North Carolina Newspapers

The news in this publi cation is released for the press on receipt. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA NEWS LETTER Published Weekly by the University of North Caro lina for the University Ex tension Division. JANUARY 18, 1928 CHAPEL HILL, N. C. the university of north CAROLINA PRESS VOL. XIV, No. 10 Editorial Boardi E. C. Branson* S. H. Hobba. Jr., P.oW. Waper, L. R. Wilson. E. W. Knight. D. D. Carroll, H. W. Odum. Entered as second-class matter November 14. 1914. at the Postoffice at Chapel Hill. N. C., under the act of August 24. 1912. ASSESSED VALUATIONS WEALTH CONCENTRATES j Crete tile and building blocks—have 1 not been completed, but should add a The table which appears in this issue ^ considerable weight to the already I gives the total assessed valuations in j plainly demonstrated record year, each county ia 1926, together with the ^ ^ progress in the development of amount of taxables per capita. The j ^linerals that has been steady is demon- counties are ranked according to the | atrated by a comparison with other years which show the following figures: 1916, $4,746,674; 1918, $5,192,147; 1920, latter factor. The total taxed wealth of the state in 3926 was $2,798,293,601, or an increase of $61,377,686 over the 1926 figure. With the revaluation in 1927 the latest increase ought,to be much greater than the preceding one. It is doubtful, how ever, if the 1927 valuation reached the 1919 level or even the three billion mark. It will be several months be fore alt Che 1927 figures are available, hence the present study based on the 1926 figares. Foraycti has the greatest aggregate taxable wealth, but appears to be out- distaaced by Buncombe, Mecklenburg, Guilford., and Durham when taxables are reduced to a per capita basis. Popu lation estunates are of course subject to error. Some counties may have sailed to maintain the same ratio of increase u'lice' 1920 as in the decade which with that year. Buncombe appears to have $1,938 of taxable wealth per cap'-tu thus ranking highest on this score Ciay has the least taxable jvealta poc capita, $436. Wilkes, Yan cey, Macon, and Dare also show, each, less than $500 per capita. Twenty-two counties nave more than $1,000 per capita. Quite naturally the urban counties rank highest and the exces sively rural counties lowest, for wealth tends to concentrate to a greater ex tent than population. Actual differ ences iQ wealth are even greater than a comparison of taxables indicates. This IS because intangible wealth, which often escapes taxation, is even more concentrated than tangible wealth. The SIX counties which rank highest in this table contain 17 percent of the state’s population, 30 percent of its taxed wealth, and probably consider ably more tban 30 percent of its actual wealth. Benefit of Cities Taken the state over there is $980 of taxed wealth per capita, though this average is not maintained except in twenty-fouL* counties. These are main ly urban and semi-urban counties Nevertheless, wealth is more evenly distributed in North Carolina than in many otner states. A dozen small but fiourismng cities, well distributed, is certainly more desirable for a state than one large city as in Georgia, Alabama, or Louisiana. Not only does it relieve the tax burden of a larger number of rural taxpayers, but it places a larger portion of the rural population within reach of a city’s stimulating influences and trade and marketing op portunities. Good highways radiating from each of these cities further aid the ditfusion of prosperity and culture. There is still room, however, for de veloping better rural-urban relation ships. Each city and town should strive to become a real service station for its rural constituency, give the farmers within its trade area a most favored market, expand its cultural agencies into rural territory, and in every way possible help tp develop a healthy and well-balanced civilization. -Paul W. Wager. $8,117,916; 1922, $7,483,306; 1924, $10, 163,436. For 1926, the largest proportionate increase was found in the granite and miscellaneous columns. The miscel laneous division is composed of copper, manganese, mineral waters, and others where, because there were only a limited number of producers, the figures are treated as confidential. Granite Use Grows The big increase in granite produc tion is ascribed to the increased use of this material in North Carolina for build ing purposes and the development of larger out-of-the-state markets. The largest single contract for the year was let to the North Carolina Granite Corporation of