The Metropolis
oDe of the precious relics of the an
cient wrld which the capricious
centuries have permitted to drift
down to us, nor is it one of the
treasures which lives buried beyond
recovery under "the tide whose
waves are years."
There is no spirit of Attic breath
ing through the records, telling of
the valor of barbarian founders.
Xo pre-historic rwins or relics of
dead ages encumbered the site of
this fair city. The city of Burling
ton is but a chapter of American
life with its push and restless ener
gy. The pioueers, many of whom
are still living, happy in the retro
spect of labor well done, were not
the "sons of holy Gods calling the
fruits of illustrious wisdom from un
harried lands" but were the sons of
the unconquerable ; Anglo Saxon,
who gave to the world : the Magna
Charta, politic! and lehgious liber
ty, and whose.-ouward march has
vVanted civilization and the Cross
ffAerever its sturdy sons have gone.
There is but little romance connect
ed with the infant days of this pros
perous town. Its early history
deals more largely in the modest yet
manly experience of the ones who
toiled and laid the foundation of a
prosperity that has continued and
widened and will continue to grow
until the brightest dreams of the
most hopeful have been realized.
Our present mission is only to give
the reader a visional glimpse iuto
the "long ago,"and not to turn the
thumb-worn papers of local history.
Xothing dates an 1 event9 in their
order, but rather to tell the story of
our material and industrial growth,
and deal with the conditions which
make life profitable and happy.
Burlington is situated in the cen
ter of Alamance county. It is 21
miles east ot Greeneboro and 50
miles from Raleigh, the State Capi
tal; and on the main line of the
Southern Railroad from Greensboro
to (jroldsloro. ; "
The loundation of Burlingtou was
laid during the construction of the
S. R. R , they established large re
pair shops at this point, which were
maintained for many years Asa
result a village sprang into life, it
being called Company's Shops, and
in 1887, had a population of 800,
at which time a convention was
;alled, changing the name to that of
Turlington. ,
How different the village of 1887
and the citv of 1909 with a popula
tion of 6,000 souls, and growing at
a rapid rate in every distinctive de
tail of development.
Xo unhealthy booms, with their
in vita hie reactions, have marred its
growth, but every month has been
fotu-r than the preceding, and every
year lias shown a long stride in the
march to greater things. When our
oldest inhabitants, seated around
firesides surrounded with all the
J)s that make life worth the living,
tak back through the vista of years
and compare it with the present,
their hearts-beat with exultation,
while a feeling creeps over them
'dki to that which stirred the heart
otth(; patriarch Simeon when he
j"Xs-"' the sacred infant to his
om, with an eloquent voice
ex l; I . ,1: "Now let the servantde
Part hi peace, for mine eyes have
of Alamance County-Splendid Educational Advantages-Large Mercan
tile Resources-Imposing Business Blocks.
Glimpse of Our Representation Business and Professional Men The Builders of BurKnffton
Magnificent Water System arid Electric Light Plant Owned and Operated by the City-Street Car Line in Course
of Construction A Splendid Tobacco MarketMammoth Cotton and Hosiery Mills Natural Ad-
vantages for Manufacturer and Home Seeker--Solid Banks City of Churches Schools.
The history of Burlington is notO :
MAYOR AND
J.K. PREELAND
Alderman From Second Ward-Mayor
Pro Tera-Chairman Street Com.
W. R. SELLARS
Alderman From First Ward
man Finance Committee.
Chair-
W. L. CATES.
Alderman From Third Ward-Chair--
man Cemetery Committee.
J) j
h " "'' '"
z -jl:
BOARD OF ALDERMEN, BURLINGTON, N. C.
"
f 1i
W. P.:i?JElAND ,
Alderman From First Ward RIeratier
Police Committee.
HON. A. F. BARRETT, MAYOR.
"
LEER FOWLER
Alderman ' From Fcartli Ward-Member
Finance Committee.
""s
W W RROWN
Alderman From Third Ward-Member
Street Committee.
A. A. APPLE
Alderman From Second Ward-Member
Finance Committee.
v
9
a
L
J.M.ATWATER
Alderman From Forth Ward-Member
. Street Committee. .
Burlington, the city whose merits
we record, has never had a "boom."
Its growth has been steady and
natural. If the spiders of conser
vation are allowed to spin the webs
of caution in the windows of oppor
tunity, the people of a city may be-1
come oblivious to that which be- r
tokens a splendid future a3 the bats
are to the oscillations of Jupiter.
Burlington has natural resources and ?
favorable environments beyond any
City of its class in Morth Carolina.
It has a dispositioa to develop those ,
resources. To advertise in some de '
gree its chiras upon and promises
toward the investment of capital ' .
and the advantages to' homescekers.
The growth of the City . has been
rapid within the last five years, al- j
most doubled in population, and,
every improvement made is a sub-
stantial and permanent. -.This pro-
gress has been the result of the sys- -
U matic and energetic use of the ad- '
vantages which nature has bestowed, '
coupled, wifh the,energyoiP enthusi- i
asm and determination. ; v ' X
Burlineton's municipal advantages
indicate a very progressive spirit on
the part of the people, likewise that
commendable spirit of home pride .
which is ever an incentive to ac
quire the most modern fae'lities iu
all matters that , will contribute to
health, comfort and convenience and
; which combine the
useful with the
ornamental.
These consist of paved
'.streets throughout the business, and
1 a great portion of the resident section
and which latter are being extended
from time to time, concrete side
walks which iu due time will be
laid all over the town, while the
contract is let and the work is being
pushed in macadamizing about six
miles of streets, a splendid Sewer
system has been installed and laid. .:
Thf city owns the eleUiic light and
water systems, operated by the town
jand which supply a high grade ser-
vice ana is a nanasome revenue to
the town. A vegilant police force 1
and a volunteer fire department com-
posed of our best citizens, Burling
ton has met the requirements of the ?
postal regulations governing a free
delivery service, anu will be estab
libhed in the early part of the new ?
year, as the volume of, business has
already far exceeded the amount to
secure this valuable advantage, ten ; ,
rural routes radiate in all directions
irora the town and the mail, facili-
j ties maintained by the lueal post-
: master reaches the highcet standaid
, of efficiency as compared with ot.er
. towns. Supplement an excellent .
mail tervice supplied by six arrivals
and distributions every twenty-four :
hours, there are the ad.antages of
long distance and local telephone
facilities and two telegraph systems .
which keep the community ; iu the
closest possible touch with' the out
side world. . , " '
If you wish to know and patro !
nize the truly enterprising and pub ;4
Mc spin ted men who are, ever read j
to advertise our city advantages to4:
seekers read the columns of this
special edition.- ;
- ' . . - , - L '
Row upon row of substantial -i
brick blqoks stamp Burlington as a J
solid enterprising and - well - to : do 4 '
city the greater of which, has "beeh
erected within 'thelasttcn years. ,J !4
seen !; .jlt. things."
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