Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Jan. 18, 1923, edition 1 / Page 6
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r. ss* IML GOVLKNOKb MESSAGE , (Continued from page three) cities stand, with the artificial wealth placed upon them in great buildings, etc. There is no other land m our state of as great value and from which so much wealth can be produced as that covered by these immense sounds, bays and rivers. 44We are neglecting this property Before we placed and police powers ?nver them, our friends lo the North of us came down and in fleets of as many as seventy or eighty boats at a trip dredged our streams of thcoysters. They ok them north and planted them in Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere. We have stopped that, but we were too late about .t. 44We have allowed most of the inlets to elos*- up ami shut * he seafish from ihe sounds and rivers. Prosperoust sections there h.:\v been aiBraost prostrated by it "Our fi.hing uidustry can i?e revived with little expense. I he oyster water- can be replenished and an aystcr culture started there that will tmmPiKioil--1v contri'mie to the en rich merit of the whole state, and! produce a great slat- revenue. Oys- j tcrs can be planted ?/\*er wide parts of the area mentioned tor eight or i ten cent.- per bushel. They w: . yield) i:i three years five bushels lor each J one planted. Bat when .u;;ed ac | cording to modern knowledge of. the j industry, and only the largo ones j taken out, they not ?< :y jk-ld five' bushel.- but form a culture which | will never end, if pr >pcriy looked after. This ought to be dope. "It has been done eisev. uere. a-. weli as he: e. with complete success.! it. is no lorger ar. experiment, it ha.- j been tested out. ami we ought to plant a million bushels of oysters annual.y for three years in these waters. ! It would take three hundred ti ousand dollars to do it, but no individual bai an opportunity to muk. such an investment as that would be t" North Carolina. L)e receive twelve thousand dollars ni oyster fees last year at two cents a bushel, with the small area and sorry culture we now have there. V\ e w ould not or.iy get our money back, but in revenues to the state, an immense profit and an enlarged culture there on modern scientific and up-to-date lines that! .. 1 , ,.AA C I ... to the people of that section. "Wo ought to open the inlets and let the ti>h from the salt water int. our sounds, and rivers ill greaUi abundance. It cor. he done conerni"Facts and figure have been placed before Jt.hHbudget comji jssi?m about it, aitdKffiii tie , laced before -be appropriate eoimn.BjgO^ of yoei i.ody. ik-;ai:- and paitAalgM cannot be cas?iy dca.i with in te hit in vn orderly way they wfi 1? presented through your com..iittees to you. wati-is are not only valuable tor oy.Mers and iisl\ bit for c avs, crabs, scallops by the way. these scallops arc now bringing three do?u i ; a gallon, and the stale re ceiver ele en tnousaid dollars in re. :u?e from the fees marged and recoiled for gat her: tie scallops there b.st year. The scallop crop gathered and soid xrom More head City was wo.th more than tin t -.ton crop of Cart- ret ce ur.ty last year "All .North Ct'oli.i.i is interested in the proper conservation and improvmeiit of the fish, oysters and ...I? j? i . _. ? * ? . ocnci tea 100a waters wnicn ocuong to the stale. It will take about $ICO,000 to open the inlets which ought to be opened, down there, including the waters in Onslow county which, while still open, are subject to obstructions which do not permit enough salt w ater to go up New river and are effecting one of the flutist natural oyster homes in the world. "We ought to raise fish in the non-navigable streams of the state, which, while not the property of North Carolina, yet eail for the exercise of our police power and to which the state ought to give modern and up-to-date attention "We have the finest inland waterways in the republic, all things considered; both the navigable and non navigable waters. They are diffused over such a wide area of the state and into almost every section. I call your attention to some maps which 1 have caused to be prepared by Dr. Joseph H^de Pratt, state geologist, with the kind assistance in coloring and printing them of the state highway commission. If you will permit me, I am going to nave one put in each house of your honorable body for your inspection. Please examine it. I think you will be proud of our waters. "In these non-navigable rivers and in many of the navigable ones, we have allowed the game fish to become almost extinct. The other great states of the Union are filling their streams, navigable and non-navigable with