The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-04

written Especially for THE Finance
err" by Samuel A. Aslle.)
The southern states a vast
territory, with many varieties OF CHI
mate, and embracing virgin forests, ex-
tensive plains and the most elevated
plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains.
Affording such innumerable diyersities,
nearly every individual of the human
race can find at the south some spot
that would suit his fancy, were the
surroundings and conditions conform
able TO his vocation in life.
The inhabitants Of the southern
states are almost exclusively descen-
dants of the first settlers, the men who
centuries ago made the earliest clear
ings in our primeval forests, subdued
the Indians, threw off their allegiance
as British subjects, established repub-
lican institutions, and through their
representatives tOOk part in Ordaining
the constitution of the union Rela-
lively without any intermixture of new
blood, and holding fast to their CID
traditions, they are Americans Of
Americans The great waves Of migra-
ton that have swept over the northern
states, carrying civilization to the Dor
ders of the Pacific, passed the south
by and left it untouched by the quick
ening thought of those adventurous
spirits; and in the quietude of their Sc
clusiOn the southern people have con
tinued to live much after their old
manner unaffected by the rapid such Of
these changeful times when novel ideas
Of doubtful benefit are sWaying the
minds Of the masses.
The result OF the disastrous wal Of
secession was PROSTATE Industries and
an impoverished people. Years passed
befOer that condition was
but the pluck. energy, and indOmitable
will Of men schOoled in adversely final
~ accomplished their redemption, and
poverty has happily been succeeded by
a~ftuence. The progress in wealth of
the southern people in recent years is
one Of the marvels of economic achieve
ments. Agriculture, the chief employ
ment, has been very profitable, and
there has been a diffusion Of wealth
and an increased remuneration for la
Dor that promise a stable foundation of
lasting prosperity.
In the other fields. the result has
DCCI CQIdllS pucIlOll1cId1 I(d1lI OdUS
are burdened with freight, banks con-
stantly increasing in number have null
tiplied deposits, and the south no
longer lacks capital for any enter
prise. So rapidly have factories risen,
that whereas once the effort was to
provide employment for the people,
now the problem is to secure needed
help for the new mills, equipped with
the latest machinery. run by electricity
generated by n~ever-failing WATERFOWL
er, and ~abundantly supplied with CAPT.
tai: Up to the present these mills have
drawn their operatives from the neigh
boring farms, SO that in their vicinity
there are some vacant places in farm
ing communities. But population con-
tinues to thicken, and there are few
untitled clearings.
While the cereals grow everywhere,
and tobacco yields a rich harvest, the
chief product is cotton. In this the
southern country stands alone in the
agriculture of the world Nowhere else
do moisture and sunshine occur in
such proportion, so happily blended, as
to secure the perfection of the 1eecy
staple. The world has been explored
in vain for a competitor of the south
ern states in this respect. They have,
by Gods providence, a monopoly Great
ed by natural laws and beyond the
control of human agencies; and as the
spindles of the world are multiplied to
supply the ever increasing demands of
trade, the cotton fields of the south,
with equal step, expand themselves,
n thousands of new workers annual
ly find employment. Each year also
witnesses Il larger part of the crop pro-
duCed exclusively by white men; so
that here is remunerative employment
for many agriculturists who are discOn-
tented with their present homes.
Another field of labor has in recent
years been successfully developed. The
perfection of railroad transportation,
eliminating uncertainty of carriage and
almost annihilating time, has brought
our market-gardens to b very gates
Of the pODulOu5 cities of the north 1t
is wonderful to behold the vast sup
plies of perishable vegetables furnish
ed to the great centers OF population;
and this industry advancing with rapid
strides has already attained q mar
velous development. The m~arket-gar-
dener growing grapes and fruits and
s%ucculent vegetables inevitably be-
comes rich as the reward of his energy
and enterprise. So the south has accu-
mulated great wealth.
This period of affiuence has been &C
companied by an energy in education
that is no less remarkable than graft
flying. Public education is now gen
orally equal to the natural obligation
of the state to its citizens. In every
rural community a good solid educa-
ton can be obtained at public expense
while every state has its agricultural
and mechanical college largely sup
ported by public funds. Whatever may
have been said of education for the
masses at the south III former years,
now at least there can be only one
opiniOn-that the states have risen to
the full measure of their responsibility