The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-07-31
OUR VALLEY
By s. P. WERNER

The asset of the valley in pop
ulation may be considered from
several points of view. 1t was
stated, at the time that the loca-
ton of the Enka rayon factory
was being studied, that the cap
italists gave considerable weight
TO the labor potentialities of this
section in deciding to locate in
Buncombe county. That was not
so much because of the super
abundance Of labor, but because
the living conditions would tend
to promote a healthful and en-
.rgetic type of labor. An album
dance Of relatively pure water,
of homegrown vegetables, OF
milk, and the climatic advan-
tages, all combined to promote a
favorable basis for present and
future labor supply. 1t is worthy
of comment that one of the pio-
neer textile leaders Of South
Carolina chose to transfer his,
main textile interests from that
state to near Hendersonville, and
that his mill did not close or ma
tcrially curtail its operation dur
ing all the recent depression.
The white population Of the
Upper French Broad at present
may be classified into four
groups: First, The descendants
of the original settlers along the
river, largely owners of bottom
lands, people of well-to-do fiji
nancial status, usually well-edu-
Gated according to conventional
southern standards, and such of /
them as have developed business
activities in the cities and towns;
Second, The descendants of set
tiers in the more mountainous
sections, a hardy, individualistic,
physically strong, and mentally
alert group, somewhat less we'll
| educated because of lack Of early
opportunities but with capacity
for unlimited mental develop
ment and now enjoying, for their
children, the largesta measure of
, school opportunity available I'M
der state-supported schools. From
this group, which furnishes heavy
increment to population, large
part of the local industrial la
Dor, is drawn. They are char
acterized by an intense love of
the mountains and are often glad
| to work for less remuneration in
order to crafty that local at
! tachment. Third, Settlers origin
ally attracted to the valley by its
summer resort qualities who have
discovered its all-the-year round,
attractions and decided to be-
come permanent residents. This
group includes people from prac-
tically every section of the coun-
try; some being financially in
dependent, and contributing to
the development of local indus
tries; some finding agreeable and
adequate occupations; and most
of them being very desirable adj
ditions to the population. Fourth,
A limited number of incomers
from other sections who came
for business reasons-some mer-
chants, few professional men,
some owners or officials of cor
porations. One might estimate
the first group at 80 per cent of
the population; the second at 40;
the third at 20; and the fourth
at 10 per cert.
The all-year population of the
valley, excluding the City of
AsheVille, may be given, in
round numbers, as about $4,000.
The population which would be
vitality affected by the develop
ment of the valley, to be dis
cussed later, would include all
of Asheville and of Buncombe
county, and also to n consider
able extent, Haywood and Jack
son counties-probably a total
OF nearly a hundred and fifty
thousand.
Even with the large areas oc-
cupled by the forests, it is seen
that the density of population OIL
about fifty per square mile. is
Just about the average of the
whole of North Carolina. If the
forest region be excluded, the
density is equal to about half of
that of the state of New York.
Comparing it with that of Enc