The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-09
The Time for North Carolina has
Come.

The time is uncommonly favorable for
Southern trade and business enterprise.
Crops both of cotton and grain are larger
than usual; labor Is steadier credit easier !;
political discord quieter and although
prices are poor, our producers have grad
uaily but steadily worked down to an
economic, cash-paying basis whereon they
are able to realize more actual profit from
cotton at ten cents per pound than formerly
at sixteen. The result Is patent To even the
casual observer. The Southern people are
mole cheerful, mere truSttul of the future.
more disposed TO reft, reiurnish, and re
model, IN doors and out doors, more ready
to test new methods, new machinery, new
farming implements, and improved stock,
more willing TO embark In new industrial en-
terprIses, more anxious to secure the best
books, schooling, and intellectual training
for their children; IN short, more wide
awake, hopeful, and progressive than at any
period since the war.
There is no CANNON nor rose water IN this
picture. Business is brisk at all trade cen
tres for prosperity IN the country means
activity IN town, and any Banking House
with a well filled wallet, and a nest egg OF
cash on deposit than in even the palmy
days Of slavery. Many Northern %journa.s
recently refused TO credit the surprising IN
crease in Southern Census statistics, al
though collected, supervised, and audited,
by Republican officials.
THE OLD NORTH STATE LEADING!
North Carolina exhibits this anti dellun,
recuperation III marked degree. An agri
cultural State, always steady and conserva-
tive, owning comparatively few slaves. re-
puted the old Line Wing stronghold OF
the South, she naturally found less difficult
u In rc-adjuStlng ner shattered fortunes In
accordance with changed circumstances, aud
conditions. Moreover, Nature hath richly
blessed her. Situated midway between the
hot States, and the cold, Cd the dividing line
between cotton aud cereals, with a territory
a. large as England, larger than New York.
aud more diversified than either, with "a
surface arising IN successive terraces, or
land benches, 100 miles wide, from tide
level in the East to the switzerland of
America, 800 miles to Westward, the
highest land this side of the Rocky Noun
tains, and possessing the widest variety and
excellence, (see Testimony of National Cen
sus Tables, and Philadelphia Centennial
Reports) of climate, Of soils, Of crops, OF
fruits, of timber, of minerals; OF fish, tori.
and medicinal herbs, Of any State III the
Union, or any equal area OF the globe, IL IS
not surprising that she should soonest over
grow the sears OF war, and respond to the
breezy impulses Of modern Improvement.
Had the political peace Of the past four
years come ten years sooner the State to
day would be ~uGrecogniZable to her own
sons. Even a. it is, her material growth is
such as calls forth EXPLANATIONS Of astonish-
ment from all who have been absent a few
years. Let it suffice here to note that our
taxable value are gaining above one million
dollars annually, auditors Report, that
! mere hamlcts Of ten years ago are now cities
like Durham, " nstQr, A>heville, etc, with
single firms paying hundreds II thousands
yearly Revenue tax that eight new rail
roads are building, aud three just finished ::
that our handful Of manufacturers in 1870
have increased &c % cotton factories,
with I25, 900 spindIcs, 80 tobacco
factories; and numerous machine SHIPS
all running on full time, and often over
worked and that although we have two
railway routes TO New York Is hours
ride and two steam ship lines besides
coasting v~essels,) and every wheel turning
night and day, our principal dcpots are
clogged with freight; and contractors have
trouble in getting ears. Any railroad man
ager can testify that more kcrthern freight,
embracing merchandise, machinery, en-
gines, fertilizers, house and hotel furnish
lngs, factory and farm tools, fruit trees, i'm
proved stock, reapers and mowers sporting
arms, : Yankee Notions books, and What
Not have come South within four years
past than il any dozen years previous.
And that the outlook promises a larger traf.
fc than ever during the coming wear.