The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-13

not drive the south west out OF cot
| ton growing 1t is certain that it will
not do that turn for us. But To re-
! turn: The water power development
for purposes of electrical transmission
| is wholly new, and while 10 date the
seat of the greatest development of
/ this in the south is In South Carolina,
North Carolina is its chief customer
| The exports from the port Of VIII
mington grow year by year; so the
traffic OF our other ports-those engaged
| ith ccastwise trade. In every line
/ OF endeavor is witnessed advancement
| There were built last year. strange 10
| say 229 miles of new railroad; the
5 assessments of taxable property last
year showed s575,445,3 1873 OF values
againt s346 .566, 400 in 1903-an increase
| Of z25,5 400 in four years. What
words could be SO forceful as these
| figures, I'D yet we are all aware that
| they do not speak half the truth. We
know that on the average the proper
, = Of North Carolina is not assessed
| at half it's value Within a month the
State Auditor has said to n-e that II
Cur property were assessed at its true
value the total would reach 1900
millions CT dollars and the tax rate
would be ten cents instead Of twenty
five. Sister states excel US in some
! one particular or more. but what
State in the South can show such di-
,sersity az production the variety Of
manufactures, n general forward impulse
in a word development Of new inter-
ests: the Inauguration Of new enter
prises and the expansion Of old that
IF n
Carolina for ten years past AS other
States it's speed has been modified in
the past months, but none has expert
enced less halt in its gait and this
slackening, not arrest, Of progress, we
all know will not be for long, and with
81 eady nerves and cheerful hearts we
look the future in the face
70 the Fastening OF the revival and
TO the realization of the greater things
hoped, we can contribute otherwise
Lnan even by exercising the utmost
energy in the pursUl- CT our avOca-
tions and the closest application to
our daily afialIs, LnOugn tnese are
primary elements of success IL life.
Government is given us for the pro-
lection Of life, liberty and property,
DUt it fails in it's purpose when it con-
fisticates property by intolerable taxa
tion or otherwise; when it hampers
Industry Or makes those agen
cies OF civilization and progress
which should be it's care the object of
it's wrath. While it is a large part
ought tof it's duty to restrain the citi-
zen, it ought not to be forgotten
that it's own agents sometime need to
be restrained. Energy and application
in business fail Of much of their re-
ward if legislation or administration
or judicial construction intervene to
hinder progress or to negative in any
part the efforts Of those who would
build. 1t is pardonable therefore, |
hope, to say before a commercial
body that affairs Of government are a
part Of the business Of business men;
in North Carolina an increasingly i'm
pOrtant part of their business and
department Of it which they can by
no means afford to neglect. We are
in period when the men who have
a stake in North Carolina cannot be
silent or Supine but whose voices must
be heard in public affairs, in counsel,
in admonition or of protest. To make
themselves felt is their right and
their solemn duty. 1t has been shown
by their utterances, which the state
has heard, that the business men of
Wilmington are not insensible of their
rights nor Indifferent concerning the
responsibility Of their citizenship. Let
us hope that they will continue in
the full exercise of their civic duties;
continue to stand outspokenly for
just laws and fair government, under
which alone can we attain our full
measure Of development and garner
the great gifts which have been plac-
et; within our reach by the Bountiful
Hand.