The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-19
1t Must be Considered by
thoughtful Men.
SOME OF ITS NEW PHASES
Climatic Conditions Around Waynesvlle- lin
That High Region the Workings Of
Natural Laws Can BE- More
Clearly Observed.

glorious air. COOL, dry ana eXnlaratlng, Une
air is delightful. We have had a little
breeze from the north and it has cleared
the heavens of every cloud, and now there
is hardly a suspicion of moisture.
Looking on the map one sees the chains
of mountains apparently running north
east and southwest, like the trend of the
sea coast But, really, west of the Blne
Ridge, as is indicated by the course of the
rivers, the heavy mountain ranges run 20
the northwest. Between them is a con-
fused mass of spurs and mountains with
narrow valleys chisselled out by ancient
floods and rains, but broadening here and
there as they meet, carrying the waters
of several streams.
Waynesville is built on a little ridge,
In narrow valley, on every side of which,
except the north, rise considerable noun
tains. Trees sheltered from winds and
storms, it has its own weather not being
much affected by conditions that prevail
elsewhere.
In this high region, protected by still
higher mountain ranges attaining on every
side an elevation of six thousand feet, one
observes more clearly the working of nat
ural laws than in the low country where
other elements modify the results. In a
general way. we say the air is a mixture
of oxygen and nitrogen. The rays of the
sun and the heat given out by the earth
would pass through such a mixture with
out heating it perceptibly. But in all air
there is another ngredient-moisture-
the moisture is sensibly affected by heat.
AT this altitude the atmospheric pres
sure is less than at the sea level; the air
is less dense. The moisture, which is IN
the form of aqueous vapor, is similarly
less dense than in the lowlands. all the
gases and vapors being rarified in proper
ton as the atmospheric pressure is les
sened. So the natural conditions in the
mountain region and on the plains of the
sea level differ in the density of the air
and of the aqueous Vapor. One of the
practical illustrations of this is that in the
higher attitudes water boils at less tenn
perature than 212 degrees. Indeed, it is
said that at very high altitude one
cannot boil an egg-the water doesn't get
hot enough-but we may not believe al
that one hears. Still the aqueous yapor
is sufficiently attenuated not to check ap-
preciably the rays of the sun; SO the suns
rays come down brilliantly, and it IS
warm enough ''in the SUM- The atmos-
phere not being warmed by the suns rays
pass through it, remains cool; so the air
is always cooler than in the lowlands, and
when one is not Gin the sum-" he is cool
and comfortable. Another result is that
the point OF saturation is more speedily
reached, and it rains on slighter provoca-
ton than where the air is more dense
When there is much moisture in the at
mosphere, it acts as sort of cloak against
the fierceness of the suns rays, and also.
as cloak sitting the radiation of heat
from the earth On the other hand, when
the sun shines down hot and when it cools
off rapidly, there is but little moisture IN
the air. Ones thoughts up here turn to
such subjects-for the attention is arrest
ed by the absence of that sultriness which
is a characteristic of the atmosphere in
the lower parts of the State, but that ~
enough about the weather There is
another subject will hazard a remark
upon-casting view from this altitudinous
eyre along the banks of the streams of
time. and obscuring the rocks and perils
of the future.
! have long since ceased to talk about
1.-THE negro question" which the northern
papers discuss, but the general subject OF
the negro race demands and should re-
ceiye the best thought of our people
Some thirty years ago some statisticians
were startled by the figures compiled by
the census, showing an abnormal growth
of our negro population. Many declared
that the negroes were destined to over
run the South, and there was much Ia
mentation> thereat. Those forebodings did
not disturb me, for it was apparent that
the census figures were wrong, but the
subject of the future of the negro race
in the South naturally came up for con-
sideration.
1t is a great subject. 1t has sometimes
happened that two races have existed in
the same territory, but always under con-
ditions very different from those obtain
ing in the Southern States. The Romans
overran Gaul. The Frank tribes did the
same later. The Romans conquered Eng
land. The Moors, Spain, and the Turks
the Christian provinces east of Hungary
But the relations between the conquerors
and the conquered were very different
from those between the American cti.
zen of African descent and the Anglo
Saxons of the South. The nearest ap-
proach TO our situation has been that in
Turkey, but we are not the masters OF
the negroes. but under the law their fell
low citizens, not their religious and tanatl
cal enemies and oppressors, but rather
their Christian friends.
We owe them traditional kindness. In
their weakness we owe them protection
We are to promote their happiness and
their prosperity. Our situation, our in
terests demand this 1t is our imperative
duty. The waters of the Gulf stream
course thousands of the miles through ths
ocean without intermingling. Here W.
have a black stream in our borders an.
nually growing in Importance, in size, il
capa bilities-but as separate and distinc
from the whites as the Gulf stream i
from the ocean. The barrier is and mus
ever remain insuperable. The black stream
must roll on among us forever withou
intermingling. There are nine millions o
negroes now-in forty years there will b,
twenty millions; in another cen
fury forty millions perhaps. Shal
this population be penned up in the South
ern States? Shall not a negro man,
citizen of North Carolina, have the right
which is indeed guaranteed by the con
stitution of the United States. to seek