The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-12-06
TEXAS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
From the Fayetteville Observer.

Messrs. Z. J. Hale & Son :-Gentemen Two
letters have recently appeared In the Observer,
written from Texas, giving description of the
climate soil, production, etc, of that new and
fourshing State, and of the cheapest and best way
to get there from North Carolina. Now, be it
known to all whom it may concern, that we have
rich very rich, lands in the Old North State that,
for climate, productiveness convenience of market,
etc, scarcely be, if at all, surpassed anywhere
But l wish to speak particularly Of district of
country below Newbern, which | have recently
visited, and some of which | have very carefully
examined. There is d body of elevated low lands
commencing near Neuse and stretching thence
North by the head of Bay river and down South
creek to within few miles of Panco river in
Beaufort county. 1t is about - miles wide and
on an average of 24 long. All of it, however, is
not first quality, but ! suppose that at least
two-thirds, or hundred and fifty thousand acres
are. 1t will bring from to Is bbls of corn
per acre Some Of it is very good for wheat and
some of it for cotton producing, it is believed, a
ba" to the acre Dir Noah Guilford, on South
creek. sowed acres in wheat and measured up
112! bushels Over % bushels per acre. But
let the reader Judge of its productiveness from the
following desert ption:
The soil is from inches to I feet deep. 1t is
of Il dark mulatto color in the more elevated
portions, and in the lower, black 1t is of course
of vegetable origin. Underlying the soil is red
mari clay from II to IL inches thick, under that
blue mari clay of about equal thickness. and
under the blue clay an immense bed Of shell mari
of uneven thickness and in various stages of
decomposition. Can such land ever be exhausted?
The timber is gum and poplar, mostly, with some
oak, ash, horn-bean beech, with rattan and reeds
and grass. The range exceeds anything III North
Carolina. Thousands of cattle not only live through
the winter but keep fat upon the reeds &c.
These lands drained at an expense OF not
more than 81 so per acre, at the outset, and are
very easily kept drained The yield of corn per
acre the first year will more than pay for clearing
| saw field of corn on the lands of Charles Trip,
on South creek In which there never had been
plough nor mattuck; the timber Was telled in the
Fall and everything burnt off the last of May, and
holes dug in the ground with a hoe and the corn
planted and chopped out twice. 1t was thought
by good judges, when | was there in September
that it would produce bbls. per acre.
On the Neuse river there are beautiful sites for
building at town just laid Of, called Cherryville
This place is near enough to all the Southern part
of the lands it is healthy. The river is from to
8 miles wide, the water salt, and GIBBS and flows
and the breeze delightful. Fish and oysters abound
Ex-Sherif Chadwick, who lives, and has lived for
many years, the river just above the town,
told me that it is nearly as healthy Beaufort;
that chlls sometimes visit them, but they mild
and readily yield to the usual remedies. And
Samuel WhithurSt who lives at the place, and has
for many years, assured me that he never had
physician professionally called in to any Of his
family, white colored.
Now is not this place-those lands, take them
all in all,-one Of the garden spots of the world?
Vessels, bound from and to Newbern 90 up and
down the Neuse, in full view. Also steamers,
fishing smacks etc.
The very best Of those lands can be bought
no,c-or could few weeks ago-for So, IS and SO
per SO is the highest price, l believe,
asked for any. Thousands Of acres have been
bought in the last few months by farmers from
Hyde, who say that the land is nearly equal to the
very best Hyde county land, worth sl25 per acre.
Other farmers have and are buying
j. &. BLOCKER