Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-10-07
THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS.

North Carolina is on the eve of
wonderful development. The Pied
mont region, on account of its manu-
featuring enterprises, has been the
most attractive portion OF the State,
n will hold its primacy for years
to come. But not forever. That sec
ton of North Carolina lying beyond.
the | Ridge is to be the garden of
our State. For all the years this re-
glon has been inaccessible. Its peo-
pie have been forced to live secluded
lives because of the natural barriers
that cut them off from the rest of the
! outside world. But the barriers are
broken down. Splendid highways are
making travel swift and easy. Rail-
roads are scaling the hillsides opening
new lines of commerce.. Education
bas a stronger hold upon the men of
the mountains than any other class
OF our people. They are no vet edu-
GATED. but they are going to be. The
rising generation will be ready for the
great transformation that is coming.
The lying stories that have been
printed in Northern journals by reIig-
lous a~dVenturers. while cruel and ex-
asperatlng, have not hindered the
progress of this section. Instead of
Cne nuts daubed with clay. serving as
residents for the mountain whites"
as pictured by these pious ~pretenders.
the MONIES of h people are beautiful
ana attractive. We have seen more
painted farm homes this year in Wes-
Tern North Carolina than in any other
sectlon OF n State we have visited
furthermore the average man in
u mountain section will hold his
own with the average man anywhere
else. Ihey are no better and no
worse tnan the people of the plains.
Lney are in North Carolina and are
AL mat by the same spirit In
DoCn sections there is a great deal of
ignorance. but in both the typical cit
zen is intelligent and progressive.
And we are writing now of the aver
age mar and not of the special type.
Inc hills have this great advantage
oVer the East; the farmers are not
raves to one crop. Cotton has not
iald It's grip upon them. The crops
1ney raise bring better prices because
OF the war: and they have no negro
ProDIem to worry them. The Western
farmer owns his little farm. He is
beginning to cultivate it scientifically
ne is not land poor but land rich.
Broad acres" do not romot good
Farming 1t is the small farm that is
usual well titled. Wautauga and
which are the richest in the State
command fabulous prices. and the
happy owners of these lands do NOT
loaf N hunt but push their business
with intelligent zeal, and they are
making money right along. The
strength of the hills lies in the fact
that there will be no land MONOPOLY.
No owner of a great plantation win
rent his vast domain to thiftIess me-
groes, n go to town to enjoy life.
but he will get his living from his own
sklIlful labor, send his children to the
school he and his neighbors have es,
t~abl1shed. attend the country church
hard by, and make country life what
1t ought to be-the finest civilization
in the world. Already the .boys-of the
west are going to the top in the
worlds. work, not because they are
more gifted than other boys, but be- |
cause they have not been enervated by
the. vicious influence of the small
towns.-Editor Archibald johnson in
and Children.