The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-05-18
A CENTURY HENCE.


1t is pleasing speculation to con-
slider what changes the next century
will bring about-what will be the
nature of the ownership of the rail-
roads and telegraph lines, the laws
relating to marriage and divorce, the
position of the people with reference
to corporations. architecture, dress,
education, sanitation, ETC., etc.
Electricity has become such a
source of power during late years
and has been subjected to such con
troll by man that we have almost
ceased to wonder at the marvellous
uses to which it has been applied or
the inventions that promise to make
its application even more of a marvel
than it is today How will electriei-
ty affect the steam engine? The
street car horse has almost disap-
peared. Will the locomotive engine
likewise be displaced? One man
ventures the assertion that before
long a speed of 80 or 100 miles an
hour on railroads will be common
place.
We believe it will be safe to predict
that this government will own a
postal telegraph system, the use of
which will be almost as universal as
is now the postofice system.
We believe also that if the govern
ment does not own and operate the
railroads, it will at least own the
tracks and road way, and have, in
consequence, complete control of
traffic Having such ownership, it
may control transportation as east
ly as it controls traffic on natural
highways such as rivers, bays and
lakes.
We believe that the unnatural and
unjust tariff system will be regarded
as obsolete in this country and that
other nations will follow our ex-
ample In trade relations all coun-
tries will cease threatening each
other with.k0stiie ariffs and cur
trade~TeNloh will be establish
sS/forever upon a friendly basis.
will help to make rapid the
growth of the world in education,
art and other conditions of civiliza-
ton.
There will probably be a mingling
of races to a considerable extent.
The ease of travel will lead TO many
changes of location by many people.
As new people come into the South
this section of the country will be
less purely American. 1t is possible
that the Anti Semitic difficulty,
which has lately been so troublesome
in Germany, Russia and other parts
of Europe will lie partially settled,
as Bismarck suggests, by the inter
marriage of jew and Christian.
Navigation through the air will
excite attention and perhaps lead to
the attainment of the quickest
journeys from place to place not
merely over the land but over the
sea. The former will. of course, pre-
cede the other, if it is ever possible of
realization. The geography of the
world is nearly completely under
stood; there remain but few regions
which are yet unknown by man, but
we suppose that triumph win crown
human persistency, and if ever
human foot shall be planted upon
the North Pole, We venture the as
sertion that an American flag will be
flung to the breezes at the same
time.
We who live in the South win be
mostly concerned with the changes
that are likely to occur here. 1t is
the testimony of many intelligent
people that the greatest develop
ment in the next century will be in
this section of the country. 1t is
predicted by an eminent journalist
that the Piedmont region from the
Potomac to Alabama will be the
New England of the New South.
This region is some 500 miles long
and 200 miles wide. 1t has coal and
iron, agricultural resources and a
fine climate. Streams are abundant
and water power inexhaustible. On
these advantages are based the as
sertion that it will develoPe rapidly
aud support large population.
NEW NISM