The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-04
Western Wealth.


redeemed.
Western Wealth.
1t is astonishing to a man not thor
oughly posted to know the vast Tor
tunes that are being expended in one
way and another upon that section OF
our State lying west of the Blue Ridge.
Everybody knows something OF the
enormous sums George Vanderbilt mas
lavished upon Biltmore and its sur
roundings He is still adding to his
estate. buying up land by the noun
tain and the mile rather than by the
acre. He seems to be infatuated with
our mountain region and if he pays
taxes on all he owns the treasury OF
BuncOmbe county ought never TO De
empty The Republican nominee for
Governor, Mr.. w. r. Harris, is q noun
tain man of wealth who spend his
money with a free hand. We recent
ly visited his kaolin works in Jackson
county, which is only one of many
enterprises he controls. Kaolin 1t
seems, is rare, and is used largely in
the manufacture of tableware. A great
hole in the mountain-side reveals the
big slice Mr.. Harris has already found,
and the arth at the place seems full
of it, with no signs of diminishing.
on the railroad from Asheville to
Hendersonville there is community
of rich people who have built palatial
homes in which they spend the whole
year, winter and summer. Many of
these are Southern people, Charleston
being largely represented there. We
were amazed to hear from a reliable
source that the amount expended In
residences and Improvement OF
grounds in this wondrouSly beautiful
community will exceed ten million
dollars. Who would have supposed
that any country neighborhood i'll
North Carolina represented 50 rSeat
an outlay for the home life of the
residents? The development OF the
Toxaway section has filled our news
papers, but the reports we have read
have not been exaggerated In TACT
one must visit the Sapphire Country
to realize the enormous amount OF
money that the owners have spent TO
make it the dreamland it is today
The lakes themselves represent a vast
outlay. One of them is five miles long
by two miles wide with an average
depth of something like twenty feet
A steamer will be placed on the lake
for the pleasure of visitors. Think OF
taking a steam boat ride on the top
of the North Carolina mountains In
many other places and ways great
deal of wealth is coming to our State
and while our own people in the
mountains handle very little money
themselves, outside capital is busy en-
riching that glorious section.
~
Religious Leaders.
There is no other person in the COM
munity with half the opportunity for
leadership that the preacher possesses
This may not be true everywhere, but
it is eminently true in North Caro-
lima. Decent people !, respect the
preacher for his works sake, and fol-
low him and look up to him. We are
glad this is true of our State and we
hope it will ever remain so, for not
withstanding the ISLANDERS on the
preachers by Mr.. Walter II. Page, as q
whole, they are our very best and
bravest and most capable citizens. A
wise pastor is a benediction to any
community. and his greatest work is
outside the pulpit. Having said this
much about the preacher in general
We desire to submit a few things upon
the necessity for a higher order oil
ministry in Western North Carolina,
The preachers of our Western country
are good men, as a rule. Many OF
them are positively se1f-sacrlhclne
and devoted to the Masters cause. we
honor them for their loyalty ana IL
deity to the trust cOmmllIeu W Iilcli
in the past, but their day is over Inc
children of that section are hungerlne
and thirsting for knowledge. Inc
schools are. crowded with vigorous
youth. The people are learning things
The preacher who works in the corn
field four days in the week and walks
ten miles to his monthly appointment
is a hindrance rather than help. lie
stands in the way of filter man. Tie
can not lead himself and he Will MOI
allow a real leader to come III. 1t Is
pathetic to see a congregation pass by
the old preacher and leave him III
the rear. but that is what is coming
to pass in the mountain region. We
saw not long ago a church that the
people built at a cost of $4,000, with
a modern Sunday school equipment
all of which means a progressive anC
intelligent membership, but the
preacher in charge of that church is
densely ignorant and is glad to gei
lS5O a year for his services; and we
are free to say the price is high fol
what he gives. Now in that church
there is an element that is strongly il
favor of a better leader, and they are
30 ones who huilt the church house