The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-06-15

DUE MORE To ENERGY THAN TO
NATl RAJ GESOt RCtS.
A North CarOiiEian Nv "a, iowm in Ala.
bam' Agrees " in Nr. " alter Pa.e--
How to Make Il Boom.

forget thee. . JtruSaltIn, let my rgnt
hand forget her cunning" Thus saLg the
children of Israel in their captivity as they
hanged their unstrung harps upon the
willows and sat down by the rivers of
Babylon and wept. There is no more
pathetic picture in the history Of .he hll-
man race than the constancy with which
this peculiar people, even in their deepest
sorrow. ever turned their eyes towards
Jerusalem However hard their tasks,
cheerless their condition and hopeless their
future. they were faithful 10 the customs
ard traditions of their race. Whether
camping under Judean skies. cropping in
Egyptian darkness or marching through
the Wilderness, the patriarchs would gath
er the lttle ones about them and teach
them to hold fast by the faith of the faith
ers, and 10 cherish above all ,hinys the
memory OF the great achievements of the
men who made the name of Israel i'm
mortal.
The recent request t of the editor M the
CHRONICLE to the writer to contribute an
occasional letter t. his columns, has called
into renewed life very much the same
feeling of love and reverence for my native
State, as that which swelied the bosom of
the young Jew AS he put on the mantle
of the assembled Prophet 1t is unjust to
believe that the great number of North
Carolinlans who have gone forth, to enrich
other States with their brains and their
energy, think not fenderly Of tn old COM
monWealth where still exist the undying
associations Of happy childhood, and be-
Eeath whose green sod sleeps sweetly Il
sainted mother or an adored father.
1t Is an asperslon to believe that the
''dispersed abroad, are not proud of their
native State, and the grand record she
Is TO 2a, Ii in
different departments of progress They
are proud of her scholars and statesmen,
OF her answering political Integrity, of
her diversity of natural resources, and of
her cultured and hospitable people, and
how earnestly they lament her short com
ings That North Carolina is very serious
ly deficient in many particulars, is evi-
denced by the steady stream of people
who annually betake themselves to other
States. | am very much inclined to believe
that Walter Pages theory of the mum
mics, was not tar from being an accurate
diagnosis OF the cd States principal trou-
bic: and While he told some truths in Il
distressingly poignant and lifelike manner,
whici. offended some, and created rabid
, Indignation in others. am convinced,
that since that cloud has passed away
many, who We're quick to heap criticism
and calumny upon him, have realized the
honesty OF his motives in turning the cal
cium light of earnest discussion upon those
dark spots on the disc OF an industrial
political and social structure, and are to-
day willing to admit that Page was right
in the main," and that the discussion of
the ''mummy" question has been produc-
tive of much good throughout the State
That there Is now new feeling of hope
and enthusiasm pulsating through the
nit of he tot
is plainly apparent from the papers of
! those places, and no better index of a
towns enterprise and growth, was ever
devised than the local press. The con
taglon Of progressiveness is present to a
greater or lesser extent throughout Mort h
| Carolina, but II is UNORGANIZED as yet,
and this is the theme upon which wish
| TO write.
Even since the Cotton Fair at Atlanta,
| from which event dates the whole South
ern RENAISSANCE, North Carolina has been,
! quietly and gradually ascending the slope
to higher prosperity. the outcome of
greater enterprise and a more general pro-
| gressiveness. The State exhibit at the
Boston Mechanics Fair, and the subse-
| quent Exposition at Raleigh, have given
additional impetus to North Carolina 5
| growth. Yet. Notwithstanding this, young
men continue TO go out of the State to cast
their fortunes in a new country. | say
| there must te some radical wrong that
| causes this hegira, and retardS the more
rapid upbuiding of towns possessing su-
perior location and undoubtedly great
natural surroundings, resources and ad
| vantages. To my mind this deficiency is
| plainly A LACK OF rNANIMTrI on the part
| of the people of each community, Il pro
| duct OF the numerous divisions and dis
sensions which grow out of a superabun-
dance of politics. The day is not far dis
tant in North Carolina when the eStab-
lishment of a large industrial plant viii be
looked upon as a more important achieve
. ment than the election of a Governor.
In comparative manner. organized eff
fort is more essential to the building of =
city than to the natural resources environ
| ing it, and this is the great underlying Sc
cret OF the prosperous condition of tho
communities in North Alabama to day.
Take the town of Bessemer for exam
pie. 1t is only one year old, yet it has &
population of J, 900 people, and in its midst
are number Of large industrial plants, t6
which many others are to be added. Take
Sheffield, ca portion of which was survey
ed by Mr. j. l.. Ludlow. the Winston en-
gineer). 1t is live little city of six Ol
seven thousand inhabitants, with many
tiourishing industries and promises o
more: a daily paper, electric lights, stree
cars. fine hotels. business blocks, and ele
giant residences. But just listen now
four years ago the present site of Sheffield
was corn field, AnnIston. likewise, is
remarkable example OF what organized
effort can do towards Transforming an alb
solute wilderness INTO An IDEAL city.
But those are iron towns, some ON
may rise to remark hat if they are
IL l.
growth and permanent prosperity, ant
all towns cannot expect to be iron centres
as it is equally true that all towns cannO
be great tobacco martS, cotton manufac
turing centres, or wood working commu
mites. Alabama may have some few ad
vantages that North Carolina does no
possess, bat North Carolina has a ia
greater array of advantages over Alabam
or any other State a> an agricultural, min
ing and manufacturing commonwealth
and IN this connection, | must say that j
has been matter of surprise to me tina
the good r.en of the North Carolina press
, usually so alert, have not rung the char
ges on Congressman Pig Iron Kellys ell
: thusiastic admission that North Carolin
possessed a greater combination Of nature
resources and advantages than that Ell
] ioyed by any other land beneath the SUI
What this sagacious business man and ~
tute politician has said and written col
: cerning Admission and Alabama has bee
5 worth thousands of dollars 20 this cit