Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1859-12-02

III our own country. give assurance tnat
the cultivation of this plant will continue
to be profitable: North Carolina produce
ed in 1919, about twelve millions of pounds
of tobacco, and about seventy-fve tEous-
and bales of cotton. That both these crops
have doubled since that time, entertain
no doubt. The demand, then, for these
staples must increase and this demand
should operate a constant stimulus to
our farmers. 1t would be better for them,
and better for us all, if they could reach
their own seaports with their produce;
and dispose Of it on advantageous terms,
but il they cannot do that, let them make.
all they can, and sell all they can, to
whomsoever will buy.
The culture Of the grape for table use
and for wine, is at present exciting atten-
ton in North Carolina That consider
bic portion of our territory, extending
from the seaboard to the Cherokee noun
tains, is adapted to the culture of the vine
and that this business will be profitable
when judiciously pursued; there can be
no doubt. If common wines were as
cheap in this Stats as they are in France
and Germany, they would soon become
the prevailing beverage, and would BAN
ish the vile compounds, which, nnder the
names of whiskey, gin, rum and brandy,
are now reproductive of drunkenness, and
so injurious to the souls and bodies of our
people. The of "wine, that maketh
glad the heart of man." is not forbidden
either by divine or human law. In the
language Of DR.. Hooper, whose sobriety
and piety no one will question, what
God gives as a tonic and stimulant, along
with the nuitriment of man, cannot if So
berly and prudently used, be hurtful eth
er to body or mind" lie advises tie cul-
ture of the vine for wine. Referring to
the s'light, giddy and impetous French
people, he says, their ''superior sobrety
cannot be attributed to any moral cause,
and is probably due to the fact that
cheap and innocuous beverage is accessi-
BILE to every body" Mr.. Jefferson ex-
pressed similar opinion sixty years ago:
It is the interest of all classes tc encourage
the culture of the grape. Let us hope
that the efforts which are in progress here
and elsewhere in the State, to produce
grapes in perfection, and to manufacture
pure and cheap beverage in the form of
wine, may be be crowned with success.
| Agriculture and the mechanic arts have
, been greatly stimulated in this State DUR
ing the last six or seven years, by works
: of internal improvement. No people ca n
hope to prosper without means of commu-
nicatiln with the markets of the world
If n orth Carolina began at a late period
to project and establish these means of
communication, and if large ard fertile
portions Of her surface are still unfortun-
ately cut off from markets it cannot be
: said that she has moved slowly since 1848.
Ten years ago the Raleigh & CASTOR Road
condition; the Wilmington & Weldon
Road are paying handsome dividends; a
Road has been constructed from the sea
at Beaufort to the Cataw5a river vest
wardly; the Manchester Road has been
completed portion of the Road from
Wilmington to Rutherford has been con-
tructed a ship channel has been opened
along our coast, connecting our seaboard
by inland navigation with the Chesapeake
Bay Road has been projected, and is
now nearly completed, from this place to
the Coalfields on Deep River and varions
other enterprises designed to facilitate and
l cheaper transportation and travel, are
engaging the attention of our fellow-citi-
zens The day is not distant when the
iron horse, with laundering hoof and lungs
; of flame, will dash through the swannan-
GA gap, and thus unite together, and unite
forever, the people of the East and West.
: Let those who have so long labored and
, looked for that day. take courage. The
State is pledged to the work. 1t may be
retarded Or postponed, but it will be done,
for North Carolina has never yet pledged
her faith in vain.
Our State and County taxes are thought
! by some TO be heavy and almost oppres-
sive yet | ar sure they are not as heavy
, as those of many other States. But what
: would be our condition if we had no pnb=
: lie works a-if our Railroads had never
: been constructed ?-or if they were now
arrested in their operations Are there
any among us who would prefer such a
:, condition of things to the prosperity which
: is so apparent in almost every department
!, of industry, and which is the result in a
! large degree, if not entirely, of internal
Y improvements? Emigration has nearly
J, ceased, and our population is increasing
J. The next census will most probably show
J, that North Carolina contains one million
: of inhabitants One of our Railroads is
0 paying twenty-four thousand dollars per
!; annum into our Common School Fund
e while two of them are together contribute
5 inc about ninety thousand dollars to the
: Sinking Fund, which has been created to
e pay the principal of the State debt as il
4 falls DUE Why, gentlemen, the income
J, of portion OF our people West of Raj
: eigh-the fruit-growers-is at least equal
t every year to the interest on the whole c1
' the public debt and bnt for Railroads not
{ one bushel probably of the article Of com
d inerce which yields this income, wonld
f ever have reached the Northern markets.
r ! This portion of the State, fellow-citizens