game fish. The cost is small, and the pleasure and food value to the people immense. The unenlightened reactionary thinks this is all foolishness because h eis not informed of the wonderful work being done in other states. In many of them 25 or 30 hatcheries are being operated. "An ordinary game fish hatchery can be set up on any of our rivers for about four thousand dollars, each, and operated by a $125 a month employe. We ought to move up-todate, and abreast of the times, and r put a little fish hatchery upon every | river in the state. Let the man who runs it be a fish policeman for the waters around about, and look to the enforcing of the law. We ought to charge a tax of $1.00 annually on fishing in North Carolina with hook and line off of ones own pre misis. to help finance it. Some of the states raise large sums of money' from such a tax. Some of them charge more than a dollar. "I most earnestly advise an investment of five hundred thousand dollars in the opening of our inlets, planting oysters, building and opc-r-j ating hatcheries, including hatcher-1 ies upon the streams of central and western North Carolina. The industry will easily finance itself, and carry, the interest after we get under way "I most earnestly recommed that the general assembly provide, net for wasting money or burdening this state with an expense, but for making an investment in the conserva- j tion of North Carolina*? valuable: property which it will be shamefully; wasted not to make. We allowed' the most xaluable inlet to the fisheries of western North Carolina to close up w hen if we had expended $5,000 to prevent it five years ago, it could have been saved It will now; cost 50.000 dollars to open it. Itj ought to be done, and if it is don , wealth in fish and the salt waUr; necessary to the life of the clam and oyster, and kindred industries would pour into our sounds ar.d rivers that would more than pay for it the first year. "Another great inlet is about to close which a few thousand dollars will save. 4 urge action ov ins general asly, compit .v ar.d sufficient not on y for the p. Jt--ctitm ir.d proper culture of the great commercial fish ar.d sea food .-ounds and rivers of the east hut which will rcplcn ?sh the ,i eants a!! through v.estcrn Xofth arolina with game L.h, and furaisii protection for them "The game fish will add cmmcnsi ly to the already wonderful attraction of our state tothe tourist an.! pleasure seeker, and thereby increase our wealth. This applies to the cash as well as the west. "We ought to have three additional departments or agencies of state government: "A department of commerce and industry. "A department of hanking. "A department of water transportation. to be known as the "North Carolina Ship and Port Commission. "With > our kind indulgence we will consider them in the order nam- j cd. Department of Commerce- anrl Industry. "We ought t" make every imp-sr| i.ant gru'-.; ?>f .,ur people fc< i that i ii has a seat and a '< presentation | iil the coihpanv i?f tho?' who are j directing the < tccuthe and odmirdnv trat.ve h of ' tin- government, j W o ha ;t- already set up the depaft*i lr. ni ?>i" agriculture tin- department | iif < >r. Sr.ci the fisheries commission. They have ail justified their est ah- hrnenl. What thesi depart| nuiits have done for agriculture, labor and the fish industry, a depart.-! ir.cnt of commerce and industry could do f??r our commerce manufactories and industries?other than farming. "We wisely give first ?amide-ration to our farmers nad our laboring people, but we should not longer appear to keep from our highest councils that. great group of our people engaged m commerce, manu-1 fact u ring and industries other than j | (arming. This group now pay most) - from which we meet the erowing expense of the state government. "The department would not cost much. It would be paid for largely by the commercial and manufacturing classes And it is necessary for j the best and broadest development of our commercial and manufacturing life. "It Would gather data and information upon which our hundreds of patriotic chambers of commerce and . other commercial organizations ! could advertise our state's advantages in commerce and manufactur| ing. It would gather data and find i our weaknesses, and help lead to their remedies. "It would co-ordinate the activities of our chambers of commerce and other commercial bodies throughout i the state upon matters of state-wide ? importance to commerce and indus try "It would be of very direct benefit to the whole state by the practical declaration its establishment would make that North Carolina is friendly to commerce and industry. "The farmer and laborer would not complain