The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-04
RALEIGH'S LONG STEPS
IN THE YEAR JUST GONE
TIE Oak City Has Gone Forward in Every
Line Of Industry.
A GOOD TOBACCO MARKET ONCE MORE

concerned that became, actualites during
1902 was the completion of the line of
wires to convey electric power to the
city from the plant at Milburnie on the
Neuse River, six miles distant. The
wires now stretch the entire distance,
and the plant is ready to furnish power
to run all kinds of machinery.
In the way of city improvements, the
year was a notable one. The contract
was awarded for additional street light
ing facilities. 1t calls for a much larger
number of improved arc lights than ever
before. There is to be one at every
street crossing in the city.
The street car line extension was com
pleted down Fayetteville street to the
Centennial Graded school.
There was much Improvement in the
pavements Of the city. A great deal of
fine, modern work was done along this
line. The city has agreed to pave two
blocks of New Bern avenue, and the
township will then complete the work
to the Soldiers Home. This was some
thing that was much needed.
February of 1902 saw the great Con-
gress of the United States Good Roads
Association held in Raleigh. The State
officials and the city and county govern
ment lent a liberal helping hand to this
movement, and it was recognized as
great success. 1t resulted in the organ
ization of the North Carolina Good Roads
Association, which is doing excellent
work
One of the immediate results of that
Congress was the paving of three blocks
on Salisbury street, for which the city
expended something like 81, 400.
As to the general condition OF the
educational facilities of the city, nothing
better can be said than to quote from the
last report of Mr.. Frank T. Ward, Pres
ident of the Chamber of Commerce, as
follows:
LAS is we'll known our schools and Ii
braries are among the chief attractions
of our beautiful Capital City, and it is
gratifying to report decided progress
along these lines All the schools and
colleges show very marked increase of
attendance and efficiency. The Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College has found
its present capacity entirely insufficient
for the great number who have applied
for admission. The Raleigh Male Acad-
envy has. during the past year, reached
it's centennial anniversary, and under
the wise and efficient management of it's
present excellent principal Prof. Hugh
MorsCn, is educating The children, grand
children and great ra ndchildren of it's
former patrons. The State Library has,
during the past year added many rare
and valuable books and has greatly in
creased in usefulness and value. Scholars
from all parts of the State are visiting
it more frequently each year to make
their Investigations and prosecute their
literary work.
"a decided step forward in the matter
of education was made during the ye1r
now closing, when the Board of Alder
men Of the city of Raleigh made an ep-
preparation of 500 month to the Olivia
Raney Library. This step was urged by
this body and has given the greatest
satisfaction to our people 1t is safe 20
say that no city of this size in the whole
United States has a more beautiful and
useful library than this and our people
VIII never cease to feel grateful to it's
noble founder
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.
The year has witnessed this as a real
ity for Raleigh at last The Masonic
Temple was secured for this city in COM
petition with Charlotte, Greensboro and
Durham. after a friendly rivalry. The
committee of the Grand Lodge, after hear
ing the three propositions from the cities
just mentioned, decided unanimously up
on Raleigh as the location for the tenn
pie.
The building will occupy the site on
the northeast corner of Fayetteville and
Hargett streets. 601a by S71a feet in d.
mansions. 1t will be seven stories high
of steel construction. The foundation
and first story will be of granite, and
the remainder Of the building will be Of
buff brick trimmed with granite and
white brick. 1t will be one of the hand
soonest Masonic Temples in the South.
The total cost will be about $115 600
of which about $4,000 has already been
raised in Raleigh. The remainder will
be subscribed by the Masons all over the
! state. 1t is expected that the actual
work of construction will be commenced
early in the spring. This building means
a great deal for Raleigh in the way Of
permanently locating the Grand lodge
mere 1t will bring six or seven hundred
delegates here each year, to remain for
Tour or five days. Besides all this. it
may be the means of locating the other
Masonic bodies in Raleigh.
THE MILLS ROAD.
This one of the very greatest of all
| of Raleigh agencies for Industrial growth
and advancement has gone on with its
| coed work during the year in no slow or
uncertain way. The extension from Flu
quay Springs to Ellington, in Harnett
county. was completed with the exception
! of about three miles. which will be fin
ishcd as rapidly as possible The laying
| of the rails will begin tomorrow morn
! ing. much of the material having already
| arrived. Altogether about zoo has
been expended during the year on these
| improvements.
| Large lumber plants are now going up
| along the route of the new extension
| and several new enterprises have been
! started The Mills Manufacturing Com
rany here has increased its capacity
| about double, and will get all its logs
| from this road. Taken all in all, the
| prospects of the Raleigh and Cape Fear
Railroad never were better, and the bust
hess is all it could possibly hope for.
DRY GOODS.
| 4I,a 70 IF paI-