The farmer and mechanic., 1913-01-07

wastes Of guttered sedgefelds, In neg
lected resources. in the absence OF
improvements, and in the hardships. T
sacrifices and sorrows or constant
emigration" 4
Such was the view which Central |
North Carolina presented to the keen
eyes Of John M MOrehead when, IN
the closing days of 1840. he journeyed |
from Greensboro 10 Raleigh to as
sumo his duties and responsibilities as
chief magistrate Of the common
wealth AS desolate as the prospect |
was however, Morehead'S foresight
saw in it not little to give him cour- |
age. He must have realized that
North Carolina was standing at the
/ turn of the road and that much de-
| pended on the wisdom and prudence
] with which he himself directed her
/ choice Of future routes. Four years
! before a new Constitution, profoundly
affecting the political life of the state,
had gone into operation, from which
| Morehead and other leaders who
thought as he did had prophesied
great results for the upbuilding OF the
! State This new Constitution had
opened the way for the work of a
| small group Of constructive states
men, of whom Morehead was now the
chosen leader, who were destined to
direct and lead the public thought
Of North Carolina during the quarter
century from 1885 to 1860
Among these men two distinct
types of genius were represented. On
the one hand there were the dreamers
men who had the power of vision
to see what the future held in store
for their country, Who wrote and
spoke forcibly Of what they foreSaW,
but lacked the power to convince
men Of the practicability of their
were the socalled practical mem
men who knew we'll enough how to
construct what other men had plan
ned, but lacked the power Of vision
; necessary to see beyond the common
everyday affairs that surrounded and
{ appears that rare individual. both
s architect and contractor, both poet
D and man Of action, to whom is given
both the power to dream and the
j power to execute. Such men write
: themselves deep in their country s
e tory.
: In the history of North Carolina
y such a man was John NJ. Morehead.
h Those who have written and spoken
Q Of Governor MOrehead heretofore
d have been chiefly impressed with his
:. great practical wisdom. and this he
: certainly had as much as any other
G man in our history. AS for myself,
= what most impresses me, after care
n full study of his life and works, is his
8 our most visionary builder our great
Q est practical dreamer. No other man
l. or his day had SO clear a vision OF
e the future to which North Carolina
II was destined, or did so much to bring
Is about it's realization as Governor
! Morehead. 1t is no exaggeration tc
p say that We have not now in process
3. of construction, and have not haG
n since his day, a single great work OF
te internal improvement OF Mhich he die
of not dream and for which he did no
/ labor. He dreamed OF great lines o1
is railroad binding together not only al
at sections Of North Carolina, but con
y Meeting this State with every part O.
n. the American Union. He dreamed O.
OF network of improved country road
Mt leading from every farm in the Stat.
as to all her markets. He dreamed O
a a great central highway. fed by thes,
T. roads, finding its origin in the wa
n tiers of the Atlantic at Morehead Cit,
m and finally losing itself in the cloud
er that hang about the crests OF the Blu
j." Ridge. He dreamed Of the day whe1
ut the channels Of our rivers would b
IS, SO deepened and widened that the
ei could bear upon their waters ou
ns share OF the commerce Of the worlI
NJ He dreamed of an inland waterwa
e connecting the harbor Of Beaufor
ns with the waters OF Pamico Scum
and through the opening Of Roanok
er Inlet anording safe inland passas
ls Tor coastwfse vessels around tn
,es e vhitecaps OF Cape Hatteras n
AZ dreamed OF the day when the fae
ne OF all nations might be seen f1oatin
.te from the mastheads Of their feet
ne riding at anchor in the harbors
"a Beaufort and Wilmington He dream
wo ed OF q chain OF mills and factori.
IN dotting every river bank in the Staa
ne and distributing over these highway
'as OF commerce variety Of produc
'ce bearing the brand Of North Carolir
am manufacturers.
In Such were his dreams, and the hi
er- tory OF North Carolina during Il
st; last half-century is largely the sto1
icn OF their realization. 1t is this tn
de- gives to Morehead his unique pla
ro- In our history. He had distinguis
Ut. ed politicas career. but his fame
ent not the fame Of the ofIiceholder. I
ma, deed, no other man in our histo,
IL save Charles B. Aycock alone, IN
vas brief a public career, made 50 de,
de- an impression on the life OF the Sta,
Tha nlon R1 81 mn