Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-11-18
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Key. Mr.. KershaW Suggests That Hem
~derS0nV1lle Quit Featuring Common
commodities but Specialize on Coed
hOads and Make This County Fam.
Gus 0 It's Splendid Highways; He
declares That This. is an Age for
Specalties and Specializing and
Line.
To the Editor of The Democrat:
Nothing is more obvious than that
this is the day for specialists and
speciahzing-the day for doing some
one thing and doing it better than the
average. The demands is not for the
commonplace but for something diff
ferent. something distinct, and, when
possible. something novel. The gen
eral utility" concerns are out of BUSH
ness just now. and the Jack-of-Ail-
Trades was never more -nponnla
In fact the general utility plant is
now turning out Special. article :.
while Jack" is a noted specialist"
As with organizations and with in
d1vlduafs so with community efforts.
Success nowadays does not lie along
general" lines. To become famous
a town must become known for some
specific thing. It's name must sug-
gest some superior eommidity, dis
tinct from all other things. If the
commodity be something new, some
thing exclusive, so much the better.
Rochester is the Kodak City,;
"Schlitz made Milwaukee Famous;
Battle Creek suggests cereals and
sanatoriums; Denver is a health re-
sort; Hot Springs means medicinal
springs; Atlantic City spells seaside
r~ecreations. We might enumerate
others, but enough to illustrate the
peint-to be successful a community
must concentrate on some specific
commodity. 1t is then the business
OF every citizen to work that "star fea-
-ture" for all it is worth.
Briefly to review what Hendersonville
has heretofore set out in her adver-
Using literature as her chief claim to
fame. AT the fore we find "a superb
climate" AS natural sequels, 'brac.
ing mountain air." "pure water"
splendid scenery" These are her
philosophers" Let none minimize
these assets. Without them as a basis
We would get nowhere.
But here is the important point;
Hendersonville possesses these assets
N Common with all Western North
Carolina. Her superb climate, air.
water, and scenery are not her exclu-
sive enjoyment, and a never De
made so. She alone is not famous"
for these things. AS a matter OF fact,
Saluda has quite as fine a climate; the
ar at Asheville is scarcely less desir-
able: water equally as good is found
at WaynesEille; Black Mnr-tfin has
finer scenery. Hendersonville can
not, therefore, claim ven a partial
monopoly on any one or all of these
desirable features. So much for
general attractions.
Manifestly, them Hendersonville
must select not only something not
quite so commonplace, but she must
concentrate more or some n single
feature. Saratgo is the racing resort;
Lake George accents water sports;
AsV-o- - 4hn 100 =xvin%o~ ~nIo&rn11~% .
Southern Pines speeializes in winter
golf; Asheville is featuring golf; Linn
vile is the Mecca for trout fishermen;
Montreal emphasizes her Chautauqua
life; and soon. Each one is pushing
a spec al attraction; each one is offer
ing climate, air, water, etc., as side
lines-but they are only i~ncidentaIs.
The main chance" is something def
mite. something specific.
Hender&Onville wants to be success
full. What, then, shall she specialize
in? What shall she concentrate on?
What shall be made her claim to
game?
Naturally enough there will be a
wide divergence of opinion. The
writer believes that our most promis
ing assets lies in building and maintain
ing GOOD ROADS! Roads that are
as good as the best and ready for use
365 days in each year. She already
has laid a broad foundation for this
star feature, During the past season
more complimentary things were said
about Henderson County's roads than
about any single feature found at the
resorts of Western North Carolina.
Men of affairs from all sections of the
South were loud in their praise of the
roads of the county. These men We're
genuinely impressed with this feature:
Each one has gone to his home with
the fixed definite idea in his mind that
Hendersonville is the centre of ex-
eellent roads n this section. Roads
that are as good in wet weather as III
dry: roads that are smooth, safe n
certain. Is this not something speci-
f1c. something tangibfe2