A New Day Commenced
4 The Pinehurst Outlook
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That willingness to pay a rising price is the sign of confidence,
just as the increasing number of buyers is. Ten years ago the man
who had a winter home here in the Sandhills had something that
was personal. Today the man who has a piece of property has
something that is no longer personal, but is property, which is a
convertible commodity. It has proven its value, and if for one
reason or another the owner cares to dispose of it other people
are familiar enough with the worth of a home here to be ready to
consider the purchase of it. Land values have become tangible
instead of personal and the man who has any kind of real estate
has that which is flexible and mobile.
That is why the situation to me seems better than at any time
since the first attempt was made to interest folks from the North
in Moore county climate and out doors. Twenty years ago the
whole thing was like trying to crank one of the refractory cars
that were contrary about winding up in those days. But now the
momentum that comes from the automatic influences of multiplied
population and the better co-ordination of all parts of the com
munity machine make it start off like the modern starter. In the
Sandhills now you step on the lever and away she goes.
The 1923 model Moore county has the self-starter developed to
the highest degree.
(By Bion H. Butler)
RECENT events show that the hesitating movement in the
Sandhills country that followed the war has gone by, and
a new day has commenced. This is marked by several
things, but by nothing more certain in its evidence than the activity
in the buying of land. The auction sale at Pinehurst where several
acres on the Carthage road, cut into building lots of suitable size,
was sold to persons desiring sites for homes, was a swift transaction,
everything going quickly and at prices that were up to all expecta
tions if not above. This tells that the confidence of the buyers in
the future is perfect, and that growth is to be continuous.
The winter season has been probably the best the Sandhills coun
try has ever known. The number of visitors has been as great as
all the facilities could care for, and the interest shown continues to
grow. The new houses built during the last year shelter more
people, and buyers of building sites in all the Sandhill country are
increasing, and the prices paid for sites goes higher. The type of
houses built becomes on the whole a little more ambitious. The
general air of the whole scheme has this note about it.
Everything shows a more developed character, and suggests a
continuation of this influence in the continuing growth. Lawn and
landscape work transform wild features of the land into attractive
plats and village neighborhoods. Roadsides take on more park
effects over longer distances. In the country beyond the village
boundaries the effort at improvement is getting results. Roads are
steadily getting better under the formula used by Frank Page and
George Maurice. The crudeness of the new settlement has dis
appeared, and the growing trees and shrubs, the grass covered open
spots, with the wide variety of architecture, tell of an established
order.
I saw a picture a few days ago of Pinehurst when the shrubbery
had been growing but a short time, and all the buildings stood out
in startling nakedness. It is different today, and if a new house
goes up, and its shrubbery is young yet, the surroundings of the
buildings in the vicinity divide with the newcomer that finished ap
pearance that tells of being ready to use. This has an inviting look
when the stranger or the old-timer gets a glimpse of the mass
effect. So people are more interested in the Sandhills by the more
finished homeyness that is manifest. They see the worth of a
home in such a place, and they do not hesitate to pay money for a
building site or a bit of orchard, or a speculative investment of
big or little dimensions. And so the prices for land are steadily
strengthening, and as is always the case, as prices show firmness
the confidence of the prospective buyer is reinforced by the con
tagion. I have known the Pinehurst section since the day when James W.
Tufts bought his wiregrass land, and have watched the develop
ment of the neighborhood. But in all the quarter of a century the
prospects for the future have never stood on so firm a footing as
this year. The business conditions of the country are better now
than at any time- in history. The production of the nation is
greater. Freight loading is climbing up to new figures. Bank
clearings are making records. A prominent manufacturer said to
me last week that the effects of prohibition are remarkable in both
the help given to efficiency and : continued production, and also in
the sustained demand for product. Better business brings more
people from the North to this portion of the South which is easy
to reach. It puts money into the hands of more people who want
to make winter homes here when they get here. Then the Pine
hurst neighborhood is so well equipped with all the modern con
veniences that nothing is left to be desired. So the newcomers
secure building sites, and the gradual extension of the village limits,
not only in Pinehurst, but in Southern Pines and the other villages
create broadening confidence and buyers are willing to pay more
for what they want. -,v5
British Poloists Arrive
THE English International polo team, comprising F. W.
Egan, captain; Capt. Kenneth McMullen, Capt. W. F.
Homan and Capt. L. F. Walford arrived in Pinehurst the
first of this week and will inaugurate its outdoor season with four
matches here against the Blue and Green teams of the Sandhill Polo
Club.
The English team will be mounted by the local club and will be
opposed in the first game by the Sandhill Blues, comprising John
W. Latting, Richard S. Lovering, John A. Tuckerman and W. V.
2 I' s ft
wk. wd
Members of the Sandhill Polo Club Who Will Face the English
International Team at 'Pinehurst This Week.
They are, left to right John W. Latting, John A. Tuckerman, W. V. Slocock and
Richard S. Lovering.
Slocock. Then will follow a game against the Green team, com
prising Major Rhinehart and Major Batson of Fort Bragg; Major
Duval, of Pinehurst, and James L. Breece, of New York, and
after a rest for a day the festivities will be resumed with another
game against the Blues and so on.
The visitors arrived here Sunday and spent the day looking over
the place, inspecting the playing fields and ponies, which they pro
nounce in fine shape, and were very much pleased with the facilities
here. Many social functions have been arranged for them and their
stay in Pinehurst promises to be a busy one.