The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-20
iURDOCK NIGHT
i Powerful Lecture at the
A. & NJ. College.
nth Carolina viii Soon be Purely Manu-
featuring State, SAYS the Salisbury
Manufacturer and Preacher.

DR.. f. j. Murdoch, of Salisbury, lee
lred last night before the Agricultural
nd Mechanical College on the Industrial
development of North Carolina. The
cture was delivered without manu-
eript, was shot straight from the
boulder and every word of it hit the
lark. 1t was full of power wisdom,
craftsmanship and broad humanity.
The leading ideas Of the lecture were:
L. North Cardinals greatest wealth is
ot its soil, nor its climate, nor its
Minerals, nor its forests, but its million
nd a quarter of white people. furnish
ng cheap and efficient labor for manu-
acturing industries. The State is rapid
transferring itself from an agricul-
ural into a manufacturing State; and in
few years the change will be COM
olete. Thirty thousand operatives are
low employed in our cotton mills; the
lumber can be increased to three hun
lred thousand without disturbing any
Jther industries.
:. Our cotton mills are more profita-
lie than those OF New England, not be-
.ause of cheap cotton, for take the year
more than the cotton at Fall River;
nor because of cheaper power, for our
horse power costs twice that of the
average New England mills. nor be-
:auSe of cheaper fuel, for West Nir-
,inia coal costs more in North Carolina
han IN Fall River, but because Of
heaper, more intelligent and more re-
liable labor. The North Carolina laborer
earns faster and better than the foreign
aborer Of New England. We are not
roubled with periods of idleness from
hut-downS of mills or. from strikes by
operatives There, is no combination be-
ween our operatives TO put up wages
md no combination between our mill
,wners 10 put down wages. The opera
ives get from 2-3 to q what New Eng
and operatives are paid, but their wages
sill buy here more of the comforts of
ife than the wages of New England
peratives will buy there.
3. Other industries besides cotton
nils are springing up i'll North Caro-
ina Soon we shall have factories for
making mill machinery in our State.
hus saving the freight on iron and
teel from Alabama to New England as
n cotton machinery from New England
Jack South. One industry will beget
mother, and soon our State will be COM
letely a manufacturing State. The
resence Of a large population getting
3w wages, scarcely a living, fear agri-
.llture and 10 be employed in manu-
acturing offers fine opportunity for
.oung men Of brains and capital 10
make fortunes and DO good to humani-
y. Our unfailing water power, nor
ransnlissible by electricity to convenient
points, will give US a great advantage
n cost of power.
t. The transition Of a people from
agriculture to manufacturing and the
fleet upon the daily life and character
ras beautifully described convenient.
5. The need Of "gladness,' of JOY
nd happiness. of culture IN the lives
# the mill operatives was set forth
it'll the rarest and most touching pathos
nd tenderness.
6. The speech closed with strong
md eloquent appeal for Goodness and
piritualness in ethe lives of all who
;hal lead in this great transformation.
DR.. Murdoch made a powerful lecture
md left deep impression. 1t Is for
innate for North Carolina that so big
hearted, big Drained and spiritual man
5 leading its Industrial life.