Annual report of the Bureau of Labor and Printing of the State of North Carolina |
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] !!liil i IntnlHwifttftmiiiln (" ' i Library of the University of North Carolina Endowed by the Dialectic and Philan-thropic Societies. 23SI- IXSIL Wox.e.fc, / This book must not be taken from the Library building _l^^^_ I ^^^= -1 o> 0- (JO < 1^ —^— VJ < CO <-> — CD )FN CO SITYC101 CO o cr ^=^=oo NlII Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access (NC-LSTA) http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofbu1902nort SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BUREAU OF LABOR AND PRINTING STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE YEAR 1902 H. B. VARNER, Commissioner. W. E. FAISON, Asst. Commissioner. RALEIGH Edwards & Beotjghton, State Printers 1903 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency Charles B. Aycock, Governor of North Carolina. Sir:—Herewith I hand to you the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor and Printing. I desire to acknowledge the efficient work of Mr. W. E. Faison, Assistant Commissioner, and Miss Daisy Thompson, Clerk, in the compiling of this report. Respectfully yours, H. B. YARNER, Commissioner of Labor and Printing. January 10, 1903. Of CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Agricultural Statistics. II. — Miscellaneous Factories. III. Cotton and Woolen Mills. IV. Furniture Factories. V. Newspapers. VI.—Trades. VII. Railroad Employes. VIII. Manufacturing Enterprises. Bureaus of Labor. INTRODUCTION. The Sixteenth Annual Report for the Bureau of Labor and Print-ing embraces statistical matter along the lines of former reports of the Department. After a careful consideration of the facts presented by correspon-dents of the Department, and inquiry into conditions as they exist, I would most. earnestly urge that the following recommendations be enacted into law : RECOMMENDATIONS . 1. That a law be enacted providing that no child under twelve years of age be permitted to work in any factory, unless a widowed mother or totally disabled father is dependent upon the labor of such child and has no other means of support; that no child'under the age of ten be employed under any circumstances ; that no child not so employed be permitted to remain in any factory, idle or at work, in any capacity ; that no child between the ages of twelve and fourteen years be permitted to work in any factory unless he or she can read and write. (The provision of the latter clause should be made effective at a stated time, in order that children between the ages of twelve and fourteen might have an opportunity to meet its requirements.) 2. That no child under fourteen years of age be permitted to work in any factory between the hours of 7 p. m. and 6 a. m. 3. That a law be enacted permitting school districts, townships or counties to adopt compulsory school law by a majority vote of the qualified voters of such district, township or county. 4. That eleven hours shall constitute the maximum day's work in the State for all manufacturing establishments. 5. I would also recommend that chapter 251, Laws of 189T, making the Commissioner of Labor and Printing Inspector of Mines, etc., be>epealed, or sufficient appropriation made to carry out its pro-visions. One great need of this Department is more room. I would there-fore recommend that the "Hall of Records" now in contemplation be constructed with the view of providing suitable offices for this viii Introduction. Department. We are now occupying a section of the Supreme Court Building, designed for the use of the State Library, and of which it is now sadly in need. If possible, a law should be enacted providing a severe penalty upon the father who puts his children in the factory and idles away his time in drinking and creating dissensions among the workers, and providing only the bare necessities of life out of the hard-earned wages of his children that he may have the more with which to gratify his depraved appetites and passions. For illustrations appearing in this report, the Department ac-knowledges the courtesy of the Seaboard Air Line and Southern Railways. CHAPTER I. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. The following average tables are compiled from blanks filled out by representative farmers from every county in tbe State. The farmers always respond promptly. In this chapter we also publish letters showing the needs and condition of farm labor . The returns were received during the period from July 1 to October 1, 1902, which explains the difference in selling price of cotton and other products shown in Table No. 4. Table No. 1 shows an increase in value of land in sixty-five coun-ties, a decrease in two, and no change in thirty. Eighty counties report fertility of land maintained, and seventeen not maintained. Sixty-nine counties report tendency to smaller farms, nine to larger, and nineteen no change. Seventy-two counties report labor scarce, twenty-two plenty, and three abundant. Ninety-three report negro labor unreliable, two reliable, and two no negro labor. Fifty-six counties report employment regular, and forty-one not regular. Table No. 2 shows cost of living increased in ninety-five counties, and no increase in two counties. Highest average wages of men per month $15.49, lowest $9.72 ; highest wages of women $10.08, lowest $6.61; wages of children $5.57. Fifty-seven counties report increase of wages, and forty no increase. Table No. 3 shows sixty-eight counties produce cotton at average cost of $27.57 per 500-pound bale; seventy-five produce wheat at sixty-eight cents per bushel ; ninety-six produce corn at forty-six cents per bushel ; ninety-two produce oats at thirty-three cents per bushel : fifty-eight produce tobacco at $6.44 per 100 pounds. Table No. 4 shows average market price of cotton $43.45 per 500- pound bale; wheat, ninety-one cents per bushel; corn, eighty-eight eents per bushel ; oats, fifty-five cents per bushel ; tobacco, $12.42 per 100 pounds. These prices make the profit on products $15.88 per bale for cotton ; twenty-three cents per bushel for wheat ; forty-two eents per bushel for corn ; twenty-two cents per bushel for oats ; $5.98 per hundred for tobacco. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No: 5 shows educational condition good in six counties, fair in thirty-nine, and poor in fifty-two. Eighty-five counties report improvement in education, and twelve report no improvement. Eighteen counties report moral condition good, seventy fair, and nine poor. Eighty-one counties report improvement in morals, and six-teen no improvement. Five counties report financial condition good, forty-six fair, and forty-six poor. Sixty-four report financial condi-tion improving, and thirty-three report no improvement. Eighty per cent answered the question, "Do you favor compulsory school law V "Yes," and twenty per cent, "No." Table No. 6 shows cost to produce, selling price and profit on the different farm products by counties. It will be noted that there is a fair margin of profit, and favorable conditions have made this an unusually good crop year. The letters following the tabulated matter in this chapter are of especial interest, giving as they do the opinions of farmers from every county in the State on the conditions prevalent among this the largest class of our citizens. Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. i—Showing Condition of Farm Land and Labor by Counties. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany ._. Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen . Brunswick Buncombe __. Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven. Cumberland . Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe _. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson __ Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Value of Land In-creased or Decreased ? no increased, increased, no no increased., increased,, increased., increased., increased., increased.. increased., increased., increased.. no increased., increased., increased.. no no decreased . increased., increased., increased.. no no increased., increased., increased., increased., increased.. increased.. no increased., increased., increased., increased.. no increased.. increased.. increased.. increased.. increased.. increased. increased.. decreased increased. no increased, increased. Fertility of Land Main-tained ? yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ no _ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. no . yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes_ yes. no _ no _ yes. yes. no . yes. yes. no . no . yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no . Tendency to Larger or Smaller Farms? smaller smaller, smaller same .... smaller larger . smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller larger _ smaller same __. smaller smaller same __. smaller same ._. same ._. same __. smaller same ... smaller smaller same ._. smaller smaller smaller smaller larger _ smaller smaller same smaller smaller larger _ larger _ smaller same smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller Labor Abundant or Scarce ? scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce. plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce abundant scarce scarce scarce-plenty plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce abundant.. scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce plenty plenty plenty scarce plenty abundant. scarce scarce _ Negro Labor Relia-ble? no . no _ no _ no _ no _ no . no . no _ no . no . yes. no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . yes. no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no no no no no no no no no no no no no Em-ploy-ment Regu-lar? no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. no. yes. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. no. no. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. no. _| no. -[ yes. J no. _ no. _! yes. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. i—Continued. County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell __. Macon Madison Martin j Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery . Moore . Nash . New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans.. Person Pitt Polk Randolph. _. Richmond Robeson Rockingham. Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania. Tyrrell Union ^_. Vance Wake Warren _ _ Washington . Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Value of Land In-creased or Decreased ? increased increased no increased increased increased increased increased no no increased increased increased no no increased no no no increased, increased no increased no increased no increased no no increased increased no increased increased increased increased no no increased, increased. no no increased, increased, increased. no increased. Fertility of Land Main-tained? Tendency to Larger or Smaller Farms ? yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. yes. yes. yes_ yes. yes_ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes_ yes. yes. yes_ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. no . no _ yes. no _ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no . smaller... Labor Abundant or Scarce ? Negro Labor Relia-ble? same. same smaller plenty.. _ plenty plenty no no no smaller scarce smaller scarce no smaller smaller smaller smaller plenty plenty plenty scarce . _ no no no no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no smaller scarce no larger plenty no smaller scarce no same . scarce no smaller scarce no same . scarce no same scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same _ _ _ plenty no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce . _ no larger plenty no same scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same _ scarce no smaller larger plenty scarce no no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same ... scarce. _ _ no larger _ smaller plenty scarce no no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no Em-ploy-ment Regu-lar? yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. no. yes.. no. no. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. no. no. yes.. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. no. no. Condition of Farmers. Average Table Nc . 2 — Showing Wages, Cost of Living, etc. In-crease Wages— Wages County. in Cost of lyiv- Highest Lowest Highest Lowest Increased or mg Paid Paid Paid Paid Children ? Decreased ? ? Men? Men? Women ? Women ? Alamance yes__ #15.00 $IO. 50 # 9- 5o l5-5o 14-75 no. Alexander yes__ 15-35 7-30 7-85 5-15 4.85 increased. Alleghany no __ 17-55 13.00 11. 70 6.25 6.50 increased. Anson yes__ 13-35 8.75 9.70 6.85 6.75 increased. Ashe yes_. 20.25 10.75 12.35 6-45 5-25 no. Beaufort yes__ 19-95 13.IO 13-45 9-55 7.40 increased. Bertie __ yes 20. 00 12. OO 12. 00 8.00 6. 00 increased. Bladen yes . . 15-95 IO.4O 9-45 7-45 5-35 no. Brunswick yes__ 13.00 10. 40 9. 10 6.50 4-55 no. Buncombe yes__ 12.75 8-95 7. 20 5-25 4. 00 no. Burke yes__ 13.00 7.00 6.50 5.00 6.50 increased. Cabarrus yes__ 12.65 7.50 8-35 5- 00 4.65 no. Caldwell.—. yes_. 16.25 H.40 10.95 7-75 7-30 increased. Camden __ . yes i3-5o 9. OO 8.00 4.00 3-75 increased. Carteret yes_. 17-55 13.00 9. 10 7-15 6.50 increased. Caswell __ _ yes_. H-35 7- 50 9-55 6.25 5.25 increased. Catawba yes._ 15-50 9. 20 9.10 7.80 3-75 no. Chatham yes 15-30 11.50 9. 20 4.90 4-75 no. Cherokee yes__ 14-75 10.25 II. 00 9-5o 4.00 increased. Chowan yes 16. 00 13.00 13-50 6.50 5- 20 no. Clay yes_. 23-85 I5-I5 16.25 8.45 4-75 no. Cleveland yes__ 13-35 8.00 8-35 5.00 5.00 no. Columbus yes 18.20 11. 70 11.05 7.80 6. 20 no. Craven yes 18.45 12.75 II; 60 8.50 7-45 increased. Cumberland _ yes 11.85 7-45 7-30 4-75 2.80 no. Currituck yes 16.50 9. 00 11.00 7.00 6. 00 increased. yes_. 17. 25 1 8.25 6. 00 increased. Davidson yes 15.15 10.00 II. IO 8.80 6. 20 increased. Davie. yes_. J 9-5o IT -95 6.50 4. 20 increased. Duplin yes 14-55 10.65 9.80 6.60 increased. Durham yes 12.50 ! 7. 00 7.00 4.00 4.50 increased. Edgecombe __ yes 17. OO : 9-50 9- 50 7-50 5-25 no. Forsyth yes 12. IO 8.05 9. IO 7.15 4. OO increased. Franklin yes_. 12.85 : 9-15 8.65 5.85 4.85 increased. Gaston yes I2- 15 | 7-35 8.00 4-65 4-65 no. Gates yes I5.00 10.85 10. 70 8.00 6.50 increased. Graham yes yes 8.00 19-75 5-50 6-75 no. Granville 8.05 4-75 4.85 increased. Greene yes 18.20 10.65 10. 60 6.80 7. IO increased. Guilford yes__ 13.00 8-35 8.50 6.00 4.80 increased. Halifax . _ _ yes 11.40 6. 00 6. 20 3-35 4. IO increased. Harnett yes 15.60 10. 40 9. 10 6.50 5. 20 increased. Haywood yes 29-25 14.30 13.00 7.80 7.15 increased. Henderson yes_. 17.65 ; 9. 10 10.35 6.25 6.55 no. Hertford yes 16.45 12.00 11. 20 8.00 5- 80 increased. Hyde yes 16.50 15-30 12. 15 9. 10 7- 15 no. Iredell yes 13-45 8.15 9-65 5- 60 4-95 no. Jackson yes__ 14-50 1 8.90 8-95 4-55 5.85 no. Johnston yes__ 13-50 9-50 11.00 6.50 5-9° increased. Jones _ yes__ 18.85 1 12. OO 12. OO 6.45 6. 10 increased. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 2— Continued. In-crease Wages— Wages County in Co*t of Liv-ing? Highest Lowest Highest Lowest Increased or Paid Paid Paid Paid Children ? Decrtased ? Men ? Men? Women ? Women ? Lenoir yes.. $16. 25 $10. 40 $13- 65 $ 9- 10 $7-15 increased. Lincoln yes_. IO. OO 7- 50 8.00 6.50 6.50 no. McDowell yes yes I9-85 16.50 10.55 10.65 12. 00 10.45 7.80 6.05 increased. Macon 4-35 no. Madison yes__ 12. OO 9-65 10. 20 6. 25 4.25 5-75 no. Martin __ yes.. 16.25 9. 20 6.50 increased. Mecklenburg, yes_. 18. OO II. 00 12. 15 10. 00 5-35 increased. Mitchell yes.. 24.70 13-65 14.65 7.80 8.45 increased. Montgomery. yes l6. 90 8.65 12.30 8.20 5-25 no. Moore yes.. 12. 60 7.80 10.85 8.25 4.85 no. Nash yes.. II.25 6.75 6.85 3-95 5-25 increased. New Hanover yes.. 19-15 10. 70 11. 70 8. 10 6.65 increased. Northampton yes 16. OO 12. OO 13.00 9. 00 7.00 increased. Onslow yes._ 18.15 10.95 11. 70 8.25 6.25 increased. Orange yes_. 13.00 6.50 7-75 6. 10 5-45 no. Pamlico _. __ yes.. 18.00 7. 00 13.00 4.00 5.00 no. Pasquotank yes.. 14.65 10. 00 9. 00 6. 70 5- 5o increased. Pender yes 13.00 10. 40 9-75 7-15 5- 20 no. Perquimans yes 20. 20 n-95 16.15 13-55 7-3o increased. Person yes.. I3-50 7-75 6. 00 6.00 4. 00 increased. Pitt yes yes., yes.. I3.7O 16.45 17-35 8.35 9-45 12.45 8.25 9-50 12-95 5-85 6.50 10. 15 4-45 3.65 4-35 increased. Polk. . . increased. Randolph no. Richmond yes__ 14.50 7.85 10. 40 5.85 6.15 increased. Robeson yes 12.65 7-75 9. 60 6. 00 5-3° no. Rockingham _ 5 7 es i9-5o 10. 25 13-25 6.25 7.85 increased. Rowan yes.. 16.45 10.00 9-3o 6.25 5- 10 no. Rutherford _. yes__ 12. 00 7- 15 7. 00 4. 00 6.30 no. Sampson yes 15-15 10. 00 io.35 7.05 6-45 no. Scotland yes__ 14. 00 8.85 9-85 6. 25 5- 20 increased. Stanly yes 13-95 9-65 8.05 5.65 5-75 increased. Stokes yes 18.75 9-95 10. 80 7-05 6. 05 increased. Surry yes.. I5-50 9-5o 11.25 8.00 5.85 increased. Swain yes.. 16. 00 10.65 11.00 8.00 8-95 no. Transylvania. yes 17-75 9. 20 H-75 5.25 6-55 increased. Tyrrell yes__ 17-35 13.00 10. 40 5.20 5- 20 increased. Union _ yes.. 11- 35 8.15 9.00 5-75 5-75 no. Vance _ yes 13.85 H-35 13.00 9. 10 6.50 increased. Wake. .. .._ yes.. 14. 10 9-95 10.50 6.95 5- 60 no. Warren yes.. n-95 7. 10 8.35 4- 50 4-50 increased. Washington.. yes 15-15 io.35 12.55 6-95 6.50 no. Watauga yes.. 14-75 9. 10 9-25 5-25 5-55 no. Wayne . _ yes.. 13-45 9. 00 7.70 7. 20 3-85 no. Wilkes yes.. 12. 40 6.60 7-25 3.85 4. 20 increased. Wilson yes.. 10. 00 8.00 7. 00 5.00 4.50 increased. Yadkin no __ 10. 00 5- 20 5-25 4. 00 4. 20 no. Yancey yes.. '9-25 n-55 n.85 6.65 6.15 increased. Average 15-49 9.72 10. 08 6.61 5-57 Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. 3—Showing Cost of Production. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe — Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland .__ Columbus Craven Cumberland . Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin -. Durham Edgecombe, Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson _. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston . Jones Cost to Produce— 5°°-ft , j Bushel Bajeof , wheat? Cotton? 27.8; $0. 79 .80 • 75 •79 1.03 Bushel Corn? 22. OO 30. OO 25.OO 25.OO 33-35 40. OO 23-35 30. OO 27.50 20. OO 30. OO 31-25 27.50 2L65 25.00 23-50 23-65 25.00 30. OO 20. OO 25.00 27.50 21.25 31-65 25.00 3i- 85 25.80 25.00 25.00 27.50 21.65 23-15 30-75 24.80 I. 58 63 77 73 50 45 70 33 96 62 68 40 80 58 55 62 70 40 53 63 40 63 63 63 ,60 .70 .68 Bushel Oats? £0.38 47 49 ! 49 I 30 j 40 I 40 j 30 40 52 45 40 45 30 45 20 61 5o 3i 45 4i 4i 68 40 50 43 34 40 £0.30 35 35 35 25 25 100 Pounds Tobacco ? 25 40 30 25 49 31 35 32 43 30 18 46 4. 00 8.50 6. 25 6. 00 7.25 7-50 6.50 7-50 4. OO 7. OO 5.00 5-50 4.85 5.25 3.00 10. OO 7. OO 7. 00 7-50 8. 00 6.25 6. 00 6.80 5-50 4-50 7. OO 5.00 11.50 7. OO 3-45 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 3 — Continued. County. Lenoir - Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg . Mitchell Montgomery.. Moore Nash New Hanover. Northampton . Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans... Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham.. Rowan Rutherford ._. Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania . Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren .. Washington .. Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Average cost Cost to Produce- 500-ft Bale of Cotton ? $28. OO 18. OO 37-50 38.OO 32. OO 30. OO 25.00 30. OO 23-35 35- 00 22.50 31-65 29. OO 26.25 28.35 31-75 35- 00 31-65 25.00 30. 00 32.50 27.50 28.50 28.50 23-75 24-45 34- 15 26.75 23.40 27. OO 23. OO 30. OO 27-57 Bushel Wheat ? pa- 55 •74 •95 • 57 .90 1.07 .68 .68 •77 •45 • 75 \~68~ • 75 .60 52 • 77 .62 •55 • 54 .72 -78 1.05 •83 .70 .66 .66 •53 .92 •53 65 92 60 53 43 Si 56 58 "58 66 Bushel Corn? go. 40 40 40 6l 40 48 42 40 52 70 45 38 45 39 58 30 42 5i 39 45 37 42 60 60 5i 47 40 63 70 5i 61 44 33 50 43 40 55 53 42 48 49 48 50 41 50 45 39 46 Bushel Oats? 100 Pounds Tobacco ? 34 25 36 36 23 32 6S 26 38 45 22 27 25 30 38 30 37 32 23 28 30 35 33 30 33 33 40 43 40 30 4i 35 23 45 35 30 45 42 32 28 32 29 26 20 30 33 23 •33 $4-75 6. 00 7-5o 5.00 8.00 7. 00 5-35 7-25 7. 00 7-35 4.85 6. 25 6.50 6-75 5-5o 9. 00 7-15 6-75 5-90 5.00 4-15 5-65 6.00 6. 40 4.00 6.44 Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. \—Showing Market Price of Crops. •Present Market Price- County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen _ Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay 1 Cleveland Columbus Craven . Cumberland .. Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe .. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville . — Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood — Henderson _. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones 500-Ib Bale of Cotton ? W- 25 42.45 Bushel Wheat ? 37-9° 45.OO 43-45 44-35 44-55 38.95 41.65 42.50 Jo. 88 .90 I. 00 .88 1. 01 Bushel Corn? 44-35 48.15 46.25 42. IO 41-85 42.50 44. 10 45- 00 .92 .90 .89 .92 .90 .88 92 42. 80 45.00 40. 40 45- 00 42.50 1. 00 .83 1. 00 1. 00 •95 43-75 45-25 44-5° 40. 00 42.50 41-75 43-75 50.00 45- 00 41-25 44-50 44. 00 43- IO 90 93 80 90 75 90 96 85 96 93 Bushel Oats? ?o.83 .90 I. OO .78 1.00 • 75 1. 00 •94 .85 •90 .90 .92 • 93 • 73 .98 • 77 •90 • 93 90 .80 • 75 • 90 .81 .85 .89 .78 .88 .»5 .88 95 .90 £0.58 47 •63 •53 42 • 45 •83 •98 9i .88 1. 00 • 95 1. 00 .70 • 92 .80 .83 .98 1. 00 • 70 >3 •92 •98 • 45 100 Pounds Tobacco ? $IO. OO II.OO 18.75 25.OO .67 .70 • 47 • 50 .56 • 53 • 55 • 72 • 73 • 55 .63 .56 .40 .62 50 • 42 .56 • 50 .65 • 49 • 50 .65 • 55 30. 00 8.00 15.00 9-75 IO. OO 20. OO I7-50 13.00 I5.00 45 60 61 40 8.15 10.25 10. 00 15.00 10.50 9.00 10. 00 55 59 50 59 50 • 50 .58 12. 00 11. 40 8.00 16. 10 7.00 16.50 12.50 43 60 47 58 .40 7. 00 i8.75 10. 00 I3-50 10 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 4 — Continued. County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wavne Wiikes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Average price Present Market Price- 500-lb Bale of Cotton? $40. 30 46.25 42.50 45.OO 45.OO 40. OO 42.50 42.50 42. 80 43-75 45.00 45.00 44-35 43-9° 40. 60 50.00 46.25 44-5Q 41-25 43-75 47-5o 42.50 41.50 45.00 45.00 44-35 41.65 43-90 41.50 43-75 41.25 40. 00 43-45 Bushel Wheat? £0.85 .86 1. 00 .88 .92 1. 06 .89 .87 .80 VSo" V85" .78 95 1. 00 •93 .88 1.05 .88 •93 •95 •90 1. 09 98 1. 00 •93 1. 00 1. 00 •95 1. 00 .80 1.03 .82 1. 00 1. 00 •98 .96 1. 00 •9i Bushel Corn? 93 So 88 Bushel Oats? fo. 58 52 50 40 58 70 48 65 62 56 54 60 65 58 55 53 56 52 60 63 5« 58 62 6S 48 57 55 48 65 58 60 55 47 50 55 65 50 59 63 51 58 55 43 50 46 30 55 100 Pounds Tobacco ? $20. OO 9-50 25.00 5-00 10. 00 ir.65 12. 50 11. 50 10. 00 10. OO 12.50 II. 15 9.90 8.00 7.85 9-15 18.75 9-35 17. 00 9.70 12. 42 * Period between July i and October i, 1902. Condition of Farmers. 11 Average Table No. 5 — Showing Educational, Moral and Financial Conditions. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson . Ashe Beaufort Bertie . Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee . Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven . Cumberland _. Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin . Durham Edgecombe _. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson ._. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Educa-tional Condition? good _ poor _ fair __ poor . poor . poor . good . poor . fair ._ poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . fair _. fair _. good . poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . fair .. fair „ poor _ fair „ fair _. good . fair _. fair _. fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . fair _. fair _. fair _. fair .. poor . fair ._ fair ... fair _. fair ._ poor . poor . poor . Is it Improv-ing? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes yes no _ yes no _ no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes no . yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Moral Is it Condition? Improv-ing? good fair fair poor fair fair fair fair fair fair good __. fair fair fair good __. good __. fair fair fair fair good __. fair fair fair poor __. fair good __. fair fair fair good _ .. fair fair fair fair fair poor __. fair fair good ._. lair good __. fair fair fair fair fair poor ._. poor __. poor ._. yes yes yes yes yes no _ no _ no . no _ yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ no _ yes yes no . yes yes yes no . no . no . yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes no _ yes no . Financial ! Is it Condition? Improv-ing? good __. good fair poor __. fair poor __. good poor __. fair fair fair fair fair fair fair fair fair poor __. poor ._. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair poor __. fair fair good __. good __. poor __. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair fair fair poor __. fair fair fair poor ._. poor fair poor __. poor __. poor _ _. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. 3 es. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. yes. ves. 12 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 5— Continued, County. Educa-tional Condition? Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans _. Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham . Rowan Rutherford __ Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington _ Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey poor __. fair fair poor fair fair poor poor __. poor ._. poor __. poor __. fair fair poor __. poor __. poor __. poor poor poor __. fair fair poor fair fair fair poor fair poor __. fair fair poor poor __. good poor poor poor good fair poor poor poor fair fair fair poor poor poor __. Is it Improv-yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes ys. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Moral Condition? fair .. fair _. fair .. fair _. fair _. good . fair _. fair _. fair _. fair _. fair __ good . fair „ fair „ fair _. poor . fair „ fair _. fair __ fair __ fair __ poor _ fair __ fair __ fair ._ fair __ good _ good _ good _ fair __ poor _ fair __ fair ._ fair ._ fair .... fair __ good _ good _ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair ._ fair ._ good _ good _ Is it Improv-ing? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Financial Condition? poor . poor poor . poor . fair _. fair _. poor . fair __ poor . poor . fair _. fair .. fair .. fair .. fair _. poor . fair _. fair „ fair .. fair .. fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . fair „ poor . fair _. poor . fair __ poor i poor . fair _. fair „ poor _ poor . poor . poor . fair __ poor . fair _. fair .. poor . poor . Is it Improv-ing? yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. no. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. 14 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No. 6 — Showing Cost, Price County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke _ Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones $30. 00 "27.I5' 2 2. CO 30. 00 25.00 25.00 33-35 40. 00 23-35 30. 00 *4i- 25 42.45 37-90 45.00 43-45 44-35 27.50 20. 00 30. 00 3t-25 27.50 21.65 25.00 23-50 23-65 25.00 30. 00 20. 00 25.00 27.50 21.25 31-65 25.00 31-85 25.80 25.00 25.00 27.50 21.65 23-15 30.75 24. 80 44-55 38.95 41.65 42.50 44-35 48.15 46.25 42. 10 41.85 42.50 44. 10 45- 00 42. 80 45- 00 40. 40 45.00 42.50 43-75 45-25 44-5o 40.00 42.50 41-75 43-75 50.00 45.00 41-25 44-5o 44. 00 43.10 Profit. sti: 25 14. 60 15-90 15.00 18.45 19-35 11. 15 1.05* 18.30 12.50 16.85 28.15 16. 25 10.85 14.35 20.85 19. 10 21.50 19-15 20. 00 10. 40 25.00 17.50 16.25 24. 00 12.85 15-00 10.65 15-95 18.75 25.00 i7-5o 19. 60 21.25 13-25 18.30 Wheat. Cost. $0.79 80 75 79 03 55 62 70 40 53 63 40 63 63 63 60 70 6S 55 7' 65 .90 1. 00 92 90 89 92 '§4 90 88 92 1. 00 .83 I. 00 I. 00 •95 85 96 93 Profit. $0.09 . IO •25 .09 . 02* 34 39 20 55 04^ 30 28 20* 17 48 45 10 5o 30 17 27 15 20 28 30 25 28 Condition of Farmers. 15 and Profit on Products by Counties. Cost. 38 47 .88 49 • 49 30 .40 •63 .40 •30 .40 • 52 • 45 .40 • 45 •30 •45 . 20 .61 • 50 •3i •45 .41 .41 .68 .40 • 50 •43 •34 .40 .70 • 55 •35 .38 • 44 •25 •50 •53 47 •63 .60 • 5i • 47 • 50 • 32 .38 •49 .58 25 Profit Oats. $0.83 .90 I. OO .78 I. OO .75 I. OO •94 .85 .90 .90 •92 •93 • 73 .98 • 77 .90 •93 .90 .80 • 75 .90 .81 .85 .89 .78 .88 .85 .88 •95 .90 45 43 , 12 29 51 • 45 .60 •3i • 45 .60 .50 .40 .48 •33 • 53 • 47 • 45 • 73 29 •30 • 44 • 45 .40 • 44 .21 .38 •38 • 42 • 54 • 55 . 20 $0.30 • 35 •35 •35 • 25 .25 Profit. £0.58 •47 .63 • 53 .42 • 45 .83 •9i •95 .00 .70 •92 .80 •83 .98 .00 .70 .83 .92 .98 • 45 25 .40 30 .25 • 49 .31 •35 •32 • 43 • 3° .18 .46 28 63 53 44 • 75 45 • 47 •23 •29 . 20 •32 • 51 • 50 .38 • 45 • 43 .40 . 20 . 20 .38 . 20 •13 .28 •3i •5° .28 .26 . 20 .60 33 40 ,27 ,28 .67 .70 • 47 • 50 .56 •53 • 55 • 72 • 73 • 55 .63 .56 28 12 23 18 • 17 . 20 40 62 ..So .42 .56 50 • 50 •49 • 50 .65 •55 42 30 17 25 .07 . 22 . 20 .40 •30 •25 • 45 . 10 4.00 8.50 6.25 $10. 00 Profit. 1 1 . OO 18.75 25.OO 6. 00 7-25 7-5° 45 60 .61 .40 55 59 •50 •59 .50 • 50 .58 20 24 30 29 28 • 19 6.50 7-50 4. 00 7. OO 30. OO 8.00 15.00 9-75 , 21 .24 • 45 05'' 5.00 5.00 10.00 20. 00 17-5° 13.00 15.00 25 22 .07 12 . ro .17 •23 4.85 5-25 3.00 10.00 7. 00 7.00 7- 5o 8.00 6.25 6. 00 6.80 5.50 4-50 7. OO 8.15 10.25 10. OO 15.00 10.50 9.00 10. OO 12. OO II. 40 8.00 l6. IO 7. 00 16.50 12.50 $2. OO 5.00 it.5° 7.00 3-45 7.00 17-85 10.00 i3-5o 7. 00 10.25 18. 75 24. 00 • 75 2.50 8.50 2.25 6. 00 13.00 7-5o 8.00 10.00 3-3o 5.00 7. OO 5.00 3- 5o 2. OO 2.50 4. OO 5-^5 2. OO 9-30 I. 50 12. OO 5-5° 2. OO 6-35 3. OO 10.05 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 3i 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4 1 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 16 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No. 6— County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg . Mitchell Montgomery . Moore Nash New Hanover. Northampton. Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans _. Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham . Rowan Rutherford ._. Sampson „_ Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania . Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington _. Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Cotton. $28. 00 18. 00 37-50 38.00 32. 00 30. 00 25.00 30. 00 23-35 35- 00 22.50 31-65 29.00 26.25 28.35 31-75 35- 00 31-65 25. 00 30. 00 32.50 27.50 28.50 28.50 23-75 24-45 34.15 26.75 23.40 27. 00 23. 00 30. 00 $40. 