The news in this publi
cation is released for the
press on receipt.
JTHE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published Weekly by the
University of North Caro
lina for the University Ex
tension Division.
APRIL 2,1924
CHAPEL HILL, N. C.
la TOITBR3ITY OF NOKTH CAROLINA FUBSS
VOL. X, NO. a«
Bdllori,,! Board. H. 0. Btaiiion, S. H. Sobbi. Jr., L. R. Wllaan. B. W. Kalibt. D. D. CaiMIl, J. H. W. Odom.
Bbtered as BeeondH:las8 mattar No.ambar lA, 1914, at th« Poatoffloaat CaaDel Hlli, N. G.. under the act of August 84, ISH
WEALTH !N THE UNITED STATES
FIRST IK WEALTH GAINS
North Carolina led all the states of
the Union in the increase in wealth per
inhabitant during the ten-year period
from 1912 to December 31, 1922, and in
the increase in total wealth only two
states made larger percent gains. The
table which appears elsewhere in this
issue is based on figures just released
by the federal Department of Com
merce. In this table the states are
ranked according to the present gains
in wealth per inhabitant during the
decade ending December 31, 1922,
while the accompanying column shows
the total value of the principal forms
of wealth per inhabitant in each state
at the close of 1922.
The estimated value of the principal
forms of wealth in North Carolina in
1912 was $1,647,731,000. -and at the
close of 1922 it was $4,643,110,000, a
gain of 176.7 percent in ten years. The
percent increase was larger in only two
states, Arizona and Wyoming, both of
which are new and undeveloped states
where moderate wealth gains show up
large on a percent basis. Our total
increase in true wealth during the dec
ade was $2,896,329,000 and the total
gain was larger in only twelve states,,
all of them rich industrial states with
large populations.
The true basis for determining the
rank of the states in wealth gains is
not on the basis of percent gains in
total wealth, in which we rank third
from the top, but on the basis of the
increase in the average wealth per in
habitant. The average wealth of North
Carolina in 1912 was only $724 per in
habitant, while by the end of 1922 it
had increased to $1,703. The increase
during the decade was $979 per inhab
itant, or 136.2 percent, atid on this true
basis we rank first of all the states
the increase in wealth. This does not
mean that the total increase in wealth
per person during the decade was larg
est in North Carolina, but that we
made more out of the capital we had
to start with than any other state.
AH Classes Increase
All classes of property in North Ca
rolina increased in value during the
decade. The main increases were in
the estimated value of taxed real prop
erty and improvements, 246.3 percent;
manufacturing machinery, tools and
implements, 180 percent; and stocks of
goods, vehicles other than motor, fur
niture and clothing, 174,7 percent.
North Carolina was one of the sixteen
states in which every form of wealth
increased in value during the decade.
Why We Lead
The large increase in wealth in North
Carolina during the last decade is not
attributable, to any one or two or three
factors, but is the result of the rapid
development of practically every re
source at our command. This feature
of our leadership in the increase in
wealth is evidence of a well-rounded
and rapid development. Other states
may be moving ahead more rapidly in
one way or another, but it is to be
doubted if any other state is right
now or has been recently developing
along as many lines as North Carolina.
We have a varied, but interrelated,
economic foundation, and it is the co
ordinate development of our interrela
ted resources that accounts for our re
cent accretion of wealth, or the attain-
ment of such rank in wealth as we now
have. It might be of interest to con
sider a few of the factors that explain
why our per inhabitant wealth is grow
ing faster than that of any other state.
Agriculture
The wealth and welfare of North
Carolina is grounded in agriculture.
Our industrial development is based on
our agricultural products.' Our in
crease in wealth is largely explained
by our great increase in the value of
farm products during the last decade.
The value of all crops produced in
North Carolina in 1912 was 184 million
dollars and at least 12 states ranked a-
head of us. The value of all crops in
1922 was 326 million dollars and^only
four states ranked ahead of us in the
production of crop wealth. The value
of our tobacco crop is greater than that
of any other state except Kentucky,
and only Texas now produces more
cotton than North Carolina. During
the last decade we have risen from
seventh to second as a cotton state.
