The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-12-12
WHY ALADDIN co. DID
NOT LOCATE IN THIS CITY
Elizabeth City With All Its Pep And Progress Is
Still Sadly Lacking In Some Things That
Attract Capital

Why The Aladdin Co., seeking
a site for a branch factory in 7
North Carolina, failed to locate in
City, is revealed by
an official of the company in a.
letter to Secretary Case of the
Elizabeth City Chamber of Com
merce, made public this week.
The letter is not at all f1attering
to Elizabeth City and tells us
kindly but candidly that Eliza
beth City doesn't know what it
wants, and doesn't know how to
go after what it wants. A. T..
Lamb, assistant to the president
of the Aladdin Co, writes to Mr.
Case from Bay City, Mich. as
follows:
Dear Sir,
You ask me to tell you frankly why
your City was not selected for our
Branch factory.
hardly know how to put the answer
into words. It was not any single item
| or feature. but a combination of these
things that left me with the impression
| that Elizabeth City was not the loca-
! ton was looking for.
The first thing that struck me unfav-
orably was your Hotel. You will admit
| it is anything but modern and while you
| people who live in town pass it by and
never give it a thought, it is the first
impression an outsider receives of your
| town.
Of course, this alone would not have
influenced my decision, but such things
help in forming an opinion.
T. AS I went from town to town the
| impressions I gained enrered in mem-
orandum so I could later refer to them
and by elimination, narrow down my
field.
Under the heading of Elizabeth City
[ have: "No very good sites. No street
car lines. More of an agricultural city
depending on surrounding country for
business. Very few manufacturing in
stitutions. @-sTrain Eeervine in and out
I poor.
If I may make the suggestion, it
would be we'll for you to list several
sites together with full data as to prices
i n,11nbAr Of acres in piece, etc. SO that;
q whe the next nisn blows ifto town
yous viii be ready for him and he will
feel. that the town had anticipated new
factories and was ready for him.
Ind several towns 1 visited they
had set aside certain acreage and
had it market on the city map Free
Factory Sites
This does not mean that a concern
I going to take one of these particular
I sites ?ust because it is free but it leaves
good impression that they want new
industries.
Take my own case for instance. We
E. are going to locate in just such town
e but we are not taking one of the free
s. sites but paying for just what we want.
But it showed their hearts were In
/ the right place. that they We're awake
Il and doing.
% This is not a reflection on your city
i or anyone in it. I must say was treat
T. ed fine while there and shown every at
L tention, but it does show that the towr
/ that is ready is the town that is mos
-. ~ likely to win.
IL The best impression a man looking fol
IL a new location can gain is that the com
s. munity has given considerable thought t.
securing new industries
le Tn other words eve have just beel
,e waiting for you. Here is the dope ant
~ available sites and we have rounded III
some good ones" Preparedness--tha
- is the word.
q With all good wishes, 1 am
oel Yours very truly,
A. I. LAMB.
NJ. The Aladdin Co. in seeking site i
". North Carolina selected Elizabeth Git
d, and six other towns as prospective loca
e: tions and investigated the seven. Th
or renort ON the six other towns indicate
n that Elizabeth City is neglecting som
of things. The six towns are High Point
or Tarboro. Greensboro, Lexington, Hender
1, son and Kinston.
MS Four out of six have free factory sites
ng All have full time health officer Fiv
Tx out of the six have vocational educatio
he in the schools. Three out of the six hay
m public parks equipped with seats, et'
n Three out of the six have play ground
On for children under expert direction.
n Elizabeth City has none of those thing
of and Elizabeth City's enc hotel is house
us in a. building that is a disgrace to an
or progressive community. The buildin
occupied by the Southern Hotel and owl
ed by E. T. Aydlett is in a dilapidate'
run down condition; the rooms are sad
les ir need of renovation; and the toilet Il
20 cilities are positively filthy and nausea
'm ing. Mr} Aydlett was present at
Lp- meeting of the Chamber of Commer'
in which the Aladdin Company's lett
is was made public