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

1t is difficult to tell in words and figures
an accurate story OF the progress OF
Greensboro during the year 1903 1t has
not been possible for the most alert news
gatherer to note with accuracy the con-
slant influx of population and of capital.
Nor is it possible within the time limited
by your request to cOllate the statistics
necessary to show the extent OF invest |
ment, the number of new enterprises pro-
iected, the diversitlcation and multiplied
ton of new industries, the growth Oh bus
mess along all lines the increase In popu-
lation, in the volume of commercial ven
ture, in the enlargement OF the capacity
OF manufacturing plants, in the expan-
sion of our insurance companies, in the
strength of our banking institutions. IN
the efficiency and attendance on ourI
schools-high and graded-and colleges,
and in the number and growth of our
churches. The plodding method of the
census enumeration is required for accu-
racy and fulness of detail. A general sum
mary of what the Gate City has wrought
| in 1903 must therefore suffice.
In the review the most striking evil
dence of our good health is the fact that
the tax valuation of the property of the
city has increased about one million dol
| lars during the year. In October last the
city. bv ballot, authorized another issue
of bonds for two hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars. OF this amount one hundred
thousand is being expended for the en-
| largement of the capacity and efficiency
| of our water supply, seVenty-f1ve thous-
and for the extension and perfection of
our sewerage system, and the remaining
seventy-five thousand for the extension
and Improvement of our streets. Within
the last ninety days ten miles of sewerage
have been laid, with fourteen miles addi-
tional under contract to be completed as
rapidly as it can be done. Since August
last 900 has been expended in extend
ing, charging and remodeling our county
court house. Only few weeks ago the
government architect completed his plans
for the expenditure of the SCI 600 appro-
priated by Congress in construction of
a larger and more imposing government
building This work is now well under
way, and when completed it is safe to
predict that the Gate City will have the
handsomest government building in North
Carolina Among the notable and note
worthy buildings added to its list of hand
some structures during the year are the
office building of the Cone Export and
| Commission Company on West Washing
ton street, which rivals in the beauty,
convenience, and comfort, of every ap-
pointment of its interior anything of its
class On Manhattan Island. The Smith
Memorial Building formally opened four
weeks ago. which in design and finish, IN
every detail of its varied appointments
and in its architectural beauty is not sur
passed by anything of its kind in the
United States. the wholesale house of J.
w Scott & Co.. and the Students Build
ing of the State Normal College, both of
which would do credit to a city of larger
lpretensions and ampler resources. 1t may
be noted too, that during the year anoth-
er large and handsome graded school
building has been added for the colored
race But the enterprise of the greatest
moment to the city-the greatest of the
tyear-and in fact, the most stupendous
enterprise yet projected, is the White
lOak Mills, the construction and equip
ment of which involves an outlay of nearly
two million dollars The work in its con-
struction has been progressing steadily
! for more than ten months. The walls are
now about completed and the roofing has
begun. 1t is to be equipped with $4,000
spindles and 1000 looms for the manufac-
ture of blue denims. There are two main
buildings, the weave mill 904 feet long by
| 1877 feet wide, and the spinning mill 640x
| 155 inside. A faint idea of its dimensions
and capacity may be formed when it is
stated that there are more than fourteen
acres of floor space in the two build
| ings. Already more than one hundred
| tenement houses, neat and commodious,
| and four warehouses have been complet-
| ed. In this connection it is also to be
noted that the Revolution Cotton Mills,
another one of our large manufacturing
plants, is now charging its capacity by
the erection of another large mill build
| ings and will add $4,000 spindles and 400
| looms Your readers need not be told
what these mammoth enterprises mean for
| the future of Greensboro 1t is also to be
recalled that only few short weeks ago
the authorities of the Methodist Protest
ant Church of North Carolina definitely
decided to locate the college of that church
here and have already invested in beau
tiful site fol that purpose west of Lind
| ley Park at the end of the street railway.
Possibly the most significant and far
reaching event of the year to the city, as
well as to the county, was the good roads
election by which an issue Of bonds by
the county for 100000 has been authoriz-
ed for the improvement of the highways
leading out from the city in every direc-
ton Of this amount $4,000 is now in
bank and plans are contaminated for the
great work to begin at once. In this as
in many other things, it is not too much
to claim that the Gate City, during the
past year, has won her rights to leader
ship.
Not the least gratifying and encourag-
ing feature is the hundreds of beautiful
residences which have been built and the
hundreds of humber homes which have
been bought and paid for by the sturdy
bone and sinew of this hustling city. The
last, but not the least thing did during
the year, was to accept $50, 900 from Mr..
Carnegie for public library
In the inventory of the net results of
1908 we count more cash in our banks
than ever before; we find more children
in our schools; better paid and more con-
+op+o5 o,,,rIovnr long oil ind1,Strio1 Ii,,oe.