Mt. Airy, which operates the largest openface granite quarry in the world. However, the production for this purpose will be manifested more clearly in next year’s report since shipments started in 1927. The con-1 tract calls for $1,260,000 worth of granite for the Arlington Memorial bridge across the Potomac at Washing ton. There are 41 producers of this mineral in North Carolina with Rowan in the lead with 16. The total produc tion in the state jumped from $2,865,- 040 in 1925 to $3,802,017 in 1926, an increase of about one-third. Brick and Tile The most important division of the mineral industry, from the standpoint of value of production is brick and tile, which showed a total of more than one- third of the entire output. There are, according to statistics gathered by Geologist Bryson, 71 brick plants operating in 41 counties of the state, producing last year 260,884,000 common brick valued at $2,666,620. Five of the plants also produced 36,- 288,000 face brick which were valued at $649,897. Six of the plants manu factured hollow brick and building tile in 45,188 pieces. One plant makes drain tile, sewer pipe, flue lining and wall coping, the total of the production being 87,443 tons.—Natural Resources. WISDOM OF STEINMETZ Charles P. Steinmetz, who was unanimously recognized by the General Electric Company and other similar organizations as the world’s foremost electrical engineer, was once visiting my home. While talk ing over with him prospective future inventions in connection with radio, aeronautics, power transmis sion, etc., I asked him: What, line of research will see the greatest development during the next fifty years? After careful thought, he replied: Mr. Babson, I think the greatest discovery will be made along spiritual lines. Here is a force which history clearly teaches has been the greatest power in the development of men and history. Yet we have merely been playing with it and have never seriously studied it as we have the physical forces. Some day people will^learn that material things do not bring happiness and are of little use in making men and women creative and powerful. Then the scientists of the world will turn their labora tories over to the study of God and Prayer and the spiritual forces which as yet have hardly been scratched. When this day comes, the world will see more advance ment in one generation than it has seen in the past four.—Roger Bab- c. minerals 1926 Brick and Tile $4,236,663 llaolin 331,487 Coal 243,000 Feldspar 602,020 Granite 3,802,017 Iron Ore 33,046 Limestone, Marble and Marl 338,811 Uica, Sheet 160,362 Scrap 64,048 Gold and Silver 1,644 Quartz 34,914 Sand and Gravel 968,021 Talc and Soapstone 97,004 Miscellaneous 177,181 Total $11,069,207 These figures for mineral output for 1926 do not include cement products, which, it is estimated by Geologist Bryson, should add something like $600,000 to the amount. Figures on this type of production—chiefly con- ON THE BIGHT ROAD Twenty-five carloads of swine and poultry were marketed cooperatively by Lenoir county farmers last year. Nearly 2,000 hogs and more than 41,600 pounds of chickens and other fowls have also been marketed. It is fine news that Charles Brickhouse, county dem onstration agent, gives out. The fact that Lenoir has grown the feed with which to fatten its stock this year is no less encouraging and interesting. We must doff our hat in acknowledg ment to Mr. Brickhouse for his part in the business. Diversification, the hog and poultry breeders have learned, does pay. The statistics Mr. Brickhouse gives us are ample evidence that local farmers have started to diversify. In the not distant future swine and poultry ought to be just as important as the tobacco and cotton crops in this county. Cooperation. It is a none too popu lar word locally, but it must be admitted that cooperative marketing of these 25 carloads of animals and chickens proves that the cooperative idea is not dead—not by a long shot. It has to be reckoned with seriously by those who oppose it. Half a million pounds of turkeys were shipped out of the state at the Thanks giving season, and at least as many were consumed within the state. An other idea for Tar Heel farmers. Why not wrest the turkey supremacy from Texas when we set into taking the chicken supremacy from Western states? The markets are days nearer to us.