The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-08
RIVALS IN RUSH
TOWNS OF WEST
Rocky Mounts Building Fe-
YER Burns Hot.
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE
INCLUDING A HANDSOMELY
EQUIPPED OPERA HOUSE.
NUMBERS OF STORES AND DWELLINGS
Forty Thousand Dollars for Water Works. Work
to Begin November |. Coast Line Hos
pitaI Soon to be Euilt. The
Falls Mills.

Rocky Mount, n. c., Oct. 6.-(Staff
Correspondence Notwithstanding the
solid, steady advance in the upbuilding
of Rocky Mount for the last few years.
and the continued improvement of the
tobacco market here until it ranks as one
of the largest and best bright tobacco
markets in the State, there is more
building going on here now than has
been the case in any one year for the
last ten or twelve.
The large handsome Masonic Tenn
pie. now approaching completion, is des-
tined to be one of the most elegant
structures of the kind in North Carolina.
1t is four stories in height, built of brick,
and measures ffty-five by eighty five
feet on the ground floor. Here are two
large rooms. one of which will be used
as postoffice, the other as a mems
clothing emporium. There will also be
a third and smaller apartment to be
used as an office.
On the second floor will be one of the
most convenient, and well equipped
opera houses in the State. 1t will seat
from 500 to 1000 people. On the third
floor will be three halls, uniform in size;
one will be used by the Masons, another
by some other fraternal organization;
the third as a banqueting hall and for
general receptions. 1t has not been de-
tern.ined as yet what the fourth floor
win be used for.
This building is located on West Rail-
road street, next to the Bank of Rocky
Mount, the front is decorated and finish
cd up with pressed brick. One of the
stores is now occupied. and by the 18th
the entire building will be ready for oc-
cupancy.
On West Railroad street, next to this
commodious store, Mr.. Il. ]. Hackney is
building a double store, 60x90. lit viii
be two stories in height, finished off
with red pressed brick.
Nearly opposite this building on the
east side of the railroad, Mr.. s. T..
Rowland lis building two large brick
stores, 74x90, two stories high, with
iron front; on Tarboro street, Mr.. VIM.
Soden. IT., is also building two two
story brick stores.
Besides these business houses there are
in course of erection quite a number of
elegant private residences in different
pdFlS VI the lONU. heceUlly lOfty iHOu-
sand dollars worth of bonds have been
issued for water works. The bonds
have all been taken and paid for, the
money placed in the bank, and the con-
tract given out, and work will begin No
yember 1st.
A trip TO the Falls Cotton Mill, one
mile from Rocky Mount, will impress
one with the neat appearance of the
village. The buildings for the opera
tives have recently been painted white
and numbered, the entire village pre-
sents more clean and comfortable APP
pearance than most Of the cotton manu-
featuring towns that / have visited in
the State. They now give employment
to over 400 people, and have disposed Of
all their output as fast as manufactured.
Work will soon begin on the Coast
Lime hospital. or sanitarian, at South
Rocky Mount. This will be first class
throughout, costing from twelve to TWEEN
ty thousand dollars. 1t will be fitted up
with the very latest improved appliances
and all conyeniences.
More tobacco has been sold on this
market the present season than for any
one year since the establishing of the
market. H. b. HARDY.