of the small cost of the department because the yknow of the tremendous revenue derived from the manufacturing: and commercial classes. The surest way to reduce tax on the farmer in any county is to bring in some big: indusj try to help him pay the tax. "May 1 very earnestly urge you. ! gentlemen of the general assembly to establish the department of commerce and industry, and let us place i an able secretary at the head of it j to give our commerce and manual facturing people the service which every enlightened and progressive government is now according them, and as a declaration to the world that North Carolina is hospitable to commerce, manufacturing and industry of every class, as well as to agriculture and labor. A Banking Department "We ought to establish, in my judgement, without delay, a banking department, and place an able commissioner at the head of it. It is of the very highest importance that we should have up to date competent supervision and inspection of the banks doing business in the state. It is most important to the people who furnish deposits. It is 4 v* VTA*"* important to the banks. "This duty is now with the corporation commission. It does not cost the tax payers anything. The banks pay for it, and they ought to have such service as would give them the highest possible standing and credit. They are not getting it. "The great mass of the people do not know we have bank supervision and control because it is under a commission not associated with this duty in the public mind. The corporation commission is composed of three splendid gentlemen, but without experience which would fit them for this work. Their other official duties are great enough for any three men. "We ought to have a commissioner of hanking in the state of such standing and experience that when be says a bank is all right, our people can put their money in it with confidence and security. This thing done right would tremendously increase the credit of our banks as the great money centers and enable our barks to gi\e our people the benefit of their greater capacity to re-discount the credits to our people "1 very earnestly hope that personal consideration will not be allowed to enter into this very vital matter. The gentlemen composing the corporation commission are very superior men. hut if thqy keep the rauroaus doing: business in tne slateunder proper regulation and control, by exercise of their own power ami by fighting our battles before the interstate commerce commission. ?.r*d then regulate justly and intelligently the price of all public utilities, I ain quit sure they will earn their salaries and the gratitude of the state. "Three men. however able, cannot possibly proper!} discharge all the duties now placed upon the three men composing the corporation commission. 1 very earnestly tecAmtliat all of their power overetaoiotao mend that all their power over banks be transferred to a bank commissioner, and that the banks be required tc pay, as they do now. the entire cqsr. of their supervision and control. "Ship and Port Commission Department of Water Transportation. "Water transportation is cheaper than rail transportation This is recognized by the interstate commerce commission, and most basic freight rate-points are water towns where rail meets water competition. From such brsic points the freight .-- t.. ...? ... 11-.. by a combination of the rate to the, basic point pin- the local rale front the basic point to the dentinal .on ui the freight. Under the law the ir.tei >?.ate rate cannot exceed the ! combination to the basic point plus ! the rate fiom there to tho desti| nation of the freight. So, water traiisj portation is dc.-irable to any at do, not because of its own cheapness I alone, but because it makes cheap! er rail freight rates to all tho towns I with water transportation and to all towns nearer to them than to any ? thor basic f?tight rate, or water transportation town. ' Our freight rates are nearly all based or. the rates to the Virginia cities plus the rate from tho Virginia cities to our towns. This insults in a high freight rate from and to North Carolina, and our hemg commercially nandcutfed by Virginia cities, because we cannot get freight from or to anywhere without paying the rate to the Virginia cities plus the rate from such Virginia oily to I the North Carolina town to or from which the freight Cloves. We arc allowed a certain reduction called a 'differential' that is a small crumb thrown to na in /\f mir enslaved condition. Through this sysi tem we have largely builded the Y:rI ginia cities and in commercial life I they call us, and we are known as, | 'their territory.' "We have no basic freight rate points