The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-03-18
KNOXVILLE UNDER PROHIBITION
BUSINESS PROPERTY IN KNOX
| VILE NOT INJURED.
frNllDitioh Has Not Caused Desira-
bic Buildings to Go Begging ana
Business is PROMISING

Die Buildings to Go Begging ana
Business is Promising.
Despite reports to the contrary tha.
are being sent out over the country
ny interests antagonistic to Knoxville
and to the cause of prohibition, that
brsine*s property has been materially
injured by the closing of saloons and
that large number Of business
houses in this city are vacant, a care
full investigation OF properties that
were used for saloons and wholesale
liquor concerns shows but a small per
cent. vacant at the clos. OF four
months Of prohibition, although
Knoxville, as well rs every other city
In the country has been passing
through a four months season Of
financial and business depression
In the territory, with Central street
on the east. Second street on the west,
the junction Of Broadway anil Central
street On the n"rth and the Tennessee
river On the south, there were sixty
three wholesale and retail liquor es-
tablishments, exclusive Of hotels. Rus
mess OF one kind or another is being
conducted in forty-three of these
places; thus leaving net twenty va,
cant. or the twenty vacancies, three
places were occupied until very re-
Gently as "soft drink" stands.
In this same district there are only
three store rooms that are vacant be-
cause OF business having been re-
moved to- buildings formerly occupied
by saloons. OF these three, only one
is on Gay street Less than three
weeks ago the owner had an offer to
lease this with two adjoining stores
that are now occupied. for a term. OF
10 years at $1,000 a year. plus taxes
and insurance. The other two of these
three vacancies are west Of Market
Square. On the other hand three
places that were vacant about. the
time saloons closed. which had not
been used for saloon purposes, have
been occupied by new business thus
offsetting the three vacarcies caused
by removals into saloon, buildings.
Furthermore, two new stores are now
being completed on Prince street. A
lease for one Of them, @was closed
about 10 days ago.
OF the vacant liquor places only
three are on Coy street. Two of those
are lin the same block, between jack
son and Vine avenues. The third was
occupied as q soft drink" stand until
less than q month ago. Three others
are on Depot avenue ,in the vicinity OF
the Southern railway passenger sta
tion, entirely removed fsom the
downtown business district. Two are
on Market Square. OF these, work
Of remodeling one has not been fully
completed. but the owner says he has
had e number of applications to rent
it already. One other is on Vino ave.
| nue. between State street and Gay
| street. Six are scattered along the
One saloon proprietor has opened a
fruit store in a place formerly O. pool
room and has placed restaurant in
the saloon building adjoining. One Of
the barber shops moved into saloon
room to permit remodeling If its
former place. Another barber shop
moved out Of its former place, An
other barber shop moved out Of O
basement under saloon into another
saloon building and drug store
is, now occupying both the saloon
room! and basement in the vacated
building.
The hardware store. grocery store.
feed store. butcher shop. furniture
shop and fruit stand in liquor houses
are entirely new business enterprises.
In the outlying districts, where sa-
looms were operated the locations of
the buildings are in many instances
undesirable for other businesses
However many of these arc occupied
by good bushes sses. A night school is
conducted in one. a Sunday school is
in another, several are occupied as
butcher shops and others as grocery
stores.-knoxville Sentinel.