The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-23
ELKS TO BUILD A HOME.
HANDSOME STRUCTURE TO BE
 ERECTED BY SELMA LODGE.
Well-Situated Lot Has Been Pur- chased-Work will Soon Com mence on Central City's New
 School Building.
Advertiser Bureau.

, Selma, March 22.
 At a meeting of the Lodge of Elks last night 1t was decided to ercct a home for that organization, and it will be a peauty' The committee which has had the mat ter under consideration has looked at a great many lots, but finally decided to recommend the site now occupied by Ester & McDowell's blacksmith shop, and the old site of the Canning Wagon Factory that was burned down several years ago. The lot is on the south side of Water Street. where that street crosses Lauderdale and runs west down Water Street for a distance of one hundred ana twenty feet, and Is bounded by the low water line of the Alabama River on the south. In other words, the Elks nave se- cured the river bluff lot at the place in- dicated and will proceed to erect the handsomest Elks' Home in Alabama.
 The price paid for this lot was $2,25o, and the Lodge authorized the committee to close the deal today. There Is about s1,000 worth of brick in the old burned building, which can be utilized In the walls of the new building, and. taking that into consideration, the lot did not cost as much as it appears to have cost from the figures given above.
 The building will be two and half stories high, with a frontage of eighty feet on Water Street. Lauderdale Street separates the building that is to be erect ed from the other business houses on Water Street, and there will be space of forty feet on the west end. to allow light and air, and. as it belongs to the Elks. they can leave it vacant as long as they please thus insuring them low rate of insurance on their building.
 The space just below the pavement Tor the whole length of the building, eighty l>., hxr ha Dallas Iight Dragons for an armory. The first floor of the building above the ground will be elevated some three or four feet above the sidewalk and windows win be put in so that the armory will have light from the north, east and west, while the entire building on the south side can be left open to the river, if 1t is so desired, by the use of sliding pannels. which will make 1t a delightfully."- cool place in the summer. There will be another story under the armory next to the river. where fuel and other things of the Elks and the Dra- goons can be stored.
 The upper floors will be utilized by the Elks as home. and it will be a beautiful place The building will front eighty feet on Water Street and the end of the edi- fee on Lauderdale and the front on Wa ter Street will be finished in pressed brick and will be a handsome structure. an honor to the Elks and the pride of the city. The building will cost about $15, GOO This is the estimated cost. but it Is likely to cost a great deal more than that
 The space between the building and the river, as far as the soapstone bluff, can be planted in flowers and shrubbery. The lot is an ideal one for an Elks' Home. and their purchase has given the property between Broad and Church Streets on Water quite a boom. Several pieces of nIr1w off the market altogether. while the prices of other pieces have an upward tendecny and rents on lower Water Street will be materially advanced by the fact that the Elks propose to erect their new home there.