The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-06
RY G. A. EnELsvARp.

another 100000 bank building.
The citizens are so busy in their
various enterprises that they have hard
ly time to tell the outside world a
little bit of their affairs. For INSTANCE.
their building activities run into mil
lions of dollars, their street Improve
ments and roadway Improvements to-
tai up other millions, and yet there
is no especial stir or excitement. or
bombastic talk of what Is being done
OF contemplated in the near future. |
think that this hustllng little city owes
it to itself to let the world know about
its progress, its industries and its ac-
tivities.
Blytheville is half way betkeen st.
Louis and. Memphis, 10 miles from the
Mississippi river, westward, and con-
nected with the outside world through
several trunk line railroads. The city
is one of the youngest IN the state,
born only 20 years ago. This healthy
town has increased some 1880 per cent
in its population since 1900, and its
city directory today shows 5000 names.
It's Educational System.
To show the spirit of progressiveness
which is in the people of this wonderful
town, let us take the school situation
as 1t exists today. Here, as elsewhere,
the schools are overcrowded, there is
need of high school and grammar
school in. addition to the, city,,s pres
ent schools. The regular school tax was
~ mills This tax was not enough to
give the city the necessary new build
ings so the school board asked for the
signatures of approval of doubling the
school tax, and they received 100 per
cent support from the citizens and
doubled the tax to "a mills, which en-
abled the school board to sell 100000
Of bonds last week, at par, with which
to build the first unit Of a modern and
up-to-date high school building and also
the unit of modern grammar school
for the. east side. The plans OF the
school board comprises the nucleus o.
the most modern campus to be found
anywhere in the South.
The 24-mill tax will give the city
some $73, 900 per year for school pur-
poses for the next three years.
AS the city of Blytheville is'the bPsi-
est town in the largest county OF Nhe
state of Arkansas, 1t also Is one OF
the county seats in the county, Osceola
being the other county seat.
The courthouse commissioners and
the county judge are having under CON
its Simplicity and dignified architec-
ture. is a monument to the county and
its builders This courthouse is three
stories in height and is absolutely fire.
proof. 1t is constructed OF reinforced
concrete, stone, marble and tile, ana
$225, 900,
A block away from the courthouse,
IN the southwest corner of Main ana
Second streets, plans have been drawn
and contracts are being let for the con-
struction of $4,000 new nome 1or the
Bank of Blytheylle. On the northwest
corner of Main and Fourth streets, the
Farmers bank, of Blytheville, is COM
pleting a new building which costs ap-
proximately 1925, 900. There Is third
bank located between these two, the
Peoples Bank and Trust company; Al
has been granted charter for the es-
Enlistment of national bank.
Fraternal Buildings.
The fraternal organizations of this
city are a live lot. All Of the follow
ing organizations are building new
homes or contemplating doing SO: The
under construction and is rapidly near
ing completion; and the Elks are having
plans drawn for their new building tC
be located on the northwest corner oil
Ash and Second streets. This homt
when completed will cost about 100000
The w. D. w is contemplating the
erection of four-story building on it,
lots on East Main street.
Y. M. G. A. Building.
That the citizens of Blytheville are
not forgetting to take care of the younG
men in their town Is evidenced by the
fact that number of its business mer
one afternoon collected $4,000 in
hat to pay for the new home of the Y
M. G. A and committee Is now bus!
raising $4,000 more toward giving thu
boys an up-to-date gymnasium and au
ditorium.
There is also being completed new
1,o,,,a fpr the TnatOffioa aiI
street
There are already two picture thea
tiers here and a third one is unde
construction which will seat 1900 peo
pie. This theater will be the most mod
ern and up to-date between st. Lou
and Memphis. 1t will have a larg
stage, capable of giving regular dra
matte performances, and will cater t.
< only first class road attractions an
operas. In this playhouse will be in
stalled $4,000 organ. The front o
this building is 8 stories in height ant
very ornate, being built of glazed brick
tile and terra Gotta. Its entrance an
foyers will be finished in marble AM
plastic relief ornamentations. There /
also under construction picture hous
for negroes.
Hotel Facilities.
Although the city has two or thre
hotels, the influx of new people an
commercial travellers is so great tina
the city has organized itself into a com
nittee of one to build a strictly first
class e-proof building. The site Sc
lected for this building, on the north
west corner of Ash and Second streets
The building will have a frontage c
140 feet on Second street, and 100 fee
on Ash street, will be six stories i
height, faced with limestone, presse
brick and terra Gotta, and will have Is
rooms with private bath. On the frs
floor will be located a large and beau
tiful foyer with entrances to Ash an
Second streets. The first floor will ais
contain the dining room, two storie
in height The second, or mezzanint
floor will contain Rotary and Lion!
banquet hall. On this floor will b
the ladies' parlors. On the sixth foc
- Of the building will be located q con
vention hall, 45x76 feet, which will sea
$50 persons In connection with thi
hotel there will also be installed "a
hour grillroom.
In connection with new building Ell
terprises, the, Arkansas Grocer com
pany contemplates erecting early in tn
spring a two-story fire-proof building
. covering 200x140 feet of ground.
The reader from this resume will
able to grasp at glance the vemer
dous building activities going on in tn
city, and not the least active factor
the hearty cooperation by the LOCI
mechanics, and the good will exstin
community. All are working for tn
good of Bytheville and all are imbue
with the spirit of progressiveness an
cooperation for the benefit of the CON
munity at large.
Public Parks.
A committee of the chamber of com