The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-04-08
AT FIRST GLANCE.

AT FIRST GLANCE.
While not sufficiently conversion
with local facts and conditions to deal
at length with such a subject, and do it
justice, the writer wishes very briefly
to give a few of his first impressions, as
nearly as possible, upon becoming iden-
titled with this city and county. De-
spite the fact that he has received the
warmest of welcomes, and the hearth
est, most genuine handshakes from all
he has met, he is still comparatively a
stranger, and is therefore enabled to
view the situation .uninfluenced and UNI
biased, by long residence here. Neces-
sarily he is as yet unable to write any
thing concerning the county, so this
article pertains to Laurens city only.
Immediately upon arrival in the city
we were forcibly impressed by the
spirit of change, new life, improve
ment and progressiveness. This, at
first blush, seemed rather strange, in
view of the recent money panic and the
fears entertained by many that it's
worst effects would be felt this coming
year. But upon investigation it is
found that Laurens has not been hurt
by this business depression like many
of her sister towns. Business men here
attribute this fact to the conservative
policy pursued by her men of affairs.
There is a wide distinction between
wild expenditure of money and un-
natural growth and conservative, we'll
founded advance. Yet it is altogether
possible to have an overdose of con-
servatism. We repeat that this spirit
of advance and improvement is especi-
ally noticeable and ~commendable just at
this time. And the manifestations of
this spirit are so palpable and subntan-
tial as not to be mistaken.
Among the numerous evidences of
progress is the expenditure by the city
of $25, 900 for paving the public square
and the sidewalks of the main streets
and approaches. This contract was let
Enst a~uealeoanA HnpkiS.axneeta5 .taha-
featuring Company, of Chattanooga,
Tenn, has the contract and they are
noted for the efficiency and durability
OF their work. The curbstones to be
used on the sidewalks and around the
court house have been purchased from
the Cold Point Granite Company, of
Newberry, whose quarry is in Laurens
county. This n improvement will
prove of inestimable worth to the city,
serving, as it will undoubtedly do, as a
nucleus for other expenditures by indi-
viduals, as well as the city. The lay
ing of vitrified brick on the square will
make it impossible for our progressive,
pub~lic-spirited merchants to allow their
property to become dilapidated.
The spirit Of a community may very
safely be guaged by it's disposition of
matters pertaining to the schools of
that community. The mere mention of
the fact that the contract for a $35, 600
school building has been let and work is
already in progress is sufficient evil
dence of the local attitude toward such
matters. Mr.. E. l.. Hertzog, of Spar
tanburg, has this contract and pre-
liminary work on the grounds was be-
gun week before last. A magnificent
piece of property, valued now at about
$4,000, was bought for the graded
school site. This will be greatly en-
HANGED when the city improves the
streets upon which it is located. And
it is needless to add that all the adjoin-
ing property becomes much more valu-
able. One improvement in a city does
not stop with itself; it forces others.
The erection Of this new school build
ing is one of the most important, mo-
mentous steps ever taken by the city of
Laurens.
AT the outset we purposed mention
ing several other matters evidencing
the progress Of L%aurens, but find it
impossible to do so now. 1t is our pur-
pose to show that on coming to Lau-
rens the first and chiefest impression is
of her judicious, well-balanced, pro-
gressive spirit.