The enterprise now under comment dates its establishment back to about the year 1850, when it was founded by T. C. and B. G. Worth. Subsequent changes of style later transpired, the firm titles adopted being Worth & Daniel, D. G. Worth and Worth & Worth. The date of the latter copartnership was about 1870, and finally, in the year 1899, incorporation took place, the title adopted being The Worth Company. Mr. B. G. Worth, one of the original founders of the business, still presides at the head of its affairs and Mr. C. W. Worth, as manager, is associated with him in the conduct of the enterprise. The premises occupied comprise several buildings utilized as store and warehouses, and a wharf covering a considerable area and affording the very best of facilities for the receipt and shipment of goods, there being both water and railroad direct conveniences. The company are wholesale grocers in the fullest acceptation of the term, carrying a complete stock of heavy groceries of all descriptions, such as flour, pork products, provisions, sugars, molasses, canned goods, coffees, etc. Their connections have long enabled them to obtain all goods from the most direct sources of supply and their lengthened experience makes them familiar with the minutest requirement of the markets. The company are also commission merchants in cotton and naval stores, of which they handle large quantities. These are consigned to them from grocers and producers, and they invite consignments, and make liberal advances as required. Their connections enable them to assure the highest market prices and prompt returns. The company transact a very important trade in molasses, of which they are exclusively direct importers, obtaining their supplies from Cuba, Barbadoes and other West Indian Islands. The trade of the house extends throughout North and South Carolina and Georgia, where it holds its own against all competitors. As regards the gentlemen at the head of the affairs of the house we may mention that Mr. B. G. Worth, although over eighty years of age, still takes an active interest in the business. He has long been identified with the prosperity and welfare of the community with which he has been connected for so lengthened a period. Mr. C. W. Worth is identified in a number of contemporary undertakings of large interest to the city. He is a director of the Atlantic National Bank, the Carolina Insurance Co., the Underwriters' Insurance Co., the Wilmington Cotton Mills, the Wilmington and Seacoast Railroad, etc. The company may be said to be in every way a leading representative of the wholesale trade of this State with a record of half a century's honorable business career, which ensures every confidence and consideration.

One of the most useful and prominent sources of supply of this city is that conducted under the above firm title. The business was established in 1867, when it was conducted under the style of Hancock & Daggett. Later Mr. W. T. Daggett assumed sole control until 1884, when the firm of Divine & Chadbourn was organized. This continued until 1866, when the present designation was adopted. In connection with the business a store at the above address is utilized, which is Mr. M. W. Divine's property. This is a building of four floor 22×92 feet in dimensions. It serves as headquarters for the carrying of a very large stock of goods, which includes paints, oils and greases, glass, sash, doors, blinds, brushes, putty, varnishes, roofing paper, builders' hardware and painters' and builders' supplies generally. Devoting its attention solely to this department of business the house is in a position to cater advantageously to its patrons, as may not be the case where the handling of simillar goods forms only a small part of a general business. In addition to general lines, the firm are exclusive agents for this locality of the celebrated Sherwin-Williams Co.'s paints made at Cleveland, which are known throughout the United States, They are also sole representatives of John T. Lewis, of Philadelphia, linseed oil and white lead. The house is the largest paint depot in North Carolina, carrying the largest and most diversified stock. The lowest prices invariably are quoted and a business has been built up which is yearly growing. The proprietor is M. W. Divine, who was the senior member of the former firm of Divine & Chadbourn. Thus he has been connected with the enterprise for the past seven years and is thoroughly familiar with the requirements of this market. He is a native of this city and was formerly a civil engineer and was connected with the Atlantic Coast Line for eleven years. At the present time he is also a director of the Peoples' Savings Bank and several building and loan associations and generally takes an interest in the city's advancement and progress.

Reflecting in this work, the leading exponents of the business of Wilmington, our attention is now directed to the enterprise of the above house, which dates its establishment to the year 1883, when it was founded as Kirk & Gore. This continued until 1890, when Mr. T. J. Gore became the sole proprietor. The business of the house is devoted to the handling of groceries and liquors, both at wholesale and retail. A large country trade is transacted, largely with farmers, who come to the city and who order by mail. The facilities of the concern enable it to offer to its patrons the best quality of goods and lowest prices. In liquors a large jug and package business is done, shipments being made in this and portions of the adjoining state. Mr. T. J. Gore is a well known resident, who has worked up an important business by means of energy and application. He came here from Brunswick and was formerly a farmer there. He is largely interested in the Summer Hill Distillery, four miles from the city. A high grade of corn whiskey is here produced, known as Summer Hill. He also controls another distillery near Southport, the product of which is similar to the other. The whiskey made at these distilleries is shipped to various ports, large quantities going to Baltimore. Mr. Gore also owns a farm on Town Creek, nine miles from Wilmington. On this is grown rice, about 4,000 bushels being an average yearly crop.

