The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-08
EASTERN CAROLINA.

Some of the beauties of Eastern North Carolina
are thus described by the Newborn Progress:
Clyde county is as level as a barn -four and its
surface is nowhere elevated more than six seven
feet above the level of the Sound. The county,
we believe, is nearly or quite surrounded by salt
water, and has a beautiful Lake of fresh water
lying in its centre, stretching ID miles in length
and or II i'll width, being some 10 miles III cir
cumfercncc, on which large focks Of wild geese
can at almost any time be seen. The water in
this lake was 10 feet deep within the recollection
of some of the oldest inhabitants, and has filled up
until its deepest water is now net exceeding 1 or
) feet; thus showing conclusivcly, that within
fifty or hundred years it. will he entirely filled
up and fit for cultivation.
Land in this county is increasing in value very
rapidly. We are informed that the same lands
that sold in that region only few years ago for
some $500 or 81 900, have recently been sold tol
81 800. Land rates at hundred dollars per acre
generally, and some very extra lands have been
sold for considerably more than that; and yet the
farmers arc able realize from ID to 20 per cent
their Investment, after deducting expenses of
cultivation.
And not the least item recorded by the Progress
is the fact that ''there three within half Il
mile Of Swan Quarter, who have had eleven wives
and ffty-six children, and neither Of the men are
yet fifty years old" Hyde is, indeed, great
county.
The Washington (N. c. Dispatch, speaking of
the eastern Swamp Lands, says:
'If the Swamp Lands of Tyrrell, Hyde, Beau
fort, Washington, Craven and other Eastern coun-
ties were drained, cleared and judicollsly cultiva
ted, we are of opinion they would yield corn and
wheat enough to supply bread for nearly the pres
ent population of North Carolina.
No portion of our vast country is more suscepti-
bic of improvement than the Eastern counties of
North Carolina. Experience has shown, too, that
in proportion to the clearing up of the swamp lands
and bringing them into cultivation, the health Of
the country improves, and the comforts convcn-
fences and luxurics Of life become more abundant
The resources of this country have never been es
timated nor can there be an approximation towards
this estimate, until our swamp lands are cleared
up and reduced to such system of cultivation, as
the progress of scientific agriculture would intro
ducc. If our wealthy planters and others who
have surplus of hands, instead Of sending their
negroes to the South to make turpentine and cot
ton, would buy up these lands and improve them,
they would only increase the certainty OF per-
mancnt wealth to their children, but would be
comforting upon the Old North State a treasure Of
would furnish a comfortable and prosperous home
to population numbering, perhaps, one hundred
times more than the present.
No one doubts this The only difficulty is, the
anxiety to finger the present almighty dollar rem
dcrs our people, rich or poor, unwilling to wait for
full return, until these lands can be rendered
productive Hence they lie undisturbed in their
native forests, in the quiet possession Of the wild
beasts, and the abode of pcstilential malaria which
often spreads disease and death through the land
D,,,,o,D ACC1DE<T-A fatal accident occur
red on the Greenville Railroad on the 10Th uit
The Bridge over Bush River having been swept
away by hurricane, the freight train before day
on Saturday morning ran into the river, killing
two white fremen and badly injurlng the engineer
Esg= The Democrats of Guiltord county held
meeting at Greensboro on the 10Th uit, and ap-
pointed delegates to District Convention to be