The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-04
HOW WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH.

laration of independence was signed and
the people all over the land made ready
to fight the good fight of liberty. Since
then our history has been a marvellous
one-full of glory and great achieve
ments, as a people and as a nation.
1t is well, therefore, at this 124th mile
stone in the nations progress that we
pause for a moment and look about us.
The lessons of our wars we remember;
its sacrifices we would not forget.
But Peace hath her victries no less
renowned than war and the News and
Observer has considered this day of ma
tional rejoicing fitting occasion on which
to celebrate, in modest way, the COM
pletion of the South's greatest and best
railway system, thereby putting Raleigh
forty miles nearer to the Northern cities
and linking her in closer bonds to the
cities of her sister State-Virginia.
The two States have always been one
for North Carolina we can say that no
bond of union between us can be too
streng. The re sidents at the capitals of the
two States have ever maintained the
most cordial relations, both in business
and social affairs and the completion of
the Seaboard's short line between the
two cities can but bring their people
closer together and establish between
them even more intimate relations than
have ever befores existed.
Of RichmCnd-her romantic history and
glorious past; her present growth and still
more glorious future-we have spoken at
length in another column.
The history of Raleigh spans the ten
decades of century and a little more
the sweep of the years from the dawn
of 1892 to the MONDAY glory of 1900.
Though in the early history of the city
there is no doubt much of legend and ro-
nance, the story of later times is one of
real progress and solid achievement.
Here she stands today, one of the most
the South. Her growth has been from
within and always solid. Few foreign
folk have swelled her poulation and
yet she has 10000 souls within her gates
From her business. heart sweep out thous
ands of miles of railway. In her factories
! innumerable spindles hum and looms
4hn hoe md
T, her business houses find a thriving, pros
porous trade throughout the South, and
| failures are practically unknown.
| Her public schools are thronged with
| children and her colleges and seminaries
!, supply the State with trained men and
| women. Public opinion is moulded by
/ her newspapers and books, in her lecture
rooms and pulpits. And greater than ma
!, terial wealth or commercial strength is
this love of better things, this spiritual
f, development and intellectual growth.
In point of material development the
city is as yet but in it's infancy. The
| smoke of her factories, the roar of her
| trains, her tons of brick and mortar and
/ iron are but the promise of greater things
| yet to be. The next generation will see
here a city hardly dreamed of by this
F., generation. The foundation for it has
been laid. Out of the Raleigh of today is
! rising the Raleigh of tomorrow.
| A powerful factor in this growth of the
J city must be its railroads, running across
the State in every direction and putting
! her people in close touch with those of
our sister States and opening up markets
| that otherwise could never have been
! reached.
| OF Raleigh's railroads, two are great
] systems-the Seaboard Air Line and the
| Southern.
! These systems, with their numerous
4 feeders, have brought the markets of the
| world to the very doors of the merchant
! cts as we'll. Besides the facilities which
| these roads provide for transportation.
| their construction caused the expenditure
of large sums of money in the State, and
! their operation is affording the means
| of employment to thousands of persons.
| This is especially true of the Seaboard,
and it is from the beginning of this extern
sve railroad system that a new era must
| be reckoned for Raleigh.
| The people of no city have been so deep
| ly interested in the success of the indie
pendent consolidation of the Seaboard
, roads as have the people of Raj
= eigh, for it was the only hope for
: the capital of North Carolina to Sc
, cure through North and South line
within it's borders. Today for the first
| time Raleigh is on the through line of
/ great railroad system. 1t celebrates
the event with gladness, and looks to
/ receive fresh impetus and growth from
this new agency of progress and ad-
/ vancement. The assurance of the chief
officers of the system, at recent banquet
, here, of improvements to be made in