The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1901-01-08
and the Opportunities For Making
Money Are Superior.
BUT is ONLY THAT THEY WORK HARDER
One Must Hustle There or be Regarded as a
Loaf-r. Wi h the Same Conditions
Here This Regio is Superior
10 the Southwest.
10 the Southwest.
(Bv DR.. Charles w. DabneyD


and the South Atlantic States have
been for hundred years :he training
ground for an enormous population,
=vvho have moved West and Southwest,
to- settle the country as fast as the
Young people grew up. This was 4
natural movement at first, and Is one
that never can and never ought to en-
tirely stop.
The people who originally settled
the hills and valleys Of the South Ap-
palachian country have been particu-
larly productive of emi9rants. Their
SONS and daughters have been streams
ing out into the West, and more re
Gently to Texas and the Southwest,
in steady current throughout the
century. They we've q sturdy stock OF
Scotch-Irish Americans. and il is we'll
for our country and its institutions
that they did leave their homes and
90 into the western country in such
large numbers They have made the
West what it is-the home of d noble
and brave people and the cOnAtrNatOrS
of American institutions.
Since the West is now we'll settled.
is it not time to say something for
the old country which has Lecn 80 long
drained of ITS hes5 young blood: 1t
seems to the writer that the time has
come when it is a doubtful policy,
both for the young people and for the
railroad, land and other corporations
who promote this traffic. The popula-
ton in North Carolina. Eastern Ten
nessee and parts of Northern Georgia
and Alabama has been kept depleted
for many years to a point at which
it was impossible for the people to
maintain their institutions in the
proper manner. They will never have
good schools, good churches and good
roads in this country until they have
more population. The attractions Of
the SOuthw have drawn upon his
territory so strongly that it never had
the opportunity to develop as it should
have done with the result that it is
still quite srarselv settled, and It's re-
sources are very imperfectly devcl-
oped.
The uncles and brothers who have
gone to the Southwest use their intlu-
ence to draw each succeeding genera
ton away from The mother States
into the new lands. The question is,
is it TO the real interest of these Young
people Of the country that this should
90 on forever Are the States of Nor IN
Carolina, Tennessee. Alabama and
Georeia such poor places to live in
that the rising generation must emf
CRATE in 'rdcr to prosper as they de
serve to DO? Are there not here still
fertile fields to be cultivated and mines
and forests to be Developed: Are
the soil and climate Of the Southwest
so much better than ouISH \ visit
to Texas gives me some information
upon this QUestiOn Whcl | beg per
mission % report al this time.
My visit extended throughout north
ern Texas and as far south as Austin
Victoria and San Antonio. 1t is indeed
Il great State. anG one of which all
Americans ire proud. The inhucn-
tlal popula1lGn is made up almost ell
tire1N of the people from the territory
described. with the result that it is
the most thcroughly American people
now found upon the continent. Ii
was gratifying to find these genuine
Old-fashiOned Southern people ant
their sons in control Of all the affairs
OF this great State.
Nothing impressed me more thar
the vast numbers OF men Of middle
age who hal moved soon after tn.
war from those portions of NORTH
Carolina and Tennessee with which
am acquainted. Standing one day
npOn the corner Of the street in Nc
Kinney. Collins county, talking to ;
see, it occurred to NE to ask those
there gathered where they had com.
FROM. or the thirteen men present
eleven had come from Tennessee O
We're OF Tennessee percentages: tn
TWO others were. one from NOrtl
Carolina and the other from Alabama
The people are settled in this way i,
groups. Some neighborhcotls are fill
ed with the people from one section
and some from another. but nearl,
all are from these States
L asked these men why they wen
from Tennessee, and why they though
Texas a better place to live in, and
wish to report here some of their an
sWerS. The men with families usual
answered that the best thing in TeNa
was the good schools; the Young me
generally said that Texas was a bette
place to make money. | knew some
thing about he fine school system j
Texas, and Was not surprised at tina
answer, but | asked the Young me
why IeXaS was a better place to max
money. The answer was: Il don
know, unless it is that men Nor
harder out here. When fellow come
here he has either to go to work O
be branded as a loafer.''
becoming much interested in thcS
answers, l put the same question t
almost every man [ met. a few woul
say Texas offered better lands at
lower price. Men of political tur
would say that they had fewer trust
Or more competing railroads. Br
eight times out of ten the family ma
would refer to the good schools an
\ the young man would emphasize tt
superior opportunities for work, Nee
ing a youpE Virginian from my oil
UeRe, J asAsd him WHY It was til;
ZEN hundred acres of this crop. At "
I