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Monday, April 3, 2023

Private Investors Step Forward to Build Cement Plant, April 3, 1923

Cement Plant May be Had Without Expenditure of State Funds, Is Thought

Raleigh, April 3—When Commissioner Cox of Guilford met with other members of the State Highway Commission today in the bring spring contract lettings, the High Point businessman brought substantial hope of a cement factory which will be erected and operated by private capital, and therefore will relieve the State of any investment in such a business.

Commissioners Hanes of Forsyth and Hill of Durham are working with Mr. Cox in the effort to meet the cement famine.

Mr. Cox believes that he has found the man who will construct the factory. In doing so the private owner will have the drag on all state business, and there is a pile of it. The Guilford man brought welcome news to the commission, which is this afternoon digesting the bids made today.

The scarcity of materials had little tendency to abate the bidding today, which showed state roadwork still popular. Only once has the commission let so much construction. People came from all parts of the State, and among the distinguished visitors were Representative T.C. Bowie, Ashe member of the lower House, who assisted in the drafting of the 1921 law, and Representative Clayton Moore of Martin, who was one of the authors of the 1923 legislation. Both had business before the commission.

Things Are Improving

All bidders seemed to find a slight improvement in transportation conditions, and the commission fears no such interruption of roadbuilding as was threatened even a month ago, though the supply of materials is far from unlimited. Mr. Cox brought a lot of optimism into the calculations today. And it was the first that has attended any of the recent lettings.

From the front page of The Kinston Daily Free Press, April 3, 1923. Road construction in state has paused because of insufficient cement to pave the new roads. The lack was so severe, the first suggestion was that the state itself get into the cement business.

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