t i
-l-! ; ' :i of the'South &
- i :.--v,.1. which is now being
1 ...t t..rOii.h Vv'csU'm North Carolina
1 y a syndicate of Northern capitalists
f r the purpose of connecting the coal
fields of West Virginia, Kentucky and
EaJt Tennessee with the Atlantic sea-l-oard,'
will mar'n an epoch In the in
d atrial development of the ; South,'!
declared Mr, F. & Sterrette, editor of
The- Mitchell Observer to newspaper
man la this filty, recently, ' . "That It
;3 intended for something worthy the
name la evMenced by the care and
attention which the officials are giving-
to all the details of construction.
The grades are only one per cent, and
no expense 1 spared in getting only
the very best ? roadbed. Ralls ; 8$
pounds to-the yard, are being- laid
and the track Is belny most carefully
ballasted, xne line is now cohijhci
to Alto Pass, Mitchell county.. Its
extension, to . Marlon, In McDowell
county, trill cost something In the!
neighborhood of J3B,eoe,ooo. wawn is
practically one million dollars a mile.
There will be 1 tunnels en route, JS
heing situated in the mountains east
of Alto Pass. The new coal-carrying
road enters North Carolina at Unaka
Springs, following the course "of the
Toeoane river through Mitchell coun
ty as far a Alto Pass where it crosses
the mountains. (Trains are to-day
running regularly from Johnson City,
Tenn,, to "Alto Pass. ' The lino com
plete to Marlon will bo ready by the
1st of July according to the estimate
of the engineers. The work: is now
being actively prosecuted at both
nds of the line. t radically the whole
route being graded. v A little delayf
Is now being experienced, not be
cause of the condition of the money
market, but because of several obsti
nate tunnels and the big steel bridge
across the Catawba river. -SEVEN
MILES NOT TET READY.
This brilge Is one of the heaviest
la the countryy, being constructed on
ly of the very strongest material. The
foundations are now being laid and
much of the stuff is on hand. . It
will be finished within tie next tew'
months. A number ofgangs of amen
are employed on the Alto Pass aa well
as the Marlon end of the line. , The
sroad south from Alto. Pass has seen
rradej and mad ready for the rails
for about seven miles. The line
north of Marion has been graded
and wade ready for the heavy rails
for a distance of 29 miles. ' The in
tervening distance . Is about seven
anile which 1 yet to be finished.
Along the greater part of the graded
section, "dinky" line now runs and
one who secure nerraisslon from the
proper authorities can go from Marlon
to Alto Pass and; Johnston City,
Tenn by walking across the seven.
miles intervening. J-.
"This 4s the way X came to Char
- lotte. , I caught a train on the road
which rum within two and one-half
miles of my home In Bakersvllle, and
rode to Alto Pass on schedule time.
1 than secured permission from the
authorities to ride on "dinky out
to the end of the ine and then catch
another on the other side of fha di
vide and ride on to Marlon, The
trip was made but unJer the treat e
disadvantages,
"Soma distance before the - little
engine had arrived' at Its destination,
lit toppled off the track and I was
forced to, lug my heavy grip across
the mountains for seven - or eight
mile At the other end I had the
good fortune to catct a hand-car
which was Just about to leave for
Marlon and I secured passage on it
' hy agreeing to work one of the lever
arms. - -
, i MAGNIFICENT SCENERY,
- "Such scenery as that along the
Gouts 4 Western line Is not to be
found elsewhere in North Carolina or
Tennessee ana ma means wat u is
v not to be found In America. , Had
Ah surveyors desired to select a beau
tiful route -rather than an easy one,
. ter one than Ihey did. . The views
alonr the Toecane river are simply
grand. This beautiful stream tra
' vnrwi th areater nart of Mitchell
county and bears the name of Its two
main tributaries Toe river and Cane
creek. ? i: The railroad follows, the
stream seldom ,' leaving Its banks but
a fan. n1 nA hn n1w 4a waka ft
' short cut. The views from the car
-windows are great. xaey alone are
worth the expense of the trip. Had
this country been opened tip before
- spot of the country, - No more sub
lime scenery Is to be found anywhere:
such atmosphere, so invigorating and
' healthful; - streams, clear and cooL
everything mystic, .wonderful. ' ' The
scenery about Alto Pass is immense,
beyond the power ef one's words to
describe. --. It is overpowering In its
' tnassivenesa. : - w,; ;:,..:
J THE WORK BEINO DONE.