Our farmers are not rich, nor is North
Carolina a rich farm state, but the
rapid rise in the value of farm prod
ucts goes far to explain our rapid in
crease in the value of the principal
forms of wealth. The earning power
of farm land determines its capital
value...
Industry
The major industries of North Caro
lina are concerned with the manufac
turing into finished form of the raw
products produced within the state.
We rank second as a cotton producing
state, yet our 600 or more cotton mills
consume far more cotton than is pro
duced in the state. As a textile state
we rank second only to Massachusetts.
Our tobacco factories consume about
as much tobacco as is produced within
the state, and we rank" second in the
production of tobacco and first in its
manufacture.
We rank near the top as a furniture
state. Our furniture factories get
their raw products from the soil of
North Carolina and turn them into fin
ished goods. Our cotton seed oil mills
and many other industries are based on
products supplied within the state.
North Carolina a'ccumulates wealth be
cause she takes her major raw products
and changes them into finished forms
within the state. Trying to accumu
late wealth by marketing raw products
only is a slow way of getting ahead. It
is just as true with states as it is with
towns and cities.
During the twenty-year period from
1900 to 1919 the value of our factory
products increased from 86 million to
nearly one billion dollars, and our rank
in the United States rose from twenty-
ninth to fifteenth. The bulk of the in
crease in the value of our factory prod
ucts belongs to the last decade, during
which time our per inhabitant wealth
made such remarkable gains. Our rise
as a factory state is also largely re
sponsible for our increase in wealth.
Along with our industrial develop
ment we must recall the marvelous
water power resources of the state,
and their recent development. We
now have developed about a half mil
lion horse power of water power.
Water power is the master key to the
industrial development of the state,
and as such it is an important factor
in explaining our growth in wealth.
The growth of population in North
Carolina is faster than the average for
the United States, and there are very
few factors that cause a rise in values
like a robust growth in population.
Highways, Autos, Tourists
The state is pouring millions of dol
lars into a state-wide system of high
ways. The improvement of transpor
tation conditions and the opening up of
new territory ihcreases the value of
property and thus increases the wealth
of the state. The modern highways of
the state add greatly to her earning
power.
The increase m the production of
agricultural and industrial wealth, and
the construction of highways, have
been accompanied by a remarkable in
crease in the purchase of motor cars.
Motor cars have increased from only
few thousand a decade ago to nearly
300,000 at the present time, and our in
creased investment in cars represents
that much increase in wealth.
North Carolina is rapidly developing
; a resort and tourist state and mil
lions of dollars of new wealth are being
added to the state through this source.
In agriculture, industry, water pow
er, population, highway construction,
commerce, and as a tourist and resort
state, our growth in every particular
has been remarkable. It is only by
continuing the coordinate development
of all our resources that we will be able
to retain our present rank as the lead
ing state of the Union in the increase
in wealth.
THE COUNTY-WIDE PLAN
The county-wide plan for schools
is being advocated throughout North
Carolina. Several counties have al
ready adopted it, while in several
others it is to be voted on at an
early date. The county-wide school
system does away with the small
district school and the small school
districts. It tends to equalize the
school advantages of all children
within the county, irrespective of
local wealth and willingness.
The following are the main feat
ures of the county-wide school
plan:
1. Only one system of schools for
the whole county.
2. One superintendent for the
whole county.
3. A principal for each high school.
4. At least an eight-months t^rm
for the whole county.
6. The establishment of an ade
quate number of high schools.
6. Transportation to schools where
necessary.
7. Better schools in every mean
ing of the term.
8. An equal opportunity to every
child ill the whole county.
9. All property in the county to
bear the same tax rate, for school
purposes.
Not Rich Individually
While it is true that the per inhabit
ant wealth of North Carolina is in
creasing faster than that in any other
state, it is not true that our per inhab
itant wealth is large. Our per inhabit
ant we^ilth is not large, even with our
recent acquisition of wealth. North
Carolina as a state, is fairly rich. In
the utilization of her resources no .state
is doing better, since in the increase
in wealth we rank first. But the popu
lation of North Carolina is large.
