The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-21
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS

Ways in Which Conditions in
Lumberton Might be Improv-
ed-Mr. A. w. McLean's In
teresting and Instructive Talk
at Club Reception.
In the account given in Mon
DAYS Robesonian of the delight
fuI reception given last Thurs
day evening by the Industrial
and Commercial Club it was
necessary, on account of lack of
space, to leave out much that
was worthy Of notice. Every
one enjoyed the evening i'm
mensely and the programme pro-
vided not only entertainment but
instruction.; but the fact that one
Of the most delightful things of
the evening Was not on the pro-
gramme caused it 10 be overlook
ed when the report of the eve
ming was written written, per-
force, in exceeding great haste.
That was Mr.. Woodberry Len
mons Toast to Lumberton. A
framed copy Of that little gem
was brought TO the club rooms
that evening by Mr.. Lennon at
the special request of President
Caldwell, and at the conclusion
of the good things provided on
the programme, as fitting pre-
lude to the serving of refresh
ments, Mr.. Caldwell called on
Mr.. Lennon to read his toast.
This Mr.. Lennon did, gracefully,
after a happy talk, and it was one
of the best things Of the evening.
The fact that this toast, which is
the real goods and about the best
thing ever written about the
town, was published in The
Robesonian at the time it was
first written and was commented
upon at the time in terms Of
highest praise ought to prevent
any one from thinking that the
omission was anything more than
an entirely unintentional over
sight.
AS mentioned in Mondays pa
per, MIR. A. w. Mclean, in his
address, called attention to many
things about the town that might
be improved. The more one
thinks about his suggestion that
the name of the town should be
changed the more one is inclined
to agree with him. Lumberter
is too important a town to be
thought of as a lumber camp anC
a more appropriate name might
easily be found. Mr.. Mclean
also suggested the need of E
park. Some 10 or IL years age
the late Mr.. E. K. Proctor sug
gested the idea of a park, bu1
nothing has been done along thai
line. And then the street:
should be improved. During hi:
trip to Europe last summer MIR
Mclean said he saw in one city
a tree No better than one of tht
trees recently cut down on ONT
of the streets of Lumberton tina
had been moved into a park at ;
cost of $4,000; and in Europe tn
roads are not only macadamlze'
but rows Of trees are planted OF
each side. The court house square
the river front, conditions at th'
depots, back lots--Lumbertol
ought to be ashamed of the lac
of attention paid to these things
but Mclean made it clear tha
he was criticising the system tina
obtains bere, and not the tow
board. If any one doubts tha
improvements can be made at III
tie cost one has only to reca
what Mr.. R. d. Caldwell did wit
that unsightly gully next to nj
lawn on Elm street, which ha
been adverted to more than one
in The Robesonian and whlc
Mr.. Mclean cited as an instanc
of what might be done. Th
speaker declared that we shoul
not wait until We become as oil
as some parts Of Europe befor
turning attention to these things
we should profit by what othe
places have done. We al
paying, he pointed out, S2OO pc
horse power for lights, while tf
cotton mills here refused recen
!y a proposition to purchas
power from the Southern PoWs
Co. at $21 per horse power b
cause that price was consldere
too high. Fire protection is Il
adequate, and if a mans prope
ty were DESTROYED by fire becau!