30 46-25 42.50 45.00 45.00 40.00 42.50 42.50 42. 80 43-75 45- 00 45- 00 44-35 43-90 40. 60 50.00 46.25 44-50 41.25 43-75 47-5o 42.50 41.50 45- 00 45- 00 44-35 41.65 43-90 41.50 43-75 4*- 25 40.00 Profit. 5I2.30 28.25 5.00 7.00 13.OO IO. OO I7-50 12.50 T 9-45 8-75 22.50 13-35 15-35 17.65 12.25 18.25 n.25 12.85 16.25 Wheat. $0 13-75 15.00 15.00 13.00 16.50 21. 25 19.90 7-50 17.15 18. IO 16.75 18.25 10.00 75 50.85 .86 1. 00 .88 .80 .92 1.06 .89 .87 80 "§o~ "85" .78 •95 1. 00 •93 .88 1.05 .88 •93 •95 .90 1. 09 .98 1. 00 •93 •95 1. 00 .80 1.03 .82 1. 00 1. 00 .98 96 Profit. &O.30 . 12 •05 •31 . IO* •15" .38 . 21 . IO •43 •05 . 12 10 18 43 23 3i 33 5i 16 15 10* 07 39 32 34 40 08 47 30 08 20 50 39 19 44 40 "38" 34 Condition of Farmers. 17 Continued. Corn— Oats— Tobacco— Cost. Pn ce. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. u 11 a3 $o. 40 $0.98 I0.58 #0.34 $0.68 Jo. 34 $4- 75 $20. 00 $15- 25 51 .40 • 9S • 55 • 25 •58 •33 .16 52 .40 •95 •55 •36 •52 6.00 9- 50 3- 5o 53 .61 •9i •30 •36 50 • 14 7-50 25.00 I7-50 54 .40 .82 .42 • 23 .40 • 17 5.00 5- 00 55 .48 .98 • 50 •32 .58 .26 8.00 10. 00 2. OO 56 .42 .40 1 • 52 .78 .06 . 90 .36 .66 •38 .68 .26 •38 .70 .48 •65 . 02 . 22 • 27 57 58 59 .70 6n •45 .85 •89 •15 • 44 •45 . 22 .62 •56 • 17 •34 7. 00 11.65 4-65 61 •38 • 45 •39 84 .80 •9i .46 • 35 • 52 .27 • 25 •30 54 .60 .65 .27 •35 •35 6-> 63 5-35 12.50 7-15 64 .58 72 .14 •38 .58 . 20 7- 25 11.50 4-25 65 •30 .42 5i 39 45 78 70 88 77 78 .48 .28 • 37 .38 •33 •30 •37 •32 •23 .28 •55 53 •56 • 52 .60 • 25 .16 .24 •29 •32 66 67 68 69 7.00 10.00 3.00 70 37 83 .46 •30 •63 •33 7-35 10. 00 2.65 7i 42 1 60 00 97 .58 •37 •35 •33 .58 .58 •23 •25 72 10.00 12.50 2.50 73 60 51 84 93 .24 • 42 •3° •33 .62 .68 •32 •35 74 4.85 11. 15 6.30 75 47 88 .41 •33 .48 • 15 6.25 9.90 3-65 76 40 1 63 70 89 95 93 •49 • 32 •23 .40 •43 .40 • 57 •55 .48 • 17 . 12 .08 77 78 6.50 8.00 1.50 79 5i 61 44 9b 89 9i • 45 .28 • 47 •30 .41 •35 .65 .58 .60 • 35 • 17 •25 So 8t 6-75 7.85 1. 10 82 33 88 • 55 •23 •55 •32 5- 50 9-15 3-65 8^ 50 43 87 95 • 37 • 52 • 45 •35 • 47 •50 . 02 • 15 84 9.00 18.75 9-75 85 40 55 53 80 90 85 .40 •35 •32 •30 •45 • 42 •55 • 65 •50 •25 . 20 .08 86 87 7.15 9-35 2. 20 88 42 94 • 52 32 59 .27 6-75 17.00 10. 25 48 93 •45 .28 •63 9o • 35 5-9o 9.70 3- 80 49 81 •32 •32 • 5i •19 9t 48 1. 00 • 52 •29 58 .29 5- 00 12.50 7- 50 9? 50 1. 00 • 50 . 26 • 55 .29 4- 15 9.00 4-85 q3 41 yb • 55 . 20 •43 •23 5.65 10. 00 4-35 Q/\ 50 80 •30 •30 • 50 . 20 6. 00 10. 00 4. 00 95 45 93 .48 •33 .46 96 • 13 6. 40 9-5o 3. 10 •39 So .41 .23 •30 .07 4. 00 12.25 S.25 97 Loss. 18 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 19 LETTERS FROM FARMERS. The following letters are selected from among the large number received for publication : Compulsory Education—Work Roads by Taxation.—The compulsory law is the only way to educate the people. I am highly in favor of such a law, to force the people who have bright children in Davie County to make them send them to school and give them an education. I am also in favor of working the roads by taxation. It is the only way to have good roads, and you can get one man to do one dollar's worth of work and he will do as much as three men who work under an overseer. — Gannon Talbert, Advance. Negroes Leaving—Compulsory Education.—Our laborers are mostly ne-groes, and it is my experience that the rougher you treat them, the more work you can get out of them. If kind and gentle with them they become lazy and careless and almost worthless. The negroes are leaving this county very rapidly for the Northern States. The negro is naturally the best laborer for our Southern States, as he can stand the heat better in summer than the white man. I think it very necessary for the white children to be educated, and since most of their parents do not appreciate the advantages their chil-dren have for an education, I think they ought to be forced to send them to school. Very often the white public school teachers can only get about one-fourth of the children to attend school, while the negro school-houses are crowded all the time, and frequently they have to call in extra help to teach. I am not prepared to express an opinion for the whole county, as I have not been over it much this year. — Henry N. Clark, Airlie. Economize—Make Schools Attractive.—The wage-earners, as a class, are very unsettled in their habits and in their demands. They can never be a prosperous people until they reform their habits and learn to take care of their wages. It seems that with the present price of products, with anything like the time and energy that is used in public works, we ought to make good money on the farms. There is such poor system used and so much time idled away that we are continually hearing of hard times among this class of peo-ple. I am heartily in favor of educating all classes in the very uest manner possible, but I think that the compulsion necessary is to make our schools interesting and attractive, so that all the people will want to attend them. Until this is done there is very little use to have on the statute books a com-pulsory educational law to be disregarded. Hoping that our Legislature will learn to quit undoing what the preceding Legislature has done, in order that they may make some place for their pet politicians, I beg to remain.—W. H. Hunter, Alexander. 20 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Favors Compulsory Education—Divide School Fund.—I am highly in favor of compulsory education. There are some parents who have no education themselves and care nothing about educating their children. There are some bright boys and girls being raised up by this class of people, and unless they are looked after they will be neglected. I am also in favor of dividing the money for schools. Let the tax each race pays go to its own schools. I be-lieve the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment has improved farm labor in this section.—A. B. Walker, Anderson. Crops Poor—Educational Advantages Poor.—The corn, wheat and cotton crops of this section last year were very poor, perhaps fifty per cent, but the farmers sold cross-ties, chair, shuttle block and other timbers and got along very well. Corn crops are fairly good this year. The educational advantages in our county are poor, and the enrollment and average attendance is poor also. I do not think absolute compulsory education the thing just now, as we have the young negro in our midst, to whom a meager education means ruin. I would say that with a reasonably fair and conservative law, I would favor compulsory education.—S. E. Lowdermilk, Ashooro. Compulsory Law Works Well.—I am sure that the compulsory school law is the proper thing for Mitchell County. The public schools will be far better this year than ever before.—S. F. Peterson, Bakersville. Better Wages—Compulsory Education.—I think it would be right for the wage-earners to have higher wages for their labor, as they do not seem to progress very fast. Will say in regard to the compulsory education law, that all voters coming of age after 1908 should be able to read and write any section of the Constitution. There is a certain class of people that will have to be compelled to go to school, or they will never be able to read and write. — Augustus Z. Burton, Bald Creek. Compulsory Education for Whites.—I do not know that I could make any suggestion that would be of any benefit to tbe wage-earners in this county, un-less they would take some of their wages that they spend for dressing and many other useless purposes and educate themselves and their children, and ave employment more steady. The working people of this country, on an average, work from four to five months out of the year. As to the compulsory school law question, I am in favor of it this way: To compel all white chil-dren between the ages of six and twenty-one to go to school four months out of the year anyway; but I am not in favor of the white people paying one cent tax to educate the negro. Let the negro, as the saying is, "root hog or die." The Constitutional Amendment is fixing it with some of them. Let them all go together. If they do not want to educate themselves, we do not care.—J. J. Ferguson, Bald Creek. Condition of Farmers. 21 Negroes Unreliable—Opposes Compulsory Education.—The increase in value of land is due to prices of produce advancing, more especially tobacco. The fertility of the land is maintained by the mode of farming and amount of fertilizer used. Cost of living has increased because farmers live better. Negro labor is not reliable from various causes; mainly, because they can not excel the Anglo-Saxon race with the education they have given them, being a lazy and indifferent race naturally, more especially the young negroes. Labor is scarce, because it takes three negroes to do what two used to do, the increase in factories creating more demand. Increase in wages, caused by more tobacco being planted and better prices for produce generally. I do not favor a com-pulsory school law, for various reasons. It can't be carried out successfully. It has been tried in several States and proved to be a failure, besides, the burden will be on the white race to partly educate a lot of worthless negroes, who are too independent already. It is an infringement on the rights of a people who know too well their duty as a race. If it were a law it could not and would not be enforced, as a great many others are not. The best thing for the white race to do is to consolidate their schools where they are small, have longer terms and better teachers, thereby creating more interest, which has already begun.—J. R. Ballard, Ballard. Abolish Whiskey Traffic—Compulsory Education.—I know of nothing to suggest for the needs of wage-earners and others more than that firmer en-forcing of laws against immorality and the punishment of the bad; greater protection to the morals of the innocent and the good; the removal of the great cause of immorality and curse to humanity—the liquor traffic. I heart-ily favor compulsory education, or anything required to make good, law-abid-ing and useful citizens, and to that end I earnestly advocate the education of the Anglo-Saxon race, especially (and at once) to the extent of reading and writing any section of the Constitution. I can not say that I favor the educa-tion of the African race (book education), especially if in the future, as in the past, it takes them from manual labor and usefulness to political strife against the whites, or anything that is patriotic. The most useful education and the most real and genuine after all is that existing among those that are not especially lettered (book educated), but have direct training and culture from the midst of the white people by working and remaining under the influence and direction of the white people. We need better public roads, and to get them we must be taxed.—A. W. Gregory, Barclaysville. Does not Favor Compulsory Education for the Negro.—I do not favor com-pulsory education. One reason is, it would educate the negro as well as the whites, and I am not in favor of negro education. I am in favor of educating the white children as much as anyone, but don't think a compulsory school law would suit the people in general. You asked in one of your questions if negro labor was reliable. No, there is no dependence to be put in a negro. — G. H. Walker, Barlow. 22 "North Carolina Labor Statistics. Need Railroad and Compulsory Education.—We need a railroad through our county worse than anything else, so we could have a market at home for our produce. Our county is a great apple, cabbage and potato county, but as it is, we have to haul our produce about thirty miles to the railroad. In regard to the compulsory school law, I will say that we need it in order to educate the people coming of age after 1908 to be able to read and write, and I fear that we will need it ten months out of the year if they read and write any section of the Constitution correctly, and then I fear some whites will be left with the negroes.—C. M. Critcher, Bamboo. Wage-earners Happiest People on Earth.—The Bible tells us that having food and raiment, we should be content. The wage-earners seem to be that peo-ple. They are settled with once a month and they go to town and generally spend it the same day. They get some provisions, such as sugar, coffee, flour and molasses, and are sure to get a string of fresh fish, beef, or something for Sunday morning, and don't forget to get a little whiskey. They go home the happiest people on earth, for they know if their rations give out before the next settling day they can go to their employer and get more. The negro labor is the best labor we have had in this country, for they spend money as fast as they make it, and sometimes before, therefore, they are easily con-tented, as neither a negro or a white man will work at your command if he has money in his pocket. The negro is unreliable, will not do to trust far, and, as a rule, is not truthful.—W. W. Vick, Battleooro. Better Railroad Facilities—Compulsory Education.—The old South Caro-lina Railroad is under construction along the border of this county, and there is a great stimulus among the farmers and wage-earners. Saw-mills have been moved into the county, and the farmer has gone to work and is realizing better prices for farm products. What we most need is a railroad through the county, so that all the farmers could have better shipping facilities, then old Yancey would wake up. Give us a school law that will encourage the poor, indolent, lazy parents to send their children to school; supply the poor orphan children with books and clothing to enable them to attend, and give all a chance alike. Take the children out of the mills and factories; put them in school from six to fourteen years of age. Education is power. Educate a child and it will take care of itself; fail to educate them morally and intellec-tually, and they fail to make good, moral citizens, and drift into crime and ignorance, immorality and vice, and in many cases they are a burden on the county in which they live. By all means give us a school law that will en-courage parents and guardians to educate their children and prepare them for the various fields of labor and usefulness. Without it many of the sons of the Old North State in the future will be driven from the ballot box and be branded as unfit to have a voice in the public affairs of this State.—D. W. Duncan, Bee Log. Condition of Farmers. 23 Grade Labor—Compulsory Education.—As to improvement of the wage-earners, I think a plan among the farmers to grade the labor would work well. Set a standard and put a premium on the hand that comes up to the standard or passes it, and a discount on those falling below the standard. I have tried this plan and it works well, but, of course, to succeed it would have to be general among the farmers of a whole community. This plan, if properly carried out, would largely solve the labor problem, even among the shiftless class of negroes, with whom we have largely to deal in our county. As to compulsory education, I see little in some parts of our county to even hope for great improvement until some parents are compelled to send their children to school. I was a teacher in our public schools for twenty years, and I have known parents who, within a mile of school, persistently refused to send, but could give no reason only that they got along without "larnin'," and their children were no better than they were. I think there are some yet who fail to see the disadvantage their children will have if they grow up too ignorant to read and vote intelligently. I see some improvement, but it is very little. I would be glad to see the compulsory law applied for a few years, at least, and see how it would work. I have been for several years a member of the Board of Education in our county, and have full access to the facts as regards the educational interests. I am anxious to see a grand step forward. Daniel Lane, Bellair. Develop Resources—Economize—Mild Compulsory Law.—The wage-earn-ers in this section would be much benefited by the outlay of capital in our county, developing the great natural resources of this mountain and mineral county, utilizing the water-power and timbers. A railroad would greatly benefit all working classes. But aside from these things, I think that vigi-lance, faithfulness and frugality should be the laborer's motto. Let him make all he can and spend less than he makes, laying by a few dollars for a surplus. I favor a mild compulsory school law. I am hopeful that the amendment to the State Constitution will be, in a large measure, a compulsory school law, but in order to insure the greatest good to all, and to properly use the money appropriated for schools by the State, we should have a law requiring the attendance of all children, physically and mentally able, for a reasonable length of time each year, I would say from eight to sixteen years old, unless their education is cared for in private schools, or in the family. I think a standard should be set, and when it is reached, let the child be excused, if de-sired, from further attendance. I will add, that parents are still to be found who will not send to school unless forced to do so, and it seems to me unfair for the State to pass a compulsory school law for the tax-payer and leave it to the option of the parent to accept or reject its advantages for their children, whose untaught minds are to be a weight to civilization for a half century, and that, too, after we have made the expenditure necessary. Let us have com-pulsion both ways; that is, to raise money and compel attendance at school. — H. A. Eller, Berlin. 24 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 25 Good Advice—Divide School Fund.-—To the wage-earners I would say, save your wages; do not be stingy, but practice common-sense economy; save a sum every day, week, month and year. To the unmarried man or woman, I would say, strive to lay by something before you marry, for a home is easier to pro-cure before than after marriage. To the farmers I would say, be better farmers, subscribe for and read one or more good farm papers. If you do toil in the soil, let noble and high thoughts engage your minds, and remember you are the freest people on God's green earth, if you want to be. Farmers should visit and be more social with one another, and then they would not be so easily swindled by every lightning-rod agent or any other "old codger" that happens along. The factory operatives should not be made to work over ten hours a day, and the day is not far when the ten-hour law will be a law in North Carolina. The negro population of our State is the greatest hindrance to compulsory education. The good white people of the State are not ready to be taxed any more to educate negroes. "We might give the negroes four months' school and make eight months for whites, then I would be in favor of compulsory education, otherwise I am not. As the whites constitute two-thirds of the population, and pay ninety per cent of the taxes, I consider this a liberal proposition. Can it be done?—A. Gaither Huggins, Belwood. Compulsory Education—Divide School Funds.—I am in favor of a compul-sory educational system, because thousands of parents will deny their off-spring educational advantages unless compelled to do so, and I believe it should be carried out without further hesitation, for it is the duty of the people to pull together in a body and aid the State. But I am not in favor of the funds raised by taxation for public schools to be used in common for both races, for the negro has long since failed to appreciate what we have done for him, and I think we ought to see if some law can't be formulated by which the tax paid by the whites can be used to educate white children, and taxes paid by negroes used to educate the negro race. I don't pretend to debate the question, as I am narrow on the subject, but it is my impression that educa-tion on this plan would be more beneficial to our country.—J. H. Richardson, Benaja. Temperate Habits—Compulsory Education—Local Taxation—Better Pub-lic Roads.—In my opinion wage-earners would improve their condition by being better educated and taught to adopt more temperate habits, abstain from the use of intoxicating drink and the excessive use of tobacco in all it& forms. Many of the working people are very temperate, but quite a number who depend on their wages for support are not so. They ought to be taught better habits in school. One cause of the financial condition of the people being bad is in consequence of bad crops and the destructive rains and freshets during the past year. I believe the most important question before the people of North Carolina now is the education of the children, and in order to accom-plish this I believe a compulsory school law properly framed would have a good effect. My observation teaches me the fact that in many districts in this 26 North Carolina Labor Statistics. county not more than half the children attend the public schools, from pure carelessness, or they find some fault with the teacher and fail to attend. It seems to me if the State has power to tax the property of the people for public education it has the power to see that the children attend schools. While I favor compulsory education, I favor local taxation, so as to give longer terms and better teachers and better school-houses than many of the kind now in use in this county. I also believe that the financial condition of the people of this county would be very much improved if we had better public roads. Our roads are in very bad condition and need improving.—J. Eller, Berlin. Need Rigid Compulsory School Law.—The only hope for the financial and moral welfare of our people is a rigid compulsory school law. We are in need of education and our law-makers have, it seems, done all they can for us, until they pass a law and force us to educate. Let them pass the law by all means, and be careful and make it strictly compulsory.—T. M. Frizell, Beta. Economize—Practice Golden Rule—Compulsory Education and Better Roads.—Working people, or wage-earners, need to be taught economy in liv-ing, neatness of person and surroundings, and encouraged to a higher standard of living. The Golden Rule practiced by employers would make a great change in the condition of both employe and employer. Do away with the whiskey shops, and compel all parents and guardians to send their children and wards to the public schools. Do away with the present public road law, issue bonds and put the roads in good order. The present tax would keep the roads in order and pay a small amount as sinking fund.—S. C. Humphries, Bethel Hill. Compulsory Education Necessary.—In regard to compulsory education, I think parents should be compelled to send their children to the public schools between the ages of ten and sixteen years, at least four months in the year, if the school term should be that long. If something is not done to educate our young men, oh, where are they going to stand after 1908? When the Consti-tutional Amendment shall come in force they will have to stand back with the illiterate negro and have no voice in our government affairs.—W. A. Cagle, Big Lick. Eight Months' Compulsory Education.—I am in favor of more schools and better schools'. I am most assuredly in favor of compulsory education; also, have a school eight months in the year. — John M. Mace, Bowman's Bluff. Compulsory Education Best fqr Wage-earners.—I think compulsory educa-tion would be the best thing that could be done in the way of legislation for the wage-earners, as those who need it most are the ones who are more care-less in sending. I am not prepared to say how soon it should be brought about, though it seems to me the sooner the better.—W. A. Harward, Bridge-port. Condition of Farmers. 27 Cash Prices for Employes—Compulsory Education.—My opinion as to the needs of wage-earners is, that they should have their rations sold to them at cash prices when they work by the day. I know of men who sell their em-ployes rations at time prices when they are working for wages, and I think there should be a law to prohibit it. As to the compulsory school law, I think we need very badly a law to compel parents to send their children to school at least four months in a year, from the age of eight to sixteen, unless provi-dentially hindered; and also, better prepared and better paid school teachers. The educational interest of old Stanly is greater than for years, and I think with the present encouragements she will fast come to the front.—N. A. Teeter, Big Lick. Compulsory Education With Christian Teachers.—My suggestion to help the wage-earners is good, religious and moral training; trained to deal hon-estly with their fellow-man and to respect themselves enough to put some valuation on themselves, and it seems to me the only way this can be brought about is by compulsory education by good, Christian teachers, as near so as can be adopted throughout the State.—T. J. Freeman, Bladenboro. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory School Law.—We peo-ple in this particular section need capitalists to locate here and establish manufacturing enterprises that will turn out finished product from the fine timber that surrounds this glorious mountain country. It would greatly benefit the laboring class, as they could then get cash for their labor and save the profits on what they have to buy. In regard to compulsory education, would say that I am strongly in favor of same, regardless of the Constitu-tional Amendment. We will never amount to anything or be in a position to accomplish anything, or compete with the world, until our people put them-selves in a position by educating their children so they can comprehend. I am in favor not only of requiring parents to educate, or provide a way to edu-cate their children, but of making it an offense, punishable by imprisonment for five years, for any man or woman reaching twenty-one years of age after 1908 who can not read and write and make eighty per cent in second-grade arithmetic. If such a law could be passed I would favor making every man and woman coming of age after 1908 who can not read and write leave the State. Of course this could not be done, but I wish it could be. There are so many people who could get a fair education who will not have it. They should be forced to take it in any way that is the surest.—W. H. Battley, Bryson City. Six Months' Compulsory Attendance Per Year.—It will be a great benefit to have a compulsory education law for all children from eight years old up to thirteen years, giving them six months' schooling a year. The majority of the people favor the Amendment so as to make them get a better education. The laboring class of people are very independent. Many young people are leaving the rural districts for the towns, making farm labor high and uncer-tain.— J. F. Homewood, Burlington. 28 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Need Compulsory School Law—Banish Whiskey.—As to compulsory edu-cation, I will say that such an enactment would be to the interest of our peo-ple. A sad and lamentable fact now confronting us is, that a great many of our white boys now coming along will be deprived of the right to vote after the year 1908, unless there is more done in the way of educating the masses. My opinion is, that nothing short of a compulsory school law will improve the present condition of things, as parents do not take the interest they should in sending their children to school. Will further say that whiskey is the curse of our country. Some very rigid restrictions are needed in that line. I hail the day when this evil will be largely banished from our country.—W. J. Mc- Cluee, Bushnell. Mineral Interests Booming—Must Have Compulsory Education.—In this mountainous part of North Carolina we have no very good farming land, but the mineral interest is on a boom. We have some good copper mines and some gold and nickel. It seems to me that the people of our good old State of patriotism should at once get patriotic about the education of our children. They should remember that after 1908 if they are not able to read and write they will be where? Down with the poor, uneducated negro; not allowed to vote; not allowed to say anything about who is to rule over them. But there will be some who will let their sons go on this way until we have a law that will compel them to send to school. What chance has the young man or woman now who is uneducated to make a good living compared with the educated? Twenty years ago they could get along pretty well. Twenty years from now it will be ten-fold worse than now. Some say they are not in favor of compelling; that it is their own business whether they send to school or not; that they had no education, and their children can do as well as they have. Shame on such men. They should be compelled to educate their sons and daughters. The compulsory law has - worked well in States and countries where they have had it. These States are the wealthiest we have. Ignorance and wealth don't go together. We can never hope to have a wealthy State until we educate the people who are to rule it. Give us the compulsory school law, and soon you will see a wealthy and happy State.—R. M. Thomas-son, Bushnell. Labor Scarce—Interest in Education Aroused.—Laborers and wage-earn-ers are badly needed in this section of North Carolina. It looks to me that nine-tenths of the white boys, just as soon as they are twenty-one years of age, go off to some cotton mill or other public work, and the colored are about all gone from this vicinity. They have all gone to towns or some public work* It seems as if all the labor is drifting away. Farm hands are getting to be very scarce in this section. I do not favor a compulsory school law just now, but I think it will eventually come. People seem to be more aroused on the subject of education than they have been for years. We had an educa-tional rally at Caldwell Institute on August 14th. Prof. Charles E. Maddry, Superintendent of Schools, of Orange County, was here and gave an educa-tional address that was appreciated by all who heard him.—A. Wilkerson, Caldwell Institute. Condition of Farmers. 29 t nm Spabce-not Need Compulsoby EmJCATioN.