. -me otner air i stood uo on on
of those mountains and watched the
work which wa ktolng oip below,
' There was nothing about me but the
giant mountains, toe soft, blue bowl
. above, the clouds near at hand and
; far down the mountain side the gang
of men working away llkso : many
ants. ," such aa exnerience is conau
' clve to introspection and Is calcu
lated to make one feel his own inslr
niflcaace. V; Suddenly 1 observed all
of the men draw away from their
, work and the next second I saw a
great cioua or rota, na ana smox
hoo tip into the air. A considerable
time i, elapsed- before I heard the
, sound. It seemed to me Ilk an hour,
, and then I heard a dull thud like
that of far-off thunder. ; u Tj nolaa
' reverberated throuzh the mountains
for several minutes, eohoing and re
echoing as the waves of sound struck
the sties of the different mountains.
: It reminded me of Washington : Ir
ving sublime description of a thun
der storm In the CatskUl mountains
of New York, which appears in Rip
van winkle. v-r" ;- ; --'.v
"The completion f this South a-
' Western line throuh North Carolina
will mean much to the State, It will
: result in cheaper coal and fuel for
the manufacturing enterprises and in
reduced freisrht rates on other com
nsfdlties. The mere fact that anoCi-
- r railroad stretches across the But
wl'l have Hs effect upon the commer
rial Ufa of the wectlon. ,
"The line when complete will
ftr t-r from Eaat Kentucky t the
AX' inUc seaboard. Neither terminus
t been oindally decided upon.
T-e line wijj run rrom Marlon to So
i'c. where it will connect wltli the
Ldboard and thett jass on probably
r i i arunourg, , u. Mr, Oeorge u
t auer, of Johnston CJty'Tenn..
rr- U nt of the South ss . Western
r-'iroad aad is In clos touch with
til of the construction work.", .
::; r:n-3 good adhce. 5:
,, vr, oni of the best known
. ' I ! I:avvi;i,, N. T.. oys
: i t- ' f Vf-r tni nM wti.plls, sp-
-:-r.B athk a t-v; ltvcur4
( t ti-,-t,i jor rood ;j year sko.'
"l--d f"r r,r'-n, rn'oundo, bums OT
:n, . i. "., t ail Cruf stores,.-
l t; ..' r-! - n . . : i . "Ai'i? i. t
two fr-","ro'-vs ft,1i ' 'r a s :ri "!nT' fil,J
one (t thf,ra shall-lot f.ill on the
cround without your ruthfr?" aa
the text of the discourse, -which in
Its summary accarded to the infinity
of God's wls:lora and nature the pow
er ti care for every ilvlnsr thin?. Dr.
Kincald compared the observance ot
the principle of the life between the
Buddhists and Christiana, declaring
that It was held mora sacred by the
former. The' oriental tnlnd attrib
uted a sacred relation existing be
tween the meanest Insect and dlvln
Ity. He showed how the cruel and
hard facts of the physical universe
went to disprove that God could care
for, every living thing, how the laws
of nature had no compunctions as to
the saving of a life, the good and
the great perishing with ; the lowly
and the unworthy, and in his con
clusion he showed bow man was lead
to believe that the .doctrine of watch
ful providence was a, 'falbicy.'.it.'V;-.
,.'lt Is' because; God was . regard
ed as nothing more than a finite be
ing, with the omits and Abounds or a
finite man," whereas he Is infinite in
his wisdom and all-loving and all
powerful In . his dealings with men,'.'
said be..' - v -
The sermon was replete with mes
sages of comfort and was stimulate
ing at the closing of the year.- "
T1IELVTRE PARTY."
Maiwgcr 3. li CroVO to Entertain
Carrier Boys at the Academy or
Music -The Counterfeiters" to Be
Presented, s., ;f ' , ,'; it
The carrier boys ' of The Observer
and The Chronicle, are fortunate and
popular. They are t "the recipients
ef many social attentions." ' Only last
week, they , were v wined and dined in
sumptuous sryie oy? ine UDserrer
Company. To-night for the second
time they will be the guests of Man
ager John I Crovo at a theatre par
ty to be given at the Academy of
Music. The play. to be presented la
"The r Counterfeiters,'! The company
is said to be a good one 1 and the
boy .will have a royal' time. ? The
keys .of the building will be given
them and nothing left undone to as
sure them a pleasant and enjoyable
evening. : Invitations ..have been -A-
sued, to all and o "regrets", have been
received. It Is safe therefore to pre
diet that the establishment f will be
fully represented and that a full vote
can be polled by Manager Crovo for
any job he wishes.- .
