Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-27
Our Columbus COrrespOG denCe.

travelling companion We came to sudden
halt in this goodly village OF Whiteville,
in the county of Columbus, and concluded
| to spend O few days in taking observa-
tons. a short sojourn satisfied US that
this is Justly called the land of corn and
and honey flow the very place TO "make
glad the heart Of man." We soon observed
that there was in the minds Of the people
deepseated, steady feeling sof improve
ment and advancement in all branches OF
industry. While here we learned that the
President Of the County Agricultural SO
ciety was engaged in canvassing the coun-
ty, and discussing the benefits of scientific
and skillful farming. He was carrying on
the campaign somewhat after the old plan
of political warfare in former days. What
success he is making in convincing men
g against their will, who are Of the same
opinion still, " we do not know =; but it is
understood that he has proved very de-
structive to watermelons, and the many
good things with which tho farmers tables
of this county are loaded and whose Lospl.
tality he has been most hugely enjoying.
Efforts are being made to get up gen
eral meeting OF the people to discuss mat
ters OF ,ncl,,shv and agricultural improve
ment. which meeting is to be held in
WhiteviIle, on Saturday, the 2Sth OF
August. Several gentlemen from your
C,,l t..l 10 ha ~
and address this meeting.
The Sheriff was ont during our stay exc,
cntlng the law by collecting taxes, and
hard as the times are, the people were
meeting this polite official and paying up
with astonishing promptneSs. The people
here are ever watchfnl of any infringement
upon their rights, and were discussing
with much interest the decision Of the
/ "hu!e Supreme Co,srf," by which part Of
the railroad lax was declared unconstitu-
tional and many are of opinion that the
| Court did not carefully real the Constitn-
ton all over, or it would have seen that
| the tax could not be levied above 6G3 cents
Oh the 500 worth of property in other
words - on the poll and So on $500 worth
of property. We heard of some good men
who insisted on the Sheriffs correcting his
!
the Constitution, but upon being informed
by that obliging officer that he had no,such
authority, that his duties were merely exc
cutive and not Legislative, they paid up,
declaring their intention take the matter
before the said Supreme Court and have
said Constitution therein read again.
This is the tarfamed and justly re-
noWned county of the Scuppernong, and
Flowers, and more recently Thomas and
other varieties Of grapes. They grow here
in thick profnsion throughout the county,
and you will scarcely find q farmer, no
matter how large Or small, who cannot, in
truth, sit under his own vine and fig tree
Figs, am informed, grow wild all over
the margin of that beautiful sheet of water
the Waccamaw Lakeland thousands of
them grow all about the fence rows on the
plantation of the late Col Isaac Powell =
In the days OF slavery the negroes on this
plantation would dry them by bushels,
like dried apples, and on Saturday eve
nlnSs and Sundays, In fig season, would
gather about the trains at the Lake depot,
with baskets of sweet fresh figs to sell the
weary traveller. What immense fortunes
could now he made on these lands, grow
ing peaches and figs, were they in the
hands Of skillful fruitoners?
On inquiry we were informed that the
chief products of this county were corn,
rice, peas, sweet potatoes, with all the usu-
al garden vegetables grown in the South.
The planters ale just beginning to think
seriously of cotton, and there are now
some of the finest cotton fields We ever saw
anywhere in this county. We were shown
cotton fields which are said to challen ge
the cotton field of Alabama or Missis-
sippl.
The country is finely adapted to stock
raising There is now an unusually large
number of fat cattle in this county. The
marshes, swamps and canebrakes affording
the finest kind of summer range, several
large droves have been collected here and
sent to the Charleston market.
But while all these things receive their
due share of attention, the whole county is
full of grapes; and grapes. grapes. grapes,
seem to be the mystic and charming
word which ever sounds upon your ear
We were informed shat there is firm in
this village who have on hand large
quantity of wine, on which they have be-
slowed great care in its manufacture, and
which they intend, when put in market,
shall equal any vintage ever raised in the |
United States.
The dry weather has undoubtedly cut |
the crops short somewhat, and may have |
injured the grapes in their blooming and |
early growth, bat the fine rains in the first
of this month, and more recently, have
saved them to a great extent. The farmer
who has employed his labor with skill will
be handsomely repaid.
The learned professions are pretty we'll
filled--three doctors in the village. five
lawyers at the court house. and the sixth
living short distance in the country. No
resident preacher here. but quite num-
Der live in the county, and am informed
that there is not a man in the county, of
any profession, but what is, to some ex-
tent, farmer. This is practicing and
the command, in the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread
While we found the people attentive to |
the different pursuits of industry, we saw
that they were not remiss in other things. |
We witnessed, with good deal of pleasure.
the exercises of the village Sabbath School, |
and were informed that the exhibition of |
this school at its ANIMAL celebration was