—Kinston Free Press. conservation and development in forest fire control. These counties made $13,600 available by appropriation. By the close of the year the organization work was being carried on in 32 coun ties, which had appropriated $18,450, an increase of $4,860 from the counties. On January 1, 1927, there where two cooperative protective areas, made up of holdings of ten land owners and embracing 70,000 acres with a total appropriation of $700. Before the beginning of the current year there were seven cooperative protective areas, participated in by 42 land owners under signed agreements and covering 214,166 acres. Appro priations by these property owners had reached $2,282 by the close of the year, or an increase of $1,682 in private cooperation. January 1, 1927, saw 2,700 men under some kind of appointment in the warden organization. By December 1 the force bad been boosted to 4,600 men. The number, however, includes some 600 men under appointment but inactive in counties that have suspended operations. The forestry force includes approximately 1,000 “minute men” who have pledged themselves as guardians of the forests. Most of the warden force serves only part time, being subject to call to service in fighting forest fires.—Wilmington Star. FOREST PROTECTION At the beginning of the year 1927 there were 26 counties in cooperative agreement with the department of MASTER FARMERS Under a plan conducted by the Pro gressive Farmer and the State College extension service, master farmers were selected from practically every county in the state and out of these the out standing farmers of the several exten sion divisions were named. The complete list of “master farm ers,” as announced by the Progressive Farmer, follows: , J. L. Beall, Davidson county! J- C. Causey, Guilford county; L. H. Kltcbin, Halifax county; 0. J. Holler, Ruther ford county; Charles F. Cates, Ala mance county; S. L. Carpenter, Gaston; Charles B. Fuller, Vance; W. H. Har ris, Iredell; Fred P. Latham, Beaufort; B. S. Lawrence, Randolph; T. S. Os borne, Henderson; Blaney Sumrell, Pitt; B. W. Sikes, Hertford; C. W. Teague, Macon; C. B. Wells, Buncombe; John D. Winstead, Person; L. 0. Mos ley, Lenoir; G. W. Trask, New Han over; W. D, Graham, Rowan; S. A. Latban, Union; B. F. Shelton, Edge combe; R. W. Scott, Alamance; R. L. Shuford, Catawba; E. A. Stevens, Wayne.—Lexington Dispatch. N. C. AGRICULTURE j In 1926 North Carolina ranked sixth ) in total value of farm crops ($327,680,- iOOO), surpassing the great Northern Istates of New York ($286,616,000); Pennsylvania ($260,000,000);Ohio ($300, - 000.000); Indiana ($226,000,000); Michi gan (260,000,000), and Wisconsin ($301,- 000,000), and exceeded only by Texas,^ Iowa, California, Illinois, and Kansas.^ North Carolina’s diversity of farming is shown in the accompanying table: Rank of North Carolina crops in the United States, 1926: Rank Crop Value 1 Tobacco $103,802,000 1 Peanuts 7,986,000 2 Soy Beans 2,296,000 2 Sorghum cane for sugar 3,604,000 2 Cowpeas 2,048,000 699,000 7,660,000 5.846,000 166,000 768,000 281,000 2 Cucumbers 3 Sweet Potatoes 3 Early Irish Potatoes 4 Peppers 6 Lettuce 6 Green Peas 7 Cotton (lint alone) 71,876,000 7 Rye 1,690.000; 7 Snap Beans for table 639,000 i North Carolina produced more pounds ! of tobacco in 1927 than the next three ' states, in rank of production, com bined.—Natural Resources. casts of land requirements for various uses in relation to available supply. Doctor Gray’s research program would include extensive studies of land re clamation and settlement, and studies of agricultural land tenure. Objectives of research in land economics, the speaker declared, should include development of a credit system better adapted to the needs of home buyers both in ci:y and in country; a system of tenure which will be better adapted to the rapidly increasing technical requirements, mechanization, and capitalistic and competitive characteristics of agriculture; a more efficient system of registering, insuring and transferring land titles; compensa tion for tenant improvements, and development of a centralized system of land valuations. SHOULD CLASSIFY LAND Extensive study of the best uses to be made of land before it is developed was stressed by Dr. L. C. Gray of the United States Department of Agri culture, addressing the American Economic Association at Washington, December 29. Special emphasis was placed by Doctor Gray upon research that will permit short-time and long-time fore FARM RELIEF The Farm Journal, one of the most influential national farm papers, has addressed a message to Congress, in an editorial in the December number, stating what principles should be ob served in enacting national agricultural legislation. “The act should be ap plicable to all sections of the country and to all branches of agriculture . . . It should not invite retaliation from foreign countries. . . It should tend to to restrict, and not to encourage ab- norm^ production of any farm crop. . . The maintenance of a large farm popu lation, prosperous, intelligent, progres sive and of high character and morals, we believe to be an absolute social necessity. We do not wish this country to repeat ‘the ghastly mistake’ made by England nearly a century ago.”