The farmer and mechanic., 1913-01-07


ly, dehber2tive gentlemen OF the old
school, thoroughly responsive to the
mallet Of their chairman, was just
as truly representative OF the etaid.
seH-restr1ined. representative demcc-
racy OF the early nineteenth century.
Morehead's election as Governor fol-
lowed a campaign that is memorable
in the history Of North Carolina as
the first In which candidates for pub
lie office ever made a canvass of tho
State. But in other respects also his
election and Inauguration marks
turning point in our history. He was
the first Governor to sit in this Capt.
tol, in itself typical Of the new era
then dawning upon the state: and.
what is more important STILL he was
the first Of our Governors TO discard
the old laiesez f2irc policy which his
predecessors had followed since the
Revolution, and TO come into office
with a distinct program In view. This
program he outlined in Very general
terms in his inaugural address before
the members of the General Asse mbiy.
in the course of which he said:
It shall be happy to cooperate
with you in bringing into active ope-
ration all the elements of greatness
and usefulness with which our State
is SO abundantiy blessed Other
| States have outstripped US in tho
career OF improvements. and IN the
development Of their natural re-
sources, but North Carolina will stand
a favorable comparison with most OF
her sister States in her natural ad-
vantages-her great extent of fertile
soil, her great variety Of production.
| her exhaustless deposits OF mineral
wealth, her extraordinary water pow
| er inviting to manufactures, ALL all
| combine to give her advantages that
few other States posses. Whatever
measures you may adopt to encour-
age agriculture and to induce the hus-
| bandman while he tolls and sweatS
| to hope that his labors will be duly
| rewarded; whatever measures you
may adopt to facilitate commerce, and
to aid industry in all departments OF
life to reap its full rewards. will meet
| with my cordial appreciation.
1t is equally our duty. fenow-citlzens.
to attend to our moral and intellectual
common schools, in which every child
can receive the rudiments of an edu-
cation, that our attention should be
mainly directed. Our system is yet
IN its infancy; it will require time and
esperienee to give to it its greatest
due time, the legislative wisdom OF
the State will perfect the system as
far as human sagacity can do it. And
no part of my official duty will DO
performed with more pleasure than
that part which may aid IN bringing
about that happy result"
But we should not expect a man
Of Governor Morehead's great prac-
J teal wisdom to content himself with
general observations. To reduce
) these general observations into a con-
crete, practical system was the work
OF his first two years In the Cover
nors Office, and when the Legislature
, of 1912 met he was ready with q mes
; sage outlining a complete system OF
Internal improvements His scheme
| an ahp~oo tAsn fr1r Hso~ nf 4 A>
railroad lines already built in tho
/ State, the Improvement Of our rivers
and harbors, the construction Of ex-
tensive lines of tuTnpfkes, and tho
linking OF all three together In ons
general system OF transportation. One
T OF the ablest public documents In our
history, this message. for its practical
$ bearing on the problems OF our own
day. still repays careful study.
4 With reference to the great inland
waterway now nearing completion, OF
9 which the connection between Pam
. 1ico Sound and Beaufort Harbor forms
an important think, he said:
Turning our attention to the east
ern part Of the State, two improve
e ments said to be practicable assume
c an important link, he said:
: tlonal In theSr character. / allude e
the opening of Roanoke Inlet and the
!. connection OF Pamlico Sound by q
i sn1p-channel with Beaufort Harbof
| c1cQoSAt surveys OK the nfEt or these
proposed improvements
: establish the feasibility Of this work
The advantages arising from this i'm.
provement to our commerce are toe
OBVIOUS to need pointing out Blu,
the view to be taken Of its vast inn
portance Is ia the protection it vii
= 40ord to our shipping and the live,
OF our Seamen. The difficulty an<
dangers often encountered at Ocra,
u coke Inlet render the connection be
tween Paznlico Sound and Beaufos
Ha<bor OF vast importance to the con
% ven4ence and security OF our com
l. rnerce and shipping. It viii be a
l. extension of that inland navieation. =
l. essential to US in time Of war, an,
n give access to one OF the safest har
Sc bors on our coaxt, and one from
a which q vessel can be quicker at sc.
re tnan from any other, perhaps. on tn
= continent. In these Improvement