Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-12-22
PAYROLL RecessiOn-Farm Boom:
There's Something Wrong Here

The growth Of industry in Roanoke Rapids has
been rapid since 1880 that local business and pro-
fessional have made satisfactory incomes out of
merely taking care of local demands.
Now suddenly, two startling facts have awak-
ened the community to an unusual condition.:
First the mills whose payrolls have sustained the
ctys mercantile activities operating curtaled
schedules
Second, in complete contrast, the farmers in the
nearby region GO miles to the SOUTH 80 miles to the
north, IS miles to the west SO miles to the eas
receiving the largest incomes in history This farm
income is SIX times the local industrial payroll.
If Roanoke Rapids had made itself a farm buying
center, the drop in local wage disbursements would
be made up SEVERAL TIMES over by the years
increase in farm revenues The 1947 boom would not
have stopped. 1t would have been STEPPED UP.
This is the moral of the story told in the series of
articles currently running in the Herald The farm
income of Halifax, Northampton and Warren
ties have been reported Soon to appear will be SINH
lar reports from Herford county in North Carolina
and Greensville county just the line in Vir
ginia.
Nor do the five counties mentioned above consti-
tute the entire Roanoke Rapids empire Parts of three
other Virginia counties should find it convenient and
profitable to buy in Roanoke Rapids. They are: (D
the southern half of Southampton county, it is nearer
for persons living this side of Franklin, Va, to
to Roanoke Rapids than to go to the nearest conpar
able city, Suffolk. (2) the southern half of Bruins
wick county, which is to Roanoke Rapids than
to Petersburg 3 the southeastern quarter of Neck
lenburg county, of whose residents come far
as from South Hill to satisfy some of their needs in
Roanoke Rapids A story to appear in the Herald
will present the statistical picture of this huge
market.
Next to the local factories, stores and offices
offer the greatest number of jobs in Roanoke Rapids
Successful merchandising is vital to employees
we'll employers. Still important commerce
offers the greatest opportunity to youngsters to be-
their bosses, to build themselves some
thing of their
Roanoke Rapids has the appearance of the aver
age city of $4,000 But that is not good enough This
city, the largest community and the center of
trading area of 100000 population, should have
business district that would excite the envy of many
a city of $4,000. Other cities with the same trading
of 100000 population, should have business
district that would excite the envy of many city
of 25000. Other cities with the trading area
have two three 7-story office buildings. They
have much larger stores They do about twice
volume of trade. That represents the magnitude of
the opportunity for Roanoke Rapids. We be-
that kind of CITY,
The Herald urges all who are eager to participate
in the creation of such city to express themselves.
Tell your ideas to your neighbors to your civic clubs
and to the Herald Tell it to outsiders who might
join in this great effort.
What is your answer to the question: What must
Roanoke Rapids do to capitalize upon it's great op-
portunity.