The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-03
LOUISBURG

Louisburg has felt very deeply, during
the past year, the impulse OF the moral,
educational and industrial revival-the
overshadOwing feature thus far OF TWEEN
tieth century history In North Carolina.
And she has something to show for it."
The awakened energies OF herpeople have
accomplished results. There has been, be
il said with thankfulness. no boom"
III the wild western sense of the word,
there has been no wildcat speculation,
no selling of lots at fabulous prices per
front foot, nor any projection of trolley
lines to bring remote rural districts with
in twenty minutes of the court and post
office. There has been progress, marked
and rapid, but progress always along
conservative lines-the steady, substantial
growth and healthy development which
come to stay" and not soap-bubble
expansion and prosperity blown by the
Spectator and promoter, and destined to
collapse with the first untoWard breath.
B Two important events in the history
of Louisburg during the year of 1903 may
be noted as furnishing substantial proof
OF its progress and progressiveness. First
the passage of an Act by the General
Assembly Of 1903, extending its corporate
limits, the town having outgrown its old
limits in all directions. Handsome dwell
ing houses stand upon lots which in the
memory OF young men were cultivated as
cotton patches" and old time corn
fields have been sown with lawn grass.
Former residents of Louisburg revisiting
1T during the past year have been aston
ished to find thriving little city IN
stead of the sleepy little village they
left few years ago. Secondly, the quail.
fled voters of the town approved &
election held last summer the issue OF
S65, 200 of bonds for the construction of
system of water-works and sewerage and
an electric light plant. 1t is safe fore
cast that before the New Year shall
have run its course, Louisburg will have
az good a system of water-works and
sewerage, and will be as we'll lighted by
electricity as any town In the State.
Another splendid tribute to the faith
and energy of it's business men may be
read in the fact that although the town
suffered from a disastrous fire which on
May 21st, destroyed the large brick hotel,
the bank building and number of busl-
ness houses, the new year finds it with
a new and better hotel hunt on the site
of the old one, a new and better bank
building, and new and better business
houses where the old ones stood. Besides
the rebuilding of the burnt district, other
notable improvements have been made.
Mr. G. w. Ford completed during 1903
the erection of mammoth brick build
ing on Nash street, covering with one
roof seven stores and tobacco ware
house 100 by IT'S feet. Messrs j. M. and
w. H. Allen have nearly completed the
erection on the same street of what prom
ises to be one of the largest ana best
equipped sales stables in the State. The
Baptists of the town have finished and
are now holding services in their new and
beautiful church building on Main street.
built and equipped at total cost of over
$4,000. Mr.. F. S. Spruill is building
handsome brick store with offices above
on Court street. In addition to the i'm
provement and extension of the business
section of the town, a large number of
handsome dwelling houses have been erect
ed during 1903 and more are in the pro-
cess of erection. So great has been the
activity in the building lines that besides
giving employment to all the local ma
sons, carpenters, ETC., workmen of these
classes have been brought here from neigh
boring towns at high wages. And yet,
despite all these improvements, there is
today demand for more store houses
and dwelling houses, and 1904 promises
to witness still greater activity In these
lines than has been seen during 1903, and
with the construction of the water and
sewerage systems and the installation of
electric lights, we look for a wonderful
quickening of the step in Louisburg's
march of progress. New industries of va
lyIn de in
have already started up. Messrs. Cooper,
Perry and Taylor have nearly completed
the construction of plant for the manu-
facture of wagons, etc.
The municipal authorities have been
busy during the past year with the grad
ing and Improvement of the streets and
Main street from Tar river bridge to the
Lcuisburg Female College is now one of
the handsomest streets in the State. These
and other public improvements have beer