the old and historic name-Hornets' Nest Riflemen. According to general order No. 22 from the Adjutant General, the Lee Rifles, of this city, commanded by Capt. J. R. Anderson, has been assigned to the First Regiment of the State Guard and designated as Company A. The first place was held open for the Hornets' Nest Riflemen, but the efforts to reorganize this veteran company proved unsuccessful, and the Lee Rifles take the vacancy thereby created.

October 24

• The North State Club is to throw its doors open to the public for 30 days beginning November 1st. All men in the city will be welcomed to visit the rooms during that month.
• The Chamber of Commerce is finally on its feet as of last night. Mr. S. Wittkowsky was nominated as president. Other officers elected were B. D. Heath, J. P. Wilson, D. E. Allen, M. C. Mayer, W. T. Jordan, J. M. Scott, W. C. Dowd, F. P. Milburn, E. S. Reid, F. E. Abbott, and C. W. Tilleth.

October 25

• The ladies of the Baptist Church are busy packing a box for one of their missionaries in Oklahoma. The box, when finished, will be worth $150. (Note- Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907.)

October 27

• Mrs. Anna M. Chisholm left Charlotte yesterday for Mayodan in Rockingham Co., NC. She was recommended for the principalship by Wm. T. Harris, the U. S. Commissioner of Education. Mrs. Chisholm was one of his former teachers.

October 31

• The Banjo and Mandolin Club met Friday night.
• The Virginia Dare Book Club ordered from Stone and Barringer, a set of new books. The club will spend the winter in Germany studying the literature of the country.

 

November 1    

• Over 60 cottages have been damaged by a storm on Wrightsville and Carolina Beach. Its full force was at 4 A. M. The damage in Wilmington alone is already estimated at $75,000.
• Gentry's Dog and Pony Show gave two performances yesterday in the rear of the graded school, completely filling the tent. The dogs, ponies and monkeys are beautifully trained. Hundreds of children have been entertained.

November 4    

• The round-trip rate to the Columbia, South Carolina fair is $2.80.
• The negroes of Sharon township, who attend Weeping Willow Church, had a festival last night and tonight at the church. The proceeds are for church purposes.

November 5    

• The Atherton School in Dilworth has grown so large that the building is now inadequate. Enrollment is now at 132 pupils and is increasing. The teachers, Miss Carr and Miss Tompkins, assistant, have been overburdened. The authorities of the Atherton Mill and Mr. E. D. Latta have been in conferences and decided to make room for more pupils and another teacher. Mr. Latta would not reduce the price of the lot because he wanted to preserve equal conditions to all buyers, but he contributed as a gift, in cash, for the retention and improvement of the Lyceum and school building the sum of $375. It is expected that during the course of the next two years the Atherton School will have 300 pupils.
• Gastonia, North Carolina, has a new paper, The Gaston News. Those involved are Dr. F. E. Glenn, Messrs. Charles Loftin and Rufus Wilson.

November 8    

• The Carolina Academy, in Providence, has been forced to close on account of whopping cough. Miss Mamie Rankin, the teacher from Mooresville, has gone home to remain until the last whoop is over.

November 10  

• S. L. Alexander and Co., druggists, are experimenting with a snake. It has been in a bottle in their store of 18 weeks and has had no food during that time.
• Architect Charles C. Hook returned from Durham, where he is constructing a large music hall being built by Mr. B. N. Duke.
• November 11  
• Mr. Thomas Jones of the Pennsylvania Steel Bridge Company is repainting the city hall tower. He is working under contract for Mr. J. L. Bridges. He gets $60 for the job, and his work won't be inspected!

November 12  

• N. Tryon St. witnessed another runaway. A mule with the remains of a buggy attached came from 6th St. and turned on to Tryon going north. He steered past streetcars and wagons of all kinds. It belonged to a country man.
• The new chemical laboratory now under construction at Davidson College has reached the second story. Architect Charles C. Hook was up yesterday inspecting the work and says it will be the most complete building of its kind in the state. Davidson College is one of the few colleges that has a building for the instruction of chemistry.
• Rev. Dr. J. T. Chalmers was elected president of Erskine College yesterday. He was born in Mecklenburg Co. in 1861. His father graduated from the University of Georgia, and his grandfather graduated from South Carolina College. Rev. Chalmers was formerly President of Due West Female College.

