Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1913-03-12

viewing the splendid achievements Of
the people of North Carolina as shown
by United States Census figures, he
summed up the agricultural progress
Of the State by showing that the total
value Of farm prosperity in the State
increased from s23s,834,69 in 1900 to
s537,716,210 in 1910, an increase Of
S303,S81, SIT, or 1870 per cent, as com
pared with an increase Of 1901 Der
cent for all Of the other States. Even
more noteworthy were the statistics
of manufacturing showing a gain in
the value of manufactured products in
North Carolina from $85,274,O83 in
1899 to $216,656,O55 In 1909, an In
crease Of $131,3S1,972, or 154 per cent,
as compared with 80.7 per cent for all
Of the other States, every manufactur-
ing industry in the State, with the
single exception of turpentine and ros-
In, showing increases ranging from Sc
per cent for mems clothing to 459 per
cent for boots and shoes and 463 per
cent for mattresses and spring beds.
He drew the conclusion from the sta
tistics of agriculture and manufactur-
Ing that economic conditions in North
Carolina are exceptionally favora bic
to progress and development. As
showing that the progress of those
parts of the State served by Southern
Railway lines compares most favor
ably with other parts of the State,
Mr.. Finley pointed out that, in the
twenty-year census period from 1890
to 1910, covering the first sixteen
years of the corporate existence of
the Southern Railway Company, eight
cen North Carolina cities with q pop
ulation of $500 or more in 1910 had
shown a growth Of more than 80 per
cent, these cities being Asheville,
with 1873 per cent increase; Hickory,
S3.6 per cent; Statesville. 1874 per
cent; Concord, 1908 per cent; Wins
ton-Salem, 1116 per cent; Mount Airy,
117.4 per cent; Shelby, 124.3 per cent;
Hendersonville, 1917 per cent; Ora.
ham, 1917 per cent; Burlington, 1902
per cent; Lexington, 1s9 per cent;
Charlotte, 1942 per cent; Mooresville,
1887 per cent; Greensboro, 379.2 per
cent; Gastonia, 1915 per cent; Thorn
asville, 557.1 per cent; High Point,
where the increase could not be ex-
pressed in percentage for the reason
that the population which had grown
to 9,525 in 1910, was so small in 1890
that 1t was not returned separately by
the census; and Salisbury, combined
with Spencer and East Spencer, su-
burbs which owe their existence to
the shops of the Southern Railway,
showed .an increase Of 1444 per cent.
Speaking of the helpfulness of the
Southern Railway Company to the ter
ritory traversea by Vt. hne-. Mr. Fin
ley pointed out that one OF the ways
in which it is contributing to the de-
velopment of North Carolina is
through its large expenditures in the
State, it's payments within North Car
olina on account of wages and taxes
alone being each year in excess of the
lected within the State.
Mr.. Finley SAID tnst the Company's
helpful cooperation is available for
every community in the State. He
told of the organization and activities
of the Greater Western North Care
lima Association, and said tho Com
pany would be glad to participate IN
a Statewide movement of the same
sort If carried on under the auspices
Of the State OF through responsible
organization similar TO that in West
ern North Carolina. He said that, in
addition to an agent of the Land and
Industrial Department located in the
State and the representation OF the
Department of Farm Improvement
Work by an Assistant Manager at
Charlotte and Field Agents at Greens
boro and Asheville, North Carolina
shares with the other States travers-
ed by it's lines in the services Of the
Company's Dairy Agents and Live
Stock Agents. Under a scholarship
provision made by the Company,
three North Carolina boys are receiv-
ing the benefits of the full four-year
agricultural course In the North Caro-
lima Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege. Telling Of the recent appoint
ment by the Southern Railway and
associated companies Of four Market
Agents to assist in the successful mar
keting of agricultural and horticultur-
al products from territory along their
lines, Mr. Finley said that one Of the
first concrete propositions undertaken
by these agents was that Of aiding
in the effort to find the most advan-
tageous markets for $4,000 cans of to-
matoes put up by the Girls Tomato
Clubs of North Carolina.
Southern Not In Polities.
In conclusion, Mr. Finley said:
"The Southern Railway Com
pany does not participate in the
politics Of North Carolina or of
any other State traversed by its
lines. There was a time when
support by the railways Of policies
deemed essential to the preser-
vation of our civilization was
urged upon them as a patriotic
duty. I think we may all rejoice
in the awakening Of public con-
science and the elevation of public
standards that would condemn any
return to those conditions. In ab-
staining from political activity in
the State the Company has not
surrendered any Of the fundamen-
tai political rights to which 1t Is
entitled in as full measure as any
other business enterprise or any