The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-16
Jacksonville Anticipates
Big Population Increase
Need For Additional Housing
Emphasized AS Holly
Ridge Workers Arrive
BY BILLY ARTHUR

JACKSONVILLE, Dec. 15.-Jack.
sonville is fast feeling the effects
OF the $40, 600, 900 anti-aircraft base
IN Onslow county, and is just as
speedily making preparations tc
expand and build. In fact, optimis.
tic persons r declaring that the
population of this town of 1,1OC
persons will more than be doubled
by mid-1941.
Confronting the community, here
tofore the center of a rich farming
section, sport fishing and hunting
unequalled anywhere, was the i'm
mediate need of housing for the
influx of workers and soldiers.
The emergency was first felt
strongly Friday when 30 employees
of the Carolina Telephone and Tele-
graph company arrived at one
time, needing rooms. The fact that
they needed lodging which were
not then available emphasized the
urgent need for additional housing
either in private homes or through
new home construction.
Immediately Jacksonville bust
nessmen established a bureau to
take a housing survey of Richlands,
sWansboro, Maysville, Trenton and
rural sections in an effort to place
as many workers as possible and
thereby reap benefits of their stay
ing or passing through jackson
vile.
On Saturday, cores of painters
laid off Friday at Fort Bragg on
account of a shortage in materials
arrived, seeking employment. They
too, created a problem, but mo-
mentarily. Finding the project in
the early stages only, most of
them either returned home or con-
tinued to Newport News and Ports
mouth shipyards.
Other problems confronting local
businessmen which they are work
ing our comparatively are recrea-
ton, transportation, health, and
merchandising.
Real estate first indicated the
effects of the camp. Lots in Jack
sonville rose from $25 to $50 almost
overnight. Dining or lodging costs
have not increased, but private
citizens r bringing out day-beds.
cots and old bedsteads and placing
them about their homes, all in
hope of reaping some profit from
construction of the camp.
Far-sighted businessmen who be-
lleve that the camp will be per-
manent, or the project will be
tenlarged- several million dollars
were reported to be contemplating
construction of additional homes.
Meantime, spectators were buy
ing, taking options and leasing
property in Holly Ridge, Dixon,
Verona and Folkstone, hoping that
they might bring some large re-
turn from business enterprises in
vicinity Of the camp. Several stores
from New Bern, Kinston and Will
mington, as well as chain organi-
cations, are reported to have been
here looking for sites for pro-
posed establishments.
Reports from Washington that
the U. S. Marines were looking
with favor on II, 900 acres If coast.
al Onslow county for a b a S e
spurred local people to action.
They had first apparently taken
the Army camp in stride. But an
other one in the same county!
They knew something must be
done, and done Immediately if
Jacksonville were to profit. They
openly declared that this was the
opportunity that comes but once
in a lifetime.
But they intend to expand SEN
sibly. Cosely knit as people are
in a small community, they can
and will work more together. Thus,
it will be no surprise to some if
they do not set up some Sort of
planning committee.
Contrary to some beliefs, location
of the Holly Ridge camp will have
little effect on the tax rolls.
The "a, 900 acres in the Army
project are mostly pocosin land
and sparsely inhabited. From Holly
Ridge west into Fender county
there is not more than three. fami-
lies on the area. East to the coast
there are about Is families.
Most of the land in the area
belongs to the Southern Kraft Cor
poration, holder of 40, 900 acres.
On the land the timber is fit
only for pulp, it is said, although
the area abounds with all sorts of
game, deer, turkey, quail, bear
and fox.
Only one road extends through
lt-from Holly Ridge to Maple Hill
and few persons save CCC boys
have ever been the length of the
road, it is said. 5
TAKES ISSUE