The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-28

closed its doors in 1876, it was freely said
chat the ambition to assemble the pro-
ducts and arts of the whole earth in enor-
nous aggregations would go no further,
that such great and costly displays had
had their day, and would be seen no
more" That this was grave error is
shown by the Columbian Exposition at
Chicago. the New Orleans Cotton EXPOSE
ton in 1885, the two expositions held
| in Atlanta. the Tennessee Centennial, the
Pan American and the exposition at
| Charleston, to the success of which North
Carolina contributed so largely. Now
comes st. Louis with an aggregation far
exceeding anything of the kind ever I'M
dertaken in any country, and Virginia
| proposes to follow in 1907 with an exposi-
ton which, from its location on the
| shores of Hampton Roads, can not fail to
attract great attention.
| The Western States are always to be
| found in evidence at expositions with
| exhibits of their resources and have
| found it in many ways a profitable in
vestment. Every exposition, great or
| small, has helped to some onward step"
| Columns could be written on this line
| showing that both in this country and
/ the Old World "expositions are the time
keepers of progress That "the con-
census of opinion now is that no agency
| is so effective in bringing about good and
great results, and nothing teaches so
| rapidly and so forcibly.'
| ST. Louis is neither Northern nor
Southern, neither Eastern nor Western,
| but just an all American city, and it in
vites the Southern States to come to their
| Greatest of all Worlds Fairs and there
show to the people of this country, to
| the entire world, the phenomenal adj
vancement made by the South in every
/ line in the last decade Of the nineteenth
century Will North Carolina accept the
invitation? If So what has the State to
| exhibit? The answer is, more varied in
dustries and resources than any other
State On page II of the Industrial Edi-
| ton Of the News and Observer for April
| Sth, 1902, there is printed a letter from
| Governor Aycock, that more fully answers
/ this question, and which it is hoped, will
be re-published with this communication.
1t covers the ground more fully than l
i can. In the concluding paragraph the
| Governor says, "Our exhibit at Charles
ton. while admittedly fine, is not adequate
as an expression of what we are doing.
/ That is all true it must be remembered,
however. that the exhibit was prepared
and placed by the Agricultural Depart
ment. without aid from the Legislature.
and the department went to the extent
Of it's ability.
Will the Legislature take the necessary
action now? The State can not afford to
be left out of the picture at st. Louis.
Consider for a minute what has been &C
complshed in the State, here are some OF
1.-THE figures which show a glorious story
of Industrial progress:
In 1890 there were 1867 establishments;
lin 1900 they had grown to 1926.
In 1890 the capital invested was $3,745,-
9s5; in 1900 it is S76.503,S94
In 1890 there were 1885 employees; in
1900, 70,570.
In 1890 the value of materials used
was 500. 7S9, 1877; in 1900 it had grown to
| $50, 072,3SS.
In 1890 the value of products was $40,
| 375, 45O In 1900 1t reached $94, 919,663
| So much for the manufacturing side of
| the story, an exhibit at ST. Louis will aid
materially in increasing these figures.
What of the agricultural developments,
/ have they kept pace with the Industrial?
i Here are the figures:
/ In 1890 the gross value of Agricultural
i Products is given as $50,O70, $50, while in
1900 it is $50 ,3O9. 63S
/ In 1890 the population is given as l.
617,947 in 1900 it had increased to l.
| S93, SO.
| All these figures show UP we'll, but II
/ as Governor Aycock says, Our entire
i population has determined to make the
| greatest State in the Union out of North
Carolina" then more capital and increased
/ population are absolutely necessary.
| 1t is for the Legislature to provide the
means to secure them, both can be Sc
cured through representation at ST. Louis.
| JOHN H. AVERILL.