-The people in my Labob Scarce Do ^ haye tenants and croppers. I do not section do all of then own wort. township. If think there could be a man hired for wages by he y schoc,.houses, there is one so hired I have no know^ed e of it W g ^ ^orrSktnrtsre^rrouaL ;** »*» T suasion, I think all wno a dQ . g ^^ &nd tQ try to To force one to do a ^f f^^Jnt to learn is an impossibility. In compel °™^1™^X™^ tell h7s pupils that a little boy could take a ZTtTlZZ IZZ could not make him drink if he was not thirsty.- J. W. Teery, Caldwell Institute. BETTER SYSTEM OE EMPLOYMENT-COST OE PRODUCTION VARXES.-Thel'e BhOUld ,»Tbstter s^cm among farmers in regard to employing bands. If we lul re ulr lasers to bring a certificate from their former employer n should ^l"^ M t haraer to do their dnty. In regard to S^^SSSnvaries with the seasons, the land and the farms, 1 Tery large per cen^odneed b=of bad^^^oX Ze tor the land-owner nothing for use of land and support of fannly.- O. W. Sutton, Calypso. A Bleeding NECESSiTY.-Compulsory school law is a bleeding necessity eittefin private or public schools, at least four months in each year with tanda d books throughout the State, so parties moving from one section o tne State to another would not have new books to buy; and also, that we nave a better class f teachers than we generally have now. We need good County Superintendents, who will not have any pets, and that public schoo moneys come to each and all schools in the shortest way possible with the "as expen" .The taxes paid by the whites for schools should be only used rthe whites, and the colored race have only the benefit of their own moneys. A. R. Hilbtjen, Canetuck. Need ManueactubincEnteepbxses-Compulsoby ^™XW °MUme public works in our county of any consequence, therefore, we hav but little demand for labor. Our county is rough and mountainous, and but little labor h red on the farm. We have as fine water-power for machinery as anywhere Tie State, and I think nothing would benefit us more than the building ot ma'ufLri'es. As to compulsory school law, if it could be carried^out suc-cessfully it would be of great benefit to the rising generation Th people do not taJ the interest in school that they should. Not more than half of the "hool population attend as they should. If the law could be properly en-orced I would favor it, for it seems that something must be done if we edu-cate the children of the State. We have no negroes in my township.-J. L. Randall, Canto. 30 North Carolina Labor Statistics. • Condition of Farmers. 31 Better Wages—Better Conditions—Amendment Sufficient.—The wage-earners in this county are receiving better wages, on account of increase in lumber trade, than they were one year ago. The wage-earner is being paid more of his wages in cash now than heretofore, which has a tendency to encourage the average wage-earner to do better work than when he is paid off in barter or orders. On the farm I find that hands furnished with good work stock and good tools and a foreman that don't sit at the nearest country store or railroad station and whittle white-pine boxes, has a tendency to improve the quantity and quality of labor. Labor is usually paid off in proportion to quantity and quality. Bad foremen and sorry stock, sorry tools and things scattered promiscuously over the farm and allowed to remain that way, make sorry hands. Education is power, and should be encouraged by every citizen. I think the Amendment to the Constitution as good a compulsory school law as we can have now, with the present school law and the present indisposi-tion to send to school and the indisposition of the school teachers to visit the parents and see why "Jim and Sally Smith" are not in school to-day. — Wil-liam Ledbetter, Canton. Labor Unreliable—Compulsory Education.—In regard to wages, will say that there is not a great deal of hiring in this vicinity, owing to the very small farms and the financial condition of our farmers. We all try to plant just what we think we can manage ourselves, owing to the uncertainty of help when needed. There are not many white laborers, but nearly all colored, and they will not stay a year at the time, and if they can get berries, fruit, etc., you can not control them at all for any length of time. In regard to compul-sory education, will say that the white boys of North Carolina will never be educated unless laws are enacted to put them in school. Many are too lazy and indolent to want an education, and parents think they are compelled to keep their children at home to do all the farm labor in the fall of the year. Many of them will not, until compelled to do so, make any sacrifice for their children. If you speak to them of their children's educational needs, they will answer you, that they had none of those opportunities, and if their chil-dren would accomplish as much as they had, they would be satisfied. You can not show them that better education is required to-day than twenty years ago. Give us a mild form of compulsory education, and then you will see the attendance larger and progress will be faster. When children come to school one or two days in the week they do nothing themselves and hinder those with whom they come in contact. All pupils should be required to attend at least three-fourths of the time, but provision should be made for those who are too poor to clothe and furnish books for their children. — John A. Fry, Carthage. Compulsory Education Necessary.—To do the people good, compulsory education is necessary. Negroes take advantage of school and whites do not. —A. W. Alston, Centreville. 32 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Regulate Time Prices—Compulsory Education a Step Toward Anarchy.— Farming seems to be generally on a decline. The greater number of small farmers are growing financially worse off every year, and are compelled to mortgage their crops before they are planted and pay two prices for what they buy, and deliver that crop for whatever they can get; and the result is there is a hard year's work gone and the merchant gets it, and the average young man becomes discouraged and seeks other employment. This is one of the principal reasons that farming is on a decline. I think, and would suggest, that there should be some regulation as to the profits charged on goods sold on time, for it is ruining the agriculture of the country. As to compulsory education, it will not meet the approval of the people at all. It is only one step toward anarchy, and I don't think anything else can be said for it.—D. S. Rice, Castalia. Better Homes and Better Understanding—Compulsory Education.—Farm labor generally need better homes and more regular employment; also, a bet-ter understanding of each other, between employer and employe. Farm labor ought to be more reliable, and look after the interest of the employer, and give less attention to fun and frolic, discord, whiskey and tobacco. The women and children should help more than they do. They need better educa-tional advantages and compulsory education. — John McDowell, Charlotte. Wages too Low—Compulsory Education a Moral Duty.—I think it would be better for wage-earners to work at public works, as we have a great many different plants in our county. Wages on the farm are not high enough com-pared with the price of farm products. I am in favor of compulsory educa-tion, because we want to see every white man have the benefit of the suffrage law after 1908. Education helps the laboring man in every trade or business. He gathers new ideas more readily, takes more interest in his work, keeps better company, lives better and happier; and then it is the duty of every man to see that his children are educated. We will always find some people op-posed to any law that might be framed, so we can expect some people to oppose a law of this kind. It would be a law simply compelling us to do a moral duty we owe our children.—L. H. J. Houser, Gherryville. Labor Unreliable—Compulsory Education Necessary.—The small farm is the only safe way in the rural districts of this county without a revolution in labor. The negro is totally unreliable, and all the whites are doing some-thing for themselves, except the shiftless class, and they are very unreliable. The Legislature should pass a compulsory educational law at this session, or there will be many young men coming of age after 1908 whose parents will be the cause of their disfranchisement. It will be for the good of the State and the betterment of society and religion. Educate the people and you civilize and refine them and make them honorable.—W. C. Brewer, Chip. Condition of Farmers. 33 Must Have Compulsory School Law.—As to the requirements of the Con-stitutional Amendment in regard to education, I am clearly of the opinion that we will be behind if we do not have a compulsory school law, and that soon. I don't mean a law that is very rigid. Require all children to attend school a certain number of months in a certain number of years, say three months in a year, from the age of seven to fourteen, making a total of twenty-one months in seven years, and it seems to me that any boy of ordinary mind or intelligence could learn to read and write in that time. I make this as a suggestion, not as a perfect model. In our school last year it was with diffi-culty we could keep the average attendance to one-fifth, and it may be so in other places as well. Let's have compulsory school law by all means, and if the parents are too poor to buy books, have free books, too.—W. H. Holland, Christie. Take Interest in Employer's Work—Conditions not Good for Compulsory School Law.—It seems to me the greatest need of the wage-earner is an in-terest in his employer's work. He should try to give a good day's labor, thereby enabling his employer to make a profit so that wages could be raised. I always give good hands extra pay. There is work now for everybody and fair wages, but there is too much shifting from place to place with most laborers, and they can not be relied on. Compulsory education may be very necessary, but with our scattered school-houses it would be a great hardship on many parents. Our roads are not kept in condition for children to go two and three miles to school and back. Many parents are entirely dependent upon their children to help house the crops. I think we need better schools, better houses, and better roads to these schools before we get a very stringent compulsory school law. — John Humphrey, Clark. w.i_saif 1 Conditions Improving—Need Better Schools and Compulsory Education.— - Many persons believe that legislation is, to a great extent, controlled by the money power, and the farmer, having so little of this commodity, is discrimi-nated against. Be this true or not, the condition of the laborer is gradually improving, both financially and morally. Better public schools, I mean schools with longer terms, and the employment of more competent and better paid teachers, will help the masses. The building of permanent highways will add to the wealth of our State and the farming class. I favor a compul-sory school law, knowing as I do that many parents whose children would be most benefited by attendance on the public schools, are totally indifferent to the opportunities thus afforded.—A. C. Wharton, Clemmonsville. Wage-earners—Compulsory Education.—I will consider these subjects from a non-partisan standpoint, and look at them from the standpoint of jus< tice, freedom and equal rights to all and special privileges to none. Wage-earners would be bettered by a law enacted and strictly enforced to prohibit 34 North Carolina Labor Statistics. North Carolina Geape< Condition of Farmers. 35 the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the State. It would save lives, both temporal and spiritual, save property from being squandered, and save the tax-payers from paying the expense of about three-fourths the crimi-nal cases on the docket. The laboring class produces most of the wealth, and the traders, professional men and officers amass it and enjoy it. I suggest that the number of officers be reduced (such as County Boards of Elections, Elec-tion Bailiffs, etc. ) , and the salaries of many officers reduced. We would then save money to pay overseers and road hands for labor on the roads, and this saving would not 'raise our taxes. In addition to this, levy a tax on property sufficient to buiM good roads, and the laborer will certainly be benefited by receiving a reasonable compensation for his labor, while he, and all other persons, will be benefited by having good roads to enable them to get their products to market. I believe that good roads and good schools are the prin-cipal things to build up a country. As to compulsory education, the Constitu-tional Amendment has about all the compulsion in it that the poor, un-fortunate wage-earner can bear. It has taken thousands of poor white men's liberty from them, because it compels poll tax to be paid a certain time. It compels a literary qualification, after 1908, which will deprive many of the dearest right which they possess, except the right to worship according to the dictates of their consciences. If a compulsory school law benefits any, it will be the people of affluence who can send to school, and if it oppresses any, it will be the poor people who can not send to school. It seems that these compul-sory laws are thrusts at the poor people, and Christ said, "For ye have the poor with you always." Again it is said, "The poor shall never cease out of the land," and some of these poor are as good people as there are this side of heaven. A compulsory law will enfringe on parental law and liberty, and, per-haps, fail to accomplish the object aimed at. The Hon. W. D. Turner, Lieu-tenant- Governor of North Carolina, said in a literary address, that we never have had a universal education, nor never would have. He says some have no talent for book learning and should be educated in something for which they have a talent. It seems that the object aimed at in a compulsory law is to learn the boys to read and write so they may vote. I feel very sure that there are many other qualifications necessary to make good citizens and intelligent and safe voters. They must have implanted and cultivated in the mind and heart habits of honesty, truthfulness, industry, enterprise, perseverance, econ-omy, morality and piety. Without these principles we can not make great and good men in the true sense of the word, although they might have a com-plete education from a literary point of view. The Divine law does not re-quire any literary or poll-tax qualification for voters. "The small cast lots as well as the great; the scholar as well as the teacher." We should extend to all the privilege to vote. I favor giving the poor every advantage possible for free education. All should be encouraged and helped, if necessary, that they may send to school.—E. B. Hendren, Cline. Labor Unreliable—No Demand for Compulsory Education.—Wage-earners are doing well—all those who will work. The most of them are inclined to ramble, hunting a place where they can live, get big wages and work but 36 North Carolina Labor Statistics. little. It appears to me that the most of the negroes are restless and want to tramp from place to place, and when they work they want their pay at night. Farmers generally don't know what kind of a crop to commence in the spring of the year, whether large or small, on account of unreliable labor. Straw-berries ripen in a very busy time and our farm hands leave those that they have contracted with and go to the berry fields, and when they get through there, huckleberries are ripe and they make for the huckleberry ponds; after this they work a day at one place, the next at another, and so on, until cotton is to pick, then they pick what cotton they want to and quit. So you see our condition; give us a remedy if you can. As to education, I am strongly in favor of it, but as to compulsory education, I am opposed to it, and if there is one person in my neighborhood or township that is in favor of it, I have not met him; and I will say again that I live in one of the best neighborhoods in my county. My people send their children to school all they can, and at a time when their convenience is consulted, and I believe we have as few illit-erates in our neighborhood as you will find anywhere in the State. The schools are good enough now; do let the people alone. I think if you will con-sult the people generally you will find what I say is the trutn. A great many of your correspondents say they are in favor of compulsory education. They may be, but ask the people, and you will see they are opposed to such a law. Give the white people a four-months' free school and a good teacher and they will attend to the balance. There is too much done for the negro now. Learn him to depend upon himself some and I think he will do better.—R. M. Crumpler, Sr., Clinton. Higher Morals and Compulsory Education.—In regard to the needs of the wage-earners, I can think of nothing that would improve their condition except a higher morality and more education. In regard to compulsory edu-cation, I am of the opinion that we need a law that will require parents and guardians of children to send them to some school for at least two months in each year, until the child is able to read and write. Such a law could not work a hardship to anyone. The law should provide for the extremely poor parent or guardian, etc.—J. W. Putnam, Collinsville. Compulsory School Law.—I think it ought to be the aim of the next Legis-lature to pass some compulsory law to make the poorer classes send their children to school at least a few months in the year, as there are lots of people in this section who will not send their children when they can. — Charles A. Rhodes, Comfort. Med Compulsory School Law.—I believe it to be the duty of the State to educate her citizens. For a number of years the State has made it possible for the children to be educated, and since it has proven a failure, the State ought to compel attendance. If I, as a tax-payer, am compelled to pay for the education of my neighbor's children, the law ought to compel their attendance. We are not prepared for a rigid and severe law, but in mild form it ought to be introduced. — John A. Watts, Concord. Conditions of Farmers. ^ Negro Unreliable—Compulsory School Law a Necessity.—Negro labor is so unreliable that if one promises to work you don't know that you will get him until he comes, unless he owes you, then you know he is not coming. I favor a compulsory school law, not from principle, but I believe it to be a necessity. I believe a compulsory law would be beneficial to the children of poor and careless parents. A compulsory law should be mild to commence with.—J. M. C. Penninger, Cooleemee. Wage-earners Need Nothing—Compulsory Law Tyrannical.—As to the wage-earners in the county, they do not need anything better than they have, unless it would be better muscle and tougher hands. We have all the work that we need at good wages—water boys seventy-five cents and men one dollar per day. As to compulsory school law, it is tyrannical. There is a class of people here that could not go to school, for they would actually starve to death. Taking this into consideration, they must have relief, and the only means of relief is for the County Commissioners to either buy a farm or establish some sort of factory for the benefit of that class; then if they will not go to school, or are too poor, compel them to work, and by so doing they might learn some kind of trade, which would be better than education in books. The laborer is the man that keeps the country from starvation and nakedness. I do not condemn education, by any means. I am highly in favor of it. I am aware that the future prosperity, the glory and the grandeur of our beloved country rests on the intelligence of our youth. I am also aware that an enlightened and virtuous people can never be enslaved. I would encourage all the youth of our country to educate themselves. I would rather give everyone an equal chance and a free privilege��let e^ery tub stand on its own bottom, each work out his own soul's salvation. God gives us this privilege, and so does our republican form of government, and whatever you-do, do nothing contrary to these two higher powers.—W. H. Anderson, Cul-berson. State Should Furnish Books and Compel Attendance.—As to compulsory education. I think it should become a law and the schools taught at a season of the year not to interfere with the crops. The attendance on our public schools is very poor, and by the class of people who are able to educate their children. The schools, as they are now, do not reach the class they are in-tended to reach. The State ought to furnish books free, which would increase the attendance. No one could possibly lose in the long run by such a course. There are a great many poor people who would send to school if they were able to buy books, and I do not see how we could enforce a compulsory school law, unless the State furnished books. My idea is that if the State would furnish school books free it would increase the attendance fifty per cent. I hope to see the day when parents will be compelled to give their children a good education and our State will furnish the means free, including books. — A. G. Corpening, Cora. 38 North Carolina^Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 39 Annihilate Distilleries—Mild Compulsory School Law.—In suggesting the needs of the wage-earner in this locality, I beg to say that, in my opinion, one of the greatest blessings that could come to the laboring class would be the annihilation of the distilleries. I do not think that I exaggerate when I say that ninety-nine per cent of all want and poverty and crime is either directly or indirectly caused by liquor. There are men, to my knowledge, who will spend their earnings for liquor, get drunk, abuse their wives, and see their children go in rags, in order to gratify their craving desire for strong drink. But as we are not likely to get rid of the distilleries, then let the next Legislature enact a law making drunkenness a misdemeanor, with a severe penalty attached. It would be the means of bringing peace and happi-ness to many a family which is now in poverty and misery. As to a compul-sory education law, would say that I am in favor of such a law, provided it is not too severe. The people of this section are all farmers, and, as a general thing, are all poor, and they can not do without their children on the farm during the summer months. But from the first of November to the first of April farmers can very well spare their children to go to school, which would give us a five-months' school. Now, as the State taxes us to educate the chil-dren, I think that it should also compel parents to give their children the advantage of the money paid into the free schools for them, and then I think that the free schools should be more carefully looked after, and that we should have better teachers and pay them better wages. The way the free schools are run in some sections is nothing but a waste of the people's money.—E. J. Eaton, Conrads. Compulsory School Law Would not do.—I have thought that a compulsory education was the best thing for us, but after trying to force our people to send to teachers that they did not like, I find it would not do. I think if there were better teachers, or at least the morals of the teachers were looked after more closely, it might be better, and after a while we could have com-pulsory law. I think education would help the white wage-earners, but edu-cation has proven a curse to the negro laborer. There are a number of saw-mills in this section and a great many of the farm hands have gone to them.— Alfred Baldwin, Covington. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory Education.—The thing which I believe would do the wage-earner the most good, or would do the most to help him, is an increase in manufacturing establishments, because an in-crease of hands employed at work other than farming increases the price of farm products. This would benefit all classes of wage-workers, and would also make farming a better business, both for the farmer and for his hirelings. I think compulsory education would be a great benefit to the people as a whole if they could only be made to see and realize the condition of their children fifteen years from to-day. God pity the man's children who cares so little for them as to allow them to loaf about during school months and grow up in ignorance, unfit to fill any respectable position in life. Give us a law that 40 North Carolina Labor Statistics. will compel such men to send their children to school for the children's sake. A compulsory school law, in my opinion, is the only way to reach those poor children. I think if parents do not take enough interest in their welfare to send them to school when they can go free, then the parents should be taught that other people are concerned for their good. While compulsory education may be the cause of privation and hardship to some, perhaps many, in view of the Constitutional Amendment, and especially the good of the children in after-life, when they have grown to manhood and womanhood, I believe it would be better for parents to endure these hardships, which I do not believe would mean starvation, than to sacrifice the future welfare and happiness of their children. With such a law in force we would soon get out of ignorance and superstition, and after 1908 there could hardly be found a boy twelve years of age who could not read and write intelligently. These are some of my views on the subject of education.—I. B. Pless, Cruso. Work by the Year—Compulsory Education.—The wage-earner ought to have better wages for his work; also, his job ought to last one year at least. I am in favor of compulsory school law, for we have the Amendment and when 1908 comes there will be some men that can't read, and there always will be some who can't vote, unless we have the compulsory school law, for there are some parents who won't send their children to school unless they have it to do. So with the facts before me I am in favor of the compulsory school law, for we need educated farmers as well as statesmen.—L. M. Stephens, Cowarts. Negroes do not Need Compulsion, but Whites do—Divide School Fund.— We need a compulsory school law, especially for the whites. If our people are not compelled to send their children to school the negro will be ahead by 1908, as they send them to school all the winter and part of the spring, bread or no bread. I think the white people's money should go to the education of the white race and the colored to the colored race. The white people have been paying taxes a long time to educate the negro. The negro who has no education is the best worker and the most agreeable and the best satisfied. We need our money to educate our own boys and girls. In my own commu-nity I don't know of any negroes that can read and write that are making their own support by honest labor. We need common labor, and the less they know about books, the more they do about a hoe or plow. We don't want educated negroes on the farm. When you educate a negro it ruins him for labor. This is our experience in Pender.—F. B. Orr, Currie. Labor Indifferent—Poor Crops—Compulsory School Law.—There are many who seem content if their present wants are supplied. If wage-earners and tenants would improve their opportunities well the year round, in a short time their condition would be much better. The land-owner finds it necessary to work closely all the year to make any progress, and what is true of him is Condition of Farmers. 41 true in reference to hired hands or tenants. In our section farmers are dis-posed, I think, to pay all their work will afford, but for years past our crops have been so light and prices so low that it is hard to clear expenses, even at small wages. This year our wheat, at $1.00 per bushel, would not meet the cost of production. There was an unusually small yield. I am unable to say what could be done in the way of legislation to help the wage-earners, but am sure they might help themselves very much by more rigid economy of time and in the use of what they earn. In reference to a compulsory school law, I am sure it would be very hard on many of our people to furnish books, clothes and board to send to school; and yet it is true that many parents are not sufficiently interested to do what they could easily accomplish. Canvassing the State in the usual way does very little good, from the fact that those who need so much to be aroused are not present, as a rule, to hear. I would sug-gest that any legislation on this subject should be with great care and in mild form. It is certainly useless for the State to make a law that can not be enforced. Let our people look well before taking a leap.—P. Oliver, Dalton. Compulsory Law Could not be Enforced—It Would Put Two Negroes to One White in School.—I am opposed to compulsory education in this State at the present, for several reasons. First, the class of people that a compul-sory law is intended to reach and benefit are the very poorest people of the State, consequently the children of this class are very destitute of proper clothing and food, and without means to purchase books, and a great many people can not spare their children to go to school more than three or four months in a year. Second, in my opinion, a compulsory law can not be en-forced. You can't collect fines out of the parents for failing to send their children; you can't put them in jail. If you do, you will have to feed their children, or they will starve. I see no reason why the State should burden itself with a law it can not enforce, and, in my humble opinion, if the State wants to benefit this class of children, they should appropriate a fund suffi-cient to at least buy books for the very poor children. I believe a compulsory school law in this State would put two negro children in school every time it put one white child, as the negro mother cares but little about the clothing her children wear to school.—J. M. Thrash, Davidson River. Labor Content—Opposed to Compulsory School Law.