The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-20
Wilmington Messenger.

0Shiu WTitlHS OI the SOuLn growth.
One day it is the South's manufac-
lures that engages writer's, and the
next the increase in population or the
negro question. The South now-a-
days is always in it. 1t is now an
nounced from the census bureau that
tho South actually showed higher
percentage Of increase in population
than either the Northeastern rn or Wes-
tern States showed. The percentage
OF increase from 1860 to 1880 was 81. 8
in the North, 4S4 in the South and
1856 in the West, while in the last
twenty years--18S0-190 was AT
in the North, 1875 in the South, and
31.5 in the West.
The steady increase in population,
the growth of the towns, the produc-
tion of the soil, the great increase in
manufacturing, the uncommon oppor-
tunities offered for investment of
capital, the climate, soil and variety,
of productions-these particularly at
tract investors and cause a stir in the
North. The South. naturally, can
produce great deal. All that is
needed in farming and industry,
judgment. common sense as to i'm
provement of land, and wise selec-
tion OF crops to be cultivated. The
South can do great things in agricul-
ture, and is asserting itself as a pro-
gresslve power in manufacturing. All
that are needed to make the South
great producing country are peace,
education, industry and an intell-
gent, increased population.
Not half of North Carolina today is
under cultivation. Virgin forests
abound everywhere. Go into such
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
never so flourish in manufactures as
to cease to be great responsive agri-
cultural section. It would be a
calamity and a curse if it should
prove otherwise.
The South is awakening, and the
signs are propitious. Railroad build
ing has been large and it continues.
Intelligent Northern people have been
seeking towns and investments
among us for quarter of a century.
The negroes show an increase equal
to that of the whites in spite of the
excessive mortality among them. They
are prolific race.
DO not suppose for moment that
because OF SO much progress in manu-
featuring that farming is in decay
The reports last year as TO very short
crops depressed business at once, and
showed again that the basis OF true
advancement and continuance therein
were bottomed on the products of
soil. 1t was so intended by the builder
and maker of the universe. Diversi-
fed industry is particularly needed
in North Carolina and in the South
generally. The Baltimore Sun is al
most sure to be wise and clear in it's
opinions. Referring to the South and
its growth in diffeaent directions, it
says:
New ways Of looking at things al
ways evolve by contact with new in
tsrests, and new policies prevail. New
ideas of banks and banking 2, of money
and OF standards of value, are likely
to develop when more money is
handled and local examples abound.
Already the orator begins to lose his
Pre-eminence in public life. The law
yer takes on new varieties in the
State Legislatures, the corporation
lawyer helping to curb the fiery zeal
OF the rustic attorney. The cotton
mill owner, the mine owner. the iron
maker, the lum herman and the banker
and broker find their way more fire.
quently than formerly to the halls Of
legislation and to State offices. The
horny-handed farmer still predomi-
mates to the public advantage, but he
gets new ideas from rubbing up
against Representatives of new inter
ests. Thus moro conservative views
are taken Of public questions. Dis
cussion modities opinions and rash
decisions are avoided. Progress is
therefore the striking feature in the
South at present, in public life as
we'll as industrial affairs
Such things as are glowinglv pre-
sented in this paragraph have long
existed in the North. But with all OF
its vast progress, its stupendous
wealth, its great educational move
msnt, its commanding attitude and
power, it has not been free from great
abuses, even crimes, in its municipal
governments, in its conduct ofaffairs.
1t is controlled by unprincipled
schemers, demagogues, trimners,
placemen and wire-pullers The ma
chine has run with awful force and
destruction. MAY the South escape
, such terrible consequences, such
damuing traits and abuses
3 The railway construction has been
large, but the figures are not at hand
, as we write. The growth of the South
t ern Railroad alone is very significant
, and illustrative. 1t has been increased
I from 6,655,750 tons in 1895, to Il,
12l,lS1 in 1900 gain Of 40 pei
/, cent. in five years. The building O
/ roads help the farmers Good coun
@ try roads and a plenty of railroad.
mean benefit to the agricultural bust
2 ness. The farmers must keep pace
9 with all the other improvements
= They should grow much more stock
4 produce all they consume. and ther
make all they can FOR others. VI
n note here that paper in Rockbridg'
county, Va, says that the farmer
there were ''learning TO do their owl
work, with the bel p Of the member
q OF their families and that they wer'
( learning to make their work easis