The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
The Now County Seal. Peoplsd by Wide
Awake and Up-lc-Date Citizenship.
Large Stores. A HospIabIe People. PcpuIa-
lion 1900 Many Attractions.

This, the youngest of the sisters in the
State of North Carolina, is not the weak
est by any means in those things that go
to make a good county. There can be
but three essentials as to strength to be
considered in the formation of n new
county: First, there should be sufficient
area. and in this respect Scotland ccun-
ty surpasses thirty of her sister coun-
ties. Second, population for there must
be sufficient number of people needing
the relief in the 'area' to be considered.
The new county has more people in it
census 1890 than twenty-eight other
counties. The final test then will be as
to wealth, for without money to raise
taxes, the ''sinews of war; will be over
strained. There are some who still hon
estly fear that Scotland cannot stand
alone" in this respect; but the figures
show that she has more taxables than
thirty-one of her sisters. If those who
have fears on this score could realize this
for a moment they would necessarily
see that this new county cannot in the
nature of things be- pauper
In shape the county is very much like
an egg, with the centre of population
very slightly towards the smaller end
of the egg, and not missing the town of
Laurinburg more than mile, II that.
There are not twenty families in the
new county, whose members cannot at
tend courts at the county seat and re-
turn home every night with ease
The people are thrifty and well-edu-
Gated. A very large per cent. of the
younger men and nearly all the younger
al. ht.if fxy al &C a
attended college one or more years. The
Laurinburg High School, which is local
in its patronage. affords such advantages
as are indeed rare Many "hrst honor
men at the State University and other
higher institutions point with pride to
the old high school here. For twenty
years it has been presided over with sig
nal ability by Prof. William Graham
ouakenbush-th William Bingham of
tnis section or Moth Carolina. Ih''
people are church-going People and sup
rcrt literally the institutions OF
the church. The Presbyterian is
necessarily the strongest in num-
beers and wealth, but on the other church
registers will be found many Macs,
showing that though the most doggedly
determined race on earth, these Scotch
men are not held to any dogma by mere
inheritance or tradition, but by the firm
belief of a reasonable and thinking man
are led according to conscience. 1t Is
true they have in them much of the SPIRIT
of that Scotchman who said he was.
perfectly willing to be convinced when
ever he was wrong, but he would be-
dinged if he would not like to see thef
man that could convice him"
The Presbyterian church at Laurln-I
burg is one of the strongest country
churches in the State. 1t pays more pei
capita to foreign missions than any otheri
church of that denomination in the'
Southern church.
In ofden times no Scotchman here hadl
been hospitable until he had opened the!
decanter and set it out on the side boardI
and turned his back while his guest
poured out for himself freely, but event
then there was no tipping in the modernI
sense, and almost no drunkenness. Io-l
day there are no decanters for guests,
and little drinking. There is not a.
licensed barroom in the new county.
There is another town in this county,
Gibson, by name, christened by the last
Legislature. 1T is directly on the HneI
between the State of South CarollnaI
and North Carolina, adjoining South;
Carolina on one side. 1t is thrivingI
village and will become good town at al
rapid rate.
Laurinburg, the county seat of Scott
land, was chartered February Il, 1871,
being named for Col. John G.. McLaurln.
the oldest inhabitant. 1t was namedl
Laurinburgh, and was to be pronounced
as is the capital of Scotland Edinburgh.
"Laurinboro," but the world left off thel
'h,'' and called it burg" instead off
'boro."
1t has population of fifteen hun6red.l
and is extremely half way between Char 4
lotte and Wilmington, being % miles
from each.
There are three cotton mills and two!
cotton oil mills in this section, all of
which are successful, and especially thef
cotton mills. The stock of these cotton!
yarn mills hardly has market value, as
none of it ever reaches market. IL has
no price at all, for it cannot be bought.
But the wealth of the community is
in agriculture, pure and simple, and the
farm houses and appurtenances are neat,
well kept, and well appointed. 1t is,
largely a cotton section, though the pee
pie are going in tobacco OF late Old
Richmond county was the banner cOnn-,
ty in the State for the production of cot
ton, and the second in the United States
in the production per acre of cotton. The
Flower end now Scotland county, made
that true, and now that it will be con-
sidered unit, it will likely take first
rank in United States The garden
county of the State of South Carolina
Neutrality-suspicious. this county Oh the
south, and is in no way superior to Scot
land agriculturally. Many farmers here