The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-06
How Business Grows

The development of Greensboro has
been so steady and along so many diff
ferent general lines that it is difficult
to look TO any one quarter and account
for IL there. Perhaps nothing indicates
more clearly the nature of this devel-
opment than the amount of building
that has been done during the past
three years. The conservative estimate
of the amount of money spent in build
ings, such as banks, stores and resi-
dences during this period places it at
from one hundred and fifty thousand to
two hundred thousand dollars per an
mum, and yet, 1t is almost impossible
today to obtain dwelling or a house
suitable for mercantile pursuits in any
desirable location of the city With
three brick kilns in active operation,
it is utterly impossible to buy brick
in Greensboro today, showing that the
pace which has been maintained for the
past three years will be kept up steadily.
The municipal government of Green's
boro unlike that of many cities has
kept pace with the developments along
industrial lines and today Greensboro
stands in the forefront of the cities of
North Carolina in municipal improve
ments and reforms. Less than three
years ago the idea was conceived of
the municipality of owning and operat-
ing its public franchises, such as water
and lights, and to that end it was pro
posed by the Board of Aldermen to bond
the city in the sum of $500, 100000 for
buying or rebuilding such plants, also
for street improvements and for sewer
age. and at the same time accomplish
all this without raising taxes one penny.
Notwithstanding the fact that the city
had reached the limit allowed it in the
rate of taxation, SO confident was the
financial world of the ability of Green's
boro to do what she said she could do
that most of these bonds have been
placed upon the market. ard have been
sold at a premium which is the envy of
all cities of our size throughout the
South. The actual work of making the
Improvement which will be derived
from the money obtained from this
source is just beginning. During the
past year miles of street have been
widened and graded preparatory to lay
ing macadam, which from this time on
will be vigorously pushed. Surveys are
now being made for the extension of
OF the city, where pipe mas not been
iaId heretofore, and lne water works
commission viii begin at once the entire
renovation OF the water works system,
proviaing the city with an ample supply
OF pure water and a pressure tor nre
services that is not eXcelied anywhere.
The electric light commission is having
prepared plans and specifications for its
new electric lighting plant, which Will
be completed before January the first,
1902, and Will make GREENSBORO one OF
the best lighted towns in the entire
South About forty thousand dollars
OF the above issue of bonds mas been
spent in erecting city hall and general
offices for the municipal government.
This Is by all odds the largest and most
perfectly equipped hall OF the kind in
the State, and is the pride of the en-
tire citizenship. This investment, like
all those proposed by the Board OF AL
dermen, has proven to be self Sustain
ing, and the Board OF Aldermen by
simply injecting business principles into
the management OF the citys affairs
have been and will be able to spend
$500 100000 in much needed improvements
without the cost OF one cent to the tax
payer.
Among the recent enterprises which
are being projected in Greensboro, none
will be of greater benefit to our people
than the proposed electric power plant
and street car line. The actual work of
excavation for the power house has
been begun, and the work along all lines
will be rapidly pushed from now until
completion. So rapid has been the
growth of this city within the past five
years that the question of rapid trans