—There is not much help for wage-earners here. They are content, and say, "Let each day pro-vide for itself." I am not for compulsory education, as it would be hard on these liberty-loving mountain people, but if we should get it, let the school age be reduced to sixteen years, as the work of those pupils after sixteen is of considerable value to themselves and their parents, and take the attention of the teacher from the younger ones. — Otto Kirstein, Dills. Give us Compulsory Education.—I am at present, and have been for years, connected with our public school system, and favor the education of our peo-ple in the public schools of the State, and I am in favor of compulsory educa- 42 North Carolina Labor Statistics. tion. I see boys and girls in this district who would make useful citizens if they were forced to go to school. I believe it would cost less to educate these people than it does to prosecute and maintain them in prisons. I do hope that our Superintendent of Public Instruction, with yourself, will recommend and insist on the next Legislature passing a compulsory education law, and then see that it is put in force. Someone will say, "Where is the money to come from, as we are now taxed to the constitutional limit?" I would suggest that the appraisers raise the valuation of all real and personal property, whereby we may have the money. Half of the property in Western North Carolina is taxed at about one-third value, and the rest at not over one-half value, so you see the State is robbed of at least one-half of what it should have to educate our people. Give us compulsory education.—R. F. Jarrett, Dillsboro. Compulsory School Law.—I favor a compulsory school law, and think it is due the common people that they should have it, and their children forced to attend school. I do not think it would be wise to compel children to attend school from six to twenty-one years, but let the law remain as it is, to permit them to go from six to twenty-one, and compel them to go from about eight to twelve or fourteen years of age.—D. N. Hunt, Dexter. Compulsory Education—Establish Factories.—I favor a compulsory edu-cation for the following reasons: First, the Constitutional Amendment, which we adopted in 1900, requires that all male persons who become twenty-one years of age after 1908 shall be able to read and write, and as many people seem careless about the matter of educating their children, I think that we should have a compulsory school law in order to prepare the boys to be able to vote after 1908. Second, this is fast becoming an age of education and progress in all branches, and I think that the youth of both sexes should be educated, in order that they may keep step with the progress of the coun-try. I think that it would be of benefit to the wage-earners of the country to establish cotton mills and other manufacturing industries in our section. This would give employment to the people, and also add to the prosperity of the country.—D. D. King, Dublin. Farmers do Their Own Work—Do not Know About Compulsory Educa-tion.— Wage-earners do not amount to much. The farmers do most of their work and get along with very little hiring. Wages here are not worth con-sidering. As to compulsory education, I hardly know what would be best. Just to learn to read and write in order to vote I do not think amounts to much. If we would educate so they would be factors in the business world it would be a praiseworthy thing. Anything short of this will amount to very little, so far as citizenship is concerned. I am not sure that this educational qualification is the thing it is claimed to be. We all know it was done for a purpose. If it accomplishes that purpose I suppose it will please the advo-cates of it. I do not lay as much stress upon voting as some do, anyway. — J. R. Denton, Dysortville. Condition of Farmers. 43 Need Better System of Wages—Time fob Compulsory Education.—We need a better system in North Carolina in order to bring a better class of labor to tbe farms. If we can in some way induce the landlord to pay his men according to what they are worth it will improve the wage-earner throughout the entire Southland. The average wages are from eight to ten dollars per month, regardless of the ability of the man. There is no en-couragement to the poor white boy who is worthy and industrious to work hard in the field by the side of a lazy negro who is getting ten dollars per month. Give every man what he is worth. As to education, I am sure there are people who will not send their children to school regularly until we have a compulsory law. I trust that the time is now at hand when the State will act in favor of compulsory education.—C. L. Mann, East Lake. Need Stock and Bird Law and Agricultural Literature—Better Roads.— I think the Legislature ought to pass a stock law. The destruction of tim-ber at the present for fencing is something serious. Some of our most useful and valuable birds are rapidly becoming extinct, and shooting should not be allowed for the next three years. I understand the Texas Farmers' Congress will ask the Legislature of that State to appropriate $10,000.00 for the mainte-nance of the Farmers' Industrial Associations. It seems to me that the General Assembly should apportion a little to each county in our State, to be used, if nothing more, to establish a library with farm literature. This would not be a constant drain on the State, for after they once become aroused they would, in all probability, supply themselves. I don't know a , single farmer in my neighborhood who takes any agricultural literature. This may be a little off the track, but what benefits the farmers, benefits every other class of people, either directly or indirectly. Better roads is a matter that concerns us very much, for better roads means better farms, and improvements of farms means more tax. Give us a special road tax, convict labor, or anything that will give us better roads.—W. H. Reid, Elizabeth City. Compulsory Education for Whites—Economy Needed.—Since the Constitu-tional Amendment I am not in favor of a compulsory school law if it can not be passed for the white race only. Nothing that I know of would benefit the wage-earners, unless they could be forced to save part of their wages, for in this section of the State they spend it for what they could do without, and more wages would do harm instead of benefiting them.—V. B. Carter, Elm City. People Becoming Poorer—Negroes Ahead of Whites.—In this locality peo-ple are getting poorer, and it seems as if they grow worse, as times get harder and work scarcer. Farming is not improving, and will not until all the tim-ber is worked up. Negro labor is one of the poorest things in this country to depend on. They will not work more than three or four days in a week. Education is slowly improving, especially among the whites. The negroes are improving faster than the whites.—Y. R. Porter. Emerson. 44 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 45 Conditions Better Than Ever Before.—The condition of the farmers is much better than it has been. They have made less debts and lived nearer within their incomes. They are improving their farms, making more to one acre than ever before, making their meat and molasses, raising more cattle, and improving their land by sowing peas and other forage crops.—G. B. Pruett, Ellenboro. Compulsory School Law Impracticable.—Each school district has to num-ber sixty-five. In order to do this it puts some school children three and four miles away from a school-house. To compel some poor people to send their children that distance, over mountains, through cold and snow, thinly clad, would be a hardship almost unendurable and inhuman. Some will say, "Oh, we will arrange and have the schools begin first of September and continue four months." Well, now, most of the poor children have to work through summer and fall in order to have something to eat during winter. Every man, before he says he is in favor of a compulsory school law, should place himself in the position of the poor man; then when it comes home properly he is in favor of a free country- Education is needful, and we will have it, but let us be free.—L. N. York, Elk Greek. Divide School Fund—Compulsory Education.—I can conceive of nothing that can be done to improve the wage-earner except on educational lines. We think the Democratic party has assumed a grave responsibility in passing the Amendment, and it should meet it heroically. We think the next step should be to use the taxes collected from the whites to educate the white children of North Carolina, and the colored applied to the colored children. This would give ample means to educate the white children without any increase of taxes, which are already heavy enough on the people. Some might think this a narrow view, but we have done our full duty to the negro race since the close of the war. The fact has been thoroughly demonstrated that educating the negro unfits him for.labor and does not improve his moral status. I would strongly recommend a compulsory school act by the next Legislature. Many of our laboring people are too indifferent about educating their children. Many of them are not availing themselves of the schools we now have. — John W. Clayton, Englehard. Too Much Loafing—Compulsory Education.—What wage-earners need is better training in the economy of time. There is too much loafing and a failure to appreciate the importance of time. Our farmers, and men of all trades, need a better education. Our people will not be what they should be, in the way of education, until the older ones, like the children of Israel, have died out, and the younger generations have the proper care and training; and that can not be had, in my judgment, without compulsory education.—J. E. Jimeson, Estatoe. 46 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Compel Each Race to Educate its Children.—I do not favor compulsory education, because we can't compel one race without the other, and I am op-posed to taxing the white man to educate the negro. What we need is more money for the white children, longer school terms and better teachers and better pay for teachers and a fund to build better school-houses. The more education you give the negro the better his chances for Penitentiary and less value to the farmer; of course there are some few exceptions. Nearly all abandon the farms, and it will soon be so we can't get farm hands, for they all want to teach school or preach, and as soon as they can read and write will be a curse to the country. Pass laws to compel each race to educate their own children. If it is not constitutional, change the Constitution.—W. W. Rosser, Essex. Prohibition Law—Tax Dogs—Negroes do not Need Compulsory School Law, "Whites do.—The best thing that could be done for the wage-earners of North Carolina would be for the next Legislature to pass a strict and rigid prohibition law to cover the whole State, and not let one drop of intoxicating liquors be manufactured or sold, except as a medicine, and have a strict law on the doctors who prescribe it as a medicine. This law would add one hun-dred per cent to the wage-earners of this State, morally and financially; then tax every dog one dollar. I know of children who suffer for bread and the family keeping two worthless dogs. There is no game in this country and we need but few dogs. We have no sheep, because the dogs have killed them. Then we need a compulsory education law. This Constitutional Amendment will not affect the negroes in this county, or at least in this township. The colored children, or colored parents, do not need any compulsory law, for they send their children to school, hot or cold, rain or shine, full or empty. But, I am sorry to say, the whites do not send their children to school regular, and some don't send a day during the year. The Constitutional Amendment is compulsory law enough for the colored, but it don't seem to have any effect on many of the whites, so I say give us a compulsory education law. It would tell something for the State in ten or twenty years.—A. M. Benton, Evergreen. Need Compulsory School Law.—I think we need the compulsory law very much. So many of our people neglect to send their children to school, and many children are never any good to themselves or to their country.—J. W. King, Excelsior. Work by the Year—Compulsory Education and Free Books.—The wage-earners here work about six months in the year regular; after that they work by the day, making the time about seven to eight months in the year. A better plan would be for the wage-earners to work by the year. They would get more and so would the employer. I believe a compulsory school law would be far better coupled with a law for free school books by the State or counties. I would also favor better graded school teachers, better school-houses and fewer or less hours.—R. L. Young, Fairfield. Condition of Farmers. 47 Reliable Labor—Favor Compulsory School Law.—In regard to the needs of wage-earners, I would say the thing that would benefit them most, in my opinion, is for them to he more reliable. Another failing among laborers is, they are not interested in their work as they should be. As to compulsory education, I would say that I have not changed my mind since last year. I have favored a compulsory school law since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment. I am sure of the fact that twenty-five per cent of the children of school age do not attend the public or private schools of our country, and unless something is done to force their parents to send them to school they will grow up in ignorance and be deprived of not only voting after 1908, but of many of the blessings of life that they would otherwise enjoy. I do not believe that every boy and girl should be compelled to go to college, or to get a collegiate education, but I do think they should be compelled to attend school at least three months in the year, between the ages of seven and fourteen years.—J. W. Bowers, Fair Grove. Economize—Each Race Educate its Children—Grade Labor.—Our labor-ing class is mostly colored. I know nothing that will improve them until they learn to save more of their earnings and dissipate less. My views on compulsory education are, that if the State of North Carolina can separate the races in public schools, in hotels, in theatres and on railroads and other public places, it should do so in public school fund. With a law like they have in South Carolina, where the negro taxes goes to educate their children, I would favor compulsory education, or provided the money raised from white tax-payers was applied to the maintenance of white schools and the colored taxes to be applied to colored schools. As regards the improvement of farm labor, I do not see any chance of much until the land-owners will classify labor. When a man earns fifty, seventy-five cents or a dollar a day, give it to him, and, in my judgment, it would encourage a good many laborers, who only study how much they will get at night, or how much they can beat their employer out of during the day, to go to work and try to get as much as any-one. All mill men and other corporations pay according to what a man is worth to them and I see no reason why farmers should not do likewise, although the land-owners will have to establish the rules, for the renters can not.—I. T. Haskins, Falling Creek. Importance of Time and Truthfulness—No Way but Compulsory School Law.—There are two things that, in my opinion, would benefit our laboring class, both white and black; they are the importance of time, and the absolute necessity of doing certain things at certain times. When they are employed on the farm and are told to report for duty at 6 o'clock in the morning, when the clock strikes six they should be there; as it is, "any old time" will do for the most of them. Then the importance of telling the truth. I do not mean to say they are, as a class, habitual liars, but they will say they will do so and so and never do it, or if instructed to do a certain piece of work a certain way, will agree to do it, and go off and never touch it. or do it the very op- 48 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 49 posite way and report to you that it is done correctly. In short, if they could be made to understand that they must be reliable. I have been connected with the public schools for the past three years as Township Trustee, and on the County Board, and I see no way to educate the masses but by a strict com-pulsory law. I realize that apparently it will, or might, work a hardship in some isolated cases, but these same isolated cases have to pay taxes, hardship or no hardship. I do not believe the average white man objects to paying a tax for schools when he knows the white children are going to receive the benefit, but it comes pretty hard when he knows he must pay the tax, and perhaps only two-thirds or one-half of the white children will attend school. The negro child is going to have an education; you need not worry your head about him. But I am ashamed to say it, the white parents are the ones at fault, and they must be gotten at in some way if we expect old North Carolina to hold her place in line with the progressive States of the Union.—S. H, Strange, Fayetteville. Labok Plentiful, but Unbeliable—Education Unfits Negbo fob Woek Not Ready fob Compulsory Education.—Negro labor gets less reliable every year. There is plenty of labor to hire, such as it is. The negroes will not work more than they can help, and whiskey is ruinous to labor. The educa-tion they get don't seem to improve them, for if you educate one much he is ruined as a laborer, and wants to teach or preach, or do something else be-sides work in the field. The country is not ready yet for compulsory educa-tion. To have that we will have to change our mode of farming, as we can't raise cotton and tobacco with a compulsory education law, and will have to go into grain, grasses and stock-raising. We now have as much free school money as we need, as much as they can use, and they can all learn to read and write with present system if they will.—W. G. Long, Farmville. Liquor Geeatest Foe—Impossible to Enfoece Compulsoey Law.—Liquor is the greatest foe to the working man. Right now, in my county, there is so much prejudice against educating the negro that it would be impossible to en-force a compulsory law. — Abeam J. Moye, Farmville. Compulsoey Education.—I think the compulsory school law the very thing in connection with the Constitutional Amendment, as the poor people in this county will not send their children without it.—T. S. Maxwell, Fig. Compulsoey Education the Only Chance.—In regard to compulsory school law, I am in favor of compelling all children between the ages of seven and twelve years to attend school, as there are many in my county who go but very little. I fully believe there should be seven months' school and compel parents to send their children. If the parent isn't interested enough in the future welfare of the child to send him to school, then he certainly should be compelled to do so. The parents and the State are due their children an edu- 50 North Carolina Labor Statistics. cation, and they should adopt plans by which they may secure it. If the parent is too poor to furnish books, clothing, etc., for his children, I believe such things should be furnished free. The school law at present is not at all sufficient for all persons to learn to read and write. There are many children in this and various other counties in the State who never have seen a school-house. Then the only chance is a compulsory school law, and I sincerely trust that the next Legislature will make it a law, and that no white man may ever be disfranchised on account of illiteracy. Unless there are some steps taken to awaken the people of the State, with reference to education, at least one-fourth of the voters who come of age after 1908 will be disfran-chised in Henderson County. To-day is the time to work, for the night will soon come when no man can work.—E. Luther Osteen, Flat Rock. Compulsory Education Necessary.—My views on compulsory education since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment are, that unless there is more interest taken there will be many poor boys brought up who can not read and write when the great day comes. After 1908 those who can not read and write will have no voice in government affairs, and it will be sad for them. Let us have a fair thing and educate them by all means.—W. J. Bald-win. Fletcher. Better Roads and Schools and Compulsory Education.—I will say in re-gard to the people and their condition, we need better roads, better schools and a compulsory school law. A farmer can work, and after he has done the work can not collect his pay, unless the man is worth fifteen hundred dollars. As for the compulsory school law, the farmer has to pay his taxes. As to an education for our boys and girls, it is something no one can deprive them of after they once have it. — Jack Berry, Franklin. Keep Boys at Work or in School—No Compulsory Education for the Negro.—As to compulsory school law, I don't approve of sending the negro to school. It is a damage to him, yet he is eager to go every chance he gets. But the whites, as a rule, are not much concerned whether they go to school or not. The rich and very poor boys are the idle ones from work or school, and more devilment comes from these two classes than all the working people combined. Now, I believe that there should be a law to compel every boy from eight to twenty-one years of age to be kept in some regular employment, if he is not in school. A good, stringent law on the boys will work out the problem you want worked out for the good of the country in ten years' time. — C. P. Powell, Garner. By Force of Public Sentiment.—Compulsory education would not amount to much. What we need is to get up interest in the subject until parents get interested enough to send their children.—J. L. Pulton, Goodwill. Condition of Farmers. 51 Can not Tell Cost of Production—Raise Own Supplies.—The seasons are so irregular I can not safely say what the cost of raising a five-hundred-pound bale of cotton would be, nor of corn per bushel. We usually raise our own corn that we need upon the farm. I have always made my own corn, flour and bacon, and- have supplied my own farm hands. Never bought a bushel of corn, pound of bacon, or sack of flour in my life. I am now sixt3r-eight years of age, and have kept the same set of hands from five to twenty-five years. — R. A. Caldwell, Gastonia. Need Compulsop,y Education, Better System and Better Teachers.— I favor compulsory education, and note with interest the aggressive work of our excellent Governor and his co-laborers in the cause of education. There is great room for improvement in our county among the poor and middle classes, and we need better teachers and better system. Let the light be turned on and greater results accomplished.—D. D. Gibson, Gibson. Need Compulsory Education.—I favor compulsory education from the fact that a great many heads of families who are illiterate themselves do not seem to appreciate the advantages of an education, and, therefore, fail, in many instances, to • give their children the opportunity offered them by our free school system. In other instances I believe some keep their children from the free schools from purely selfish motives, claiming their labor. Others under the pretext that they can't clothe them properly, etc. If there was a compulsory law they would, by a little more economy and industry, overcome these seeming barriers. We would then, under our own new Constitutional Amendment, have a more intelligent voting class or element and be the better enabled to elect the right men for the right place, etc.—W. C. Greer, Grassy Creek. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory Education.—The build-ing of public works, such as cotton mills, or anything to give employment and give us a home market, would benefit this county. I have been in favor of compulsory education for several years, and much more so since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment, and without it there will be a great many of the children who will never have even a common school education, for a great many children do not choose to go to school and the parents will not force them to go, and children are learning bad habits, and often encouraged by the parents. I was made sad the other day while traveling on a railroad at seeing two little boys playing cards and the parents taking part in the mirth. I do hope we will soon have some system of compulsory school law and better teachers, better bouses and longer school terms. — William C. Ray, Grange. Education Ruins the Negro—Compulsory School Law Impracticable.— The white people of our county are all reasonably prosperous. The negro who will work is doing well. The young negro, with but few exceptions, becomes 52 North Carolina Labor Statistics. demoralized and completely worthless as soon as he learns to read and write. If he can't procure a teacher's or preacher's place he becomes a loafer and lives by stealing. A very small per cent of the negroes have been benefited by education, possibly one out of fifty. It is the experience of the Solicitor of my district that eighty per cent of the negroes convicted and sent to the Peniten-tiary are among the educated class. On my three plantations I have one hundred and twenty-five negroes. There are twenty-six men, only three of them sufficiently educated to be voters; one of these has served two years in the Penitentiary for forging; one other was guilty of an offense last year that should have sent him to the Penitentiary, but owing to the disposition of his race to keep concealed any crime of their color, he escaped. The third is one-half white, from Vance County, and it is evident that some white man of bright mind was his father. He can't write near so well as the ex-convict, but he has fine judgment, is a good farmer, and is the only negro I know of that has one thousand dollars in cash—made it on a one-horse crop as a tenant in the past three years. I have told him repeatedly, when I would see him prac-ticing economy, that his success was entirely attributable to the white "daddy." It is generally conceded that I have the best behaved, hardest work-ing and most prosperous set of negroes in the counties of Pitt and Beaufort. Last year, with sixteen tenants, they averaged, after paying all expenses, over $200.00 to the horse crop, three of them clearing nearly $500.00. Not one of them owns a horse of his own, because it is against my rules. My experience is, that when a negro has a horse of his own he wants to ride too much, and his example is bad. I have had to change hands less than any man in my county. Have not had to run off but one family, or had one to leave in five years. Now, with all these facts taken into consideration, wouldn't I be a mighty big fool to want to see them educated? With but rare exceptions they cease to become farm laborers. Those that don't get in the State's Prison go North and get to be waiters in hotels and other jobs about cities. Every city of any size, from any point from Mason and Dixon line to San Francisco, is full of negroes. The city of Colorado Springs has 10,000 voters in it with only 30,000 inhabitants. The members of the Farmers' Congress tell me that not one are employed on the farms in the West. Bring together one hundred successful farmers who handle a good deal of negro labor, and who know more about the negro in a minute than the politician will ever know, and ninety per cent of them will tell you that it is an injury to the negro, as well as his employer, to educate them. They cease to be desirable citizens. It is entirely different with the white race. They create new ideas, new theories, ne-w inventions. Whoever heard of a negro applying for a patent for anything? His mind does not go beyond imitating some white man. I took in at Charles-ton the Tuckaseegee exhibition, and I found most all the negroes in charge of it from one-half to seven-eighths white. If it was to illustrate what the negro could do, it ought to have been managed by the full-blooded African. Ninety per cent of the people are opposed to compulsory education. There are too many families in the country that you bring to starvation by compulsory education. I can recall many white families in my township who own fifty acres of land, twenty or thirty acres cleared; they have six or eight chiMren, Condition of Farmers. 53 ages running one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen. Take the four oldest children from the cotton field during the season of cultivation or harvesting and you ruin the family. The chances are that you bring the whole family to starvation. There are thousands of these families in North Carolina. The low price of cotton and short crops; the disposition of combi-nations to put down prices, while the bulk of crop is in producers' hands, lead-ing no profit to the producer, makes it absolutely impossible for this class of citizens to educate their children by sending them under compulsory school law. It is not practical or sensible to those who live in the country and know the real situation. The men who are going crazy on this point are not suc-cessful business men; they are men who, if they were to die to-day and their honest debts were paid and their families had to liv
Object Description
Description
Title | Annual report of the Bureau of Labor and Printing of the State of North Carolina |
Creator | North Carolina. Department of Labor and Printing. |
Date | 1902 |
Subjects |
Agricultural statistics Cotton--North Carolina Education First person narrative Furniture industry and trade Genealogy Industries Labor laws and legislation--North Carolina--Periodicals North Carolina--Newspapers North Carolina. Department of Labor--Periodicals North Carolina--Economic conditions--Periodicals Railroads Textile industry |
Place | North Carolina, United States |
Time Period | (1900-1929) North Carolina's industrial revolution and World War One |
Publisher | Raleigh, N.C. :The Bureau,1900-1908 ;(Raleigh:Edwards & Broughton, and E.M. Uzzell, state printers). |
Agency-Current |
North Carolina Department of Labor |
Rights | State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754 |
Physical Characteristics | 9 v. :ill. ;24 cm. |
Collection | University Library. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Type | text |
Language | English |
Format |
Annual reports Periodicals |