Nearly a third of the population are
negroes, and while they are making
much progress they lower our rank in
wealth per inhabitant. The bulk of
our people are farmers, nearly half of
whom are tenants, and again farm ten
ants lower our rank. So while there is
little dire poverty in the state, hun
dreds of thousands have relatively lit
tle wealth. But these hundreds of
thousands are improving their condition
with remarkable rapidity.
In 1912 the per inhabitant wealth of
North Carolina was only $794 and only
Mississippi ranked below us. In 1922
our per inhabitant wealth was $1,703
and six states ranked below us, which
means that every two years we are
leaving behind some state that has al
ways ranked ahead of us just as a high
powered motor car gradually leaves
behind those cars that cannot make
the grade.
The average wealth in North Caro
lina is not large, but it is rather satis
fying to know that it is gaining more
rapidly than that in any other state,
which means that in time we will be s
wealthy state. The militant medioc-
racy is on its way. —S. H. H., Jr.
and energy necessary to gain the prep
aration they should have for assured
success as teachers, and then make
teaching their profession for life, for
much less than they might earn in oth
er professions and occupations requir
ing equal ability and preparation and
involving about the same amouril: of
work and responsibility. Even if they
would do so, teachers should not be ex
pected to live on a lower plane socially
and economically than other hard-work
ing men and women.
Neither is it good for the schools nor
for society that the teachers should live
tbe abnormal life of celibates or of
homeless wanderers. Teachers should
be normal men and women living a
normal life as good American citizens
in a normal way and under such con
ditions as will enable them to do their
work in the best and most effective
way, which can be done only when
they work happily and joyously, under
normal conditions, with reasonable
freedom from financial care.
Thu Real Factor
The cheapest thing in the world is a
good teacher at any reasonable price.
The time and intellect and the life and
character of our children are too pre
cious to be wasted and misused by teach
ers who for any reason are incompe
tent. The work of the teachers is the
most important work done in America.
More depends on it than on the work
of any other class of men or women.
On the way in which it is done depends
the happiness of the individual
and the wealth and welfare of
society. State, and Nation. Some day
we shall learn that the work of the
teacher is the most important factor
in the production of material wealth;
that when we pay good teachers liber
ally we are only returning to them a
small part of the wealth which they by
their effective work have made possi
ble.—P. P. Claxton.
COMMUNITY LEAGUES
The watchword of the American far
mer is Cooperation, Business running
into tha billions was done by the coop
erative associations last year. The
business is not always confined to the
selling of products and the purchase of
farm supplies. In many lines of prog
ress cooperation is the key to success.
Farmers organize for better schools or j keep*
for any needed community improve
mant.
A fine example of cooperative work
is found in Virginia. In that state more
than 1,800 community leagues have bees
organized with a membership of over
68,000. The leagues of each county are
organized into a federation and there
are district organizations] formed by
the union of county groups. Not the
least interesting are the Junior Com
munity Leagues formed [by the school
boys and girls. Over 400 of these jun
ior leagues have been organized with a
membership of about 18,000. In a
school district the corn and pig clubs,
poultry and canning clubs managed by
boys and girls may unite in a junior
league.
The activities of the leagues are co
ordinated by the Cooperative Education
Association which is the State organ
ization formed to foster this great pro
gressive movement. The U. S. Bureau
of Education, Department of the In
terior, will send free to any applicant
its Bulletin, 1923, No. 53, on “The Co
operative Education Association of Vir
ginia,” giving in some detail the work
of the community leagues.—Gastonia
Gazette.
A POPULAR TAX
The whole country seems to have
been looking on at the North Carolina
plan of financing highway construction
and maintenance by the gasoline tax,
and one state after another is following
suit. In New York State the proposi
tion is for a tax of two cents a gallon.