This business was established about two years ago by its present proprietor, Mr. Preston Cumming, who personally supervises all operations. The plant is contained in a building at the above address and includes cut-off, rip and band saws, moulding machines, lathes and planing machine, and indeed, a complete and latest improved wood-working equipment. The factory is particularly well located as regard shipping conveniences, being adjacent both to the railroad and the river. The works are operated by electricity, which not only is cleaner and more convenient than steam, but it is much safer as regard fire risks. The building was formerly utilized for many years as a grist mill, but Mr. Cumming seeing an opportunity for an enterprise of this nature, established his present industry. His energies are devoted to general wood working of every description, including the manufacture of caskets, coffins, balusters, mantels, cornices, mouldings, etc. He also saws logs to order, dresses and planes lumber to order. His facilities enable him to cut planks from eighteen to twenty-four feet in length. There is nothing in the way of hard or soft wood working that he is unable to perform, from building a steamboat to making a mouse trap. His patronage extends within a radius of 100 miles distant from the city and is steadily growing. Mr. Cumming also supplies hard wood lumber in any quantity and size, black walunt, mahogany, oak, ash, hickory, pine, cypress and juniper. Mr. Cumming buys and sells old furniture, brass and iron andirons and curios of every description. Many a time there may lurk in some old residence objects which may be deemed as rubbish, by their possessors. By writing to Mr. Cumming their value may be determined and he will find a customer for them if they have any antiquity or value. Mr. Cumming is a well known and enterprising resident of Wilmington. He was born at Greensboro, but he has lived in this city many years and has always taken a keen interest in its welfare and progress.

Renewing productive qualities of the soil by means of fertilizers must be accomplished in a judicious and intelligent way, and therefore

In Wilmington a very important lumber manufacturing and distributing business is carried on, and the most important enterprise of the kind here is that known as the Cape Fear Lumber Company. This was established about eight years ago and it has since steadily developed and increased its scope of usefulness. The posessions of the company are large and important. The plant in this city covers altogether an area of about ten acres, upon which are the saw mill, planing mill,

The trade in peanuts is a distinctive industry of this section and very large quantities are shipped from this city to all parts of the country. Mr. A. E. Blake established his present business here October, 1901, but he has been connected with the trade for a period extending over eighteen years. He now occupies premises at the above address, where all facilities are available for economically carrying on the business. Mr. Blake buys the peanuts of the growers in this vicinity, cleans them by machinery, and ships them to all parts of the country. The variety of peanuts handled are North Carolina, Virginia and Spanish. The first named is a small nut, but is very full of meat and is generally esteemed as the best, especially in the South. Virginia peanuts are larger and are shipped North and are sold to Italians and others, and are by them roasted and peddled in the street and stores. The Spanish variety are shelled here and are shipped to candy manufacturers all over the country, Mr. Blake has every facility and caters to all the above departments of the business. By virtue of his facilities he is enabled to quote the lowest prices and to offer the best quality of products. As before said, he has a thorough experience and entirely understands the market. He is the owner of a farm at Sloop Point, Pender county, N. C., consisting of some three hundred acres. This he now rents out, taking, however, a portion of the product raised there. On this farm are grown corn, sweet potatoes and peanuts, the whole of the latter crop coming to his warehouse here. As illustrative of one of North Carolina's distinctive industries, we offer this brief account of Mr. Blake's business, which, although recently established, has met with a measure of gratifying success, which bids fair to become permanent.

