The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-26

of April eth, in regard to the States
representation at the st. Louis Worlds
Fair 1t is a paper that should have the
careful attention of every citizen receiv-
ing a copy of same and it is hoped that
the responses VIII justify the Governor
in giving the order to the Department
OF Agriculture to make an exhibit, such
a one as every citizen of the State viii
be proud of.
In this connection the writer offers for
the consideration of the people of the
State a review of the letter of Governor
hyeock. and while the paper may he
lengthy. il treats entirely with matters
pertaining to the further advancement
of the State and the interess of the
people; it is hoped that 1t may be the
means of aiding the Governor in accom-
plishing the task which he has under
taken.
iGuoting from the letter: mo one
familiar with the situation questions the
Importance of having the, State properly
represented at this exposition"
What is the situation? AS we view it,
II is this At the close of the great
struggle in 1865 the State was in desc
late and practically ruined condition, but
with those who had come out of that
DiOOuY cOnlNCI UelefIillHcu ~ iN'Ai~'N
their losses. to rebuild their homes, and
place the old State back on the same, or
a higher plane. than it before occupied:
then a small black cloud appeared in the
Northern political sky, and soon Nthe
state was overcast with the Reconstruc-
ton cloud which continued to cover it
until we'll into the 70's, and not till the
last quarter of the Nineteenth Century
was there the dawn of new era, the
beginning of the upbuilding of the State
in many lines. which still goes on and
will 20 on. and for which all honor and
credit is due, first, to the native sons
of the State then to those who, seeing
the great advantages and opportunities
here offered, have placed their capital or
made their homes with us. A few fig
ures as to what has been done may not
be out of place:
In 1870 we had SO cotton factories. with
a capital of 81 $50, 900 giving employment
to .453.
In 1880, mills 40, capital s2S5S,S00, en-
ployes. 1870.
In 1890. mills 81, capital s1o,775.1S4, en-
ployes, S.515
In 1900. the record is, mills III, CAPT
tai 33,O11 Sic, employees 30,273.
So much for that side of the picture;
the grand total Of all manufacturing in
dustries presents the following figures:
1890 1900.
Number of establish
ments :. 1867 1926
Capital invested 1892. 1895 SIC, SOB 1914
Wage earners... 33,625 7O,570
Value of products $40. S75450 $94,919,66S
and on the Agricultural side the show
ing is as follows:
Gross value Of Agricultural products;
1890. ..Soo,utV'oo"
Here Is part OF the situation that the
Governor is supposed to refer to- 1t is a
record of progress that no other State
can exceed: the remainder of "the situa-
ton" we will assume, being the fact
that while much has been done, there are
great opportunities yet remaining to he
brought out in the line of progress, and
he State properly represented at
this exposition" can show by object
lessons what has been done, and the OPP
portunities offered in so many ways for
Investments, and in this way aid mate
rally in placing 1.-THE State" in the fore
front of American commonwealths."
The Governor says: "This exposition
will undoubtedly be the largest and most
important one ever held in any country,
and it will be participated in by each
of our States and nearly every foreign
nation"
In magnitude the st. Louis Worlds
Fair will far exceed any previous expo
sition held in this or any other coun-
try. and in cost of construction also as is
shown by the following figures:
Philadelphia Centennial COSTS S,50oe00
Paris Exposition, 1889 =. $3.50. $4,000 500
Chicago Exposition, 1898 :. :. 27,50000O
Paris Exposition, 1900 :. 2S,000,O00
st. Louis will cost 40,000,000
Quoting further from the Governors
letter: at will be participated in by
each of our States and nearly every for
eign country
AS to the participation of the States,
the record as given from St. Louis shows
that appropriations for State exhibits to
April list amount to the total sum of
$4,000 Every state west of the Miss
issippi River will be there in full force,
each wing with the others to excel in
the display of its resources and the ad-
vantages it can offer to the home seeker,
and show what the Louisiana Purchase
and the country still further west of it
has done in the way of development
since it became a part of the United
States TIE States west of the Allegha
MES and East of the Mississippi will he
there. claiming that they and their peo
pie were the first to brave the perils OF
the unknown West. and that by their aid,
and through their fundamentally the
Star OF Empire continued westward, un
I'll it now sets in the fardistant Philip
pines. These States will also have much
TO attract the eye of the investor and
home seeker, and very much to show in
the line of Industrial and Agricultural
progress during tho past century bear
ing in mind that at the opening of the
Nineteenth Century the red men held
sway in that region, and the war whoop
was no uncommon sound.
Every one of the original thirteen
States, from which have grown a Nation
both respected, and in some ways, fear
ed by those of the Old World. should
\be in evidence; they should congratu-
late their offspring. their younger sis
ters. on the showing they there make;
and those of the South should be there
and by the exhibition Of what they have
accomplished within the last ten years