The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-04
STATE ACCLAIMED
INDUSTRIAL AREA
Continued From Page One)

Equally true is the statement that
North Carolina has wide diversity
Of progressive people and an enor-
nous actual and potential produc-
tive power. Three years h ave
seen many changes wrought; from
the coastal plains of tn e east,
through the mill and factory Sec
ton to the magnificent Gre
Smokes which constitutes North
Cardinals western boundary
since the inception of World War l
the tremendous potential of this
state has shifted into one of the
most productive states per capita
in the union, the article pointed
out.
The October publication of the
Manufacturers Record" w h C h
deals almost exclusively with North
Carolina, presents a comprehen-
sjve picture of the achievements
Of this state. The story states:
Although North Carolina is still
largely agricultural insofar as the
number of people employed is con-
cerned, the value of the states
manufactured products outranks
that of agriculture by more than
two to one and the number of
wage earners engaged in manu-
featuring exceeds that of any 9TH
err southern state.
To-day, as result of acceler-
ated production and conversion for
war needs, the states manufac-
turing establishments are produc-
ing at rate of approximately ST.
$50, 000,000 per year"
1t is pointed out that textiles,
food and other staple crops are
also predominant in the states
productive might.
Although mining has never been
considered an outstanding industry
in North Carolina, it is neverthe-
less occupying a place of extreme
Importance in the states produc-
ton effort. Today, North Carolina
is at the highest point of its min
eral production, but it is not the
peak. On the contrary, this state
which contains approximately 300
different minerals may we'll be
only on the brink of its mineral
possibilities. North Carolina leads
all other states in the union in
the production of mica, a stra-
tegic metal in a wartime as well
as a peace-time economy. Kaolln,
tale, and pyrophyllite are also I'M
portant items in the states min
eral production.
North Carolina is still essentially
an agricultural state and as such,
it's bucolic interests hold a pre-
eminent place in the states eco
nomic structure.
| According to the Record, North
Cardinals principal crop from the
point of view of cash return IS
tobacco, which in 1852 yielded 505,-
700, 1000 pounds valued at 226,509,-
600.
Cotton, the second most impor-
tant crop in the state. brought
return of $68, 495, 900 for lint and
$14, 100000 for seed The income
from lint being almost 40 per cent
greater than in 1941. Stable agrari-
an crops such as grains, livestock
ano poultry also contribute to the
North Carolina farmers income"
The Manufacturers Record
also reviews the vast productivity
of the states forests and lumber
ing industry. The Importance of
fisheries, electric power, highways
and transportation, finance, edu-
cation and recreation is stressed.
Governor J. Melville Broughton,
in a letter to the editors of the
magazine said, "The state is care
fully planning its postwar devel-
opments. Fortunately, we in d
ourselves in exceptionally sound
financial condition. With gen.
eral fund cash surplus exceeding
forty million dollars and high
way fund cash surplus of over
twenty million dollars, we will be
in position to swing into an ex-
tenslve public works program when
materials are available. Also, in
the event Of considerable unem-