The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-05-10

When one sees The unanimity OF
this people and notes their new build
ings, both public and private, and rec
elects what they have accomplished
since the town woke up, he will not
think this is an idle expectation. A
little country village that has bios
somed into a city with a fine new
town hall and markethouse, that has
determined upon electric lights, that
IS hunting for water supply, that has
opened up railroad Communication
with Richmond, that often disposes on
a single safes day of So 200 worth of
tobacco, that has good stores, good
schools, an energetic progressive
mayor, bright, industrious and 'har-
monious. community, and finally such
a club as the Commonwealth, IS GER
tam to prosper in every way.
Commenting on this letter, the
Ref0rd says editorially under the
heading Pull all together"
The graphic description of Oxford's
celebration OF the opening of its new
railroad, which comes from oHr spe-
cial correspondent, carries with it
moral OF universal application. 1t il
illustrates that power of unity and will
which is expressed in the sailors roll
licking chorus:
"a long pull, a strong pull, pull all to-
getA<r."
Here we have the story OF a little
country hamlet, where people have
shaken off the dizziness engendered by
their surroundings, and, stirred by a
common impulse, have concentrated
their powers, and are using them har-
moniously and effectively for the
building up of their town and of all
the region round about. This change
from the hum drum listlessness of a
dead and alive village to the stirring
elasticity of a prosperous young city
has been brought about by the people
themselves, and not by strangers and
spectators. 1t is the legitimate out
growth OF unity, energy and determi-
nation. When the tobacco planters
of Granville attached axles and shafts
to hogshead, harnessed a mule to it,
aud started it in charge Of negro
driver for Richmond or Lynchburg
Gas was formerly the custom,) they
only illustrated that uneconomic labor
SYSTEM which was destroyed by the
war. When they dubbed together to
make Oxford a market town, and then
TO build railroads over which pur-
Chasers could come to it, and tobacco
could be shipped from it, they exem-
plifed the spirit of this era.
The generous emulation between
Durham, Henderson and Oxford,
friendly rivals that they are, inures
to the prosperity Of all three cities,
and of the people of half a dozen
counties. 1t is in glorious contrast to
the jealous spirit occasionally dis
played, which leads the people Of some
communities to dispar4ge others, to
the detriment Of all. The resources
of the South are boundless, her nat
ural wealth is unlimited, and she has
room and business enough for ten
cities for every one that now exists.
The Manufacturers Record has no
sympathy for or patience with that
narrow provincialism which seeks to
build up one locality by depreciating
another. 1t is mean and despicable,
and invariably reacts upon itself.
The lofty mountains, the broad
plateaus, the lovely valleys of the
South, teeming with natural wealth in
thousand forms, will never reach
their highest development until the
people Of every community initiate
the jolly seafarers and 'pull all to-
gether.