— Information Service. ASSESSED VALUATIONS, 1926 Counties RanKed According to Taxables per Capita The following table gives the total assessed valuations in each county in 1926, together with the amount of taxables per capita. The computations are based on population estimates for 1926. The valuations are those given in the recent report of the Educational Commission entitled “Financial Condition of Counties.” The total taxed wealth of the state in 1926 was $2,798,293,601, or $980 per capita. Forsyth has the greatest aggregate wealth, $178,709,494, with Mecklen burg and Guilford close rivals for second place. Buncombe has the most taxa ble wealth per capita, $1,938. Clay occupies the lowest place both in aggre gate and per capita wealth. Paul W. Wager Department of Rural Social-Economics, University of North Carolina Assessed Taxables Assessed Taxables Rank County valuations per Rank County valuations per 1926 capita 1926 capita 1 Buncombe.... ..$146,420.854... ..$1,938 61 Tyrrell ...$ 3,892,089 $ 802 2 Mecklenburg ...168,698,107.. ...1,863 62 Carteret ... 13,104,431 796 3 Guilford ...168,982,839.. ...1,796 63 Transylvania ... 8,636,972 792 4 Darham .... 83,828,668.. ...1,776 64 Mitchell .... 9,283,626 786 6 Forsyth ...178,709,494.. ...1,676 66 Harnett ... 26,830,345 783 6 Gaston .... 91,682,199.. ...1,463 56 Chatham .. 18,789,780 766 7 Henderson.,., ... 26,266,427.. ...1,290 67 Granville ... 21,181,628 758 8 New Hanover... 67,768,863.. ...1,226 68 Dnplin ... 26,481,292 757 9 Rowan ... 66,891,944.. ...1,168 69 Polk ... 7,282,942 764 10 Wake ... 96,294,066.. ...1,142 60 Washington.. ... 8,677,437 744 11 Iredell ... 46,722,202.. ...1,136 60 Robeson ... 44,671,774 744 12 McDowell ... 20,791,603.. ...1,086 62 Anson ... 22,362,339 739 13 Wilson ... 46,666,603.. ...1,070 63 Person ... 14,687,970 734 14 Scotland ... 16,824,866... ...1,068 64 Onslow ... 10,976,776 730 16 Burke ... 26,202,341.. ...1,067 64 Greene ... 13,614,683 730 16 Richmond ... 31,279,616... ...1,066 66 Pender .. 10,486,330 709 17 Montgomery. ... 16,260,903... ...1,043 67 Perquimans.. ... 7,899,391 706 18 Moore ... 26,706,496... ...1,042 ■68 Nash ... 32,631,141 704 19 Pasquotank... ... 18,938,666... ..1,036 69 Martin .. 16,029,910 698 20 Catawba ... 39,228,192... ..1,027 70 Gates .. 7,333,790 692 21 Caldwell ... 21,414,407... ..1,0Z6 71 Hyde .. 6,746,041 686 22 Rutherford .. ... 34,240,666... ..1,024 72 Hertford .. 11,219,406 668 23 Wayne ... 49,120,813... .. 994 73 Jones ... 7,061,662 668 24 Cleveland ... 37,242,127... .. 992 74 Bladen ... 13,632,762 663 26 Pitt ... 60,907,072... .. 970 76 Columbus .. 20,166,643 661 26 Chowan ... 10,187,078... .. 966 76 Randolph .. 20,666,616 660 27 Cabarrus .. 37,964,229... .. 963 77 Camden ... 3,462,422 643 28 Lee .. 13,960,314... .. 940 78 Union ... 24,706,011 640 29 Craven ... 29,181,949... .- 930 79 Alexander.... ... 8,000.096 636 SO Rockingham. ... 42,191,882... .. 919 80 Warren .. 14,203,646 638 31 Beaufort ... 28,683,274... .. 918 81 Alleghany ... 4,613,641 ..... 624 32 Alamance .. 32,220,947... .. 907 82 Northampton .. 14,739,413 621 33 Davie .. 12,368,231... .. 904 83 Watauga .. 8,696,681 616 34 Stanly ... 30,862,246... .. 902 84 Bertie ... 16,220,916 614 36 Graham .. 4,448,646... .. 900 86 Stokes ... 12,630,807 606 36 Davidson 86,203,609... .. 894 86 Pamlico .. 6,466,972 604 37 Orange .. 17,447,612... .. 876 87 Brunswick .. 8,966,226 591 38 Lincoln .. 16,311,061... .. 836 88 Sampson .. 28,003,407 671 38 Vance ... 21,617,604... .. 836 89 Yadkin .. 9,401,048 663 40 Halifax .. 39,961,708... .. 832 90 Cherokee .. 8,624,402 584 41 Surry .. 28,431,661... .. 830 91 Caswell .. 8,692,969 626 42 Lenoir .. 28,827,673... .. 828 92 Ashe .. 11,686,886 624 43 Haywood .. 20,406,808... .. 818 63 Avery .. 6.691,774 619 44 Swain .. 12,632,024.... .. 816 94 Madison .. 10,198,704 610 45 Edgecombe... .. 84,874,906.... .. 814 96 Franklin .. 14,228,098 609 46 Hoke .. 10,464,627.... . 814 96 Dare . 2,614,283 494 47 Jackson .. 11,017,446.... . 808 97 Macon .. 6,808,733 476 48 Currituck .. 6,863,186.... . 806 98 Yancey . 8,021,460 462 49 Johnston . 44,066,987.... . 804 99 Wilkes .. 16,624,928 464 49 Cumberland .. ,. 30,913.798.... . 804 100 Clay .. 2,240,618 436