The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-12
Wilmington AREA
HAS BUYING POWER
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ed said that if air cargo service
tn the middle west was available,
he would triple his output.
Over $4oo, 100000 has been set
as the value Of the 10 principal
crops grown in this area in l943'
he said, with Sampson and Robe
son counties leading the nation IN
productivity.
Mr.. Sinons listed among the eco
nomic resources of the Wilmington
"tributary area" 265,000 farms
with over eight million acres OF
land under active cultivation and
millions of board feet Of timber
suitable for veneers, furniture
manufacture and pulp reduction.
Emphasizing the Importance OF
focusing the buying habits Of the
more than half-million residents OF
this area in Wilmington, he reveal
ed that there are $4,000 retail 1t
lets in the region which did a total
of a billion dollar business in 1914
and 5000 wholesale establishments
which equaled that figure in 1889,
the latest available computation.
Mr.. Simons stated that the Will
mington area is larger and more
productive than Charleston's trade
region and nearly as large as that
of Norfolk with over $500 factories
employing 260, 900 persons and hav-
ing a payroll Of some $139. 600, 90.
Merchants in Wilmington should
develope their service so that the
millions of dollars spent annually
for goods unobtainable here could
be diverted to this city, he said.
Discussing what he termed
Service facilities - the profess
sions, repair work, etc. - and cul'
tural and recreational opportuni-
ties, Mr.. Simons said that people
of the tributary area look to
this city in that respect and that
the establishment of junior col
lege and development Of our
beaches and Greenfield Park could
not fail to prove advantageous.
Manufacturing possibilities In
this area present unlimited oppor.
tunities with clothing manufactur
canned goods, furniture, paper con-
tainers, millwork and more ferti'
1izer production leading,
The market is here for indus.
trialist, he said, with over 148
million dollars being spent annual.
Iy in this region for goods produced
outside of the South.
Mr.. Simons stated that 1t had
been his privilege to work with a
group of men here who consider.
ed the economic future Of the COM
munity from a standpoint Of "what
is good for Wilmington, not what
is going to help me-, and praised
Wilmingtonians generally, saying
that the more he saw of them
the more he thought Of them and
the city.
Wilmington and New Hanover
county have been what he termed
war impacted'' in population
gaining in numbers in contras'
with most other eastern North Car
DINA counties which suffered de
creases during population shifts te
defense industrial and military
areas.
To maintain full employment
and the high level Of prosperity
eor native residents and those who
have adopted the city as home
has been the goal Of economic
planning he said.
In 1929 the nation paid income
taxes on an average of $50 pc,
capita which rose to $1,118 IN 1914
In North Carolina, the figure ha.
risen from $205 in 1888 to $3.50 il
1914.
This increased prosperity ma,
be maintained only through intel
ligent planning and unselfish work
he said.
eve can have all this knowledge
about this area. but the creates
assest of all in any community
is its people. Unless the people
demonstrate unity, all of this will
go for nought," he concluded.
Present at the meeting wer,
Mayor w. Ronald Lane, DR.. Hous
ton Moore, H. R. Emory and Saw
annah Civitan 1t. James Enge