The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04
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10 the Editor: ! have commenced a
study on the new census, comparing it
with the census for 1890, as regards the
returns from productive industry. The
returns from manufactures are all In and
/ have had a table made showing the
amount earned per day by each inhabitant
for two epochs the one reported in the
census for 1890 and the other lately re-
ported in the census for 1900. By this
/ see that North Carolina has increased
its productions in manufactures In ten
years from three cents per day for each
1nhabitant to over six cents.
This Is one of the most remarkable
cases of increase as may be seen from
the table which I enclose. I think that
the inhabitants of North Carolina are
to be congratulated for the sudden and
large increase in manufactures which has
taken effect during the past ten years.
1t has placed North Carolina ahead OF
a number of States that were before it
in 1890. These States are Nevada,
Texas, Alabama, Tennessee. Georgia and
South Carolina. 1t has also surpassed
the entire South Central Division as
whole, which in 1890 manufactured to the
amount of four cents and eight mills per
day for each one of it's inhabitants, and
in 1900 had increased to five cents and
six mills while North Carolina had in
creased from three cents to six cents and
enc mill.
By another decade at the present rate
the manufactured products will exceed
the farm products. North Carolina has
very few large cities, its population be-
ing mostly rural and agricultural. When
State increases it's manufactures it
increases its wealth far more rapidly
than by agriculture alone, but the large
number of people engaged in manufac-
lures in State the larger is the home
market for products of agriculture.
Hence in the census of 1890 the product
of Illinois was IS cents and 2 mills a
day for each inhabitant for it's farm pro-
ducts while its manufactured products
were ~ cents and mills. The home
market of Chicago and other large cities
made the agricultural productions Of
Illinois worth much more than they
would have been worth for distant mar
kets. The products of North Carolina
will increase in value because of the
home markets in cities and large viii
lagos which are growing rapidly through
the influence of manufacturing capital in
that State
An increase in manufactures requires
an increase in school educated persons in
the State The school has wonderful
influence in making a population versa
tile in mind. The boy who can read and
write is able to inform himself by print
ed books regarding any new subject The
boy who knows artithemtic and geography
is better able to understand a new ma
chine. The illiterate boy used to take
seven years to learn his trade. A boy
that is educated in the common schools
can learn to manage a new machine in
three weeks. This is one of the points
of significance of the increase of the
common school enrolment in North
Carolina:
IN 1870 North Carolina had $4,000
children in it's schools;
In 1880 North Carolina had 252, 612
children in it's schools;
In 1890 North Carolina had 322, 533
children in it's schools;
In 1900 North Carolina had 400, ASP
children in it's schools.
The population has largely increased in
thirty-five years, but the proportion of
population in school has increased twice
as fast as the whole population.
North Carolina in 1870 expended $177,-
49S for public education:
North Carolina in 1880 expended $780,
062 for public education;
North Carolina in 1890 expended $714,-
900 for public education.
North Carolina in 1900 expended $751;
143 for public education.
This means that while in 1870 the
amount of annual expenditure for schools
for each inhabitant was 16 cents, in 1900
it had risen to 81 cents.
There is large number of inhabitants
in North Carolina who are engaged in
transportation and commerce, a much
larger fraction of the population than
ever before. Sometimes it is said that
agriculture produces wealth, but that
manufacturing and especially commerce
do not produce This is a great mistake
Agricultural productions where there is
no transportation are lett to decay I'M
gathered. Excepting the small amount
that is useful for the home consumption,
that which can not be marketed is of no
Nalue Therefore transportation con-
verts what is of no value where it is,
into valuable commodities by taking it
to the place where it is wanted and so
manufacturers add great value to raw
change that which is of no value as a
raw material into that which is of a very
high value as finished product.
The explanation Of the great increase
in cities. the growth Of urban population
everywhere in the civilized world. is to
be explained through the increase of
manufactures. Useful inventions make