HARNETT COUNTY TRIP NOTES
ROBESONIAN - May 27, 1904 Issue Contact: Myrtle Bridges
Wednesday afternoon, the 18th inst., having received a telegraph message from the Robesonian 45 minutes before train time, we boarded the northbound train on the Raleigh and Cape Fear railroad at Lillington, the seat of Harnett county, in the vicinity of which place we have spent most of the time since August 1901, when we were with this paper before. Our purpose is to go to Robeson by the quickest route. After leaving the station we learn that by going to Dunn we can reach Pembroke tonight, from which place we can reach Ashpole in time for commencement. So we decided to change trains at Fuquay Springs. This is a clean little town and summer resort in the southern edge of Wake county. In making this short distance of 14 miles we pass Chalybeate, a town of a few months' growth, where is a large lumber plant, dry house, dressing machine and all equipments necessary for a first class plant. A large spiritine plant, costing several thousand dollars, the first plant in this State to use the new process for extracting spirits of turpentine from lightwood, is in full operation and is pronounced a great success. Several stores and a large number of dwellings indicate that already a prosperous business is being done. Here are splendid mineral springs. After a few minutes we board the southbound train on the Cape Fear and Northern for Dunn. As we pass the small town of Angier we see the faces of a good number of friends. We are reminded of a scourge of smallpox here last winter. At Barclaysville we are told that a dozen saw mill whistles can be heard from this point. Coats is the name of the nearest station to Buie's Creek Academy. There are quite a number of new buildings going up and there is a promise of a live business to be carried on. Beginning July 1st Buie's Creek and Long post offices will be supplied with a line running from here to Lillington, making connection with mail trains at each end of the line At Duke we are reminded of two days recently spent here. The old Averasboro battle ground is near by and Chicora cemetery, where sleep many who wore the grey in the sixties, is the scene of a concourse of patriotic sons and daughters of the old Confederacy who, with tenderness and love, decorate these graves on the 10th of each May. Within a few monts the forest has been removed and a town has been built in which is to be one of the largest cotton mills in the State. The work on the factory is progressing slowly, however, on account of the high price of cotton. It is rather dull at this time, many of the laborers are moving out and the factory will not begin work until fall, we learn. At Dunn we meet our county man, Mr. E.J. Britt, who, with Mr. J.G. McCormick, spent last night at the same hotel with us. After supper we have quite a pleasant conversation with Mr. Britt. Then preferring to remain awake until train time rather than to get up at midnight, we while away the time in reading all we can find to read and talking with fellow travelers, while Mr. Britt in a rocking chair seeks the City of Dreams through the Land of Nod. Dunn will be remembered at the town of bank failures, both her banks having failed last winter. However, we doubt if there is a more flourishing and enterprising town in the State. Soon after the failures, the Dunn Banking Company was organized with a pay in capital stock of $25,000. Soon afterwards the First National Bank of Dunn was organized and both seem now to be in prosperous condition. After tedious hours of waiting we boarded the "Florida Limited" for Pembroke, at which place the clever conductor promises to let us off, though this train has no "stop" between Fayetteville and Dillon. Near Hope Mills the train slows up and we are reminded of the fact two terrible wrecks have occurred here within a very few months, and four in the last few years. Arriving at Pembroke at 2:30 a.m. we wend our weary way to the hotel where, after knocking at the entrance for a while without response, we proceed to find a room for ourselves. We sleep until seven, when we go downstairs to inform our host that he has two guests for breakfast. A few hours later Mr. Britt boards the S.A.L. train for Lumberton and your correspondent makes his way to Ashpole. J.A.P.
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