Tabor City tribune., 1963-09-11


.nountaineers.
Slow winking traffic lights
set q leisurely pace for the
one-block business district. The
closest thing to traffic prob
lem is a narrow bridge SPAN
ming a creek in the middle Of
towns
A doctor in a modern clinic
ministers to the sick. Just up
the road, a decaying sign
points to a bath house where
the infirmed once sought heal
ing in warm spring water bub-
bling from the mountains.
Hince the original name Warm
Springs" which was changed
to Hot Springs" about the
turn of the century.
Other contrasts abound here,
some not as apparent, but just
as profound.
There are some indications
that Hot Springs might be
standing still, content to let
time pass her by.
There are also signs of pro-
greSS and economic growth.
A decade ago Hot Springs
had no industrial payroll. Its
greatest pride was that it had
once been a thriving resort
town, boasting a hotel with l3
imposing columns representing
the l3 original colonies. People
came from far and near To
bathe in the warm spring wat
er thought to contain healing
properties.
Today, a modern textile plant
employing approximately 100
workers huns around the clock
six days a week.
What has an industrial pay
roll of several thousand dol
lars a week meant to a town of
less than 800 population? The
simple structure of small Hot
Springs affords convenient
control" for measuring the
gains from one added indust-
ry.
Hot Springs is not a boom
town. 1t is not bursting at it's
economic seams. But there are
shoots of economic growth
springing UP among the fields
of unemployment, welfare cas-
es, and the near-poverty that
plaques parts of Madison Co
unity.
Not all of the growth in Hot
Springs can be attrabuted 10
the industrial plant. Some of
the payroll dollars find their
way to other towns, and mot
orists travelling two major
highways contribute to the
towns economy
Most Hot Springs residents
would tell you, however, that
Burlington Industries plant is
the towns bread and butter,
and that it accounts for the
bulk of its growth. The plant,
part of Raeford Worsted
Company, division of Burl-
ington, supplies yarns that go
into the well-known Raeford
2/80'S Suiting fabrics.
These things have happened
to Hot Springs since industry
came decade ago:
Three new retail businesses
have been established.
Postal receipts rose from
S39,488.71 in 1852 to $l19,O62.-
73 last year. Before industry
came two employees handled
the mail. Now six people work
at the post office.
There were 43 more tele-
phones in service last year than
10 years before.
Bank officials estimate that
bank debts have increased by
100 per cent in 10 years.
Sale of paint and other home
improvement items has risen
sharply, merchants say.
A beauty shop operator says
her business has almost doubl-
ed because of the plant.
A church has completed a
$4,000 addition. One of its
members says he believes it
wouldn't have been possible
without the extra industrial
payroll.
Hot Springs in a decade has
added library, medical
clinic, and street markers. Tot
al tax assessment in Hot Spr-
ings has increased from $751;
231 to $949,113 a decade later.
City Hall reports that Is new
homes have been built since
industry came.
There has been only a slight
increase in population. Burl-
ington's plant employs local
labor force. The 1860 census
counted 723 people, only two
/ ...I.... 49,. l. tnrn