Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-23
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, N. c., AUGUST II, 1866.
Central North Carolina.

els and observations has grown into use. Wheth-
er it obtained through editorial vanity or the
riosty of readers has not been definitely ascer-
tanned so far as we are aware. Be this as it may,
however, it has come to be expected, and as we
paid flying visit through the middle portion Of
the State, and as far West as Burke county, du-
ing last week, We propose to give the readers the
benefit of our hasty observations
AS the crops are the subjects of most interest,
and are generally the topics of the first nterroga
tories we made many inquiries in reference to
them and took such observations as time and
opportunities permitted Of the crops between
Wilmington and Goldsboro, we have fully spo-
ken in a recent issue of our paper. The good
prospect at that date has more than born out our
predictions, and the cotton crop is more prom
Using now than it was three weeks since. The
weed generally is not as large as might be desired,
but it has healthy appearance and the stand is
good. Ordinarily the crops seem to be well
worked. These features are characteristic OF the
cotton crop as far up the North Carolina hallrOad
as the county of Wake.
The cotton in Davidson and the valley of the
Yadkin is small, and, except in the low lands has
suffered much from drought. The crops in this
region do not give as much evidence of care and
labor as those farther East.
The corn crop along the line of the North Car
DINA Railroad from Hilsboro' to Salisbury and in
the adjacent districts as we learned from several
reliable sources, is almost entirely burnt up. Wei
learned that South and Southwest of Salisbury,
embracing large districts in South Carolina, there
is almost total failure in the corn crop. This
fact taken with the complete failure in the wheat
crop, must bring upon the people of that section
the greatest suffering and distress We are conf
dent that in a large portion of the Southwestern
part of the State tie farmers will barely be able
to meet their taxes from the proceeds of their
farms, and many will be unable to pay their la
borers and support their families.
The drought has been general in that section,
and has injured the crops as far up and beyond
Morganton. With the exception OF the valley OF
the Catawba in Iredell and Catawba counties, we
saw no corn that promised the yield OF an ordln-
ary crop, and here the failure of the wheat crop
had been very general and complete. From an
Intelligent gentleman living beyond the noun
tains, and who had just travelled on horseback
from Jackson county to Burke, we learned that
the crops in Western North Carolina were good,
and the spirits of the people somewhat improved
in consequence thereof.
The very general failure Of the crops in central
and western central portions of the State is having
the most depressing influence upon the people Of
those sections. They are very gloomy in their
anticipations of the future. Added to the polltl-
cal complications which are common source OF
trouble and dark foreboding to all, they have
besides the fear of the tax gatherer and utter want
and suffering. We found many of the laboring
classes most respondent and entirely Indifferent to
the FUTURE seemingly with their last hope lost for
even ultimate recuperation from their impover-
ished condition, and what we most regretted to
see was disposition on the part of many who
were determined to labor on, to emigrate to the
Northwest. In fact, we came down as far as
Raleigh on Tuesday morning last with large
number who were moving to Indiana. They
amounted to two or three car loads.
The feeling of apathy of the people of the mid
die portion of the State is attested by the very
small vote cast at the late election, even in coun-
ties where the subjects to be balloted for, had
been canvassed and efforts made to arouse the
voters. They seem to have entirely lost interest
in political matters, and we fear too generally
give way to useless forebodings
The towns and villages seem not to participate
in the general gloom, but are rapidly "recon-
structing' from the wear and tear of the war. In
Salisbury, especially, we noticed many evidences
of improvement and energy. Many new build
ings are being erected particularly in the business
portions of the town, and the old ones under
going repairs, while free use of paint and white
wash gives the place the appearance OF having put
nitsnew clothes. High Point and Greensboro have
an air of prosperity and every indication warrants
the assurance that the latter, especially, is place
of rapidly growing commercial importance.
We met many friends, and received welcomes
which proceed only from warm andgenerous hearts
We shook the hands of former comrades ia arms,
whom we had not seen since we separated at APP
pomattox Court House, in April of last year, We
fought over many battles, our happiness softened
by the sacred recollection of our dead
comrades and the deplorable condition of
our country. We especially pleased by
the very greatful reception we received from many
of the gallant boys" who composed Lanes and
Scales Brigades-soldiers who had served with us
for four years, and whose welfare and protection
had been our constant care, and for whose dan
gers and trials we had sympathized, and in whose
safety and success we had rejoiced Attached as
we are to all who did their duty in their countrys
hour of DANGER there is a bond of association and
sympathy connecting with the men of these
two Brigades, cemented by the blood of Branch,
Fender, Avery, Campbell, Davis, Haywood,
Wooster and other gallant comrades, that will
dissolve only when the ''golden bowl be broken
and the silver cord be loosed."
We shall take occasion soon to refer to other
matters of interest connected with trip.
The North Carolina and Western North Carolina
Railroads.
oT1r raoant aIsnnpe We OaSse0 over the