The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1929-12-27
FORWARD STEPS
IN MUNICIPAL
PROGRESS IN '29

That the year 1928 has been one
cf the mcst significant in the his
tory Of Elizabeth City City is the
opinion of Mayor Jersme B. Flora,
who points TO the community ac-
cuicition ef the Albemar'e Hos
pital, the creation of municipal
planning and zoning commission
and additional measures for the
safety and protection of citizens
and their property as the three
outstanding achievements of this
city during the past yea". ..
Probably the greatest single oc-
currence in Elizaoeth City, not only
during the year 1929 but at any
other time, was the assurance of the
purchase of the Albemarle Hospital
at a price of 100000. to be operated
Jointly by the city. the county aHs
the Duke Endowment.
The Duke Endowment is to pay
half the purchase price of the hos
pital property, which for Is years
has been privately operated. The
owner. DR.. John Saliba agreed to
contributed $4,000 toward the pur-
chase price. Mr.. Joseph P. Knapp
of New York and Currituck County
pledged a donation of $4,000. The
City of Elizabeth City voted an ap-
preparation of sl2,50o, which was
matched by the County Commission
ers. thus completing the entire
amount.
1t is thought that. with the CO.
operation OF the Duke Endowment
and, possibly, of the Rosenwald
Fund. there can be developed at
Elizabeth City a great hospital and
medical centre for the whole Albe-
marie region. A vast building pro-
gram, involving cost of Sl50,ooo
may be projected in connection with
/ the development of the hospital
within the next five or ten years.
The greatest achievement of the
year, in strict municipal sense
was the creation of City Planning
Commission by the Board of Alder
men in August. Elizabeth City, like
many another small town, was laid
out in a make-shift. haphazard
manner, by men who had no con-
sideration for future developments
and future generations. and who laid
cut the streets in the ways which
would enable them to make the
greatest number of lots Of their
property. A glance at the city map
today will show what sorry mess
the original planners made. So, in
order that the best might be made
of the present situation and that
all future developments of the City
of Elizabeth City might be planned
intelligently, the City Planning
"do SlCulSo'
There are untold possibilities in
this Commission. if it functions
properly and if its personnel always
is as foresighted and as civic-mind-
ed as at present. The Commission
is composed of A. B .Houtz, Capt.
NJ. P. Htie and Henry Sanders
The city has been divided into five
zones: industrial, business A and 3,
and resident A. and B. The work
of the Planning Commission is to
see that these zones are kept as
such and that all future develop
ment be planned accordingly.
| From the citizens standpoint, one
of the major achievements Of the
year in Elizabeth City was the in
stallation of eight police call boxes
/ thruout the town and the purchase
of a new thousand-gallon pumper
. for the fire department.
! The added fire fighting equipment
has made the Elizabeth City Fire
Department cne of the best equip
ped in the State. And the police
patrol call boxes. spread in a net
work over the city, afford the citi-
zens much added protection. Head
quarters can now keep hourly check
on patrolmcn and patrolmen more
quickly and more easily can get in
touch with headquarters in cases OF