Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-06-15
CORRESPONDENCE.
ELIzABErH CRY, n. c., June /, 1870

ELIZABETH Cl1I, ~ u, u uuS ~ iO'o'
ED. JOURNAL Having recently return
ed to this place after sojourn OF two
months in your county, | have felt like COM
municating through your columns, to the
many intelligent readers thereof, few items
which may be of interest to some of them,
in reference to our new home, as eontrasted
with the mountain districts of Pennsylvania.
And here let me say, that while have no wish
to detract from the real merits of your coun-
ty, naturally rich as it is, in its pine forests,
its splendid water power, and soon to be de-
veloped, mineral resources, l must never
theless, when considered in an agricultural
or commercial point Of view, give eastern
North Carolina the preference. Here we
have unbounded tracts of fertile lands,
level and free from stone, soil sandy loan,
susceptible of producing an abundant re-
ward to the husbandman, not only in the
shape of the cereals, roots, vegetables,
fruits, &C., but also in the growth of that
staple article, once king of commerce and
almost ruler of our nation, cotton, which
although dethroned and shorn of its crown,
yet i. destined to become powerful auxili-
ary to the building up of a country once
ruined and laid low by the peculiar institu-
ton over which he exercised his kingly
power.
Here We are on the banks of deep and
majestic river, which has its outlet to the
ocean through the Albemarle Sound, over
which ride daily the snorting st amer with
her tall smoke stack sending aloft the sooty
volume, which with her shrill steam whistle
tells of her giant powers, as also the gallant
schooner, with her white .ailsspread to the
breeze, carrying away the rich freight pro-
duce6 upon our native soil, to return laden
| with merchandise from the great manufac-
turing emporiums of the world. Here too,
we have climate unsurpassed in low eliness
anywhere on the Atlantic coast winter,
mild and pleasant, requiring little or nc
stabling of stock, and affording ample time
for the farmer to prepare the ground for the
spring crops, and through the summer q
healthful and exhilerating breeze from the
ocean which robs the heat of its tcrrors.
At this writing the weather is truly delight
full, and since my return from the north on
the 2lst ult., we have had no weather so
warm as it was in Clearfeld on the 18th of
May but on the contrary it has been so
cool, that fire has on several occasions been
necessary in our sitting rooms.
The crops look we'll Wheat is already
assuming golden hue, oats out in head,
cherries ripe, early peaches nearly full size,
apples half grown, the strawberry season
past its meridian, corn from one to two feet
in height, new potatoes fit for use, early
pea, and radishes gone, onion, cabbage, &c
in the market, cotton undergoing the weed
| ing process, while the farmers, with smiling
countenances, greet each other in anticipa
ton of fruitful season. The health of the
country is excellent, of over thirty families
comprising about $50 persons, who hav,
settled here from the North within the la.
Is months, not one reported sick. l ma,
here state for the satisfaction of my person
al friends in Clcarfeld, that my health
which was so impaired while there, ha
greatly improved since my return here. Ii
conclusion | would say that in view of tn
low prices of land, from Is to 25 dollar
per acre for improved and from 3 to dol
lars for timber land and the abundanc
and cheapness of labor, from $40 to SIS pc
month including board, with never fai
ing market for all kinds of produce, reguls
ted by the prices in the Northern cities, an
the great facilities for cheap transportation
with prospect of a continued increase i
the productive and manufacturing interest
of this vast Southern country, would it no
be well for some of your enterprising cap
talists to take trip by way of prospectin
in the hitherto undeveoped South land
have neglected in this letter, (but [ think
spoke of it in q former one, to refer to tn
magnificent forests of wood and timber, in
Guiding yellow pine, cypress, juniper, OAK
ash, beech, maple, sycamore and sweet gum
that everywhere greet the eye, which will
ere long, develope an immense trade i
shingles, slaves. sawed lumber, ETC. Il
short there is wide field open for enter
prise. Capitalists, come and see for youl
selves Very respectfully, &c,
JOHN RUSSELL