Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-03-23
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
TO OUR CITY

TO OUR CITY
If you will turn back the pages Of
our record, you will find that there
have been many improvements in the
City of Henderson during my official
connection with it's Government.
These improvements were secured by
a great deal of effort and time to get
the u. S. Government, the State High
way and Public Works Commission
and other officials to give their ap-
prevail. I believe that fair appraisal
of this program by anyone would lead
to the conclusion that it really has
been a great accomplishment for our
community and that it has been a
very decided step forward in the pro
gress of our City.
It is not generally known but it is a
fact, that these projects all call for a
contribution of the part of the City to
be able to secure them. The City
Government has financed its part
these projects out of it's current ex-
penses without mourning additional
bonded debt or either raising the tax
rate. There is one exception in which
bonds were issued and that is for the
underpass right-of-way purchase.
GARRETT STREET PAVING
1 wish to enumerate briefly some of
the projects and to show just how
they were handled. The condition of
Garrett Street, or main street, was
such that it necessitated having new
street built The Government, through
the State Highway and Public Works
Commission, appropriated $121,000 to
build a new street. This was an out
right grant to the City and did not
call for any outlay whatsoever. No
part of this has to be repaid by the
City.
WHITE WAY
There had been in Henderson for
many years a desire for a modern
white way. While widening and build
ing a new main street it was an ideal
time to construct this improvement.
The City officials secured the neces-
sary funds to finance this project and
offered to enter into a contract with
the Carolina Power and Light Com
pany for them to bcild and repay the
loan to the City. The Carolina Power
and Light Company decided to refuse
this plan and to construct the white
way with the cooperation of the City
Government. This project cost some
where in the neighborhood of $4,000
The City's part of the cost was $1,000
There were no bonds issued for this
$1,000, but it was paid without rails
ing taxes over a period of three years
SEWER
In constructing a new street, it ne
cessitated building new sewer lines
under Garrett Street. A project for
SIT 900 was secured from the Works
Progress Administration. The Citys
contribution was $4,000. There was no
debt increase and no additional taxes
levied to take care of this $4,000. I.
was necessary to renew the water con
rections the entire length of mair
street and also to remove and enlarge
the water mains on the northern Sec
ton of Garrett Street. The City
thought it good idea to replace in
the business section the four inch wat
er hydrants with six inch MIGRANTS
The entire water line project called
for $1O,461. The City's part of this
was $3,435.00,, This part of the city's
cost was taken care of out of the reve-
nue. derived from the water works
income.
SIDEWALKS
In demonstrating Garnett Street, it
was necessary to repair the sidewalks
@9'OOo was secured for this from the
Federal Government and $4,000 con-
tributed by the City. This $4,000 like
the other projects was taken care of
cut of the general funds of the Citv.
ELMWOOD CEMETERY
Ever since was boy, have heard
In Henderson, a desire that the City
take over and maintain Elmwood
cemetery. Many mayors, officials
and civic organizations have expressed
desire that this be done. About two
years ago, I succeeded in getting the
cemetery association to turn over the
old part of Elmwood Cemetery to the
City. Since then it has in a general
way kept up the roads and grounds
ana IN many cases where the SQUARES
nave been neglected a long period of
Time to clean them up in a general
way so that they did not mar the an
pearance of the cemetery as a whole.
The city now offers a service to main
tain the squares of individuals and in
general way is keeping up walks,
roads and grounds. There was need
Tor additional land for the expansion
OF the cemetery and your Mayor Sc
cured an option on twenty-five acres
OF land adjoining the present cemetery
Tor $22OOOO At the beginning of the
t.lscal year of 1885, he offered to turn
over to the City his option for the
twenty-five acres of land and the Citv
accepted it and purchased the land At
S22OO.OO A project was secured from
me Federal Government in the sum Of
plo'l05 to lay out and construct a
modern cemetery on the newly acouir-
ed land. A part of This nro;ao4