The transactions of this city in grain, provisions and other staple food products are very large and are annually expanding. The above named enterprise serves to forcibly illustrate the character and magnitude of the business. This enterprise was founded in 1890 and has since steadily developed and grown. The firm occupy extensive premises at the above indicated address, comprising a warehouse 300×30 in area. It is admirably located for the receipt and shipment of goods, the railroad tracks entering the premises, so that goods can be loaded and unloaded at the doors. The firm are extensive handlers of salted meats, corn, oats, hay, flour, etc. They are in direct connection with the products of leading packers and flour mills of the West and obtain their supplies under the most favorable conditions. Goods are obtained in car load lots direct from the mills, elevators and packers to destination without breaking bulk. The business of this house in its particular department is perhaps equal to any other in this locality. At any rate it is certain that no similar establishment has better inducements to offer the trade. As regards flour, the firm sell this staple under their own brands. Of these we would mention “Q,” a fancy straight, “Silver Corn,” a fancy straight and “Stock's Best,” a fancy patent flour. All of the above are in demand with the public and therefore with the trade. A special department of the business of this firm is their cigar trade. Messrs. Vollers & Hashagen are exclusive handlers throughout North and South Carolina of the celebrated goods made by the former house of Powell, Smith & Co., New York, which is now merged into the American Cigar Co. Of these in especial demand and standard on the market are “Cuban Blossom,” “Renown,” “Topical Twist,” and “Cremos,” five-cent cigars of the very best quality and of established popularity. The firm do a very large trade in these and probably sell about three-quarters of all cigars sold in this city. The individual members of the firm are H. L. Vollers and F. C. Hashagen, both of whom are well known business men. Mr. Vollers is a director of the Atlantic National Bank and of the Wilmington Savings and Trust Company. Mr. Hashagen is a director of a building and loan association and generally identified with the material welfare of the city. The firm, with all facilities and ample capital, is in every way in a position to attract and hold its full share of legitimate patronage.

With the opening of the present year there was inaugurated a new acquisition to the trade facilities of the city and locality. We refer to the firm of Croom & Hunt, which enters upon is career with every prospect of permanency. The member, of the firm individually are Messrs. Z. V. Croom and F. P. Hunt, both young men who possess a thorough knowledge of the trade with which they have been connected from boyhood. At the above address is located their store and here they carry heavy and fancy groceries suitable to the trade of the city and country centering for fifty miles around. They cater to the trade of farmers and others and have every inducement to offer in the way of fresh and desirable goods and lowest prices. It will be the aim of this young house to attract patronage by carefully considering the interests of their patrons and not only to gain it but to hold it permanently. The firm also buy peanuts, produce, etc., offering the best current prices. We appeal to our readers that they should consult the terms and prices offered by this young firm, and visitors from out of town would do well to pay a visit here before placing their orders elsewhere. They will be met with courteous treatment and liberality in all transactions, no doubt resulting in business relations both of a pleasant and profitable nature.

The transactions of the wholesale grocers of Wilmington represent a very large business, and no city of the same population in the South excels her in the number and high character of the houses engaged in this great department of commerce. Prominently identified with the trade here is the house of Williams Bros., which was established in 1885 as Williams, Rankin & Co., the present firm being instituted in 1897. The premises utilized consist of a store of two floors at the above address, which occupy an area of 70×40 feet, and a three-story warehouse at the rear, forty feet square, used for the storage of salt, molasses, etc. A heavy stock, including all staple articles in heavy groceries is carried, which is obtained direct from manufacturers and producers in all instances, and generally in carload and cargo lots. The interests of patrons are catered for in every instance. One reason that Wilmington enjoys such an important business in this regard, lies in the fact that the jobber here thoroughly understands his market and knows exactly what is required by merchants, and not only that, but when it is required. Outside competitors in many instances are not so scrupulous, and often to make a sale will load up the merchant with what he does not want at the time, and thus cause him loss and embarrassment. The trade of the house extends to about 150 miles distant from Wilmington and is represented on the road by two commercial travellers. The members of the firm individually are: Messrs. D. M. Williams and J. K. Williams, gentlemen two well known to require personal comment here. We may state, however, that both are connected with the proprietorship of an important recently established enterprise, known as the Coal, Cement and Supply Company, of this city.