November 14  

• The Observer reporter is outraged that Charlotte physicians have signed a petition to request that their names not be used in print regarding leaving town, medical cases or surgeries. The Observer thinks it is a shame that physicians from other cities can be printed but not our own. Perhaps the public may think that Charlotte has no physicians or surgeons. The Philadelphia Medical Journal has reported a similar situation but did not name its example as Charlotte. Last week Dr. C. G. McManaway resigned his membership with the Charlotte Medical Society and asked The Observer to withdraw his request to be left out of the paper.
• Tonight and tomorrow night the earth rushes through a meteoric stream, a shower that has not been seen since 1833 nor will be seen again for 33 years.
• Mr. C. B. Geissenheimer is making great improvements at the Black Cat mines.
• Work on a brick stable will begin on 4th St., to be built by Southern Real Estate.
• The Chamber of Commerce has rented the hall over the Southern Railway's uptown ticket office.

November 15  

• Elks Club Opens - The Elks will send out 700 engraved invitations to the opening of their Temple on 11/24. The reception room, hall and writing room are arranged like the Manufacturer's Club. The lower floor is carpeted in green velvet, and the furniture is of leather. A large elk's head greets one at the head of the stairs. The lodge room at the top of the stairs is carpeted in red velvet, and the furniture is exceedingly handsome. Each member is to invite a young lady to receive on the night of the opening of the Temple.

November 16  

• One of our popular dentists, Dr. J. Ruffin Osborne, has just been granted a patent on porcelain tooth crowns.
• North Carolina, we are told, ranks 5th in number of female colleges and in their attendance. Only New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Maryland have more. The higher education of both males and females in state institutions, denominational colleges and private high schools are doing excellently. It is to be doubted if any state is doing better. It is in the common schools, in the facilities for the masses of people, that we are weak.
• Dr. Richard Gatling, a native of North Carolina and inventor of the Gatling gun, has invented a plow with a spring seat that will do the work of 6 men and 12 horses.

November 17  

• The Agricultural and Mechanical College football team will play Davidson at Latta Park this afternoon. The Raleigh team has proved itself to be one of the best in the state or even in the South. The A.& M. players will stay at the Central.
• Saddler, a Charlotte boy, will play for A. & M.

 November 18 

• Mr. W. I. Van Ness has recently opened up a photographic supply house on 5th St. that is a credit to the city.

November 19  

• Friendship Baptist Church, colored, had borrowed $1600 from the building and loan. Last Sunday the congregation burned the paper recording the loan because the debt had been paid. This church started with 40 members and now has 150. Houser, the well-known brick man, is one of the pillars of the church.

November 22  

• Yesterday was arbor day at Sharon. Rev. Mr. Thompson, the pastor, was in charge of the 150 tree plantings in the grove at Sharon Church.
• Garrett A. Hobart, Vice President of the United States, died from an apparent heart problem at his home this morning in New Jersey.

November 26  

• Professor Cochran of Huntersville High School has 117 scholars on his rolls and 20 more immediate prospects.
• It is beginning to look like Christmas. The store windows and shelves are full of pretty wares.
• The managers of the bazaar for the benefit of St. Peter's Hospital and the Thompson Orphanage request everyone interested to meet at Mrs. H. C. Jones' home on Tuesday. There will be a table at the bazaar for children's work. Any boy or girl who can make anything saleable or who wish to help the orphanage in any way are asked to leave their contributions before December 7th at Mrs. W. C. Maxwell's on N. Tryon, Mrs. H. C. Jones' on East Ave., or Mrs. T. B. Gantler's, Dilworth.

November 28  

• Messrs. Finch and Tate have agreed to close the depot on Thanksgiving Day. The Southern's uptown office has been overhauled in appearance. The mural effect is blue, which was selected as the most becoming color to the complexions of the gentlemen who work there.

November 29

• The fire department was on the run this week. Mr. Ed Campbell of Belk Bros. called this fire in, which was started by a defective flue in Hamilton's Shoe Store on E. Trade. Chemicals were used, so Hamilton's stock of shoes, Mr. G. S. Hall's beef nor Mr. Zeb Andrews fish were in the swim.
• A german will be given at the city hall Thanksgiving night complimentary to the visiting young ladies and the members of the college football team, who will be in town for the game.

November 30  

• Doctors and nurses of St. Peter's Hospital will dine at the Arlington Hotel today by invitation of Mr. Springs.