The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-06-15
THE STATES FUTURE.
Its Future Greatness Will De-
pend Upon the Development
of Its Manufacturing and Ag-
ricultural interests.

ricultural interests.
Greensboro Industrial News.
In that gigantic struggle for
commercial supremacy which is
now going on among the nations
of the earth, and to bring it
nearer home, among States of the
Union, it is interesting to cOnjec-
ture what part North Carolina
will take in the next quarter, or
one might say, in the next half !
century. Putting a time limit |
on ones specuIations for the fu-
ture may be selfish, but is nev-
ertheless human. Not many men |
are altruistic enough to care
deeply for conditions that may |
exist after they are gone. So
when we dip into the future as
far as human eyes can see, and
see a vision of the world and the
wonders that will be-" we will
not go beyond a period which
some now living may reasonably
expect to attain.
Of the varied forms of activity
in which the genius and energy
of men direct themselves there
are in our opinion two in which
the Old North State may equal
any of her sisters, and excel
many of them. We refer to ag-
riculture, the mother of all indus
tries and to her eldest child -
manufacturing. Of course there
will be in the future as there are
now, many other lines of indus
trialism which can be successfully
pursued, but the two named will
always be the leading ones. The
chief industry of West Virginia
, is mining, but is not likely to
l ever be of the first Importance
in North Carolina, because the
minerals are not here. The lum-
} Der industry in the State has
, been a great one, and is today,
b! but if the inroads which have
: been made on our forests in the
e past twenty years continue a
d like period there will be title of
0 the raw material left. Fifty
n years ago North Carolina was
: almost purely an agricultural
n Stace; to-day its agricultural prod
ucts are greater than they were
l then, and in addition its manu-
e featuring establishments turn
|, out millions of dollars worth OF
: products which are sold not only
S all over the Union but in many
IL foreign lands.
Acting then, on the principle
II that commerce, and that means
n every kind Of productive activi
7. ity, follows the lines of least re
y sistance it is apparent that thu
is future greatness of our State will
W in the main depend upon tn,
l. amount of zeal and intelligenc,
'e which our people display in the
development Of its manufactur
ing and its agricultural interests
p We believe that what has beel
done in the past in these tw,
particular branches of endeavor
" while great, will appear smal
o. when compared with what shal
le have been accomplished within
IF the next half century. Thin
e. not, though, that these thing
of will come to pass of themselves
st 1t will require the best though
De and effortof determined and pre-
le gressive people to bring ther
t. into being. But there exists n,
it reason for failure. We have tn
k favorable natural conditions, w
n have population, untraine
of largely though it may be, tha
L. is capable ofaccomplishing what
er ever it may earnestly undertake
n Nothing is lacking, therefore
s. but an awakening Of interest an
o. an intelligent and united effol
on the part of our people.