Digital Characteristics-A | 26154 KB; 392 p. |
Digital Collection | North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Related Items | Continues: North Carolina. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Annual report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of North Carolina. |
Title Replaced By | North Carolina. Department of Labor and Printing..Annual report of the Department of Labor and Printing of the State of North Carolina |
Title Replaces | North Carolina. Bureau of Labor Statistics..Annual report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of North Carolina |
Audience | All |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_edp_annualreportbureauoflabor1902.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_edp\images_master\ |
Full Text | ] !!liil i IntnlHwifttftmiiiln (" ' i Library of the University of North Carolina Endowed by the Dialectic and Philan-thropic Societies. 23SI- IXSIL Wox.e.fc, / This book must not be taken from the Library building _l^^^_ I ^^^= -1 o> 0- (JO < 1^ —^— VJ < CO <-> — CD )FN CO SITYC101 CO o cr ^=^=oo NlII Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access (NC-LSTA) http://www.archive.org/details/annualreportofbu1902nort SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BUREAU OF LABOR AND PRINTING STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE YEAR 1902 H. B. VARNER, Commissioner. W. E. FAISON, Asst. Commissioner. RALEIGH Edwards & Beotjghton, State Printers 1903 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency Charles B. Aycock, Governor of North Carolina. Sir:—Herewith I hand to you the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor and Printing. I desire to acknowledge the efficient work of Mr. W. E. Faison, Assistant Commissioner, and Miss Daisy Thompson, Clerk, in the compiling of this report. Respectfully yours, H. B. YARNER, Commissioner of Labor and Printing. January 10, 1903. Of CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Agricultural Statistics. II. — Miscellaneous Factories. III. Cotton and Woolen Mills. IV. Furniture Factories. V. Newspapers. VI.—Trades. VII. Railroad Employes. VIII. Manufacturing Enterprises. Bureaus of Labor. INTRODUCTION. The Sixteenth Annual Report for the Bureau of Labor and Print-ing embraces statistical matter along the lines of former reports of the Department. After a careful consideration of the facts presented by correspon-dents of the Department, and inquiry into conditions as they exist, I would most. earnestly urge that the following recommendations be enacted into law : RECOMMENDATIONS . 1. That a law be enacted providing that no child under twelve years of age be permitted to work in any factory, unless a widowed mother or totally disabled father is dependent upon the labor of such child and has no other means of support; that no child'under the age of ten be employed under any circumstances ; that no child not so employed be permitted to remain in any factory, idle or at work, in any capacity ; that no child between the ages of twelve and fourteen years be permitted to work in any factory unless he or she can read and write. (The provision of the latter clause should be made effective at a stated time, in order that children between the ages of twelve and fourteen might have an opportunity to meet its requirements.) 2. That no child under fourteen years of age be permitted to work in any factory between the hours of 7 p. m. and 6 a. m. 3. That a law be enacted permitting school districts, townships or counties to adopt compulsory school law by a majority vote of the qualified voters of such district, township or county. 4. That eleven hours shall constitute the maximum day's work in the State for all manufacturing establishments. 5. I would also recommend that chapter 251, Laws of 189T, making the Commissioner of Labor and Printing Inspector of Mines, etc., be>epealed, or sufficient appropriation made to carry out its pro-visions. One great need of this Department is more room. I would there-fore recommend that the "Hall of Records" now in contemplation be constructed with the view of providing suitable offices for this viii Introduction. Department. We are now occupying a section of the Supreme Court Building, designed for the use of the State Library, and of which it is now sadly in need. If possible, a law should be enacted providing a severe penalty upon the father who puts his children in the factory and idles away his time in drinking and creating dissensions among the workers, and providing only the bare necessities of life out of the hard-earned wages of his children that he may have the more with which to gratify his depraved appetites and passions. For illustrations appearing in this report, the Department ac-knowledges the courtesy of the Seaboard Air Line and Southern Railways. CHAPTER I. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. The following average tables are compiled from blanks filled out by representative farmers from every county in tbe State. The farmers always respond promptly. In this chapter we also publish letters showing the needs and condition of farm labor . The returns were received during the period from July 1 to October 1, 1902, which explains the difference in selling price of cotton and other products shown in Table No. 4. Table No. 1 shows an increase in value of land in sixty-five coun-ties, a decrease in two, and no change in thirty. Eighty counties report fertility of land maintained, and seventeen not maintained. Sixty-nine counties report tendency to smaller farms, nine to larger, and nineteen no change. Seventy-two counties report labor scarce, twenty-two plenty, and three abundant. Ninety-three report negro labor unreliable, two reliable, and two no negro labor. Fifty-six counties report employment regular, and forty-one not regular. Table No. 2 shows cost of living increased in ninety-five counties, and no increase in two counties. Highest average wages of men per month $15.49, lowest $9.72 ; highest wages of women $10.08, lowest $6.61; wages of children $5.57. Fifty-seven counties report increase of wages, and forty no increase. Table No. 3 shows sixty-eight counties produce cotton at average cost of $27.57 per 500-pound bale; seventy-five produce wheat at sixty-eight cents per bushel ; ninety-six produce corn at forty-six cents per bushel ; ninety-two produce oats at thirty-three cents per bushel : fifty-eight produce tobacco at $6.44 per 100 pounds. Table No. 4 shows average market price of cotton $43.45 per 500- pound bale; wheat, ninety-one cents per bushel; corn, eighty-eight eents per bushel ; oats, fifty-five cents per bushel ; tobacco, $12.42 per 100 pounds. These prices make the profit on products $15.88 per bale for cotton ; twenty-three cents per bushel for wheat ; forty-two eents per bushel for corn ; twenty-two cents per bushel for oats ; $5.98 per hundred for tobacco. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No: 5 shows educational condition good in six counties, fair in thirty-nine, and poor in fifty-two. Eighty-five counties report improvement in education, and twelve report no improvement. Eighteen counties report moral condition good, seventy fair, and nine poor. Eighty-one counties report improvement in morals, and six-teen no improvement. Five counties report financial condition good, forty-six fair, and forty-six poor. Sixty-four report financial condi-tion improving, and thirty-three report no improvement. Eighty per cent answered the question, "Do you favor compulsory school law V "Yes," and twenty per cent, "No." Table No. 6 shows cost to produce, selling price and profit on the different farm products by counties. It will be noted that there is a fair margin of profit, and favorable conditions have made this an unusually good crop year. The letters following the tabulated matter in this chapter are of especial interest, giving as they do the opinions of farmers from every county in the State on the conditions prevalent among this the largest class of our citizens. Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. i—Showing Condition of Farm Land and Labor by Counties. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany ._. Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen . Brunswick Buncombe __. Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven. Cumberland . Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe _. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson __ Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Value of Land In-creased or Decreased ? no increased, increased, no no increased., increased,, increased., increased., increased., increased.. increased., increased., increased.. no increased., increased., increased.. no no decreased . increased., increased., increased.. no no increased., increased., increased., increased., increased.. increased.. no increased., increased., increased., increased.. no increased.. increased.. increased.. increased.. increased.. increased. increased.. decreased increased. no increased, increased. Fertility of Land Main-tained ? yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ no _ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. no . yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes_ yes. no _ no _ yes. yes. no . yes. yes. no . no . yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no . Tendency to Larger or Smaller Farms? smaller smaller, smaller same .... smaller larger . smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller larger _ smaller same __. smaller smaller same __. smaller same ._. same ._. same __. smaller same ... smaller smaller same ._. smaller smaller smaller smaller larger _ smaller smaller same smaller smaller larger _ larger _ smaller same smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller smaller Labor Abundant or Scarce ? scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce. plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce abundant scarce scarce scarce-plenty plenty scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce abundant.. scarce scarce scarce scarce scarce plenty plenty plenty scarce plenty abundant. scarce scarce _ Negro Labor Relia-ble? no . no _ no _ no _ no _ no . no . no _ no . no . yes. no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . yes. no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no . no no no no no no no no no no no no no Em-ploy-ment Regu-lar? no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. no. yes. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. no. no. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. no. _| no. -[ yes. J no. _ no. _! yes. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. i—Continued. County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell __. Macon Madison Martin j Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery . Moore . Nash . New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans.. Person Pitt Polk Randolph. _. Richmond Robeson Rockingham. Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania. Tyrrell Union ^_. Vance Wake Warren _ _ Washington . Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Value of Land In-creased or Decreased ? increased increased no increased increased increased increased increased no no increased increased increased no no increased no no no increased, increased no increased no increased no increased no no increased increased no increased increased increased increased no no increased, increased. no no increased, increased, increased. no increased. Fertility of Land Main-tained? Tendency to Larger or Smaller Farms ? yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. yes. yes. yes_ yes. yes_ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes_ yes. yes. yes_ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no _ yes. no . no _ yes. no _ yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no . smaller... Labor Abundant or Scarce ? Negro Labor Relia-ble? same. same smaller plenty.. _ plenty plenty no no no smaller scarce smaller scarce no smaller smaller smaller smaller plenty plenty plenty scarce . _ no no no no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no smaller scarce no larger plenty no smaller scarce no same . scarce no smaller scarce no same . scarce no same scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same _ _ _ plenty no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce . _ no larger plenty no same scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same _ scarce no smaller larger plenty scarce no no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no smaller scarce no same ... scarce. _ _ no larger _ smaller plenty scarce no no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no smaller scarce no smaller plenty no Em-ploy-ment Regu-lar? yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. no. yes.. no. no. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. no. no. yes.. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. yes. no. no. Condition of Farmers. Average Table Nc . 2 — Showing Wages, Cost of Living, etc. In-crease Wages— Wages County. in Cost of lyiv- Highest Lowest Highest Lowest Increased or mg Paid Paid Paid Paid Children ? Decreased ? ? Men? Men? Women ? Women ? Alamance yes__ #15.00 $IO. 50 # 9- 5o l5-5o 14-75 no. Alexander yes__ 15-35 7-30 7-85 5-15 4.85 increased. Alleghany no __ 17-55 13.00 11. 70 6.25 6.50 increased. Anson yes__ 13-35 8.75 9.70 6.85 6.75 increased. Ashe yes_. 20.25 10.75 12.35 6-45 5-25 no. Beaufort yes__ 19-95 13.IO 13-45 9-55 7.40 increased. Bertie __ yes 20. 00 12. OO 12. 00 8.00 6. 00 increased. Bladen yes . . 15-95 IO.4O 9-45 7-45 5-35 no. Brunswick yes__ 13.00 10. 40 9. 10 6.50 4-55 no. Buncombe yes__ 12.75 8-95 7. 20 5-25 4. 00 no. Burke yes__ 13.00 7.00 6.50 5.00 6.50 increased. Cabarrus yes__ 12.65 7.50 8-35 5- 00 4.65 no. Caldwell.—. yes_. 16.25 H.40 10.95 7-75 7-30 increased. Camden __ . yes i3-5o 9. OO 8.00 4.00 3-75 increased. Carteret yes_. 17-55 13.00 9. 10 7-15 6.50 increased. Caswell __ _ yes_. H-35 7- 50 9-55 6.25 5.25 increased. Catawba yes._ 15-50 9. 20 9.10 7.80 3-75 no. Chatham yes 15-30 11.50 9. 20 4.90 4-75 no. Cherokee yes__ 14-75 10.25 II. 00 9-5o 4.00 increased. Chowan yes 16. 00 13.00 13-50 6.50 5- 20 no. Clay yes_. 23-85 I5-I5 16.25 8.45 4-75 no. Cleveland yes__ 13-35 8.00 8-35 5.00 5.00 no. Columbus yes 18.20 11. 70 11.05 7.80 6. 20 no. Craven yes 18.45 12.75 II; 60 8.50 7-45 increased. Cumberland _ yes 11.85 7-45 7-30 4-75 2.80 no. Currituck yes 16.50 9. 00 11.00 7.00 6. 00 increased. yes_. 17. 25 1 8.25 6. 00 increased. Davidson yes 15.15 10.00 II. IO 8.80 6. 20 increased. Davie. yes_. J 9-5o IT -95 6.50 4. 20 increased. Duplin yes 14-55 10.65 9.80 6.60 increased. Durham yes 12.50 ! 7. 00 7.00 4.00 4.50 increased. Edgecombe __ yes 17. OO : 9-50 9- 50 7-50 5-25 no. Forsyth yes 12. IO 8.05 9. IO 7.15 4. OO increased. Franklin yes_. 12.85 : 9-15 8.65 5.85 4.85 increased. Gaston yes I2- 15 | 7-35 8.00 4-65 4-65 no. Gates yes I5.00 10.85 10. 70 8.00 6.50 increased. Graham yes yes 8.00 19-75 5-50 6-75 no. Granville 8.05 4-75 4.85 increased. Greene yes 18.20 10.65 10. 60 6.80 7. IO increased. Guilford yes__ 13.00 8-35 8.50 6.00 4.80 increased. Halifax . _ _ yes 11.40 6. 00 6. 20 3-35 4. IO increased. Harnett yes 15.60 10. 40 9. 10 6.50 5. 20 increased. Haywood yes 29-25 14.30 13.00 7.80 7.15 increased. Henderson yes_. 17.65 ; 9. 10 10.35 6.25 6.55 no. Hertford yes 16.45 12.00 11. 20 8.00 5- 80 increased. Hyde yes 16.50 15-30 12. 15 9. 10 7- 15 no. Iredell yes 13-45 8.15 9-65 5- 60 4-95 no. Jackson yes__ 14-50 1 8.90 8-95 4-55 5.85 no. Johnston yes__ 13-50 9-50 11.00 6.50 5-9° increased. Jones _ yes__ 18.85 1 12. OO 12. OO 6.45 6. 10 increased. North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 2— Continued. In-crease Wages— Wages County in Co*t of Liv-ing? Highest Lowest Highest Lowest Increased or Paid Paid Paid Paid Children ? Decrtased ? Men ? Men? Women ? Women ? Lenoir yes.. $16. 25 $10. 40 $13- 65 $ 9- 10 $7-15 increased. Lincoln yes_. IO. OO 7- 50 8.00 6.50 6.50 no. McDowell yes yes I9-85 16.50 10.55 10.65 12. 00 10.45 7.80 6.05 increased. Macon 4-35 no. Madison yes__ 12. OO 9-65 10. 20 6. 25 4.25 5-75 no. Martin __ yes.. 16.25 9. 20 6.50 increased. Mecklenburg, yes_. 18. OO II. 00 12. 15 10. 00 5-35 increased. Mitchell yes.. 24.70 13-65 14.65 7.80 8.45 increased. Montgomery. yes l6. 90 8.65 12.30 8.20 5-25 no. Moore yes.. 12. 60 7.80 10.85 8.25 4.85 no. Nash yes.. II.25 6.75 6.85 3-95 5-25 increased. New Hanover yes.. 19-15 10. 70 11. 70 8. 10 6.65 increased. Northampton yes 16. OO 12. OO 13.00 9. 00 7.00 increased. Onslow yes._ 18.15 10.95 11. 70 8.25 6.25 increased. Orange yes_. 13.00 6.50 7-75 6. 10 5-45 no. Pamlico _. __ yes.. 18.00 7. 00 13.00 4.00 5.00 no. Pasquotank yes.. 14.65 10. 00 9. 00 6. 70 5- 5o increased. Pender yes 13.00 10. 40 9-75 7-15 5- 20 no. Perquimans yes 20. 20 n-95 16.15 13-55 7-3o increased. Person yes.. I3-50 7-75 6. 00 6.00 4. 00 increased. Pitt yes yes., yes.. I3.7O 16.45 17-35 8.35 9-45 12.45 8.25 9-50 12-95 5-85 6.50 10. 15 4-45 3.65 4-35 increased. Polk. . . increased. Randolph no. Richmond yes__ 14.50 7.85 10. 40 5.85 6.15 increased. Robeson yes 12.65 7-75 9. 60 6. 00 5-3° no. Rockingham _ 5 7 es i9-5o 10. 25 13-25 6.25 7.85 increased. Rowan yes.. 16.45 10.00 9-3o 6.25 5- 10 no. Rutherford _. yes__ 12. 00 7- 15 7. 00 4. 00 6.30 no. Sampson yes 15-15 10. 00 io.35 7.05 6-45 no. Scotland yes__ 14. 00 8.85 9-85 6. 25 5- 20 increased. Stanly yes 13-95 9-65 8.05 5.65 5-75 increased. Stokes yes 18.75 9-95 10. 80 7-05 6. 05 increased. Surry yes.. I5-50 9-5o 11.25 8.00 5.85 increased. Swain yes.. 16. 00 10.65 11.00 8.00 8-95 no. Transylvania. yes 17-75 9. 20 H-75 5.25 6-55 increased. Tyrrell yes__ 17-35 13.00 10. 40 5.20 5- 20 increased. Union _ yes.. 11- 35 8.15 9.00 5-75 5-75 no. Vance _ yes 13.85 H-35 13.00 9. 10 6.50 increased. Wake. .. .._ yes.. 14. 10 9-95 10.50 6.95 5- 60 no. Warren yes.. n-95 7. 10 8.35 4- 50 4-50 increased. Washington.. yes 15-15 io.35 12.55 6-95 6.50 no. Watauga yes.. 14-75 9. 10 9-25 5-25 5-55 no. Wayne . _ yes.. 13-45 9. 00 7.70 7. 20 3-85 no. Wilkes yes.. 12. 40 6.60 7-25 3.85 4. 20 increased. Wilson yes.. 10. 00 8.00 7. 00 5.00 4.50 increased. Yadkin no __ 10. 00 5- 20 5-25 4. 00 4. 20 no. Yancey yes.. '9-25 n-55 n.85 6.65 6.15 increased. Average 15-49 9.72 10. 08 6.61 5-57 Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. 3—Showing Cost of Production. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe — Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland .__ Columbus Craven Cumberland . Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin -. Durham Edgecombe, Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson _. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston . Jones Cost to Produce— 5°°-ft , j Bushel Bajeof , wheat? Cotton? 27.8; $0. 79 .80 • 75 •79 1.03 Bushel Corn? 22. OO 30. OO 25.OO 25.OO 33-35 40. OO 23-35 30. OO 27.50 20. OO 30. OO 31-25 27.50 2L65 25.00 23-50 23-65 25.00 30. OO 20. OO 25.00 27.50 21.25 31-65 25.00 3i- 85 25.80 25.00 25.00 27.50 21.65 23-15 30-75 24.80 I. 58 63 77 73 50 45 70 33 96 62 68 40 80 58 55 62 70 40 53 63 40 63 63 63 ,60 .70 .68 Bushel Oats? £0.38 47 49 ! 49 I 30 j 40 I 40 j 30 40 52 45 40 45 30 45 20 61 5o 3i 45 4i 4i 68 40 50 43 34 40 £0.30 35 35 35 25 25 100 Pounds Tobacco ? 25 40 30 25 49 31 35 32 43 30 18 46 4. 00 8.50 6. 25 6. 00 7.25 7-50 6.50 7-50 4. OO 7. OO 5.00 5-50 4.85 5.25 3.00 10. OO 7. OO 7. 00 7-50 8. 00 6.25 6. 00 6.80 5-50 4-50 7. OO 5.00 11.50 7. OO 3-45 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 3 — Continued. County. Lenoir - Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg . Mitchell Montgomery.. Moore Nash New Hanover. Northampton . Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans... Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham.. Rowan Rutherford ._. Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania . Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren .. Washington .. Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Average cost Cost to Produce- 500-ft Bale of Cotton ? $28. OO 18. OO 37-50 38.OO 32. OO 30. OO 25.00 30. OO 23-35 35- 00 22.50 31-65 29. OO 26.25 28.35 31-75 35- 00 31-65 25.00 30. 00 32.50 27.50 28.50 28.50 23-75 24-45 34- 15 26.75 23.40 27. OO 23. OO 30. OO 27-57 Bushel Wheat ? pa- 55 •74 •95 • 57 .90 1.07 .68 .68 •77 •45 • 75 \~68~ • 75 .60 52 • 77 .62 •55 • 54 .72 -78 1.05 •83 .70 .66 .66 •53 .92 •53 65 92 60 53 43 Si 56 58 "58 66 Bushel Corn? go. 40 40 40 6l 40 48 42 40 52 70 45 38 45 39 58 30 42 5i 39 45 37 42 60 60 5i 47 40 63 70 5i 61 44 33 50 43 40 55 53 42 48 49 48 50 41 50 45 39 46 Bushel Oats? 100 Pounds Tobacco ? 34 25 36 36 23 32 6S 26 38 45 22 27 25 30 38 30 37 32 23 28 30 35 33 30 33 33 40 43 40 30 4i 35 23 45 35 30 45 42 32 28 32 29 26 20 30 33 23 •33 $4-75 6. 00 7-5o 5.00 8.00 7. 00 5-35 7-25 7. 00 7-35 4.85 6. 25 6.50 6-75 5-5o 9. 00 7-15 6-75 5-90 5.00 4-15 5-65 6.00 6. 40 4.00 6.44 Condition of Farmers. Average Table No. \—Showing Market Price of Crops. •Present Market Price- County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen _ Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay 1 Cleveland Columbus Craven . Cumberland .. Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe .. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville . — Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood — Henderson _. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones 500-Ib Bale of Cotton ? W- 25 42.45 Bushel Wheat ? 37-9° 45.OO 43-45 44-35 44-55 38.95 41.65 42.50 Jo. 88 .90 I. 00 .88 1. 01 Bushel Corn? 44-35 48.15 46.25 42. IO 41-85 42.50 44. 10 45- 00 .92 .90 .89 .92 .90 .88 92 42. 80 45.00 40. 40 45- 00 42.50 1. 00 .83 1. 00 1. 00 •95 43-75 45-25 44-5° 40. 00 42.50 41-75 43-75 50.00 45- 00 41-25 44-50 44. 00 43- IO 90 93 80 90 75 90 96 85 96 93 Bushel Oats? ?o.83 .90 I. OO .78 1.00 • 75 1. 00 •94 .85 •90 .90 .92 • 93 • 73 .98 • 77 •90 • 93 90 .80 • 75 • 90 .81 .85 .89 .78 .88 .»5 .88 95 .90 £0.58 47 •63 •53 42 • 45 •83 •98 9i .88 1. 00 • 95 1. 00 .70 • 92 .80 .83 .98 1. 00 • 70 >3 •92 •98 • 45 100 Pounds Tobacco ? $IO. OO II.OO 18.75 25.OO .67 .70 • 47 • 50 .56 • 53 • 55 • 72 • 73 • 55 .63 .56 .40 .62 50 • 42 .56 • 50 .65 • 49 • 50 .65 • 55 30. 00 8.00 15.00 9-75 IO. OO 20. OO I7-50 13.00 I5.00 45 60 61 40 8.15 10.25 10. 00 15.00 10.50 9.00 10. 00 55 59 50 59 50 • 50 .58 12. 00 11. 40 8.00 16. 10 7.00 16.50 12.50 43 60 47 58 .40 7. 00 i8.75 10. 00 I3-50 10 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 4 — Continued. County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wavne Wiikes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Average price Present Market Price- 500-lb Bale of Cotton? $40. 30 46.25 42.50 45.OO 45.OO 40. OO 42.50 42.50 42. 80 43-75 45.00 45.00 44-35 43-9° 40. 60 50.00 46.25 44-5Q 41-25 43-75 47-5o 42.50 41.50 45.00 45.00 44-35 41.65 43-90 41.50 43-75 41.25 40. 00 43-45 Bushel Wheat? £0.85 .86 1. 00 .88 .92 1. 06 .89 .87 .80 VSo" V85" .78 95 1. 00 •93 .88 1.05 .88 •93 •95 •90 1. 09 98 1. 00 •93 1. 00 1. 00 •95 1. 00 .80 1.03 .82 1. 00 1. 00 •98 .96 1. 00 •9i Bushel Corn? 93 So 88 Bushel Oats? fo. 58 52 50 40 58 70 48 65 62 56 54 60 65 58 55 53 56 52 60 63 5« 58 62 6S 48 57 55 48 65 58 60 55 47 50 55 65 50 59 63 51 58 55 43 50 46 30 55 100 Pounds Tobacco ? $20. OO 9-50 25.00 5-00 10. 00 ir.65 12. 50 11. 50 10. 00 10. OO 12.50 II. 15 9.90 8.00 7.85 9-15 18.75 9-35 17. 00 9.70 12. 42 * Period between July i and October i, 1902. Condition of Farmers. 11 Average Table No. 5 — Showing Educational, Moral and Financial Conditions. County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson . Ashe Beaufort Bertie . Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee . Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven . Cumberland _. Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin . Durham Edgecombe _. Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson ._. Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Educa-tional Condition? good _ poor _ fair __ poor . poor . poor . good . poor . fair ._ poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . fair _. fair _. good . poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . fair .. fair „ poor _ fair „ fair _. good . fair _. fair _. fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . fair _. fair _. fair _. fair .. poor . fair ._ fair ... fair _. fair ._ poor . poor . poor . Is it Improv-ing? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes yes no _ yes no _ no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes no . yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Moral Is it Condition? Improv-ing? good fair fair poor fair fair fair fair fair fair good __. fair fair fair good __. good __. fair fair fair fair good __. fair fair fair poor __. fair good __. fair fair fair good _ .. fair fair fair fair fair poor __. fair fair good ._. lair good __. fair fair fair fair fair poor ._. poor __. poor ._. yes yes yes yes yes no _ no _ no . no _ yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ no _ yes yes no . yes yes yes no . no . no . yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes no _ yes no . Financial ! Is it Condition? Improv-ing? good __. good fair poor __. fair poor __. good poor __. fair fair fair fair fair fair fair fair fair poor __. poor ._. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair poor __. fair fair good __. good __. poor __. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair poor __. poor __. fair fair fair poor __. fair fair fair poor ._. poor fair poor __. poor __. poor _ _. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. no. no. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. 3 es. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. no. yes. ves. 12 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Average Table No. 5— Continued, County. Educa-tional Condition? Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans _. Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham . Rowan Rutherford __ Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington _ Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey poor __. fair fair poor fair fair poor poor __. poor ._. poor __. poor __. fair fair poor __. poor __. poor __. poor poor poor __. fair fair poor fair fair fair poor fair poor __. fair fair poor poor __. good poor poor poor good fair poor poor poor fair fair fair poor poor poor __. Is it Improv-yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no . yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes ys. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Moral Condition? fair .. fair _. fair .. fair _. fair _. good . fair _. fair _. fair _. fair _. fair __ good . fair „ fair „ fair _. poor . fair „ fair _. fair __ fair __ fair __ poor _ fair __ fair __ fair ._ fair __ good _ good _ good _ fair __ poor _ fair __ fair ._ fair ._ fair .... fair __ good _ good _ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair __ fair ._ fair ._ good _ good _ Is it Improv-ing? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no _ yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Financial Condition? poor . poor poor . poor . fair _. fair _. poor . fair __ poor . poor . fair _. fair .. fair .. fair .. fair _. poor . fair _. fair „ fair .. fair .. fair _. poor . poor . poor . poor . poor . fair _. poor . fair „ poor . fair _. poor . fair __ poor i poor . fair _. fair „ poor _ poor . poor . poor . fair __ poor . fair _. fair .. poor . poor . Is it Improv-ing? yes. yes. no. no. yes. yes. no. yes. no. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. no. no. yes. no. yes. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. yes. yes. no. yes. no. no. no. yes. yes. yes. yes. 14 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No. 6 — Showing Cost, Price County. Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke _ Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones $30. 00 "27.I5' 2 2. CO 30. 00 25.00 25.00 33-35 40. 00 23-35 30. 00 *4i- 25 42.45 37-90 45.00 43-45 44-35 27.50 20. 00 30. 00 3t-25 27.50 21.65 25.00 23-50 23-65 25.00 30. 00 20. 00 25.00 27.50 21.25 31-65 25.00 31-85 25.80 25.00 25.00 27.50 21.65 23-15 30.75 24. 80 44-55 38.95 41.65 42.50 44-35 48.15 46.25 42. 10 41.85 42.50 44. 10 45- 00 42. 80 45- 00 40. 40 45.00 42.50 43-75 45-25 44-5o 40.00 42.50 41-75 43-75 50.00 45.00 41-25 44-5o 44. 00 43.10 Profit. sti: 25 14. 60 15-90 15.00 18.45 19-35 11. 15 1.05* 18.30 12.50 16.85 28.15 16. 25 10.85 14.35 20.85 19. 10 21.50 19-15 20. 00 10. 40 25.00 17.50 16.25 24. 00 12.85 15-00 10.65 15-95 18.75 25.00 i7-5o 19. 60 21.25 13-25 18.30 Wheat. Cost. $0.79 80 75 79 03 55 62 70 40 53 63 40 63 63 63 60 70 6S 55 7' 65 .90 1. 00 92 90 89 92 '§4 90 88 92 1. 00 .83 I. 00 I. 00 •95 85 96 93 Profit. $0.09 . IO •25 .09 . 02* 34 39 20 55 04^ 30 28 20* 17 48 45 10 5o 30 17 27 15 20 28 30 25 28 Condition of Farmers. 15 and Profit on Products by Counties. Cost. 38 47 .88 49 • 49 30 .40 •63 .40 •30 .40 • 52 • 45 .40 • 45 •30 •45 . 20 .61 • 50 •3i •45 .41 .41 .68 .40 • 50 •43 •34 .40 .70 • 55 •35 .38 • 44 •25 •50 •53 47 •63 .60 • 5i • 47 • 50 • 32 .38 •49 .58 25 Profit Oats. $0.83 .90 I. OO .78 I. OO .75 I. OO •94 .85 .90 .90 •92 •93 • 73 .98 • 77 .90 •93 .90 .80 • 75 .90 .81 .85 .89 .78 .88 .85 .88 •95 .90 45 43 , 12 29 51 • 45 .60 •3i • 45 .60 .50 .40 .48 •33 • 53 • 47 • 45 • 73 29 •30 • 44 • 45 .40 • 44 .21 .38 •38 • 42 • 54 • 55 . 20 $0.30 • 35 •35 •35 • 25 .25 Profit. £0.58 •47 .63 • 53 .42 • 45 .83 •9i •95 .00 .70 •92 .80 •83 .98 .00 .70 .83 .92 .98 • 45 25 .40 30 .25 • 49 .31 •35 •32 • 43 • 3° .18 .46 28 63 53 44 • 75 45 • 47 •23 •29 . 20 •32 • 51 • 50 .38 • 45 • 43 .40 . 20 . 20 .38 . 20 •13 .28 •3i •5° .28 .26 . 20 .60 33 40 ,27 ,28 .67 .70 • 47 • 50 .56 •53 • 55 • 72 • 73 • 55 .63 .56 28 12 23 18 • 17 . 20 40 62 ..So .42 .56 50 • 50 •49 • 50 .65 •55 42 30 17 25 .07 . 22 . 20 .40 •30 •25 • 45 . 10 4.00 8.50 6.25 $10. 00 Profit. 1 1 . OO 18.75 25.OO 6. 00 7-25 7-5° 45 60 .61 .40 55 59 •50 •59 .50 • 50 .58 20 24 30 29 28 • 19 6.50 7-50 4. 00 7. OO 30. OO 8.00 15.00 9-75 , 21 .24 • 45 05'' 5.00 5.00 10.00 20. 00 17-5° 13.00 15.00 25 22 .07 12 . ro .17 •23 4.85 5-25 3.00 10.00 7. 00 7.00 7- 5o 8.00 6.25 6. 00 6.80 5.50 4-50 7. OO 8.15 10.25 10. OO 15.00 10.50 9.00 10. OO 12. OO II. 40 8.00 l6. IO 7. 00 16.50 12.50 $2. OO 5.00 it.5° 7.00 3-45 7.00 17-85 10.00 i3-5o 7. 00 10.25 18. 75 24. 