The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-19
BUSINESS MEN MOVE
 IN REAL ESTATE MATTERS

anu SOQth Ol 0QIt8OtHCtys on t9h north and west are the manufacturini districts, where in the last year $760,00 has been invested in manufacturtni enterprises. With the manufacturini enterprises are constructed homes fo the operatives and during the las month twenty-four lots in the Seely Plat were sold. During the year 70 lots in the suburbs were sold for tha purpose and 259 building permits wer issued.
 Young men are buying suburban property and are thereby learning hoy i to save money and take an interest | the city's prosperity. The city admin istration is doing we'll by the subures The immediate need of the suburb are new fire stations and the opening of South Court Street, South Lawrenc Street and South McDonough Street and the construction of a driveway t Highland Park and the opening o Fielder Street. giving a driveway iron Highland Park to Cloverdale. He ad vocated suburban investment. Paper by MT. Davidson. w. B. Davidson read @ paper on tn ness district The paper had many sa 1 lient suggestions.
 ITO every patriotic citizen." said MT Davidson, there comes a thrill oi pride and pleasure as he notes the rapid progress our city has made du- ring the past decade along the lines oi industrial and commercial develop ment.
 Progress is a sign of prosperity and while it furnishes grounds for congrat- ulations and rejoicing 1t also brings a train of responsibilities which must be met or its wheels will be cIogged nd ffu In Irfh adUanNa n rrRatlU i'm peded.
 ITO the close observer, it will he seen, that Montgomery's prosperity has already brought her face to face with condition that is slowing the wheels of progress and holding back its steeds that are chafing at their bits eager to rush forward.
 'sThe many advantages that Mont- gomery possesses as commercial een- ter have been extensively advertised and have attracted widespread atten- tion. and the bell for admittance is be- ing rung almost daily by far-seeing business men wishing to share in the profits which our favorable trade con- ditions hold out to the wideawake and enterprising merchant; and the humil- iating answer to their ring is. Call again, Montgomery IS not prepared for your accommodation"
 This condition alone Is bad enough, but there is yet darker cloud to .he picture:
 The development of business and the demand for larger store space has brought our merchants into compett- ton with each other, which has in- creased rents to such figure as to add materially to their burden and at least several of them. are without stores for next year and from the present indi- cations, they will be forced to strike their tents and depart to othor fields.
 There is a false sentimentality that says, Do not ventilate these unpleas- ant facts but keep them in the back ground but wisdom says, draw aside the veil and expose the evil and then address yourself to the task of cor recting 1t.
 "'An ounce of action is worth a ton of excuse.' In light of the foregoing the subject of my paper is of para mount importance and one that should arrest the attentiel of our citizens in their individual capacity and our city as a body corporate for 1t Is my judg- ment that 1t will require the co-opera- tion of both to overcome tho existing evil.
 Problem for the city.
 All will admit that the conditions
 
 to solve and in solving it the first step Is to apply the law of supply and de- mand for 1t will depend upon the character of stores in demand as to where the work of enlargement should begin.
 "UnquestionabIy, the demand Is for stores suitably located and apportion- ed for a high class retail trade, end the work of enlargement should begin on those streets best adapted for this class.
 After thoroughly canvassing the field I am convinced that Montgomery Street and South Court Street offer the best locations for the trade enunIer- ated.
 "Both of these streets enter Court Square and both of them lead to at tractive and I may add fashion able parts of the city and both of them are exempt from objectionable features In their approach to the business center.
 By cooperation of the property owners Montgomery Street could soon center; the erection of the New Exchange makes It com parativeIy easy; modern fronts should be put to the buildings now erected and the vacant lots should be improved with modern, up-to-date buildings whose architecture is of a pleasing and attractive style; if this is done. Montgomery Street will soon take its place with Dexter Avenue and Court Square as a mart for high class trade.
 The conditions on South Court Street make it a little more difficult to bring about a change there. The buildings, for the most part, on this street, are not suited to the trade un- der discussion and cannot be made to accommodate 1t and would have to give way to other structures. This, how ever, could be brought about by show ing the property owner that the in- creased rental value of the property would warrant the cost of the im- provements. so that the only real diff ficulty in the way would be making provision for the present occupants of the buildings.
 T believe that this problem can also be solved and in a way to satisfy and benefit the merchants now doing busi n ess on South Court Street and that it lies within the province of the city government to solve it.
 New Square Proposed.
 'Tn brief. I suggest that the city pur- chase the lot of the First Baptist Church at the intersection of Court, Rfbb and Coosa Streets and convert 1t into A square and pass an ordinance