The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-08-18

surround themselves with those thing
which contribute to health and ind
vidual growth and development am
herein lies our second claim for recog
milton. For testimony on this poln
l refer you to the editor of the Obse,
yer who spent six years at hard labo
trying to forget Charlotte and thel
returned. The best hope of an
town is the expressed hope and con
fdence of its people. We claim
larger holding of real estate by our owl
peol+e than any town which has begu1
to show signs of growth and less in
vestment elsewhere.
The best evidence of a spirit O
legitimate enterprise is the actual in
vestment in industrial plants and loca
Improvements.
We claim that without question
there are larger number of individual
stockholders in manufacturing enter
prises in Charlotte than in any South
ern town whose manufacturing inter
ests are twice as great.
The best growth is steady and re-
liable growth. Our tax books show ar
increase in real and personal property
of s495,777 in 1890 and an increase
of s5oo,4I2 in ISoI-something ovel
81, 100000 in two years. The last
annual report of the secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce showed coun,
of nine corporations organized in 1891
for purposes of development of our
local resources with capital stock Of
$4,000. | can count on my fingers
ends two thirds of that amount for the
present year which is scarcely hall
gone. Within the past sixty days.
when the condition of the South has
been represented as at its worst,
charters for two new cotton factories
have been secured and the stock
subscribed, the foundation for a crea-
merry has been laid just without the
city limits, and the farmers of Meek.
lenburg are organizing a flour mill tc
be located here.
A feature of the manufacturing in
terests which is to be regarded with
especial satisfaction is that it is not
confined to any one article Of thirty
nine institutions employing power and
hiring labor more or less skilled there
are twenty different kinds. Twelve
years ago we had three in all and two
in kind. $50 people were then en-
ployed, while the number now reaches
beyond or is rapidly approximating
1900.
Given intelligence, an elevated mora
tone, judiciously directed spirit ol
enterprise, a love Of home and home
comforts, and what else is needed to
make us hopeful of the future? Is il
geographical position? We claim a
special advantage in this respect
especially with reference to railroad
lines already built. A glance at the
map will show star naked Charlotte
from the center of which radiate five
prongs with a regularity as to the
distance between them which looks
like design. These are her five rail
roads, her arteries of trade. With
Charlotte as centre and radius O
twenty-five miles, the circle will in
clude as thoroughly and as intelligently
cultivated an agricultural district as
is to be found in either of the Caro-
linas, and one perhaps, as thickly
populated. But this is not all. Within
this circle are to be found eighteen
towns with an average population OF
over 1000 people, not including Char
lotte, and of manufacturing center
prises that cotton factories alone i:
represented to the extent of thirty
two, converting an investment which
certainly cannot be less than three
and and one half million dollars. Ter
years ago, three of these perhaps were
in operation! Every one Of these
towns, all of these factories are within
an hours ride. Access to these and
to the great centres of trade is afforded
by twelve passenger trains which leave
our stations every twenty-four hours
the same number arriving. Foul
trains leave for New York everytwenty
four hours, and nights ride bring
us in sight of the dome of the nationa
capitol, carries us out of sight OF lant
on the Atlantic ocean, or through
and beyond the mists OF the Blue
Ridge mountains.
While therefore possessing the ad
vantage of the village with its greer
grass and fresh air, there is no com
tort of the city which we cannot show
Need refer you to these in detall-t
our abundance of light, and excellen
water supply, an unsurpassed stree
railway service, park and pleasur
ground for our people, exceller
private schools, our public schools wit
their 1900 pupils, 20 churches an
a public library which though in it
first days of usefulness shows an averag
daily attendance of thirty people, an
an average of 100 books in the hand
of readers?
These things you will see ior.you1
selves and we hope they will aid
leaving upon your memories pleasar
impressions of your visit to Chariot
and some feeling of pride in the pr'
gress and growth of North Carolir
town.
4 The eviction Of sixty families fro
Mr.. Carnegie's houses will be su
prise 10 newspaper readers. 1t h
been supposed that all the worklr
people about Pittsburg were so VT
paid that they owned their own home
: In the light of these evictions, VIII
: becomes of the high tariff cartoons
r the delightful home of workmcn in t
employ of the tariff Barons?-Lou