00 • 75 2.50 8.50 2.25 6. 00 13.00 7-5o 8.00 10.00 3-3o 5.00 7. OO 5.00 3- 5o 2. OO 2.50 4. OO 5-^5 2. OO 9-30 I. 50 12. OO 5-5° 2. OO 6-35 3. OO 10.05 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 3i 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4 1 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 16 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Table No. 6— County. Lenoir Lincoln McDowell Macon Madison Martin Mecklenburg . Mitchell Montgomery . Moore Nash New Hanover. Northampton. Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank _. Pender Perquimans _. Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham . Rowan Rutherford ._. Sampson „_ Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania . Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington _. Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey Cotton. $28. 00 18. 00 37-50 38.00 32. 00 30. 00 25.00 30. 00 23-35 35- 00 22.50 31-65 29.00 26.25 28.35 31-75 35- 00 31-65 25. 00 30. 00 32.50 27.50 28.50 28.50 23-75 24-45 34.15 26.75 23.40 27. 00 23. 00 30. 00 $40. 30 46-25 42.50 45.00 45.00 40.00 42.50 42.50 42. 80 43-75 45- 00 45- 00 44-35 43-90 40. 60 50.00 46.25 44-50 41.25 43-75 47-5o 42.50 41.50 45- 00 45- 00 44-35 41.65 43-90 41.50 43-75 4*- 25 40.00 Profit. 5I2.30 28.25 5.00 7.00 13.OO IO. OO I7-50 12.50 T 9-45 8-75 22.50 13-35 15-35 17.65 12.25 18.25 n.25 12.85 16.25 Wheat. $0 13-75 15.00 15.00 13.00 16.50 21. 25 19.90 7-50 17.15 18. IO 16.75 18.25 10.00 75 50.85 .86 1. 00 .88 .80 .92 1.06 .89 .87 80 "§o~ "85" .78 •95 1. 00 •93 .88 1.05 .88 •93 •95 .90 1. 09 .98 1. 00 •93 •95 1. 00 .80 1.03 .82 1. 00 1. 00 .98 96 Profit. &O.30 . 12 •05 •31 . IO* •15" .38 . 21 . IO •43 •05 . 12 10 18 43 23 3i 33 5i 16 15 10* 07 39 32 34 40 08 47 30 08 20 50 39 19 44 40 "38" 34 Condition of Farmers. 17 Continued. Corn— Oats— Tobacco— Cost. Pn ce. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. u 11 a3 $o. 40 $0.98 I0.58 #0.34 $0.68 Jo. 34 $4- 75 $20. 00 $15- 25 51 .40 • 9S • 55 • 25 •58 •33 .16 52 .40 •95 •55 •36 •52 6.00 9- 50 3- 5o 53 .61 •9i •30 •36 50 • 14 7-50 25.00 I7-50 54 .40 .82 .42 • 23 .40 • 17 5.00 5- 00 55 .48 .98 • 50 •32 .58 .26 8.00 10. 00 2. OO 56 .42 .40 1 • 52 .78 .06 . 90 .36 .66 •38 .68 .26 •38 .70 .48 •65 . 02 . 22 • 27 57 58 59 .70 6n •45 .85 •89 •15 • 44 •45 . 22 .62 •56 • 17 •34 7. 00 11.65 4-65 61 •38 • 45 •39 84 .80 •9i .46 • 35 • 52 .27 • 25 •30 54 .60 .65 .27 •35 •35 6-> 63 5-35 12.50 7-15 64 .58 72 .14 •38 .58 . 20 7- 25 11.50 4-25 65 •30 .42 5i 39 45 78 70 88 77 78 .48 .28 • 37 .38 •33 •30 •37 •32 •23 .28 •55 53 •56 • 52 .60 • 25 .16 .24 •29 •32 66 67 68 69 7.00 10.00 3.00 70 37 83 .46 •30 •63 •33 7-35 10. 00 2.65 7i 42 1 60 00 97 .58 •37 •35 •33 .58 .58 •23 •25 72 10.00 12.50 2.50 73 60 51 84 93 .24 • 42 •3° •33 .62 .68 •32 •35 74 4.85 11. 15 6.30 75 47 88 .41 •33 .48 • 15 6.25 9.90 3-65 76 40 1 63 70 89 95 93 •49 • 32 •23 .40 •43 .40 • 57 •55 .48 • 17 . 12 .08 77 78 6.50 8.00 1.50 79 5i 61 44 9b 89 9i • 45 .28 • 47 •30 .41 •35 .65 .58 .60 • 35 • 17 •25 So 8t 6-75 7.85 1. 10 82 33 88 • 55 •23 •55 •32 5- 50 9-15 3-65 8^ 50 43 87 95 • 37 • 52 • 45 •35 • 47 •50 . 02 • 15 84 9.00 18.75 9-75 85 40 55 53 80 90 85 .40 •35 •32 •30 •45 • 42 •55 • 65 •50 •25 . 20 .08 86 87 7.15 9-35 2. 20 88 42 94 • 52 32 59 .27 6-75 17.00 10. 25 48 93 •45 .28 •63 9o • 35 5-9o 9.70 3- 80 49 81 •32 •32 • 5i •19 9t 48 1. 00 • 52 •29 58 .29 5- 00 12.50 7- 50 9? 50 1. 00 • 50 . 26 • 55 .29 4- 15 9.00 4-85 q3 41 yb • 55 . 20 •43 •23 5.65 10. 00 4-35 Q/\ 50 80 •30 •30 • 50 . 20 6. 00 10. 00 4. 00 95 45 93 .48 •33 .46 96 • 13 6. 40 9-5o 3. 10 •39 So .41 .23 •30 .07 4. 00 12.25 S.25 97 Loss. 18 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 19 LETTERS FROM FARMERS. The following letters are selected from among the large number received for publication : Compulsory Education—Work Roads by Taxation.—The compulsory law is the only way to educate the people. I am highly in favor of such a law, to force the people who have bright children in Davie County to make them send them to school and give them an education. I am also in favor of working the roads by taxation. It is the only way to have good roads, and you can get one man to do one dollar's worth of work and he will do as much as three men who work under an overseer. — Gannon Talbert, Advance. Negroes Leaving—Compulsory Education.—Our laborers are mostly ne-groes, and it is my experience that the rougher you treat them, the more work you can get out of them. If kind and gentle with them they become lazy and careless and almost worthless. The negroes are leaving this county very rapidly for the Northern States. The negro is naturally the best laborer for our Southern States, as he can stand the heat better in summer than the white man. I think it very necessary for the white children to be educated, and since most of their parents do not appreciate the advantages their chil-dren have for an education, I think they ought to be forced to send them to school. Very often the white public school teachers can only get about one-fourth of the children to attend school, while the negro school-houses are crowded all the time, and frequently they have to call in extra help to teach. I am not prepared to express an opinion for the whole county, as I have not been over it much this year. — Henry N. Clark, Airlie. Economize—Make Schools Attractive.—The wage-earners, as a class, are very unsettled in their habits and in their demands. They can never be a prosperous people until they reform their habits and learn to take care of their wages. It seems that with the present price of products, with anything like the time and energy that is used in public works, we ought to make good money on the farms. There is such poor system used and so much time idled away that we are continually hearing of hard times among this class of peo-ple. I am heartily in favor of educating all classes in the very uest manner possible, but I think that the compulsion necessary is to make our schools interesting and attractive, so that all the people will want to attend them. Until this is done there is very little use to have on the statute books a com-pulsory educational law to be disregarded. Hoping that our Legislature will learn to quit undoing what the preceding Legislature has done, in order that they may make some place for their pet politicians, I beg to remain.—W. H. Hunter, Alexander. 20 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Favors Compulsory Education—Divide School Fund.—I am highly in favor of compulsory education. There are some parents who have no education themselves and care nothing about educating their children. There are some bright boys and girls being raised up by this class of people, and unless they are looked after they will be neglected. I am also in favor of dividing the money for schools. Let the tax each race pays go to its own schools. I be-lieve the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment has improved farm labor in this section.—A. B. Walker, Anderson. Crops Poor—Educational Advantages Poor.—The corn, wheat and cotton crops of this section last year were very poor, perhaps fifty per cent, but the farmers sold cross-ties, chair, shuttle block and other timbers and got along very well. Corn crops are fairly good this year. The educational advantages in our county are poor, and the enrollment and average attendance is poor also. I do not think absolute compulsory education the thing just now, as we have the young negro in our midst, to whom a meager education means ruin. I would say that with a reasonably fair and conservative law, I would favor compulsory education.—S. E. Lowdermilk, Ashooro. Compulsory Law Works Well.—I am sure that the compulsory school law is the proper thing for Mitchell County. The public schools will be far better this year than ever before.—S. F. Peterson, Bakersville. Better Wages—Compulsory Education.—I think it would be right for the wage-earners to have higher wages for their labor, as they do not seem to progress very fast. Will say in regard to the compulsory education law, that all voters coming of age after 1908 should be able to read and write any section of the Constitution. There is a certain class of people that will have to be compelled to go to school, or they will never be able to read and write. — Augustus Z. Burton, Bald Creek. Compulsory Education for Whites.—I do not know that I could make any suggestion that would be of any benefit to tbe wage-earners in this county, un-less they would take some of their wages that they spend for dressing and many other useless purposes and educate themselves and their children, and ave employment more steady. The working people of this country, on an average, work from four to five months out of the year. As to the compulsory school law question, I am in favor of it this way: To compel all white chil-dren between the ages of six and twenty-one to go to school four months out of the year anyway; but I am not in favor of the white people paying one cent tax to educate the negro. Let the negro, as the saying is, "root hog or die." The Constitutional Amendment is fixing it with some of them. Let them all go together. If they do not want to educate themselves, we do not care.—J. J. Ferguson, Bald Creek. Condition of Farmers. 21 Negroes Unreliable—Opposes Compulsory Education.—The increase in value of land is due to prices of produce advancing, more especially tobacco. The fertility of the land is maintained by the mode of farming and amount of fertilizer used. Cost of living has increased because farmers live better. Negro labor is not reliable from various causes; mainly, because they can not excel the Anglo-Saxon race with the education they have given them, being a lazy and indifferent race naturally, more especially the young negroes. Labor is scarce, because it takes three negroes to do what two used to do, the increase in factories creating more demand. Increase in wages, caused by more tobacco being planted and better prices for produce generally. I do not favor a com-pulsory school law, for various reasons. It can't be carried out successfully. It has been tried in several States and proved to be a failure, besides, the burden will be on the white race to partly educate a lot of worthless negroes, who are too independent already. It is an infringement on the rights of a people who know too well their duty as a race. If it were a law it could not and would not be enforced, as a great many others are not. The best thing for the white race to do is to consolidate their schools where they are small, have longer terms and better teachers, thereby creating more interest, which has already begun.—J. R. Ballard, Ballard. Abolish Whiskey Traffic—Compulsory Education.—I know of nothing to suggest for the needs of wage-earners and others more than that firmer en-forcing of laws against immorality and the punishment of the bad; greater protection to the morals of the innocent and the good; the removal of the great cause of immorality and curse to humanity—the liquor traffic. I heart-ily favor compulsory education, or anything required to make good, law-abid-ing and useful citizens, and to that end I earnestly advocate the education of the Anglo-Saxon race, especially (and at once) to the extent of reading and writing any section of the Constitution. I can not say that I favor the educa-tion of the African race (book education), especially if in the future, as in the past, it takes them from manual labor and usefulness to political strife against the whites, or anything that is patriotic. The most useful education and the most real and genuine after all is that existing among those that are not especially lettered (book educated), but have direct training and culture from the midst of the white people by working and remaining under the influence and direction of the white people. We need better public roads, and to get them we must be taxed.—A. W. Gregory, Barclaysville. Does not Favor Compulsory Education for the Negro.—I do not favor com-pulsory education. One reason is, it would educate the negro as well as the whites, and I am not in favor of negro education. I am in favor of educating the white children as much as anyone, but don't think a compulsory school law would suit the people in general. You asked in one of your questions if negro labor was reliable. No, there is no dependence to be put in a negro. — G. H. Walker, Barlow. 22 "North Carolina Labor Statistics. Need Railroad and Compulsory Education.—We need a railroad through our county worse than anything else, so we could have a market at home for our produce. Our county is a great apple, cabbage and potato county, but as it is, we have to haul our produce about thirty miles to the railroad. In regard to the compulsory school law, I will say that we need it in order to educate the people coming of age after 1908 to be able to read and write, and I fear that we will need it ten months out of the year if they read and write any section of the Constitution correctly, and then I fear some whites will be left with the negroes.—C. M. Critcher, Bamboo. Wage-earners Happiest People on Earth.—The Bible tells us that having food and raiment, we should be content. The wage-earners seem to be that peo-ple. They are settled with once a month and they go to town and generally spend it the same day. They get some provisions, such as sugar, coffee, flour and molasses, and are sure to get a string of fresh fish, beef, or something for Sunday morning, and don't forget to get a little whiskey. They go home the happiest people on earth, for they know if their rations give out before the next settling day they can go to their employer and get more. The negro labor is the best labor we have had in this country, for they spend money as fast as they make it, and sometimes before, therefore, they are easily con-tented, as neither a negro or a white man will work at your command if he has money in his pocket. The negro is unreliable, will not do to trust far, and, as a rule, is not truthful.—W. W. Vick, Battleooro. Better Railroad Facilities—Compulsory Education.—The old South Caro-lina Railroad is under construction along the border of this county, and there is a great stimulus among the farmers and wage-earners. Saw-mills have been moved into the county, and the farmer has gone to work and is realizing better prices for farm products. What we most need is a railroad through the county, so that all the farmers could have better shipping facilities, then old Yancey would wake up. Give us a school law that will encourage the poor, indolent, lazy parents to send their children to school; supply the poor orphan children with books and clothing to enable them to attend, and give all a chance alike. Take the children out of the mills and factories; put them in school from six to fourteen years of age. Education is power. Educate a child and it will take care of itself; fail to educate them morally and intellec-tually, and they fail to make good, moral citizens, and drift into crime and ignorance, immorality and vice, and in many cases they are a burden on the county in which they live. By all means give us a school law that will en-courage parents and guardians to educate their children and prepare them for the various fields of labor and usefulness. Without it many of the sons of the Old North State in the future will be driven from the ballot box and be branded as unfit to have a voice in the public affairs of this State.—D. W. Duncan, Bee Log. Condition of Farmers. 23 Grade Labor—Compulsory Education.—As to improvement of the wage-earners, I think a plan among the farmers to grade the labor would work well. Set a standard and put a premium on the hand that comes up to the standard or passes it, and a discount on those falling below the standard. I have tried this plan and it works well, but, of course, to succeed it would have to be general among the farmers of a whole community. This plan, if properly carried out, would largely solve the labor problem, even among the shiftless class of negroes, with whom we have largely to deal in our county. As to compulsory education, I see little in some parts of our county to even hope for great improvement until some parents are compelled to send their children to school. I was a teacher in our public schools for twenty years, and I have known parents who, within a mile of school, persistently refused to send, but could give no reason only that they got along without "larnin'," and their children were no better than they were. I think there are some yet who fail to see the disadvantage their children will have if they grow up too ignorant to read and vote intelligently. I see some improvement, but it is very little. I would be glad to see the compulsory law applied for a few years, at least, and see how it would work. I have been for several years a member of the Board of Education in our county, and have full access to the facts as regards the educational interests. I am anxious to see a grand step forward. Daniel Lane, Bellair. Develop Resources—Economize—Mild Compulsory Law.—The wage-earn-ers in this section would be much benefited by the outlay of capital in our county, developing the great natural resources of this mountain and mineral county, utilizing the water-power and timbers. A railroad would greatly benefit all working classes. But aside from these things, I think that vigi-lance, faithfulness and frugality should be the laborer's motto. Let him make all he can and spend less than he makes, laying by a few dollars for a surplus. I favor a mild compulsory school law. I am hopeful that the amendment to the State Constitution will be, in a large measure, a compulsory school law, but in order to insure the greatest good to all, and to properly use the money appropriated for schools by the State, we should have a law requiring the attendance of all children, physically and mentally able, for a reasonable length of time each year, I would say from eight to sixteen years old, unless their education is cared for in private schools, or in the family. I think a standard should be set, and when it is reached, let the child be excused, if de-sired, from further attendance. I will add, that parents are still to be found who will not send to school unless forced to do so, and it seems to me unfair for the State to pass a compulsory school law for the tax-payer and leave it to the option of the parent to accept or reject its advantages for their children, whose untaught minds are to be a weight to civilization for a half century, and that, too, after we have made the expenditure necessary. Let us have com-pulsion both ways; that is, to raise money and compel attendance at school. — H. A. Eller, Berlin. 24 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 25 Good Advice—Divide School Fund.-—To the wage-earners I would say, save your wages; do not be stingy, but practice common-sense economy; save a sum every day, week, month and year. To the unmarried man or woman, I would say, strive to lay by something before you marry, for a home is easier to pro-cure before than after marriage. To the farmers I would say, be better farmers, subscribe for and read one or more good farm papers. If you do toil in the soil, let noble and high thoughts engage your minds, and remember you are the freest people on God's green earth, if you want to be. Farmers should visit and be more social with one another, and then they would not be so easily swindled by every lightning-rod agent or any other "old codger" that happens along. The factory operatives should not be made to work over ten hours a day, and the day is not far when the ten-hour law will be a law in North Carolina. The negro population of our State is the greatest hindrance to compulsory education. The good white people of the State are not ready to be taxed any more to educate negroes. "We might give the negroes four months' school and make eight months for whites, then I would be in favor of compulsory education, otherwise I am not. As the whites constitute two-thirds of the population, and pay ninety per cent of the taxes, I consider this a liberal proposition. Can it be done?—A. Gaither Huggins, Belwood. Compulsory Education—Divide School Funds.—I am in favor of a compul-sory educational system, because thousands of parents will deny their off-spring educational advantages unless compelled to do so, and I believe it should be carried out without further hesitation, for it is the duty of the people to pull together in a body and aid the State. But I am not in favor of the funds raised by taxation for public schools to be used in common for both races, for the negro has long since failed to appreciate what we have done for him, and I think we ought to see if some law can't be formulated by which the tax paid by the whites can be used to educate white children, and taxes paid by negroes used to educate the negro race. I don't pretend to debate the question, as I am narrow on the subject, but it is my impression that educa-tion on this plan would be more beneficial to our country.—J. H. Richardson, Benaja. Temperate Habits—Compulsory Education—Local Taxation—Better Pub-lic Roads.—In my opinion wage-earners would improve their condition by being better educated and taught to adopt more temperate habits, abstain from the use of intoxicating drink and the excessive use of tobacco in all it& forms. Many of the working people are very temperate, but quite a number who depend on their wages for support are not so. They ought to be taught better habits in school. One cause of the financial condition of the people being bad is in consequence of bad crops and the destructive rains and freshets during the past year. I believe the most important question before the people of North Carolina now is the education of the children, and in order to accom-plish this I believe a compulsory school law properly framed would have a good effect. My observation teaches me the fact that in many districts in this 26 North Carolina Labor Statistics. county not more than half the children attend the public schools, from pure carelessness, or they find some fault with the teacher and fail to attend. It seems to me if the State has power to tax the property of the people for public education it has the power to see that the children attend schools. While I favor compulsory education, I favor local taxation, so as to give longer terms and better teachers and better school-houses than many of the kind now in use in this county. I also believe that the financial condition of the people of this county would be very much improved if we had better public roads. Our roads are in very bad condition and need improving.—J. Eller, Berlin. Need Rigid Compulsory School Law.—The only hope for the financial and moral welfare of our people is a rigid compulsory school law. We are in need of education and our law-makers have, it seems, done all they can for us, until they pass a law and force us to educate. Let them pass the law by all means, and be careful and make it strictly compulsory.—T. M. Frizell, Beta. Economize—Practice Golden Rule—Compulsory Education and Better Roads.—Working people, or wage-earners, need to be taught economy in liv-ing, neatness of person and surroundings, and encouraged to a higher standard of living. The Golden Rule practiced by employers would make a great change in the condition of both employe and employer. Do away with the whiskey shops, and compel all parents and guardians to send their children and wards to the public schools. Do away with the present public road law, issue bonds and put the roads in good order. The present tax would keep the roads in order and pay a small amount as sinking fund.—S. C. Humphries, Bethel Hill. Compulsory Education Necessary.—In regard to compulsory education, I think parents should be compelled to send their children to the public schools between the ages of ten and sixteen years, at least four months in the year, if the school term should be that long. If something is not done to educate our young men, oh, where are they going to stand after 1908? When the Consti-tutional Amendment shall come in force they will have to stand back with the illiterate negro and have no voice in our government affairs.—W. A. Cagle, Big Lick. Eight Months' Compulsory Education.—I am in favor of more schools and better schools'. I am most assuredly in favor of compulsory education; also, have a school eight months in the year. — John M. Mace, Bowman's Bluff. Compulsory Education Best fqr Wage-earners.—I think compulsory educa-tion would be the best thing that could be done in the way of legislation for the wage-earners, as those who need it most are the ones who are more care-less in sending. I am not prepared to say how soon it should be brought about, though it seems to me the sooner the better.—W. A. Harward, Bridge-port. Condition of Farmers. 27 Cash Prices for Employes—Compulsory Education.—My opinion as to the needs of wage-earners is, that they should have their rations sold to them at cash prices when they work by the day. I know of men who sell their em-ployes rations at time prices when they are working for wages, and I think there should be a law to prohibit it. As to the compulsory school law, I think we need very badly a law to compel parents to send their children to school at least four months in a year, from the age of eight to sixteen, unless provi-dentially hindered; and also, better prepared and better paid school teachers. The educational interest of old Stanly is greater than for years, and I think with the present encouragements she will fast come to the front.—N. A. Teeter, Big Lick. Compulsory Education With Christian Teachers.—My suggestion to help the wage-earners is good, religious and moral training; trained to deal hon-estly with their fellow-man and to respect themselves enough to put some valuation on themselves, and it seems to me the only way this can be brought about is by compulsory education by good, Christian teachers, as near so as can be adopted throughout the State.—T. J. Freeman, Bladenboro. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory School Law.—We peo-ple in this particular section need capitalists to locate here and establish manufacturing enterprises that will turn out finished product from the fine timber that surrounds this glorious mountain country. It would greatly benefit the laboring class, as they could then get cash for their labor and save the profits on what they have to buy. In regard to compulsory education, would say that I am strongly in favor of same, regardless of the Constitu-tional Amendment. We will never amount to anything or be in a position to accomplish anything, or compete with the world, until our people put them-selves in a position by educating their children so they can comprehend. I am in favor not only of requiring parents to educate, or provide a way to edu-cate their children, but of making it an offense, punishable by imprisonment for five years, for any man or woman reaching twenty-one years of age after 1908 who can not read and write and make eighty per cent in second-grade arithmetic. If such a law could be passed I would favor making every man and woman coming of age after 1908 who can not read and write leave the State. Of course this could not be done, but I wish it could be. There are so many people who could get a fair education who will not have it. They should be forced to take it in any way that is the surest.—W. H. Battley, Bryson City. Six Months' Compulsory Attendance Per Year.—It will be a great benefit to have a compulsory education law for all children from eight years old up to thirteen years, giving them six months' schooling a year. The majority of the people favor the Amendment so as to make them get a better education. The laboring class of people are very independent. Many young people are leaving the rural districts for the towns, making farm labor high and uncer-tain.— J. F. Homewood, Burlington. 28 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Need Compulsory School Law—Banish Whiskey.—As to compulsory edu-cation, I will say that such an enactment would be to the interest of our peo-ple. A sad and lamentable fact now confronting us is, that a great many of our white boys now coming along will be deprived of the right to vote after the year 1908, unless there is more done in the way of educating the masses. My opinion is, that nothing short of a compulsory school law will improve the present condition of things, as parents do not take the interest they should in sending their children to school. Will further say that whiskey is the curse of our country. Some very rigid restrictions are needed in that line. I hail the day when this evil will be largely banished from our country.—W. J. Mc- Cluee, Bushnell. Mineral Interests Booming—Must Have Compulsory Education.—In this mountainous part of North Carolina we have no very good farming land, but the mineral interest is on a boom. We have some good copper mines and some gold and nickel. It seems to me that the people of our good old State of patriotism should at once get patriotic about the education of our children. They should remember that after 1908 if they are not able to read and write they will be where? Down with the poor, uneducated negro; not allowed to vote; not allowed to say anything about who is to rule over them. But there will be some who will let their sons go on this way until we have a law that will compel them to send to school. What chance has the young man or woman now who is uneducated to make a good living compared with the educated? Twenty years ago they could get along pretty well. Twenty years from now it will be ten-fold worse than now. Some say they are not in favor of compelling; that it is their own business whether they send to school or not; that they had no education, and their children can do as well as they have. Shame on such men. They should be compelled to educate their sons and daughters. The compulsory law has - worked well in States and countries where they have had it. These States are the wealthiest we have. Ignorance and wealth don't go together. We can never hope to have a wealthy State until we educate the people who are to rule it. Give us the compulsory school law, and soon you will see a wealthy and happy State.