Leap Tear Being Awaited With In-
? ... . i;;,:,;:.teret., ,f . -
Leap year will be upon us In two
short days more. There Is, a feeling
of expectancy in the air already. Men
who are yet -in the state of single
loneliness and misery, though far. ad
vanced In life, are skipping about the
streets with an apprehensive look.
peering here and there anon and gaa
Ing askance at the bold eyed maiden
who perchance approaches. : Most of
these I cases arise out of vanHy, it
should be stated, In justice to all
parties concerned. The danger Is not
nearly so acute :k as i the bachelor
would have you believe, although this
1 not to be understood as discount-.
Ing the reality of the existence of the
possibility that things may become
Interesting tor somebody. That the
foregoing Is a roundabout statement
I freely conceded, but the situation
Is one which must need bet handled
with extreme delicacy, - -
, "Bill Batyey" Jailed.
Bob Harris, alias "Bill Bailey," a
boy of tender years, with entirely too
many aliases for hi age, is in a cell
at the police station and is satisfied.
No occupant ot these - weird i cage
within recent weeks has displayed a
more" amiable disposition than Bill.
He has taken his blanket and made
of it a swing. In which he rocks and
Ing and talk Joyfully, to the other
prisoners. The boy Is not locked up
on any serious charge. He conducted
himself disorderly Saturday . morning
with a few of his pals and the officers
put htm behind the bars until he
could be tried, which will - be - this
morning. Bill seems not to care how
long he makes In there his home,
Miss rraflcld at First Presbyterian
.- Church. ,
; The congregation .of ,, the .First
Presbyterian church was delighted
yesterday at both morning and even
Ing services with the singing of Miss
May Penfleld, of New York, who
gave a recital Friday night at the
Belwyn and remained over to assist
in the singing at the First church.
Mlaa Penfleld sans- "The , Publican"
at the morning service, and last, night
she sang several songs after the regu
lar exercises. She has a voice of rare
sweetness of tone and fine rang.,
play at O'Donoghne Hall ToNlght
An interesting event will be:- the
presentation to-night at ' O'Donoghue
Hall of the two-act remedy drama,
'Before and After." The entertain
ment is for a worthy cause, the bene
fit of the Mercy General - Hospital.
The latter I one of the city's best
hospitals, and deserve the best; of
su pport, The play will be worth the
while in itaeuV: Refreshments will be
served In the evening. An admission
of z cents for aauiu ana is cents
tor children will be charged, ; ; ; T
A Dreary Sunday, t '.
Yesterday In Charlotte wa :: far
from being all that eould be desired.
It was almost: a counterpart: of the
Sunday which preceded . It, except
that the volume Of water which fell
was less than on the earlier date. In
the morning conditions were tolerable
and many people ventured V out to
church, but in the afternoon the drlz
tllng rain Increased In profusion and.
ail in an. it, was a good da and a
j ft. - A,.,,. ,
i A roor Ilouse Candidate, v
Jordan Durham, a1 very old negro,
ha been in the police station for ten
day or more, awaiting the arrival of
the keeper of the poor house, to whtsh
he has been consigned. He I dying
gradually, the tattle of-the last arony
being audible In hi breathing. Fro
auent meuage have been sent to the
poor house officials, but the old negro
wa tlll in a cell last night
Arclideacon Jeff eric rreat-hes.
Archdeacon William ' F, Jeffrl
preached a forceful sermon at Rt.
Petar, , Episcopal churcTi yesterday
morning. The passing of the old
year and the opening of the new, and
the vlaions naturally arlalng thr.
from, euvplled the theme of the dfs
courae which was not only a most In
frestlng but a mot Inspiring one.
The mule. that of the Cltrlntma
frvlce, wa altosothrr dellshtful.
... :-e. f" l (': r . . 5 t
in f.'Uth V. r.:... x. :'r. i 'y ! 1
been sufforinj for yt 'a -wiiU r. t
mat'sm of the ho.irt and trent .'-v-eral
weeks at ft, 1'oter's Hospltil, lrv
thiicity, last summer, receiving treat
ment from hia brother. The physi
cians ' told him then that , he mi,: ht
live to ibe an old man, (but, on the
other hand, he was suffering from a
trouble tft'at mlsht end his days In
the twinkling of an ye and at any
time.
