Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-12-01

4 | L OlaILu h96 ne AZ HCctlDQ OF RftiCiC
? V be expnDged frcm the Constitution, al
1t. IL my-uEirion. is unat ca5 sary, and i
only bcLe of c-nttntion for politicians tc
Wrange Ov.r
Fifth Let the 10 h section of article x
pe 50 ameLded az that those who are &c
poor IS to he unable to provide fer then
J selves shall be provided for at the expense
Of the State.
IL my opinion the people will be content
with the present Constitution if amended
IN tie particulars above referred t., and |
feel by no monrs confident that they de-
sire all the amendments which I have
enumerated. Each a1,euGmeut proposed
should bs separately submitted to the peo.
PIE for their ratification or rC jeo'ipn.
SWAMP 1ANrs.
The Board of Education still Las con-
tcol OF large body OF swamp laDd5 which
It IS deeirab!e 20 utilize as yarly ss rracti-
| cable. Thc.e lands have been for a gone
ration CEac; icalIy Withdrawn from market
and from settlement, and although por-
| tloDs Of them are undoubtedly Of great
fertility, they nave remained, under ffe
policy hitherto pursued, not only entirely
YAlueless as g. source OF revenue for pur-
| poses of education, but constant source
OF trouble and expers5 to the B card. It
| seems better to realize even a small part
OF what they are actually worth, than to
| continue longer policy which has been
demonstrated to be an expensive failure.
For IN the first place tie cause Of educa-
| ton can Eever be in greater need than
now OF the funds which might bo derived
from their sale; and IN GAe second place,
1t Is more than probable that the amount
which might be realized from them now,
would, ii simply placed at interest, exceed
any sum they will probably bring hereaf-
ter, uust as the quarter OF million of
doliare, which has already been expended
on them, would by this time have amount.
ed to much larger sum than we shall ever
be able to realize from then,) and in the
third place is to be considered the indirect
benefit to the State, both economically and
educationaljy, of the development Of an
immense amount Of taxable values from
the Immediate utilization Of such vast
quantities of timber and farming lands
1t Is plain that these lands can never be
disposed of in small parcels to individual
farmers, because they can only be drained
in largo bodies; and if the board had OF
command a fund sufficient to drain them,
the advisabillty Of the policy would be
more than doubtful; first, from the disas-
trOus experience already so extensively ac
quired, and second, from the reason of the
thing, as 1t would neoetsitate the emDlOF-
ment of corps Of surveyors and engineers
and contractors for many years, at the ex-
then the establishment Of land Office or
agency, Or other cumbrou5 apparatus for
the successful welding of which the board
is man1festIy rot properly organized or in
any way Qualified. So that the only course
left seems to be to dispose OF these lands in
large bodies IS fast as purchasers can be
found who will pay q reasonable price, and
who will enter into obligations TO settle and
develop them.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The progress of the geological survey
with it's principal operations and results
will be presented to you in the report of
the State Geologist, shortly to be submit
ted. The wisdom of the Legislature in
establishing and sustaining this important
work is abundantly justified by the results
already manifested N the increasing inter
est, both of our own people and of others,
III the varied resources of the State; in its
minerals, soils, marlF, peats, and forests,
and IN the movements already inaugurated
for the development of these interests
The atteatiOn of capitalists and manufac-
turers has been effectively attracted to the
superior quality and immense quantity Of
our iron ores, in which large investments
have recently been made. with view to
their development on q large and perma-
nont scale, and at the came time operations
have been resumed in the coal deposits of
Deep and Dan rivers, and the reopening
OF number of copper mines; and the
works now for the first time undertaken, |
Indicate q better prospect than ever before |
of the profitable and permanent working |
OF oil the best mines of this metal in the |
State. And there are evident indications |
of increasing activity in other directions. |
But the paramount importance OF the |
survey is perhaps most conspicuous in it's |
bearings upon the improvement Of our !
agricultural Interests, and it's obvious and |
essential iDstrumentality i'll the establish |
ment Of this llading industry upon bet
ter AID moro scientific basis, through the |
diffusion of a knowledge OF the qualities |
and adaptation Of our various soils and Gil
mates, and of the means and methods cf |
fertilization.
You will find ia the growing collections
OF the state Museum the palpable and i'm |
pressive exposition OF the utility and pro
gress of this department and for the zeal |
and untiring energy and industry Of Pro. !
fessor Kerr. our State Geologist, 1 desire,
as it is both my pleasure and duty to do,
to commend him to the favorable corsid |
Grafton of your honorable body.
IMMIGRATION.
The State Of North Carolina h4e such su-
pesior advantages il point of geographical |
location ; in climate and soil !; in the va
riety OF its products in its freedom from
the extreme rigors OF the north, and from |
the cpCrvating heat of the south /; extend |
ing more than five hundred miles from the |
sea shore, and nearly two hundred milesin |
width embracing nearly every variety Of
soil and production, as to render her enc
of the most inviting fields for immigration
that can be presented to those who are IN |
eearch of permanent honeg for themselves |
and their posterity. AL thes5 beatf lent |
gifts Of providence are offered to those |
who may settle within our borders; and no |
people, under the sun, are more blest with |
every requisite to make great and pros
porous State, than aFe the people of North |
Carolina.
Oar nineral wealth is oily cq1aled by |
Our sgrica aitural products. Toe coai and |
iron OF the Deep ana Dan livers, capable !
Of afTord:n3 profitable employment t. |
thousands Of operatives, do not exceed in
richness the gold, the copper, the silver. the |
lead and marble to DO found in our more |
western territory. Lime aud mari also
oh in varinua cnuUtjC2 IF tha |