in North Carolina. All rates are hoisted to us from some other more fortunate state, so we must do business necessarily as the bondsmen of the states where the base of our freight rates is situated. "We have no water transportation worthy of the name. So we have no basic freight rate towns, because there is no water competition. "When we demand equality we are told conditions are different and that we have all we are entitled to under the law; that water transportation is merely potential and not actual; that there is no water transportation for the railroads to meet, and therefore, they have not asked for cheap rates to any North Carolina city; that the cheapest basic rates near us are the Virginia cities' rates, and wherefore, they base our rates on them, which is all we are entitled to. They give us a little 'tip' called a 'differential,' and tell lie tr? trot Aiit "We are helpless, and will be forever unless we make our water competition actual instead of merely potential "What are we going to do about it? Remain Virginia territory or become free and independent? I am for freedom. The reactionary the railroad lobbyist will whisper you cannot achieve it; you have always been slaves commercially and must remain so. "The railroad doing business ir North Carolina could not help us it they desired to, because they would be stopped as Henry Ford was bs the interstate commerce commission when he tried to cut rates on his own railroad. But we can produce such a change in the basic condition that the railroads doing business in oui state will beg the interstate commerce commission to let them reduce rates on the Hornets Nest state tc \ V-.3XOCRAT save them from destruction, and they will tell the commission that conditions arc- such that they are entitled to relief. They will be, and they will get it. "How can we do this? By establishing water competion iu the towns and cities of our state situated where it can established of a character so dangerous that railroads will ask the interstate commerce commission to let them meet it. This is exactly what made the cheap rates everywhere they exist. This is the way Virginia \ cities acquired rates with which they long "handcuffed us." "Supose we establish water trans-J portation from Wilmington. Edenton. Fayetteville, New Bern. Washington, Elizabeth City, Bclhaven, aloreheal City, Beaufort, South port, and other water towns, with barges and small boats feeding them from 25 counties situated on navigable water. What would happen? The water rates would be very much cheaper than railroad rates. The Interstate commerce commission could not help it. would not desire to. The boats would take the freight cheap to water towns, and it would go out over our good roads on trucks for 75 miles around The incoming freight would land on the cheap water rates in the town , and for a radius of 75 miles our people on our good roads with trucks would go and get it. "About this time our railroad friends would commence to 'holler for help.' We need not worry about the freights. They would go to the interstate commerce commission with great lamentation, crying cut that the good roads were ruining then., that they must be allowed to lower rates and treat their former slaves like freemen and the equal of Virginians and 3" cry-landers. I hone tincommission will have mercy on them land g've them their leg*! rigi.t to | meet competition and fight for their j life. When the cheap rail rates have been established tiu j will, as a matter of law. radial? to every qoint nearr to them than the Virginia cities. '1 urge iMs general a-.^ -ibiy to set up fo- all the peo. !o of the ?tato water competition with the railroads. This is the way ail cheap rail rates * avo been obtained. We can do it We must do it, if we are to have an equal chance with the other seaboard states in commerce. "We create on our farms and in our factories more tor.nagc than any rrum rim; \ namu, non;(; mmiiii, Texas. We move less of our ton-. age to market from our ?