—R. M. Thomas-son, Bushnell. Labor Scarce—Interest in Education Aroused.—Laborers and wage-earn-ers are badly needed in this section of North Carolina. It looks to me that nine-tenths of the white boys, just as soon as they are twenty-one years of age, go off to some cotton mill or other public work, and the colored are about all gone from this vicinity. They have all gone to towns or some public work* It seems as if all the labor is drifting away. Farm hands are getting to be very scarce in this section. I do not favor a compulsory school law just now, but I think it will eventually come. People seem to be more aroused on the subject of education than they have been for years. We had an educa-tional rally at Caldwell Institute on August 14th. Prof. Charles E. Maddry, Superintendent of Schools, of Orange County, was here and gave an educa-tional address that was appreciated by all who heard him.—A. Wilkerson, Caldwell Institute. Condition of Farmers. 29 t nm Spabce-not Need Compulsoby EmJCATioN.-The people in my Labob Scarce Do ^ haye tenants and croppers. I do not section do all of then own wort. township. If think there could be a man hired for wages by he y schoc,.houses, there is one so hired I have no know^ed e of it W g ^ ^orrSktnrtsre^rrouaL ;** »*» T suasion, I think all wno a dQ . g ^^ &nd tQ try to To force one to do a ^f f^^Jnt to learn is an impossibility. In compel °™^1™^X™^ tell h7s pupils that a little boy could take a ZTtTlZZ IZZ could not make him drink if he was not thirsty.- J. W. Teery, Caldwell Institute. BETTER SYSTEM OE EMPLOYMENT-COST OE PRODUCTION VARXES.-Thel'e BhOUld ,»Tbstter s^cm among farmers in regard to employing bands. If we lul re ulr lasers to bring a certificate from their former employer n should ^l"^ M t haraer to do their dnty. In regard to S^^SSSnvaries with the seasons, the land and the farms, 1 Tery large per cen^odneed b=of bad^^^oX Ze tor the land-owner nothing for use of land and support of fannly.- O. W. Sutton, Calypso. A Bleeding NECESSiTY.-Compulsory school law is a bleeding necessity eittefin private or public schools, at least four months in each year with tanda d books throughout the State, so parties moving from one section o tne State to another would not have new books to buy; and also, that we nave a better class f teachers than we generally have now. We need good County Superintendents, who will not have any pets, and that public schoo moneys come to each and all schools in the shortest way possible with the "as expen" .The taxes paid by the whites for schools should be only used rthe whites, and the colored race have only the benefit of their own moneys. A. R. Hilbtjen, Canetuck. Need ManueactubincEnteepbxses-Compulsoby ^™XW °MUme public works in our county of any consequence, therefore, we hav but little demand for labor. Our county is rough and mountainous, and but little labor h red on the farm. We have as fine water-power for machinery as anywhere Tie State, and I think nothing would benefit us more than the building ot ma'ufLri'es. As to compulsory school law, if it could be carried^out suc-cessfully it would be of great benefit to the rising generation Th people do not taJ the interest in school that they should. Not more than half of the "hool population attend as they should. If the law could be properly en-orced I would favor it, for it seems that something must be done if we edu-cate the children of the State. We have no negroes in my township.-J. L. Randall, Canto. 30 North Carolina Labor Statistics. • Condition of Farmers. 31 Better Wages—Better Conditions—Amendment Sufficient.—The wage-earners in this county are receiving better wages, on account of increase in lumber trade, than they were one year ago. The wage-earner is being paid more of his wages in cash now than heretofore, which has a tendency to encourage the average wage-earner to do better work than when he is paid off in barter or orders. On the farm I find that hands furnished with good work stock and good tools and a foreman that don't sit at the nearest country store or railroad station and whittle white-pine boxes, has a tendency to improve the quantity and quality of labor. Labor is usually paid off in proportion to quantity and quality. Bad foremen and sorry stock, sorry tools and things scattered promiscuously over the farm and allowed to remain that way, make sorry hands. Education is power, and should be encouraged by every citizen. I think the Amendment to the Constitution as good a compulsory school law as we can have now, with the present school law and the present indisposi-tion to send to school and the indisposition of the school teachers to visit the parents and see why "Jim and Sally Smith" are not in school to-day. — Wil-liam Ledbetter, Canton. Labor Unreliable—Compulsory Education.—In regard to wages, will say that there is not a great deal of hiring in this vicinity, owing to the very small farms and the financial condition of our farmers. We all try to plant just what we think we can manage ourselves, owing to the uncertainty of help when needed. There are not many white laborers, but nearly all colored, and they will not stay a year at the time, and if they can get berries, fruit, etc., you can not control them at all for any length of time. In regard to compul-sory education, will say that the white boys of North Carolina will never be educated unless laws are enacted to put them in school. Many are too lazy and indolent to want an education, and parents think they are compelled to keep their children at home to do all the farm labor in the fall of the year. Many of them will not, until compelled to do so, make any sacrifice for their children. If you speak to them of their children's educational needs, they will answer you, that they had none of those opportunities, and if their chil-dren would accomplish as much as they had, they would be satisfied. You can not show them that better education is required to-day than twenty years ago. Give us a mild form of compulsory education, and then you will see the attendance larger and progress will be faster. When children come to school one or two days in the week they do nothing themselves and hinder those with whom they come in contact. All pupils should be required to attend at least three-fourths of the time, but provision should be made for those who are too poor to clothe and furnish books for their children. — John A. Fry, Carthage. Compulsory Education Necessary.—To do the people good, compulsory education is necessary. Negroes take advantage of school and whites do not. —A. W. Alston, Centreville. 32 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Regulate Time Prices—Compulsory Education a Step Toward Anarchy.— Farming seems to be generally on a decline. The greater number of small farmers are growing financially worse off every year, and are compelled to mortgage their crops before they are planted and pay two prices for what they buy, and deliver that crop for whatever they can get; and the result is there is a hard year's work gone and the merchant gets it, and the average young man becomes discouraged and seeks other employment. This is one of the principal reasons that farming is on a decline. I think, and would suggest, that there should be some regulation as to the profits charged on goods sold on time, for it is ruining the agriculture of the country. As to compulsory education, it will not meet the approval of the people at all. It is only one step toward anarchy, and I don't think anything else can be said for it.—D. S. Rice, Castalia. Better Homes and Better Understanding—Compulsory Education.—Farm labor generally need better homes and more regular employment; also, a bet-ter understanding of each other, between employer and employe. Farm labor ought to be more reliable, and look after the interest of the employer, and give less attention to fun and frolic, discord, whiskey and tobacco. The women and children should help more than they do. They need better educa-tional advantages and compulsory education. — John McDowell, Charlotte. Wages too Low—Compulsory Education a Moral Duty.—I think it would be better for wage-earners to work at public works, as we have a great many different plants in our county. Wages on the farm are not high enough com-pared with the price of farm products. I am in favor of compulsory educa-tion, because we want to see every white man have the benefit of the suffrage law after 1908. Education helps the laboring man in every trade or business. He gathers new ideas more readily, takes more interest in his work, keeps better company, lives better and happier; and then it is the duty of every man to see that his children are educated. We will always find some people op-posed to any law that might be framed, so we can expect some people to oppose a law of this kind. It would be a law simply compelling us to do a moral duty we owe our children.—L. H. J. Houser, Gherryville. Labor Unreliable—Compulsory Education Necessary.—The small farm is the only safe way in the rural districts of this county without a revolution in labor. The negro is totally unreliable, and all the whites are doing some-thing for themselves, except the shiftless class, and they are very unreliable. The Legislature should pass a compulsory educational law at this session, or there will be many young men coming of age after 1908 whose parents will be the cause of their disfranchisement. It will be for the good of the State and the betterment of society and religion. Educate the people and you civilize and refine them and make them honorable.—W. C. Brewer, Chip. Condition of Farmers. 33 Must Have Compulsory School Law.—As to the requirements of the Con-stitutional Amendment in regard to education, I am clearly of the opinion that we will be behind if we do not have a compulsory school law, and that soon. I don't mean a law that is very rigid. Require all children to attend school a certain number of months in a certain number of years, say three months in a year, from the age of seven to fourteen, making a total of twenty-one months in seven years, and it seems to me that any boy of ordinary mind or intelligence could learn to read and write in that time. I make this as a suggestion, not as a perfect model. In our school last year it was with diffi-culty we could keep the average attendance to one-fifth, and it may be so in other places as well. Let's have compulsory school law by all means, and if the parents are too poor to buy books, have free books, too.—W. H. Holland, Christie. Take Interest in Employer's Work—Conditions not Good for Compulsory School Law.—It seems to me the greatest need of the wage-earner is an in-terest in his employer's work. He should try to give a good day's labor, thereby enabling his employer to make a profit so that wages could be raised. I always give good hands extra pay. There is work now for everybody and fair wages, but there is too much shifting from place to place with most laborers, and they can not be relied on. Compulsory education may be very necessary, but with our scattered school-houses it would be a great hardship on many parents. Our roads are not kept in condition for children to go two and three miles to school and back. Many parents are entirely dependent upon their children to help house the crops. I think we need better schools, better houses, and better roads to these schools before we get a very stringent compulsory school law. — John Humphrey, Clark. w.i_saif 1 Conditions Improving—Need Better Schools and Compulsory Education.— - Many persons believe that legislation is, to a great extent, controlled by the money power, and the farmer, having so little of this commodity, is discrimi-nated against. Be this true or not, the condition of the laborer is gradually improving, both financially and morally. Better public schools, I mean schools with longer terms, and the employment of more competent and better paid teachers, will help the masses. The building of permanent highways will add to the wealth of our State and the farming class. I favor a compul-sory school law, knowing as I do that many parents whose children would be most benefited by attendance on the public schools, are totally indifferent to the opportunities thus afforded.—A. C. Wharton, Clemmonsville. Wage-earners—Compulsory Education.—I will consider these subjects from a non-partisan standpoint, and look at them from the standpoint of jus< tice, freedom and equal rights to all and special privileges to none. Wage-earners would be bettered by a law enacted and strictly enforced to prohibit 34 North Carolina Labor Statistics. North Carolina Geape< Condition of Farmers. 35 the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the State. It would save lives, both temporal and spiritual, save property from being squandered, and save the tax-payers from paying the expense of about three-fourths the crimi-nal cases on the docket. The laboring class produces most of the wealth, and the traders, professional men and officers amass it and enjoy it. I suggest that the number of officers be reduced (such as County Boards of Elections, Elec-tion Bailiffs, etc. ) , and the salaries of many officers reduced. We would then save money to pay overseers and road hands for labor on the roads, and this saving would not 'raise our taxes. In addition to this, levy a tax on property sufficient to buiM good roads, and the laborer will certainly be benefited by receiving a reasonable compensation for his labor, while he, and all other persons, will be benefited by having good roads to enable them to get their products to market. I believe that good roads and good schools are the prin-cipal things to build up a country. As to compulsory education, the Constitu-tional Amendment has about all the compulsion in it that the poor, un-fortunate wage-earner can bear. It has taken thousands of poor white men's liberty from them, because it compels poll tax to be paid a certain time. It compels a literary qualification, after 1908, which will deprive many of the dearest right which they possess, except the right to worship according to the dictates of their consciences. If a compulsory school law benefits any, it will be the people of affluence who can send to school, and if it oppresses any, it will be the poor people who can not send to school. It seems that these compul-sory laws are thrusts at the poor people, and Christ said, "For ye have the poor with you always." Again it is said, "The poor shall never cease out of the land," and some of these poor are as good people as there are this side of heaven. A compulsory law will enfringe on parental law and liberty, and, per-haps, fail to accomplish the object aimed at. The Hon. W. D. Turner, Lieu-tenant- Governor of North Carolina, said in a literary address, that we never have had a universal education, nor never would have. He says some have no talent for book learning and should be educated in something for which they have a talent. It seems that the object aimed at in a compulsory law is to learn the boys to read and write so they may vote. I feel very sure that there are many other qualifications necessary to make good citizens and intelligent and safe voters. They must have implanted and cultivated in the mind and heart habits of honesty, truthfulness, industry, enterprise, perseverance, econ-omy, morality and piety. Without these principles we can not make great and good men in the true sense of the word, although they might have a com-plete education from a literary point of view. The Divine law does not re-quire any literary or poll-tax qualification for voters. "The small cast lots as well as the great; the scholar as well as the teacher." We should extend to all the privilege to vote. I favor giving the poor every advantage possible for free education. All should be encouraged and helped, if necessary, that they may send to school.—E. B. Hendren, Cline. Labor Unreliable—No Demand for Compulsory Education.—Wage-earners are doing well—all those who will work. The most of them are inclined to ramble, hunting a place where they can live, get big wages and work but 36 North Carolina Labor Statistics. little. It appears to me that the most of the negroes are restless and want to tramp from place to place, and when they work they want their pay at night. Farmers generally don't know what kind of a crop to commence in the spring of the year, whether large or small, on account of unreliable labor. Straw-berries ripen in a very busy time and our farm hands leave those that they have contracted with and go to the berry fields, and when they get through there, huckleberries are ripe and they make for the huckleberry ponds; after this they work a day at one place, the next at another, and so on, until cotton is to pick, then they pick what cotton they want to and quit. So you see our condition; give us a remedy if you can. As to education, I am strongly in favor of it, but as to compulsory education, I am opposed to it, and if there is one person in my neighborhood or township that is in favor of it, I have not met him; and I will say again that I live in one of the best neighborhoods in my county. My people send their children to school all they can, and at a time when their convenience is consulted, and I believe we have as few illit-erates in our neighborhood as you will find anywhere in the State. The schools are good enough now; do let the people alone. I think if you will con-sult the people generally you will find what I say is the trutn. A great many of your correspondents say they are in favor of compulsory education. They may be, but ask the people, and you will see they are opposed to such a law. Give the white people a four-months' free school and a good teacher and they will attend to the balance. There is too much done for the negro now. Learn him to depend upon himself some and I think he will do better.—R. M. Crumpler, Sr., Clinton. Higher Morals and Compulsory Education.—In regard to the needs of the wage-earners, I can think of nothing that would improve their condition except a higher morality and more education. In regard to compulsory edu-cation, I am of the opinion that we need a law that will require parents and guardians of children to send them to some school for at least two months in each year, until the child is able to read and write. Such a law could not work a hardship to anyone. The law should provide for the extremely poor parent or guardian, etc.—J. W. Putnam, Collinsville. Compulsory School Law.—I think it ought to be the aim of the next Legis-lature to pass some compulsory law to make the poorer classes send their children to school at least a few months in the year, as there are lots of people in this section who will not send their children when they can. — Charles A. Rhodes, Comfort. Med Compulsory School Law.—I believe it to be the duty of the State to educate her citizens. For a number of years the State has made it possible for the children to be educated, and since it has proven a failure, the State ought to compel attendance. If I, as a tax-payer, am compelled to pay for the education of my neighbor's children, the law ought to compel their attendance. We are not prepared for a rigid and severe law, but in mild form it ought to be introduced. — John A. Watts, Concord. Conditions of Farmers. ^ Negro Unreliable—Compulsory School Law a Necessity.—Negro labor is so unreliable that if one promises to work you don't know that you will get him until he comes, unless he owes you, then you know he is not coming. I favor a compulsory school law, not from principle, but I believe it to be a necessity. I believe a compulsory law would be beneficial to the children of poor and careless parents. A compulsory law should be mild to commence with.—J. M. C. Penninger, Cooleemee. Wage-earners Need Nothing—Compulsory Law Tyrannical.—As to the wage-earners in the county, they do not need anything better than they have, unless it would be better muscle and tougher hands. We have all the work that we need at good wages—water boys seventy-five cents and men one dollar per day. As to compulsory school law, it is tyrannical. There is a class of people here that could not go to school, for they would actually starve to death. Taking this into consideration, they must have relief, and the only means of relief is for the County Commissioners to either buy a farm or establish some sort of factory for the benefit of that class; then if they will not go to school, or are too poor, compel them to work, and by so doing they might learn some kind of trade, which would be better than education in books. The laborer is the man that keeps the country from starvation and nakedness. I do not condemn education, by any means. I am highly in favor of it. I am aware that the future prosperity, the glory and the grandeur of our beloved country rests on the intelligence of our youth. I am also aware that an enlightened and virtuous people can never be enslaved. I would encourage all the youth of our country to educate themselves. I would rather give everyone an equal chance and a free privilege��let e^ery tub stand on its own bottom, each work out his own soul's salvation. God gives us this privilege, and so does our republican form of government, and whatever you-do, do nothing contrary to these two higher powers.—W. H. Anderson, Cul-berson. State Should Furnish Books and Compel Attendance.—As to compulsory education. I think it should become a law and the schools taught at a season of the year not to interfere with the crops. The attendance on our public schools is very poor, and by the class of people who are able to educate their children. The schools, as they are now, do not reach the class they are in-tended to reach. The State ought to furnish books free, which would increase the attendance. No one could possibly lose in the long run by such a course. There are a great many poor people who would send to school if they were able to buy books, and I do not see how we could enforce a compulsory school law, unless the State furnished books. My idea is that if the State would furnish school books free it would increase the attendance fifty per cent. I hope to see the day when parents will be compelled to give their children a good education and our State will furnish the means free, including books. — A. G. Corpening, Cora. 38 North Carolina^Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 39 Annihilate Distilleries—Mild Compulsory School Law.—In suggesting the needs of the wage-earner in this locality, I beg to say that, in my opinion, one of the greatest blessings that could come to the laboring class would be the annihilation of the distilleries. I do not think that I exaggerate when I say that ninety-nine per cent of all want and poverty and crime is either directly or indirectly caused by liquor. There are men, to my knowledge, who will spend their earnings for liquor, get drunk, abuse their wives, and see their children go in rags, in order to gratify their craving desire for strong drink. But as we are not likely to get rid of the distilleries, then let the next Legislature enact a law making drunkenness a misdemeanor, with a severe penalty attached. It would be the means of bringing peace and happi-ness to many a family which is now in poverty and misery. As to a compul-sory education law, would say that I am in favor of such a law, provided it is not too severe. The people of this section are all farmers, and, as a general thing, are all poor, and they can not do without their children on the farm during the summer months. But from the first of November to the first of April farmers can very well spare their children to go to school, which would give us a five-months' school. Now, as the State taxes us to educate the chil-dren, I think that it should also compel parents to give their children the advantage of the money paid into the free schools for them, and then I think that the free schools should be more carefully looked after, and that we should have better teachers and pay them better wages. The way the free schools are run in some sections is nothing but a waste of the people's money.—E. J. Eaton, Conrads. Compulsory School Law Would not do.—I have thought that a compulsory education was the best thing for us, but after trying to force our people to send to teachers that they did not like, I find it would not do. I think if there were better teachers, or at least the morals of the teachers were looked after more closely, it might be better, and after a while we could have com-pulsory law. I think education would help the white wage-earners, but edu-cation has proven a curse to the negro laborer. There are a number of saw-mills in this section and a great many of the farm hands have gone to them.— Alfred Baldwin, Covington. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory Education.—The thing which I believe would do the wage-earner the most good, or would do the most to help him, is an increase in manufacturing establishments, because an in-crease of hands employed at work other than farming increases the price of farm products. This would benefit all classes of wage-workers, and would also make farming a better business, both for the farmer and for his hirelings. I think compulsory education would be a great benefit to the people as a whole if they could only be made to see and realize the condition of their children fifteen years from to-day. God pity the man's children who cares so little for them as to allow them to loaf about during school months and grow up in ignorance, unfit to fill any respectable position in life. Give us a law that 40 North Carolina Labor Statistics. will compel such men to send their children to school for the children's sake. A compulsory school law, in my opinion, is the only way to reach those poor children. I think if parents do not take enough interest in their welfare to send them to school when they can go free, then the parents should be taught that other people are concerned for their good. While compulsory education may be the cause of privation and hardship to some, perhaps many, in view of the Constitutional Amendment, and especially the good of the children in after-life, when they have grown to manhood and womanhood, I believe it would be better for parents to endure these hardships, which I do not believe would mean starvation, than to sacrifice the future welfare and happiness of their children. With such a law in force we would soon get out of ignorance and superstition, and after 1908 there could hardly be found a boy twelve years of age who could not read and write intelligently. These are some of my views on the subject of education.—I. B. Pless, Cruso. Work by the Year—Compulsory Education.—The wage-earner ought to have better wages for his work; also, his job ought to last one year at least. I am in favor of compulsory school law, for we have the Amendment and when 1908 comes there will be some men that can't read, and there always will be some who can't vote, unless we have the compulsory school law, for there are some parents who won't send their children to school unless they have it to do. So with the facts before me I am in favor of the compulsory school law, for we need educated farmers as well as statesmen.—L. M. Stephens, Cowarts. Negroes do not Need Compulsion, but Whites do—Divide School Fund.— We need a compulsory school law, especially for the whites. If our people are not compelled to send their children to school the negro will be ahead by 1908, as they send them to school all the winter and part of the spring, bread or no bread. I think the white people's money should go to the education of the white race and the colored to the colored race. The white people have been paying taxes a long time to educate the negro. The negro who has no education is the best worker and the most agreeable and the best satisfied. We need our money to educate our own boys and girls. In my own commu-nity I don't know of any negroes that can read and write that are making their own support by honest labor. We need common labor, and the less they know about books, the more they do about a hoe or plow. We don't want educated negroes on the farm. When you educate a negro it ruins him for labor. This is our experience in Pender.—F. B. Orr, Currie. Labor Indifferent—Poor Crops—Compulsory School Law.—There are many who seem content if their present wants are supplied. If wage-earners and tenants would improve their opportunities well the year round, in a short time their condition would be much better. The land-owner finds it necessary to work closely all the year to make any progress, and what is true of him is Condition of Farmers. 41 true in reference to hired hands or tenants. In our section farmers are dis-posed, I think, to pay all their work will afford, but for years past our crops have been so light and prices so low that it is hard to clear expenses, even at small wages. This year our wheat, at $1.00 per bushel, would not meet the cost of production. There was an unusually small yield. I am unable to say what could be done in the way of legislation to help the wage-earners, but am sure they might help themselves very much by more rigid economy of time and in the use of what they earn. In reference to a compulsory school law, I am sure it would be very hard on many of our people to furnish books, clothes and board to send to school; and yet it is true that many parents are not sufficiently interested to do what they could easily accomplish. Canvassing the State in the usual way does very little good, from the fact that those who need so much to be aroused are not present, as a rule, to hear. I would sug-gest that any legislation on this subject should be with great care and in mild form. It is certainly useless for the State to make a law that can not be enforced. Let our people look well before taking a leap.—P. Oliver, Dalton. Compulsory Law Could not be Enforced—It Would Put Two Negroes to One White in School.