Dr. Presaly went to Cedar Springs,
his old home, last Thursday morning.
to be with his brother for a few
days. They both started . to church
yesteraay morning, it ftemg only a
few, hundred yards from Mr. Presa
ly residence. A short distance from
the church he suddenly fell over and
expired. y.:.;!,,'.-.-.
The deceased is survived by his
mother, Mrs. Joseph L. Pressly, two
brothers, Dr, G; W, and Hon. Charles
P.' Pressly, of Augusta, Ga.; two sis
ter,: Mr . W . T. Bradley, of Abbe
ville, 6. C,; and Miss Nellie Pressly,
nis wire-and three small children.
Mr. Pressly was alaa-"an ' uncle of
Mr.. E. , P. Wldeman, city, editor of
The OSvenlng Chronicle, 1
STOLE VALUABLES AND rjETT.
Widow Lfldy Writes to Her Step-Son
to Come and Support Her, and lie
Came, But LcV't Saturday Night
.WiUr Her 'Watch and King. . v
Augustus Christophergen, a young
man of uncommon name, but appar
ently common character, Is wanted by
local police officials for making way
with a watch and ring belonging to
his 1 step-mother, who has been de
serted by hlnv and lea to struggle for
neweii i mo ciiy. ,une oia lady, wno
is a Mrs. Thompson, was left a widow
three weeks kgo In Wilmington, ! and
she cams here immediately after the
death of her husband. ThM boy wa
then in New York and she wrote him
to come -and stay with her, and assist
her in making a living. 1 v "-'
Christophergen arrived a few Jays
ago and loafed around until Saturday
night, when he gathered the old lady'
watch, which is a sort of heirloom.
and also her ring, and left for part
unknown.- it is believed that he has
returned to New York. Chief Chrlst-
enbury wants to get on his track and
will make the effort to locate him in
the North, there being a alight clue
as t where he may be found there. :
Many Meetings Scheduled For the
Queen City During Year 108. v
" If indications at the present date
count for anything, the year of 1908
will be notable in Charlotte's annals
for the number and the size of the
conventions entertained.- if not an
other were secured than those ' al
ready slated, this would be true' In
a - notable , degree, while there is
splendid prospect that the list will
be much augmented ; in length and
pretentiousness. Among those gather
Ings which will In all probability be
secured are the two State political
conventions, the Democratic and the
Republican, and the State Teachers
Assembly. - These meetings begin in
early - spring and will continue un
til- late in the falL vThev will bring
to Charlotte many thousands of the
test citizens of the Old North State
and will do It as well as themselves
much good. , ? i
Tew Business Changes. lt
The number of business changes
which have been announced to go
into effect with the opening of the
new year in Charlotte are noticeably
less numerous than usual. - This may
be interpreted, ! it Is believed, - hope
fully, the inference being that the
majority of the concerns are bar
monlously constituted and prosper
ous. ,r
Mr. S. T. Lewis, ot Greenville, S.
was a Charlotte visitor, yesterday.
TltOl-?1 - ) , ' -V;
Artistic
&t " t ' u V '
BtieFi -Piano
mar
is used "exclusively in
homes where art , aud
musical refinement are
cultivated to the high
est degree.1 . Only ar-
tistic standard sold di-
.... ; ' . : ' - '. - .
rect from factory to
home : v
' t
r , ' ' ' 3
'Mi', s
Cliasr M Stlcff
Manufacturer of tlia Artistic
filled, 6liw end Etlcff
; Self-nayer' pUnos.
