The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-02
Yours Sincerely W.. FIFE, Thomasville, N. C.
TEARING AWAY A LANDMARK.
Making Ready for the Building of the
Union Depot.
Especial to News and Observer.)

Especial to News ana observer
Durham, N c., Jan. 1.-The work of
tearing away the old Farmers warehouse
on which will stand portion of the I'm
ion Depot building was begun this morn
ing. Under the contract set out In the op'
ton, which was taken by the railroads
yesterday afternoon, the old building Is
to be removed within six days. This
morning large force of hands were put
to work and by this afternoon the large
building had been stripped of the shingles
roof BY next week this time there will
not be portion of the old landmark
standing The city has thirty days IN
which to move the old market and other
buildings on its property.
This was a glad new year in Durham.
all our people rejoicing that the depot,
which has been a disturbing element for
a number of years, has been settled. While
several other sites had been suggested,
the one selected meets the approval OF
the majority of our people 1t is at q
point where there is not very heavy trat-
fic. and in blocking Church street at the
railroad, as is the intention of the rail-
road people, that street will be terminal
street at the depot building.
In connection with the settlement of the
DEPOT question comes the report that other
nice buildings will be erected in that i'm
mediate locality. 1t is said that hotel
building will be erected adjoining the de-
pot property.
Following a custom that has been in
vogue here for several years, the old year
was tolled out and the new one welcomed
with a joyous noise. AS soon as the bells
had announced that 1908 was no more the
various bells and whistles in the city, IN
Guiding the engines on the railroads, well
coined the infant year.
Today the colored population celebrated
emancipation day, the celebration taking
place in the court room and continuing
most of the day. There was large crowd
present and the exercises were of the us-
ual order of such celebrations.
| Next Monday the Board of Education
will hold one of the most important meet
| ings of the year. At that meeting the
funds will be apportioned for the various
schools The apportionment will be some
what larger than heretofore and will en-
able the schools to run between eight and
nine months. Prof. c. w. Massey, Super
intendent of the County Schools, is pre-
pairing his report to go before the board.
This report will show the enrolment of
the county school to be 1888 in the white
schools and the colored attendance has not
been made out as yet. Three new school
buildings have been completed since the
beginning of the fall schools, all in con-
solidated districts. The number OF school
houses have been decreased from 40 to Al.
The Elks of Durham are making ar
rangements to rebuild and re-equip their
lodge and club room. On Tuesday morn
ing practically everything the Elks owned
went pin nre and smoke There was
81 900 insurance, the loss above the in
surance being something like 81, 800. But
the members of this order are not easy to
down and they are now making arar1 ,ge-
ments to open one of the finest equipped
club rooms in the State or in the South,
according to the number of members.