—I am opposed to compulsory education in this State at the present, for several reasons. First, the class of people that a compul-sory law is intended to reach and benefit are the very poorest people of the State, consequently the children of this class are very destitute of proper clothing and food, and without means to purchase books, and a great many people can not spare their children to go to school more than three or four months in a year. Second, in my opinion, a compulsory law can not be en-forced. You can't collect fines out of the parents for failing to send their children; you can't put them in jail. If you do, you will have to feed their children, or they will starve. I see no reason why the State should burden itself with a law it can not enforce, and, in my humble opinion, if the State wants to benefit this class of children, they should appropriate a fund suffi-cient to at least buy books for the very poor children. I believe a compulsory school law in this State would put two negro children in school every time it put one white child, as the negro mother cares but little about the clothing her children wear to school.—J. M. Thrash, Davidson River. Labor Content—Opposed to Compulsory School Law.—There is not much help for wage-earners here. They are content, and say, "Let each day pro-vide for itself." I am not for compulsory education, as it would be hard on these liberty-loving mountain people, but if we should get it, let the school age be reduced to sixteen years, as the work of those pupils after sixteen is of considerable value to themselves and their parents, and take the attention of the teacher from the younger ones. — Otto Kirstein, Dills. Give us Compulsory Education.—I am at present, and have been for years, connected with our public school system, and favor the education of our peo-ple in the public schools of the State, and I am in favor of compulsory educa- 42 North Carolina Labor Statistics. tion. I see boys and girls in this district who would make useful citizens if they were forced to go to school. I believe it would cost less to educate these people than it does to prosecute and maintain them in prisons. I do hope that our Superintendent of Public Instruction, with yourself, will recommend and insist on the next Legislature passing a compulsory education law, and then see that it is put in force. Someone will say, "Where is the money to come from, as we are now taxed to the constitutional limit?" I would suggest that the appraisers raise the valuation of all real and personal property, whereby we may have the money. Half of the property in Western North Carolina is taxed at about one-third value, and the rest at not over one-half value, so you see the State is robbed of at least one-half of what it should have to educate our people. Give us compulsory education.—R. F. Jarrett, Dillsboro. Compulsory School Law.—I favor a compulsory school law, and think it is due the common people that they should have it, and their children forced to attend school. I do not think it would be wise to compel children to attend school from six to twenty-one years, but let the law remain as it is, to permit them to go from six to twenty-one, and compel them to go from about eight to twelve or fourteen years of age.—D. N. Hunt, Dexter. Compulsory Education—Establish Factories.—I favor a compulsory edu-cation for the following reasons: First, the Constitutional Amendment, which we adopted in 1900, requires that all male persons who become twenty-one years of age after 1908 shall be able to read and write, and as many people seem careless about the matter of educating their children, I think that we should have a compulsory school law in order to prepare the boys to be able to vote after 1908. Second, this is fast becoming an age of education and progress in all branches, and I think that the youth of both sexes should be educated, in order that they may keep step with the progress of the coun-try. I think that it would be of benefit to the wage-earners of the country to establish cotton mills and other manufacturing industries in our section. This would give employment to the people, and also add to the prosperity of the country.—D. D. King, Dublin. Farmers do Their Own Work—Do not Know About Compulsory Educa-tion.— Wage-earners do not amount to much. The farmers do most of their work and get along with very little hiring. Wages here are not worth con-sidering. As to compulsory education, I hardly know what would be best. Just to learn to read and write in order to vote I do not think amounts to much. If we would educate so they would be factors in the business world it would be a praiseworthy thing. Anything short of this will amount to very little, so far as citizenship is concerned. I am not sure that this educational qualification is the thing it is claimed to be. We all know it was done for a purpose. If it accomplishes that purpose I suppose it will please the advo-cates of it. I do not lay as much stress upon voting as some do, anyway. — J. R. Denton, Dysortville. Condition of Farmers. 43 Need Better System of Wages—Time fob Compulsory Education.—We need a better system in North Carolina in order to bring a better class of labor to tbe farms. If we can in some way induce the landlord to pay his men according to what they are worth it will improve the wage-earner throughout the entire Southland. The average wages are from eight to ten dollars per month, regardless of the ability of the man. There is no en-couragement to the poor white boy who is worthy and industrious to work hard in the field by the side of a lazy negro who is getting ten dollars per month. Give every man what he is worth. As to education, I am sure there are people who will not send their children to school regularly until we have a compulsory law. I trust that the time is now at hand when the State will act in favor of compulsory education.—C. L. Mann, East Lake. Need Stock and Bird Law and Agricultural Literature—Better Roads.— I think the Legislature ought to pass a stock law. The destruction of tim-ber at the present for fencing is something serious. Some of our most useful and valuable birds are rapidly becoming extinct, and shooting should not be allowed for the next three years. I understand the Texas Farmers' Congress will ask the Legislature of that State to appropriate $10,000.00 for the mainte-nance of the Farmers' Industrial Associations. It seems to me that the General Assembly should apportion a little to each county in our State, to be used, if nothing more, to establish a library with farm literature. This would not be a constant drain on the State, for after they once become aroused they would, in all probability, supply themselves. I don't know a , single farmer in my neighborhood who takes any agricultural literature. This may be a little off the track, but what benefits the farmers, benefits every other class of people, either directly or indirectly. Better roads is a matter that concerns us very much, for better roads means better farms, and improvements of farms means more tax. Give us a special road tax, convict labor, or anything that will give us better roads.—W. H. Reid, Elizabeth City. Compulsory Education for Whites—Economy Needed.—Since the Constitu-tional Amendment I am not in favor of a compulsory school law if it can not be passed for the white race only. Nothing that I know of would benefit the wage-earners, unless they could be forced to save part of their wages, for in this section of the State they spend it for what they could do without, and more wages would do harm instead of benefiting them.—V. B. Carter, Elm City. People Becoming Poorer—Negroes Ahead of Whites.—In this locality peo-ple are getting poorer, and it seems as if they grow worse, as times get harder and work scarcer. Farming is not improving, and will not until all the tim-ber is worked up. Negro labor is one of the poorest things in this country to depend on. They will not work more than three or four days in a week. Education is slowly improving, especially among the whites. The negroes are improving faster than the whites.—Y. R. Porter. Emerson. 44 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 45 Conditions Better Than Ever Before.—The condition of the farmers is much better than it has been. They have made less debts and lived nearer within their incomes. They are improving their farms, making more to one acre than ever before, making their meat and molasses, raising more cattle, and improving their land by sowing peas and other forage crops.—G. B. Pruett, Ellenboro. Compulsory School Law Impracticable.—Each school district has to num-ber sixty-five. In order to do this it puts some school children three and four miles away from a school-house. To compel some poor people to send their children that distance, over mountains, through cold and snow, thinly clad, would be a hardship almost unendurable and inhuman. Some will say, "Oh, we will arrange and have the schools begin first of September and continue four months." Well, now, most of the poor children have to work through summer and fall in order to have something to eat during winter. Every man, before he says he is in favor of a compulsory school law, should place himself in the position of the poor man; then when it comes home properly he is in favor of a free country- Education is needful, and we will have it, but let us be free.—L. N. York, Elk Greek. Divide School Fund—Compulsory Education.—I can conceive of nothing that can be done to improve the wage-earner except on educational lines. We think the Democratic party has assumed a grave responsibility in passing the Amendment, and it should meet it heroically. We think the next step should be to use the taxes collected from the whites to educate the white children of North Carolina, and the colored applied to the colored children. This would give ample means to educate the white children without any increase of taxes, which are already heavy enough on the people. Some might think this a narrow view, but we have done our full duty to the negro race since the close of the war. The fact has been thoroughly demonstrated that educating the negro unfits him for.labor and does not improve his moral status. I would strongly recommend a compulsory school act by the next Legislature. Many of our laboring people are too indifferent about educating their children. Many of them are not availing themselves of the schools we now have. — John W. Clayton, Englehard. Too Much Loafing—Compulsory Education.—What wage-earners need is better training in the economy of time. There is too much loafing and a failure to appreciate the importance of time. Our farmers, and men of all trades, need a better education. Our people will not be what they should be, in the way of education, until the older ones, like the children of Israel, have died out, and the younger generations have the proper care and training; and that can not be had, in my judgment, without compulsory education.—J. E. Jimeson, Estatoe. 46 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Compel Each Race to Educate its Children.—I do not favor compulsory education, because we can't compel one race without the other, and I am op-posed to taxing the white man to educate the negro. What we need is more money for the white children, longer school terms and better teachers and better pay for teachers and a fund to build better school-houses. The more education you give the negro the better his chances for Penitentiary and less value to the farmer; of course there are some few exceptions. Nearly all abandon the farms, and it will soon be so we can't get farm hands, for they all want to teach school or preach, and as soon as they can read and write will be a curse to the country. Pass laws to compel each race to educate their own children. If it is not constitutional, change the Constitution.—W. W. Rosser, Essex. Prohibition Law—Tax Dogs—Negroes do not Need Compulsory School Law, "Whites do.—The best thing that could be done for the wage-earners of North Carolina would be for the next Legislature to pass a strict and rigid prohibition law to cover the whole State, and not let one drop of intoxicating liquors be manufactured or sold, except as a medicine, and have a strict law on the doctors who prescribe it as a medicine. This law would add one hun-dred per cent to the wage-earners of this State, morally and financially; then tax every dog one dollar. I know of children who suffer for bread and the family keeping two worthless dogs. There is no game in this country and we need but few dogs. We have no sheep, because the dogs have killed them. Then we need a compulsory education law. This Constitutional Amendment will not affect the negroes in this county, or at least in this township. The colored children, or colored parents, do not need any compulsory law, for they send their children to school, hot or cold, rain or shine, full or empty. But, I am sorry to say, the whites do not send their children to school regular, and some don't send a day during the year. The Constitutional Amendment is compulsory law enough for the colored, but it don't seem to have any effect on many of the whites, so I say give us a compulsory education law. It would tell something for the State in ten or twenty years.—A. M. Benton, Evergreen. Need Compulsory School Law.—I think we need the compulsory law very much. So many of our people neglect to send their children to school, and many children are never any good to themselves or to their country.—J. W. King, Excelsior. Work by the Year—Compulsory Education and Free Books.—The wage-earners here work about six months in the year regular; after that they work by the day, making the time about seven to eight months in the year. A better plan would be for the wage-earners to work by the year. They would get more and so would the employer. I believe a compulsory school law would be far better coupled with a law for free school books by the State or counties. I would also favor better graded school teachers, better school-houses and fewer or less hours.—R. L. Young, Fairfield. Condition of Farmers. 47 Reliable Labor—Favor Compulsory School Law.—In regard to the needs of wage-earners, I would say the thing that would benefit them most, in my opinion, is for them to he more reliable. Another failing among laborers is, they are not interested in their work as they should be. As to compulsory education, I would say that I have not changed my mind since last year. I have favored a compulsory school law since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment. I am sure of the fact that twenty-five per cent of the children of school age do not attend the public or private schools of our country, and unless something is done to force their parents to send them to school they will grow up in ignorance and be deprived of not only voting after 1908, but of many of the blessings of life that they would otherwise enjoy. I do not believe that every boy and girl should be compelled to go to college, or to get a collegiate education, but I do think they should be compelled to attend school at least three months in the year, between the ages of seven and fourteen years.—J. W. Bowers, Fair Grove. Economize—Each Race Educate its Children—Grade Labor.—Our labor-ing class is mostly colored. I know nothing that will improve them until they learn to save more of their earnings and dissipate less. My views on compulsory education are, that if the State of North Carolina can separate the races in public schools, in hotels, in theatres and on railroads and other public places, it should do so in public school fund. With a law like they have in South Carolina, where the negro taxes goes to educate their children, I would favor compulsory education, or provided the money raised from white tax-payers was applied to the maintenance of white schools and the colored taxes to be applied to colored schools. As regards the improvement of farm labor, I do not see any chance of much until the land-owners will classify labor. When a man earns fifty, seventy-five cents or a dollar a day, give it to him, and, in my judgment, it would encourage a good many laborers, who only study how much they will get at night, or how much they can beat their employer out of during the day, to go to work and try to get as much as any-one. All mill men and other corporations pay according to what a man is worth to them and I see no reason why farmers should not do likewise, although the land-owners will have to establish the rules, for the renters can not.—I. T. Haskins, Falling Creek. Importance of Time and Truthfulness—No Way but Compulsory School Law.—There are two things that, in my opinion, would benefit our laboring class, both white and black; they are the importance of time, and the absolute necessity of doing certain things at certain times. When they are employed on the farm and are told to report for duty at 6 o'clock in the morning, when the clock strikes six they should be there; as it is, "any old time" will do for the most of them. Then the importance of telling the truth. I do not mean to say they are, as a class, habitual liars, but they will say they will do so and so and never do it, or if instructed to do a certain piece of work a certain way, will agree to do it, and go off and never touch it. or do it the very op- 48 North Carolina Labor Statistics. Condition of Farmers. 49 posite way and report to you that it is done correctly. In short, if they could be made to understand that they must be reliable. I have been connected with the public schools for the past three years as Township Trustee, and on the County Board, and I see no way to educate the masses but by a strict com-pulsory law. I realize that apparently it will, or might, work a hardship in some isolated cases, but these same isolated cases have to pay taxes, hardship or no hardship. I do not believe the average white man objects to paying a tax for schools when he knows the white children are going to receive the benefit, but it comes pretty hard when he knows he must pay the tax, and perhaps only two-thirds or one-half of the white children will attend school. The negro child is going to have an education; you need not worry your head about him. But I am ashamed to say it, the white parents are the ones at fault, and they must be gotten at in some way if we expect old North Carolina to hold her place in line with the progressive States of the Union.—S. H, Strange, Fayetteville. Labok Plentiful, but Unbeliable—Education Unfits Negbo fob Woek Not Ready fob Compulsory Education.—Negro labor gets less reliable every year. There is plenty of labor to hire, such as it is. The negroes will not work more than they can help, and whiskey is ruinous to labor. The educa-tion they get don't seem to improve them, for if you educate one much he is ruined as a laborer, and wants to teach or preach, or do something else be-sides work in the field. The country is not ready yet for compulsory educa-tion. To have that we will have to change our mode of farming, as we can't raise cotton and tobacco with a compulsory education law, and will have to go into grain, grasses and stock-raising. We now have as much free school money as we need, as much as they can use, and they can all learn to read and write with present system if they will.—W. G. Long, Farmville. Liquor Geeatest Foe—Impossible to Enfoece Compulsoey Law.—Liquor is the greatest foe to the working man. Right now, in my county, there is so much prejudice against educating the negro that it would be impossible to en-force a compulsory law. — Abeam J. Moye, Farmville. Compulsoey Education.—I think the compulsory school law the very thing in connection with the Constitutional Amendment, as the poor people in this county will not send their children without it.—T. S. Maxwell, Fig. Compulsoey Education the Only Chance.—In regard to compulsory school law, I am in favor of compelling all children between the ages of seven and twelve years to attend school, as there are many in my county who go but very little. I fully believe there should be seven months' school and compel parents to send their children. If the parent isn't interested enough in the future welfare of the child to send him to school, then he certainly should be compelled to do so. The parents and the State are due their children an edu- 50 North Carolina Labor Statistics. cation, and they should adopt plans by which they may secure it. If the parent is too poor to furnish books, clothing, etc., for his children, I believe such things should be furnished free. The school law at present is not at all sufficient for all persons to learn to read and write. There are many children in this and various other counties in the State who never have seen a school-house. Then the only chance is a compulsory school law, and I sincerely trust that the next Legislature will make it a law, and that no white man may ever be disfranchised on account of illiteracy. Unless there are some steps taken to awaken the people of the State, with reference to education, at least one-fourth of the voters who come of age after 1908 will be disfran-chised in Henderson County. To-day is the time to work, for the night will soon come when no man can work.—E. Luther Osteen, Flat Rock. Compulsory Education Necessary.—My views on compulsory education since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment are, that unless there is more interest taken there will be many poor boys brought up who can not read and write when the great day comes. After 1908 those who can not read and write will have no voice in government affairs, and it will be sad for them. Let us have a fair thing and educate them by all means.—W. J. Bald-win. Fletcher. Better Roads and Schools and Compulsory Education.—I will say in re-gard to the people and their condition, we need better roads, better schools and a compulsory school law. A farmer can work, and after he has done the work can not collect his pay, unless the man is worth fifteen hundred dollars. As for the compulsory school law, the farmer has to pay his taxes. As to an education for our boys and girls, it is something no one can deprive them of after they once have it. — Jack Berry, Franklin. Keep Boys at Work or in School—No Compulsory Education for the Negro.—As to compulsory school law, I don't approve of sending the negro to school. It is a damage to him, yet he is eager to go every chance he gets. But the whites, as a rule, are not much concerned whether they go to school or not. The rich and very poor boys are the idle ones from work or school, and more devilment comes from these two classes than all the working people combined. Now, I believe that there should be a law to compel every boy from eight to twenty-one years of age to be kept in some regular employment, if he is not in school. A good, stringent law on the boys will work out the problem you want worked out for the good of the country in ten years' time. — C. P. Powell, Garner. By Force of Public Sentiment.—Compulsory education would not amount to much. What we need is to get up interest in the subject until parents get interested enough to send their children.—J. L. Pulton, Goodwill. Condition of Farmers. 51 Can not Tell Cost of Production—Raise Own Supplies.—The seasons are so irregular I can not safely say what the cost of raising a five-hundred-pound bale of cotton would be, nor of corn per bushel. We usually raise our own corn that we need upon the farm. I have always made my own corn, flour and bacon, and- have supplied my own farm hands. Never bought a bushel of corn, pound of bacon, or sack of flour in my life. I am now sixt3r-eight years of age, and have kept the same set of hands from five to twenty-five years. — R. A. Caldwell, Gastonia. Need Compulsop,y Education, Better System and Better Teachers.— I favor compulsory education, and note with interest the aggressive work of our excellent Governor and his co-laborers in the cause of education. There is great room for improvement in our county among the poor and middle classes, and we need better teachers and better system. Let the light be turned on and greater results accomplished.—D. D. Gibson, Gibson. Need Compulsory Education.—I favor compulsory education from the fact that a great many heads of families who are illiterate themselves do not seem to appreciate the advantages of an education, and, therefore, fail, in many instances, to • give their children the opportunity offered them by our free school system. In other instances I believe some keep their children from the free schools from purely selfish motives, claiming their labor. Others under the pretext that they can't clothe them properly, etc. If there was a compulsory law they would, by a little more economy and industry, overcome these seeming barriers. We would then, under our own new Constitutional Amendment, have a more intelligent voting class or element and be the better enabled to elect the right men for the right place, etc.—W. C. Greer, Grassy Creek. Need Manufacturing Enterprises and Compulsory Education.—The build-ing of public works, such as cotton mills, or anything to give employment and give us a home market, would benefit this county. I have been in favor of compulsory education for several years, and much more so since the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment, and without it there will be a great many of the children who will never have even a common school education, for a great many children do not choose to go to school and the parents will not force them to go, and children are learning bad habits, and often encouraged by the parents. I was made sad the other day while traveling on a railroad at seeing two little boys playing cards and the parents taking part in the mirth. I do hope we will soon have some system of compulsory school law and better teachers, better bouses and longer school terms. — William C. Ray, Grange. Education Ruins the Negro—Compulsory School Law Impracticable.— The white people of our county are all reasonably prosperous. The negro who will work is doing well. The young negro, with but few exceptions, becomes 52 North Carolina Labor Statistics. demoralized and completely worthless as soon as he learns to read and write. If he can't procure a teacher's or preacher's place he becomes a loafer and lives by stealing. A very small per cent of the negroes have been benefited by education, possibly one out of fifty. It is the experience of the Solicitor of my district that eighty per cent of the negroes convicted and sent to the Peniten-tiary are among the educated class. On my three plantations I have one hundred and twenty-five negroes. There are twenty-six men, only three of them sufficiently educated to be voters; one of these has served two years in the Penitentiary for forging; one other was guilty of an offense last year that should have sent him to the Penitentiary, but owing to the disposition of his race to keep concealed any crime of their color, he escaped. The third is one-half white, from Vance County, and it is evident that some white man of bright mind was his father. He can't write near so well as the ex-convict, but he has fine judgment, is a good farmer, and is the only negro I know of that has one thousand dollars in cash—made it on a one-horse crop as a tenant in the past three years. I have told him repeatedly, when I would see him prac-ticing economy, that his success was entirely attributable to the white "daddy." It is generally conceded that I have the best behaved, hardest work-ing and most prosperous set of negroes in the counties of Pitt and Beaufort. Last year, with sixteen tenants, they averaged, after paying all expenses, over $200.00 to the horse crop, three of them clearing nearly $500.00. Not one of them owns a horse of his own, because it is against my rules. My experience is, that when a negro has a horse of his own he wants to ride too much, and his example is bad. I have had to change hands less than any man in my county. Have not had to run off but one family, or had one to leave in five years. Now, with all these facts taken into consideration, wouldn't I be a mighty big fool to want to see them educated? With but rare exceptions they cease to become farm laborers. Those that don't get in the State's Prison go North and get to be waiters in hotels and other jobs about cities. Every city of any size, from any point from Mason and Dixon line to San Francisco, is full of negroes. The city of Colorado Springs has 10,000 voters in it with only 30,000 inhabitants. The members of the Farmers' Congress tell me that not one are employed on the farms in the West. Bring together one hundred successful farmers who handle a good deal of negro labor, and who know more about the negro in a minute than the politician will ever know, and ninety per cent of them will tell you that it is an injury to the negro, as well as his employer, to educate them. They cease to be desirable citizens. It is entirely different with the white race. They create new ideas, new theories, ne-w inventions. Whoever heard of a negro applying for a patent for anything? His mind does not go beyond imitating some white man. I took in at Charles-ton the Tuckaseegee exhibition, and I found most all the negroes in charge of it from one-half to seven-eighths white. If it was to illustrate what the negro could do, it ought to have been managed by the full-blooded African. Ninety per cent of the people are opposed to compulsory education. There are too many families in the country that you bring to starvation by compulsory education. I can recall many white families in my township who own fifty acres of land, twenty or thirty acres cleared; they have six or eight chiMren, Condition of Farmers. 53 ages running one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen. Take the four oldest children from the cotton field during the season of cultivation or harvesting and you ruin the family. The chances are that you bring the whole family to starvation. There are thousands of these families in North Carolina. The low price of cotton and short crops; the disposition of combi-nations to put down prices, while the bulk of crop is in producers' hands, lead-ing no profit to the producer, makes it absolutely impossible for this class of citizens to educate their children by sending them under compulsory school law. It is not practical or sensible to those who live in the country and know the real situation. The men who are going crazy on this point are not suc-cessful business men; they are men who, if they were to die to-day and their honest debts were paid and their families had to liv |
OCLC Number-Original | 8319939 |