' i ' ' ' 1
Southern Uc'rerccni:
' 5 7e:t Trada Ct.,
' CIIAHLOTTE. IT. 0.
c.n.viL::oTn,:rjr.
t 1 l 'reh ;. , ,r .: ; i ,
-n ? l r It U I .
i '.' " i ',. - i i e : : . r
cM'.";.- wcalhtr ihU v 1 .:, r tat
I have seen tnl'tT we-tth-'r in i'lcr
I H V. tn I. hafe la tl.li S.at., Fe
s:,!ea, tile weather here last .winter
v-.s warmer than thU Protected .'as
tflis section i. by the Flue Ridge
mountains from tiie cold blasts, which
sweep over them above" us into ths
ocean, and with the comparative free
dom from malaria which affects other
sections, and with- a death rata which
In smallness will compare favorably
with the best, I believe that this sec
tion, when It Is developed, will be the
Mecca . of Northern . tourists with
money.' -At present there are -not
enough fine hotels and not enough
places of amusement where they can
II ' m
L.U.VUUUUU
If you .-wish to ajppear at your best, let your
Dress Suit be identified with The Tate-Brown
, label., , , , , '
' It insures a garment as perfect as human skill
can devise it. Made to order in the tailoring de-.
partment on the second' floor, or "ready-to-wear
at from. ..".., $50.00 to $C5.00
mi
, 3 :
THis is what every one exclaims' about our this sea
son Bugs. They are certainly gathered in here With
f-"1- ) f 'v " f ' i v '!'
great'eare. Our.buyer went caref ully. through ihe lines
of the best rug makers in this country and we bought
. . ,J . ' 1 - t t hi. .'imimmiihi th''
only the pick-of their productions. ;r ' r k
V ? 1 1 1 " s f i t j ' '
; Also, a large stock-of larger and smaller Rugs. ;. We
offer the best bargains on this market , "
I&rtier'--Qtotier. 5 (Sty.
I ' ' Largest Dealers in the State. :
eciaii
HSiEUITU
'.'. I'l ' -' ....... v - .
i .Fyis a i .vs,oJt j.i
-. : .-' -;;S7" V I ' '
' ' l - .it- ' t. l 1 - ' V jrl
la'evibus to taking account ;of our 'stock,' we
are closing out many of our choicest pieces 'of .
carefully fleeted furniture at most ; attractive
prices ; t - 'I ,
f This sale affords an opportunity for our friends'
that they should not fail tp avail themselves of.
Callnd see, this assortment V; ' , : '
A 1
Th3 Ilcr-s
rt-a '.-lit. v, ' i .
(.'..'. -, 1 ! S ' , ': . '.
Tur. -r, an l' 1. -. . . if I
i t : : r.
A 1 - - cor ? rr; .it: i WJ1 ft"'
at thU'charcU ye.-tcr,'.;y morr.lr r n:il
Mr. Turner used as the theme of i
sermon "Love For the 'Brethren, the
Badge of Dlsclplcshlp." .
; Cottage prayer meetings, prepara
tory to the services of nest week, will
be held to-n!sht and to-morrow nlKht,
and Wednesday, 'Thursday and Fri
day nlsrhts preparatory services will
be held In 'the Sunday school room cf
the church.
. The pastor Is much encouraged as
to the prospect for a good meeting.
CDcTD'uiGiios
Fumi:h:r.
V
, 'MUSS
'MM
RE
. c
t
e
L
itkil Orte R!!:d
a
I Remember Melton's Clotlics ; Fit.
WINNING
NUMBERS
for the Cash
Ing
Vliil be decided Tuesday
V;-; af ternoori, ; h r-- "-
' xii) U S IL'o ; ; ; : A v .v
In the meantime et your
drugs from, us
. and further: information ,.
about prizes .' . :
' r -' " i ' " ?, , 1 ' v,; ' , - i i ' , L v f .
- 1. O , - I - . . J v ir ' "
Over
want from a
id
t i. . , J ( J A J . ... i J
1 If -I I 1
r;.ry to fjeot ncaiiii. ,
it cii:
idn r.r.I vet r.r.,1 ba'.unknp
py v.Iicn ycu c.n get such
wonderful value in the
ire
o'crir.'T
. now? We are selling lots
i of tlicm, and lots of our
) Combination Ccat3 as well,
- :; coats that are 'waterproof
- , and look as good as the best
"... tailored overcoats made.'
' r. Let us prove it '
. -
a Day of CcceiH
prizes amounts
to
h ft
The Holiday
trade now and are ready to get down to the regular
routine of everyday business. While our "holiday"
trade has been Tery satisfactory,: we are by no rueanj
' " - , -
left with a lot of "hard stock." of odd and ends, but
on the" other hand we ara prepared to supply all your
:.'. .'...-"".;'.!:":'' '''' -;- '.T'".
ctfcfm Prices
A GOOD ItlTLU to begin, the New yenr with rever
buy a piece of furniture u--U you have cccn
i
V
V
y
I
t2