The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-24
THE REAL PROGRESS THE SOUTH
T.

gage writer's, and the next the ihSiSoS'
In population or the negro question. The
south nowadays is Always in II. 1t Is
now announced from NE census bureau
that the south actually showed q highe
percentage of increase IN population
than either the northeastern or western
states showed. The percentage OF in
crease from 1860 to 1850 was 61.9 in the
north, 4s.4 in the souti. and 1856 in the
west. while in the LAST twenty years
1SSO-19O0-it was 4S.7 in the north, As,
in the south. 31.5 in the west.
The steady increase in population. the
growth of the towns, the productions Of
the soil, the great Increase in manufac-
turing, the uncommon opportunities Of
fered for investment OF capital. the eli
mate. soil and variety of productions
these particularly attract investors and
cause a stir in the north. The south
naturally can produce a great deal. All
thai is needed in farming are industry,
judgment, common as to improve
ment of land. and a wise selection of
crous to be cultivated. The south can
do great things in agriculture. and is
asserting itself as a progressive power
in manufacturing. All that are needed
to make the south a great producing
country are peace. education. industry
and an intelligent. increased popula-
ton.
Not half Of North Carolina today is
under cultivation. Virgin forests
abound everywhere. Go into such old
superior counties as Halifax. Warren,
Franklin, Vance, Granville, Person,
Caswell. Rockingham and YOU will see
tens of thousands of acres with virgin
forests covering them in 1902. North
Carolina nor the south. will ever so
flourish in manufactures as to cease to
be a great. responsive agricultural Sec
tion. 1t would be a calamity and a
If 1t should prove otherwise.
The south i s awakening. and the
signs are propitious. Railroad building
has been large and it continues. Intel
liGent northern people have been seek
ing towns and investments among us
for a quarter of a century. The negroes
show an increase equal to that of the
whites in spite Of the excessive mortal
ity among them. They are a very pro-
hfc race.
Do not suppose for a moment that
because Of so much progress in manu-
facturing hat farming is in decay. |
The reports last wear as to very short |
crops depressed business at once, and
showed again that the basis Of true ad-
and continuance therein
were bottomed on the products of soil.
1t was so intended bT the Builder and
Maker of the universe. Diversified in
dustry is particularly needed in North
Carolina and in the south generally.
TIE Baltimore Sun is almost sure to be
wise and clear in its opinions. Refer
ring to the south and its growth in diff
fcrent directions. it says:
New ways of looking at things are
always evolved by contact with new
and new policies prevail. New
ideas of banks and banking, OF money
and of standards of value. are likely to
when more money is HANDLED
and local examples abound Already
the orator begins to lose his pre-emi-
nence in public life. The lawyer X
on new varieties in the state leg1sla-
lures, the corpation lawyer helping TO
curb the fiery zeal of the rustic attor-
ney. The cotton mill owner. the mine
owner, the iron maker the lumberman
and the banker and broker find their
way more frequently than formerly TO
the halls of legislation" and to state
offices. The horns handed farne'
still predominates to the public dvant-
age. but he gets new ideas from ruo.
bling I'D against the representatives OF
new interests. Thus more conservative
views are AXE of public Questions.
Discussion modiies o;inions and rash
decisions are avoided. Progress is there
fore the striking feature in the south
at present. in public life as well as IN
dustrial affairs"
Such things as are so glowinglv pre-
in this paragraph have long
listed in the north. But with all OF Its
vast progress. its ~stupendous wealth.
its great educational movement its
commanding attitude and power. it has
not been free from great abuses. even
crimes. in~its municipal governments.
in its conduct of affairs. 1t is controlled
by u~nprincipled schemes. demagogues.
trimmers placemen and wire-pullers.
The machine has run with awful force
and destruction. May the south escape
such terrible consequences. such damn
Ing traits and abuses.
The railway construction has been
large but the figures &re not at hand as
we write. The growth of the southern
railroad alone is very significant and IL
Illustrative. 1t has in creased from 6.6I5.-
$50 tons in 1896. to 14.I21.1s1. in 1904
gam of no per cent. IN five years The
building Of roads helps the farmers.
cod country roads. and a plenty Of
ads mean benefit to the agricul-
-iness.. The turner's must keep
- the other improvements.
Wv much more stock.
sumo, and then
Sers. We note
-,ockbridge
.ers there |