The perfection now attained in the above department of mechanical art is strikingly illustrated in the work turned out by the firm of H. A. Tucker & Bro., of this city. The house was founded about a dozen years ago as H. A. Tucker & Co., the present designation being adopted the year following. Mr. H. A. Tucker died September, 1899, and the business has been continued by the brother, Mr. R. D. Tucker, the original title of the house, however, being retained. At the above indicated

This business was founded about 1856 by Mr. O. G. Parsley. Later the firm title was changed to Parsley & Wiggins and subsequently Mr. W. L. Parsley became the sole proprietor. Finally, in 1894, the Hilton Lumber Company was organized with Mr. W. L. Parsley, the son of the founder, as president and Mr. R. A. Parsley, his grandson, as secretary and treasurer. The plant of the company covers about fifteen acres, with 1700 feet frontage on the river. The mechanical equipment is operated by steam of 500-horse power capacity. The machinery and appliances throughout are of the latest improved and best character. The tracks of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line runs the entire length of the property, and ships can be loaded direct from the mill. The capacity of the mill is about 12,000,000 feet of dressed North Carolina pine and cypress lumber annually. About two hundred men are given employment at the mill and at the logging camps. The trade of the house is largely in New York and New England, and other Northern points. The company have also a factory for the manufacture of crates for shipping strawberries, etc. They turn out about 75,000 crates during the fruit shipping season. The gentlemen at the head of the enterprise are well qualified by experience to conduct the business. Mr. W. L. Parsley has been connected with it since 1876 and Mr. R. A. Parsley has had about ten years' experience of its details.

Wilmington has for many years been identified with the handling and export of cotton, and both before and since the war its operations in the staple have been very large. An enterprise, which for a lengthened period has been closely connected with the industry is that which is now conducted under the proprietorship of Mr. J. H. Sloan. The business is the outgrowth of a very old established concern, which, we believe, dates back almost to the first decade of the last century, having been started in 1811 by Mr. Jesse Cleveland, but it will only be required of us to allude to it subsequent to the year 1880, when the firm of Parratt & Sloan was instituted. In 1882 the title of the house was J. H. Sloan & Co. In 1886 it became Walker, Flemming & Sloan, and finally, in 1891, Mr. J. H. Sloan assumed the sole control. The energies of the house are devoted to the handling of cotton, both for home demand and for export. The headquarters of the business are in the city, but the concern has branch establishments in various parts of the cotton belt where cotton is collected, compressed and shipped. Here it has every facility. The compress is conveniently located, in direct connection with the railroad system, and the steamers chartered for carrying cotton to Europe load up at the doors of the warehouse. The house ships North and South to manufacturers in this country, supplying many mills with their raw material, and transacts a large European business, shipping to Liverpool and the Continent. Mr. J. H. Sloan has for many years been identified with cotton manufacturing interests in the South. He is president of the Beaumont Manufacturing Company, of Spartanburg, S. C., and is a director of the Whitney Manufacturing Company, of Whitney, S. C., and of the Louise Mills, of Charlotte. He is also a director of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, at Spartanburg, and is a director in the Loan and Exchange Bank, at Laurence, S. C. Thus, it may be seen that this house is entitled to be quoted as an important factor in the cotton production carried on in the South.

It is a pleasure for a while to indulge our pen in speaking of a business which caters to the more refined and œsthetic tastes of the community. We refer to the establishment of Mr. R. C. DeRosset, which was instituted here in the year 1899 and which has since succeeded in building up a reputation and patronage among the best classes of our residents. The premises at the above address consist of a building of two floors, all of which is devoted to the business. A large stock is carried, including books of every description, such as the latest novels of the day, works of travel, biography, history, gift books, and, in fact, all current literature. Here also may be obtained in large variety and of the best quality staple and fancy stationery, as well as commercial stationery, blank books and forms, etc., also fancy articles suitable for presents, pictures, engravings, etc., as well as picture frames to order as required. Mr. DeRosset obtains his goods direct from original sources under the most favorable conditions, and is alert to obtain all novelties as soon as they appear. His prices will be found eminently reasonable, and any goods not in stock will at once be procured for patrons at regular prices. Mr. DeRosset has here a circulating library, whereby the latest novels of the day may be read by patrons at a trifling cost. This is being always replenished and kept up-to-date. The house is also agent for the Columbia phonographs and keeps a stock of records and supplies at the disposal of the public. This house transacts an important mail order business soliciting enquiries and correspondence. Goods can thus be bought by mail upon equally as advantageous conditions as by a personal visit. Mr. R. C. DeRosset is a native of this city and is well known and popular. Though but comparatively few years in operation, his enterprise has taken a stable and prominent place among the high class sources of supply of the city.