>\\n waters than an> seaboard state. We have a long >oabaard front, and more aiiltsof navigable inland sountis am! i.vers than any other stale in th Union. Why not use them? "Along these waters are the finest farms in the Union, paying $2.50 pei bale to get cotton to Xorfork ami $5.45 to New York, from where it can he sent to France, Germany, 01 England for less than $1.25 per bale Capable of producing enough food sti ff io feed Massachusetts, but un able to move it on accoun of heavj freight rates and rail service. "We must strike. The times art propitious for heroic action. Tht world for the first time, is full ol cheap ships The dangers of e!c Hatter&s are destroyed by the com pletion of the inland canal from Bos ton to Moiehoad city. Our tonnage is immense, in spite of all our difficulties. The railroads are trying now to raise rates on us to an amount vaulting into the millions annually The danger is ominous. Maxwell, and other members of the corporator commission with Judge Clark, former ly of the interstate commerce commission as chief council, are making a great fight, but the issue is in doubt. We are fortunate in having the brilliant Maxwell tc lead the fight. "Eastern North Carolina is an ag riculuiral and commercial section It is handcuffed commercially. "Give me, gentlemen, $2,000,00( to establish some North Carolina state owned terminal facilities, and to pur chase a fleet of ships; then give m< the authority to operate them, anc I promise you to save the state mor< money annually than it cost to rur the state government now, and tc make it commercially free and in dependent. "AIN'T NO USE, BILL, IT'S BURGULAR PROOF.' A repository in which yon hav< your money deposited, and mayb' your valuables stored, should b strong enough to resist the attack of the burglar. Entrust them to us They will be absolutely safe. Witl an account opened with us you cai pay by check, thereby insuring ac curacy and system in your method of keeping accounts. There is n< greater convenience and safe-guari for handling money than? A BANK ACCOUNT Bank of Blowing Rock Blowing Rock, N. C. "I appeal to you to crate the North j Carolina shop and port commission, with appropriate and ample powers to acquire terminals by lease or pur-, chase, and to acquire anil operate | a fleet of passenger and commercial ] ships. "We should act without delay. The ; cheap ships can be had now, and it is important to act promptly. "Let me appoint the commission-1 ers, and the .-etiate confirm them | I promise you a great commission. "Let the bonds issue when the commission say in writing to the governor and council of state that they are ready to proceed. 4If you think caution requires it, insert a provision that if the com! mission finds it cannot arrange the ; practical details in a way cheir; i judgement approves they may report j their findings to the governor and .council of state, and they may, if, | they think wise, suspend further ac- j j tion until the next meeting of your j 1 ? * X JL 1 SAVER o. 1 a SPE sn] i 1 There are two disl is the road to succ.es: anl Sag; is the road to down! 0-^ an! i ij^j success you make in ii jL"5 Eg road you take from Jjp If you are a person R3 _ ? _ 11 1__ or an you makc, sooik Eg ize the results. If yc spends all you make ! ^ have you done for y< trf= jpiu in] have done for yoursel , m : m We offer the best i IP offered, and a lone de || at our office and let v :l y?u. .. i II Watauga Bui! ; ?| Assoc H. H. GR] ; My Nice Line of i was never more com] Everything fresh anc cater especially to tl criminating people.?' WATCH 1 In connection witl I operate a modern e pairing place, and rei e in this line. Nothing 1 and work done undei ry a most complete 1 all times. S 0 3 || W. A. 1 i ??? JANUARY 18,1923 honorable body. "They say 'Give us details.* We are ready to place them before your committee, when appointed, through practical men acquainted with the situation, the waters, the ships and freight rates. "Water transportation and good roads ar.d truck transportation, competing with rail transportation will >avc the state more money before th efirst serial bond is due 10 years from their issue, than both the roads and ship company will cost the state, and in addition, build 10 large cities in the eastern and Cape Fear section of the state. "You hazard little, and the possibilities are immense. The hazard is "J.000,000, and the prospects 10,000,000 profit annually. But we could not lose anything like two millions before we quit "I am satisfied the boat line would (Continued on page seven) OU a I r are YOU f nder l i 1 Jr l=nl s 1 [3| 3 tinct roads in life, one t? 3, by saving; the other ftfrj Fall, by spending. The jj|i ife depends upon which ^ a financial standpoint. who saves a little out jfp er or later you will real- m I 2 >u are a person who 5 (I P you make what good 3 lurself or your or your : jj It or your neighbor? ^ 91 i saving proposition ever ^ >llar will start you. Call - . * arD is explain the matter to ^ Iding and Loan ^ Groceries % plete than at this time. I of the best quality. 1 le business of the dis'If its to eat I have it." l i my grocery business watch and jewelry reider the best of service Dut good material used r guarantee. I also carine of good jewelry at rHOMAS .yj-\ ?
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 18, 1923, edition 1
6
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