The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-08-20
Mr. prcccIeut and Gent Ienen OF thf

Ten years ago had the honor Oh WEI
coming this body to this community, |
and again after the lapse OF ten long |
wears this pleasing duty has been as
signed me- | repeat what | said at that |
tmc-this community opens hfr arms
wider, and bids You heartIer welcome
than she could to any other representa-
tive body that eyer assembled within heF
corporate limits: for the reason that the
newspapers have done more towards
making known to the outside world,
what we are doing in contributing to
the material development OF North Caro-
lima, than any other medium that could
have been Deutschland when we meet
one Of your body, sc feel like shaking
him by the hand and bidding him wei
come to our town.
The editor OF IL daily or weekly news
payer is Il mOulder and leader OF thought
in any community, and his power-either
for good or evil is felt whenever he speaks
to the public through his columns, and
this being true, how careful i.hd wise Il
man occupying such a responsible posi-
ton should be. He should endeavor to
make up his mind, first, what Is right
and stand to that, and not be driven
from principle, to the position OF trying
to catch Unpopular favor by advocating
measures which he knows are not right,
just, honest or practical. When YOU were
here in 1881 1.-THE population of Winston
Salem was ), 191. In 1891 it will reach
Is 900, an increase of $500. The tax
able value of our property in the cor
pOrate limits of WinstOn-Salem in 1881
was $500, 900. In 1891 it is 50, SO4 ,:}3l.
an increase of 81 ,S44 ,331 in ten years.
In 1881 our banking capital was $3.50
900. III 1891 it is $500, 900, an increase
of $25O,OOO In 1881 our tobacco in
dustries numbered eighteen. In 1891
they number fifty, an increase OF thirty
two, and the output is ten times as great.
We had only one railroad in 1881. %
miles long. We now have three railroads
with 24O miles of track.
In 1881 we had no graded schools, and
only one or two small private schools,
with less than 300 scholars. In 1891,
we had not than 1900 white girls and
boys at public and private schools, board
ing and day scholars within our corpor
ate limits.
Within the past ten years several OF
our old church buildings have been pulled
down and magnificent structures, costing
| more than $50 900, have been erected.
| | might give you many other items OF
this character, showing what we have
done towards building up this section OF
our State, but these figures, which are
not exaggerated, will servetO give you an
| insight into some at least of our progress.
Without desiring to detract any thing
from the progress OF some OF our sister
towns, but rejoicing in their continued
prosperity, we differ from them in one
or two particulars. Ours is neither an
| imported wealth nor is it lodged in the
| hands of few mlliOnares but is very
generally distributed, so that the failure,
ii such thing should happen, of one or
more of our largest dealers does not mean
the ruin of any one else in thecOmmunity.
There are men to-day in our town who
are justly entitled to be quoted to be
worth from a hundred thousand to a
quarter ola million of dollars, who twenty
years ago were plOw-boys, on their farms,
not exceeding 100 miles from Winston.
We are proud to have such citizens.
| But. gentlemen, | will not detain you
longer. | might allude to the formation
| and prosperity OF several OF our land
companies, but you will doubtless visit
their fields corporations while here, where
you will see the wonderful work which
they have accomplished in so short IL
| time.
We again bid you welcome, gentlemen,
and we hope you will feel at liberty dur
ing your stay with us-to call upon us
for anything that will contribute toyour
pleasure or happiness. We shall take
pleasure in serving you.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Buxton S
speech Mr.. II. \. London, of the
| IltLsDUIU AecOIU, WIN nau Uvuu oI-
pointed to respond to the address of
welcome, arose and said:
| Mr.. PRESIDENT Mr. Buxton and Mem
bers OF the Convention-The manner of
our welcome here to-day is another proof
that Winston never does things by
halves, nor on u small scale. Surely
there has been nothing small about our
welcome and certainly there is nothing
small about their representative. Indeed,
after hearing the eloquent address by
my gigantic friend, | must exclaim some
what III the language of the school boy:
~ GU would scarce expect one ofmy size to
speak III public on the stage" But since
this honor has been assigned me, l shall
endeavor to discharge SO pleasing q duty.
| am sure that our hearts are full of ap-
probation of the very kind words and
very warm welcome which has been eX-
tended IN behalf OF this city of Winston
Salem. We fully appreciate the open
hearted manner in which we, the men,
bers of the press, have been received into
the hearts and homes of these people.
We appreciate the fact that it is not
merely a welcome to us as individuals
but it is "a recognition of the power of the
press-it is Il recognition of the immense
Influence of the gentlemen who are here
visiting this city, who as North Caro-
llnlans rejoice so much in the prosperity
OF the State. 1t has recently been my
! pleasure to visit some of the marvellous
cities OF the Northwest and my heart
swelled with pride when | beheld their
wonderful prosperity and marvellous
growth.
| But to-day, standing upon my native
soil i'll the Old North State, my heart
swells with pride when | see here in old
North Carolina IL city that can compare
with any on the American continent. 1t
did indeed thrill me with State pride
when | heard the gentleman relating the
wonderful and marvellous progress of
this city OF Winston-how it has been
developed and built up since our last
visit here, and yet while we rejoice and
appreciate the material prosperity, while
| we admire the great buildings that sur
! round us, the mammoth manufactures
and the push and energy of its citizens
| and the beauty OF the ladies: Yet all this
would be nothing to that still greater
jewel in the diadem that crowns this fair
city OF Winston. This is the interest
manifested in the great cause of educa-
ton as is evidenced by the high standing
OF the schools and institutions of learn
/ ing which adorn this city. return thanks
to the gentleman for the kind and COM
| plimentary language in which he has ex-
pressed his welcome to the members of
the press. 1t is a deserving compliment
from Il worthy source.
/ For il there be any body of our citizens
who do more for the prosperity of North
Carolina than any other it is the hard
working, poorly paid editors OF North
Carolina. While the individual editor
| may be weak or false, while the average
newspaper may not be infallible, yet the
aggregate journalism throughout the
l nited States is the most potent factor
IN the development of the country and
IN the elevation of the human race-and