The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-09-03
CITY
AND ITS FUTURE
No Other Small City Has So
y Many Opportunities For
Development
BY LoRENzo D. CASE
seey. of The Elizabeth City Charnbe
Of Commerce

,Ihe writer OF LnIS safLicle mas SiS1lcu
the best parts Of this and foreign lands
and has lived for years at a time IN
several highly favored sections of the
United States. He has had exceptional
chances to intimately famiiiarize him.
self with the advantages and opportun-
tiles offered by states and cities, so dlt-
ferent each from the other as to make
it seem almost incredible that they be-,
long to one and the same nation. Be
sides having Travelled extensively as a
student and lecturer, @he has labored
in parts. of the country as widely sep
,arated in their interests and activities
as the extreme North and the far South,
the New England States and the Mid
die West.
Why. this kind of preamble? 1t is
written solely to- lend credence to the
statement that Elizabeth City is more
favorably located for a great and pros
porous future than any other similar
community of which he has any recol-
lection. He does not recall any OF the
smaller cities of the country that have
ANYTHING like Elizabeth City's opportun-
ity for the kind of development that
makes the best sort of a community IN
which to make a living, and to really
live. How many, even among the Old
er residents, have full realization OF
the wonderful possibilities within and
without the gates of their town, which
will vet give Elizabeth City growth
and prosperity beyond the dreams of all
but few of her men and women of VI
sion. -
What other city is the undisputed ma
tural center of vast territory that IS
ali empire in itself? What other city
is the business, trading, manufacturing.
banking. distributing point OF as many
large counties as are included IN the
territory bounded by Virginia on the
north. the Albemarle Sound on the south,
tbe Chowan river on the west. and the
Atlantic ocean on the east. to say moth
ing of four large counties just south
of the Albemarle Sound, which are
part of Elizabeth City's trade territory
A City Beautiful e
The city itself is a busy, energetic
pfsEaward looking, progressive city OF mo-
dern municipal conveniences and COM
forts. The first impression made up
on the visitor is that Elizabeth City Is
a most beautiful city. Its miles of brick
paved streets, the tall majestic, VIDE
arching shade trees, the imposing prl-
vate residences and public buildings with
their well-kept lawns of green. make
the city one of conspicuous beauty. AS
TO its atmosphere, it is a peculiarly de-
mocratic town. in which respectfully Is
emphasized and all sorts of social
pleasures enjoyed without evil commu-
nications. 1t carries no crushing, de
moralizing burden of disorderly houses
low theatres. or disreputable places OF
any kind. 1t is just the kind of com
munity that families are to-day seeking
as the best environment in which tt
rear their children.
| Civic Pride
The inhabitants pride in their city il
| well founded But they are not sittin.
with folded hands, content with the cit.
as it is. They are building, beautifyin'
and re-modling with enthusiasm ant
practically. In the past, when civil
zation individualistic, Elizabeth City ex
perienced all the miseries of indlvidus
riyalries and factional anomositieS. Tier
was little or no community effort t.
push the city to the front. Such growt
as came was the result Of individual in
iative and enterprise, and the tremen
dous advantages offered by the town
geographical location and the wonderfu
natural resources of it's surroundin
country. But the past is gone. Llk
most other communities, Elizabeth Cit
has learned that great cities are made
not by location and natural advantages
but by men and women, and that tn
most rapidly growing communities ar
; those whose futures are, the lmmedlat
concern of organized groups OF thei
citizens. The attitude of indifference
, leaves a town just where it is. Th
, attitude of factional criticism and oppo
, sition is disintegrating and DESTRUCTIVE
The divisional town loses ground be
i, cause there is no Capitalization of et
fort. Mark Twain's "Story of the Ma
Who Corrupted Hadleysburg' is bein
repeated in many a small town to-da!
, but Elizabeth City is not one OF then
The towns progress is no longer beln
, throttled by the lack Of common pu1
, pose and united action on the part {
her citizens And tbs not city ths
has seen it's hey day, and settled dow
to a hundrum and uneventful existence
forgetful of progress, and only reluct
antly and spasmodically putting fort
: community effort to better the cond
tions of living. The greatest of all
Y Elizabeth City's assets is the new spir
I of cooperation that is being so sple1
! didly manifested by all of her leadir
= citizens.
Climate and Soil
$ Elizabeth City's second greatest az
vantage, the one that with the ne
spirit of her people guarantees her II
ture. is the climate and the soil fertili
Y of the vast surrounding 'Northeaste'
O North Carolina country. Long ago Wa
q it discovered that climate is an ass
+ for community's development as tan
s ible in it's value as coal or iron Or tir
e ber.'' And speaking of the coast
K country. the United States DEPARTING
n of Agriculture has said, 'The first al
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