The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-15
Build Dwellings and Welcome Thrift and En-
terpriSe.

Build Dwellings, and Welcome Thrift and En-
terprise.
There IS a probability of several new
brick stores being erected in Manning
this summer. all of which adds to the
upbuilding of the town, but there IS a
greater demand for residences. AT
present there are very few residences
that people can rent, and OF course
those who would like to come here to
rent the stores will be retarded for the
lack of houses to live in, and unless
some attention is paid to the building
| of dwelling houses, those contemplating
| the building Of stores must depend upon
the people already living here for ten
ants. There are a good many residence
| lots in desirable portions of the town,
which, if built up, will find people de-
sirous of coming here to rent them, but
we regret to say that the owners OF
these lots are not inclined to build upon
them-holding them to sell at fancy
prices whenever there is some one
about to be married and forced to find
home. These people claim it does not
pay to build houses for rent, because,
when they take their own fictitious
value OF their lots into consideration.
together with the cost OF building a
house, the rental will not pay the in
terest on the investment. and there
fore they will continue Chinese wall
around the town and keep outsiders
away The town is growing, 1t IS true,
and so does a chicken yard grow, with
out the purchase of additional chick
ems, unless some disease-scythe cuts
them down, but our growth is not from
people moving here, but a growth the
outcome of natures laws. There are
numbers of people who would gladly
move to Manning, but they are kept
away because there are no places to
rent, and there is absolutely no pros
pect for rental of dwellings IN anything
like desirable locations: there are some
shanties built for dollar-a-room class
of tenants, but no dwellings for class
VINO would add to our citizenship.
People who own property have
right to do as they please with It, but
it does look to us that they would at
least have town pride enough TO- help
build up the town by adding to It's ne
cessisies, or they would sell at a reson-
able price to those who will. The en-
terprising citizens who contemplate
erecting stores must realize this TACT,
that unless dwellings are also erected,
they must depend solely for the rent OF
their stores on the people already llv-
ing here, because outsiders are debar-
red from renting the stores as there are
no dwelling accommodations. We have
in mind a gentleman who is thrifty
and a successful farmer-merchant, who
desires to bring his family to Manning
on account of the towns health and to
send mis- children to school: be is un-
able TO get house to live in, and he
will not pay the high prices for lot to
build upon, because he can buy lots IN
towns where property is always IN de-
mand for less money. He told US that
he priced lot in this town and the
owner asked $500: the same size lot IN
Sumter, with a more desirable sltua-
tion, between two modern built resi-
dences, was offered to him for $500.
The Sumter lot is like investing IN
United States bonds, while the Man
ming lot may or may not be realized on,
as there are no enterprises IN Manning
enticing people from abroad to ada TO
its population.
In talking to party who owns a lot
upon which two houses can be built; ne
told US that he regarded his lot worth
$4,000. the cost of building two houses
would be at least S., 800, making total
valuation of 81, 500, that the rent from
the two houses would not exceed $500
wear. and when taxes, insurance and
repairs are deducted he cannot realize
as much interest as the money can be
loaned with real estate security. The
trouble with this man is, he values his
lot at three times It's actual value, ana
ten times it's taxable value, he does
not consider the more buildings IN the
town, adds to the population, and with
an increase in population, his property,
instead of having fictitious value will
have real value, value as staple as
government bonds. We know OF GOOD
residence lots which if built upon Will
invite to this town good substantial cit,
izens who would stimulate the material
interests of the town, by investing IN
enterprises, commercial and Industrial,
the owners however, have few fruit
trees on them and receive every other
year a small amount of wormy frult,
they say they cannot spare their or
chards, and in some instances a valua-
BILE lot is used to pasture a scrub COW.
If the residence portion of this town
can be built up in comparison with the
business portion the population would
increase double within five years. but a
dollar-a-room-shanties will no. give US
the substantial population needed to
make live and progressive town, nor
will this class of citizens add to society
or the moral welfare, and therefore we
call upon the people who own property
suitable for dwelling purposes to think
of the towns requirements, and to en-
courage the enterprising spirit OF those
who contemplate the building OF stores
by furnishing buildings for people to
live in, and thus open the gates OF the
town to ali who desire to enter, to
come in. To hold empty lots is blind
policy, either build upon them yourself
or sell them to those who will, and let
the town expand as its situation war
rants,