The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-27
NEWSPAPERS As INDUSTRIAL
FACTORS.


tor in the industrial enterprises of the
day than we'll managed and reliable
newspapers. The great army of bene.
factors to mankind, like all other ar
mics, need to know at various points
just what is going on at other points
and there is no other medium so ready
and so available for this work as the
newspaper. 1t Is sort of operator in
"secret service" calling from one hill
top to the other, informing the enter.
prising people of one section what
those of another are doing.
Many people seem to think that the
work of newspapers is simply to tell O.
murders, riots, storms, floods, disasters
and bad things generally, and they
rate them according to the amount Of
such news their columns carry. This
Is mistake. A newspaper must neces.
sarlIy tell many such things that would
Just as well be left untold but it ought
to tell more good things than bad If pos
sible. The newspaper has become an
Invaluable medium for giving facts,
and sending them far, of the many
mammoth Industries of the age. Is
there "magic city,? The world learns
OF it through the newspapers. Is there a
wonderful find of some mining indus
try? The newspapers tell the world
next day. Is there a wonderful pro-
ductiveness OF the soil in a certain To-
cality? The newspaper is sought as
the medium through which the world
learns of it. Is there a great develop
ment OF any industry whereby mankind
is benefited? The newspaper first ar
nounces it to-: every nook and corner
of the land. And so the newspaper
serves the great masses of millions of
people in thousand ways of which
they do not reckon.
These observations were suggested by
a seven column article in SUNDAYS
News and Observer, giving facts and
figures and general outline OF the
foundation and growth of the town of
Roanoke Rapids In this county. The
COMMONWEALTH as long ago as the
summer of 1884. we believe, gave quite
a long article on the work at Roanoke
Rapids, but that was before the canal
ana dams we're completed. Since that
time there has sprung up quite town
there, with two or three factories and
even greater population than some at
that time thought there would be this
early.
The wrlte-up given by the News and
Observer last Sunday is the work OF
Mr.. F. B. Arendal of the News and OBJ
server staff, and is quite credltable. In
1t Major Thomas L. Emry is properly
regarded as the life of the enterprise
aud the real builder of the town.
There are few such men as Major EN-
ry-so filled with energy and so we'll
able to properly direct it all.
The article referred to in the News
and observer pays Maj Emry the fol-
lowing deserved compliment in the |
first paragraphs:
"Slx years ago Maj. Thomas l.. Emry
stood on the banks of the Roanoke Riv-
er, at what was then known as Great |
Falls, five miles above Weldon, and |
the great volume of water as
it whirled to waste over a mile or more
rugged rapids.
"There was force, mighty volume
Of force, great power lashing itself
into exhausted tranquility, paralyzing
It's energies against the shoals and the +
banks for lack OF more profitable utili-
zation, and then flowing on down tie
watery highway until it gathered more
force, to be dashed again into lazy leth-
argy against other shoals.
"There was something in the man
that stood beside the river, akin to the
raging, restless stream. There was
force in him, volume of reserve pow
Dr., that bad been partly going to waste.
He had been merchant, planter, legis-
lator, but he had force for all these and
to spare.
"He watched the raging waters and
be thought of the great money value
that was going headlong down the
stream never to return. The mills
never grind with the water that has
passed. he unused. That great pent up
force in the man exerted itself
md he said, Il will harness this Wild