The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-16
(By p. p. CLAYTON, United States
Commissioner OF Edueation.)

Commissioner OF Edueation,)
Tennessee is Justly famed for the
abundance and variety of its na.oral
resources. Its soil Is fertile. No part
OF II Is arid or desert. All OF II is
| productive. Its primitive forests of
hardwood timbers are unsurpassed.
II has abundance OF iron and coal,
| copper and zinc. marble and lime
stone. sandstones for building, clays
OF the best type and material for con-
crete, shales and cherts for roads. II
has hundreds OF miles OF naVigable
waters. In the waterfalls and rapids
OF Its mountains and hills there are
millions OF potential horsepower Its
climate is unsurpassed. Destructive
floods and droughts and crop failures
are unknown. Vigorous outdoor ac-
tivities and indoor work are possible
summer and winter. The soil and eli
mate make possible wider variety
OF crops than are TO be found In most
other states-grains, hays, fruits
nuts, vegetables, cotton and tobacco.
The state Is we'll adapted for live
stock growing: for dairying It Is un-
surpassed.
Even the geographic position OF the
state is in its favor, an asset not fully
appreciated. Half way between the
lakes and the gulf, and. stretching
from the mountains to the great
river, II lies across the highways OF
travel, transportation and trade be-
tween the north and the south. the
northeast and the southwest by navi-
gable streams and trunk line rail-
WAYS, which must be maintained re-
gardless OF our interests and enorts.
It's products have easy and quick ac-
cess to the markets, domestic and for
eisn. It's latitude and consequent ad-
vantage OF seasons as compared with
most of the wheat and corn growing
sections OF the country enable farmers
to put their wheat and hay ana hogs
and lambs and cattle on the market
just ut the time when they bring the
highest prices.
The possibilities OF abundant and
varied food products, in the same linz
tied territory, with a great abundance
OF raw materials for all the staple
manufactured products, and with
abundant sources OF power to run the
mills, make possible great Industrial
development and large and profitable
markets for the products OF neld ana
garden. Nature has been generous
with the state.
The native ability OF the people,
their yigor and hardihood and culture
and intelligence and spirit OF freedom
and Independence have been known
and recognized since the volunteers
from the Watauga settlement, under
forced marches, arrived at hlhgs
mountain in time to help break the
Anaconda scheme and turn the tide
OF the Revolution. Since. under their
great leader, Gen. Sewer, who fought
thirty six battles and never lost one,
they established the free state OF
Franklin, which act led to the early
formation and recognition or the state
OF Tennessee: since, under the COM
mand OF "Old Hickory" the Tennes-
see volunteers defeated Packenhams
veterans at New orleans. The con-
slant and quick readiness or the men
OF the state to defend the country
and It's liberties and OF tho women 10
encourage and support the men III
this early gave to Tennessee the name
and fame of the Volunteer State-a
reputation fully maintained by It's
neople in the war with Mexico, on
both sides Of the war between the
states. In the war with spain ana III
the Philippines and in the great word
war for freedom and democracy. III
the councils of the nation nnd In Tic
administrative and judicial depart
ments of the federal government the
ability and wisdom OF Tennessee
statesmen have been recognized IN
the agriculture, the industries. the
commerce and the professional ne
of all or most OF the states men ana
women OF Tennessee birth ana par
entage have held and still hold hlEh
nositions. The peoples OF the world
were sifter to find seed for the SOW
ing on this new continent. Those who
cnme 10 Tennessee and laid broad ana
deep and secure the foundations OF
the state and It's institutions were not
inferior to any.
II these two factors natural re-
sources and native ability-were inc
only two factors entering into the
nroduct OF wealth, wealth producing
power public welfare and private
veal then Tennessee should ana
would be rich and prosperous BEYOND
question, and in EXCESS OF most
But, unfortunately. or fortunately.
these are not the only factors enterihs
into the product OF wealth prouucInE
mower public welfare ana pr'Vhio
wealth. There is a third factor, a.
ways present and never 10 ne c. aro
mated eve nthrough reduction 10 Ao,"1;
This factor we have neglected anu
sometimes. apparently, forgotten 70
our great loss and injury lillh III Wv
acquired ability OF the peopie-sclt,nII
tinc knowledge, technical skill, n,eH.n'
and physical discipline and tralnlnE'
habits Of induetry, power OF 80,
guidance and self-restraint' sane jung
mont strong purpose. high Ideals 'I-
fectiye good viii; that Is. the ,educH-
tion TINT comes directly or lnnire'uS
from and through me SCHOOLS "''
other agencies OF education. ,,
There is | believe, no fourth factor
Lot us express these factors hlgE-
bralcally by the letters y, hIlu ~,
X standing for the natural reAohiI,U,,s
81 the state. for the native apiIly
~ tho peoplo and Il for the acquired
obitItv ~ education Let W stnnd Tor
The product Of these factors "'aI'l'
wealth producing power pubic Wei
fare and private veal -.
X times Y times u EQUALS w o,o
The nrst two factors, \ and Y, ,hIe
practically fixed and unchanE'an,'.
We can add little or nothing 70 the
sum md variety Of the natnihl 'I.
sourceg Legislatures and govern
,gcn,aI administration cannot change
tbem The native ability Of the poo,
pIe ig tho slowly accumulated r.su'
~ long ages Of hcrcdiiv through nun
dreds and thousands of generations ~
can be increased only very E'A.Nn.,
y,ro,,eb the slow swinging ccu'ur'H
Of ,hc future by tho constant ptn'u''