The Legislatures of Iowa, Wisconsin,
Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebras
ka, and other Western States are pre
paring to pass the gasoline tax legisla
tion, the taxes ranging from one cent
to three cents. In the state of Wash
ington official tests have been made,
and proved, of the North Carolina con
tention that owners of cars can afford
to pay a higher tax for gasoline, be
cause the good roads save money ia
consumption. Three particular points
are being exploited in favor of the gas
oline tax. It is maintained, first, that
it is the fairest way to finance roads;
second, that it is the most remarkable
method for obtaining the bulk of auto
mobile taxation; third, that it is an in
creasingly productive and satisfactory
tax, measuring use of the roads by
gasoline consumption and automatie-
ally providing increase of road income
without urging Legislatures to make
new appropriations to match road up-
requirements.—Charlotte Ob-
CHEAP PAY.POOH SCHOOLS
The teacher is the most important
factor in the school. Other things help;
but good teachers make good schools
under adverse conditions. Poor teach
ers make only poor schools under the
best of conditions. Approximately 60
percent of all expenditures for public
schools in the United states are for the
salaries of teachers. The pay of teach
ers is adequate only when it results in
giving to all the schools competent
teachers, teachers fitted for their great
work by native ability and disposition,
by general education, by professional
•instruction and training, and by ex
perience both in school and in the prac
tical things of life.
" Must be Well Paid
Notwithstanding many fine and strik
ing exceptions, good teachers cannot,
as a rule, be had for meager pay. Men
and women of the best native ability,
of the personality.and character which
should be required of all teachers of
American children and youth, of all
future American citizens, cannot be in
duced to spend the time and money
WEALTH INCREASE IN U. S. 1912-23
And Wealth Per Inhabitant December 31, 1922
In the following table, which is based on federal Department of Commerce
studies, the states are ranked according to the increase in wealth per inhabit
ant from 1912 to December 31, 1922. The accompanying column shows the es
timated true value of the principal forms of wealth per inhabitant in each
state on December 31, 1922.
The estimated total wealth of North Carolina in 1912 was $1,647,781,000,
and on December 31, 1922, it was $4,643,110,000, an increase in total wealth of
176.7 percent.
Wealth per inhabitant in North Carolina increased from $724 in 1912 to
$1,703 at the beginning of 1923. During the ten-year period our wealth per in
habitant .increased 136.2 percent, the largest gain made by any state in the
Union.
The per inhabitant wealth in North Carolina in 1912 was $724 and only
Mississippi was below us. Our per inhabitant wealth at the end of 1922 was
$1,703 and six states ranked below us. Our per inhabitant wealth is still small
but it is increasing faster than that of any other state.
S. H. Hobbs, Jr.
Department of Rural Social Economics, University of North Carolina
Rank State Per capita Percent
value Dec. increase
31, 1922 per capita
1 North Carolina $1,703 135.2
2 Tennessee 1,773 113.6
3 South Dakota 4,482 112.9
4 Idaho 3,301 109.3
6 Wyoming 4,663 109.1
6 New Hampshire .... 3,074 106.6
7 Florida 2.341 103.9
8 Maine 2,686 94.1
9' Mississippi 1,216 87.1
10 Delaware 2,744 86.2
11 Virginia 2,060 82.7
12 Massachusetts 3,243 80.4
13 Rhode Island 3,086 80.3
14 Connecticut 3,610 78.7
16 South Carolina 1,385 74.2
16 Arizona 3,611 72.9
17 Missouri 2,903 71.8
18 New Jersey 2,384 71.6
19 New Mexico 2,299 67.9
20 Georgia 1.306 66.3
21 Ohio 3,046 66.7
22 Utah 3,247 63.0
23 Louisiana 1,866 62.9
24 West Virginia 3,040 61,8
i Rank State Per capita Percent
' value Dec. increase
■ 31, 1922 per capita
I 26 Wisconsin $2,287 61.6
126 Michigan 2,883 69.6
127 Maryland 2,666 69.4
I 28 New Jersey 3,624 68.7
j29 Pennsylvania 8,187 68.6
130 Indiana 2,942 62.2
131 Kentucky 1,459 61.6
;32 Oregon 4,182 60.4
33 Washington 3,600 46.6
34 Nevada 6,998 49.7
j 35 Alabama 1,244 38.8
136 Arkansas 1,439 38.6
'37 Minnesota 3,444 37.4
38 Kansas 3,492 33.7
39 Montana 3,691 33.5
40 Nebraska 4,004 32.4
41 New York 3,431 30.6
42 Texas 2,010 30.4
48 Illinois 3,296 25.4
; 44 Iowa 4,274 24.1
! 46 Colorado 3,285 22.8
46 California 4,007 22.3
47 North Dakota 3,692 11.6
Oklahoma omitted for lack of data