The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-26
For the FARMER AND MEeHANIO.
Durham Items
DURHAM. y. c.. July

DURHAM. n. c.. July 2l.
The corn and tobacco crop near town
were never more promising, ana with Il
few mere ike rains, as we have had for
the past week, the crops will be safe, and
the never ceasing gruulbling of the far
mers viii be heard until the next crop Is
seeded.
The tow commissioners have again com
melced paving OF Main .treet, which
has already begun to put on city dignity,
anu If they complete the work before win
ter there will be no more mud puddles to
be an eye-sore to our citizens, like 1t was
last winter.
New buildings continue to go up in
every direction, IN spite of the dull sea
So. and the sound of the trowel and
hammer is still echoing to the delight Of
q who are in hearing distance.
The new Robinson block is nearly com>
lIeted. The postofiice and Collector
bikes office will be removed to that
magnificent new building in a few days
Mayor Hackney has already taken
up quarters IN the same building Z.
MAYORS office. The Mayor does MOI
seem to have much business before hi.
curt which speaks well for our law add
Iug citizens.
Business with our merchants remains
good, Notwithstanding the dull season.
Some OF our leading clothing merchants
say that they have sold as many goods the
past month as any ume last fall. This L.
readily accounted for, as they are strong
believers In printers Ink, as the column,
Of the Recorder and Plant will prove.
The Presbyterian Sunday school had a
picnic at Redmond's mill, tour miles
from town, GU Thursday, which was quite
d treat to the little scholars.
Prof, Rayhlll, Of the State University,
delivered a very interesting lecture, under
auspices Of the Durham Lycum, OF
Thursday evening, at Stokes Hall, to a
large and apprecIatlve audience.
Quite a number of young ladies from
different sections OF the State, are visit
lug fri nds aud relatives here. and the
y0ung men seem To be quite happy.
Candidates for the different State and
county officers are as numerous as house
HES. But the most popular man tor the
nomination for the Senate seems to be
Can't. +. J. Parish. The cry throughout
this district is calling for him on all sides.
We think he is the man for the position,
and if nominated, will hold more vote.
than anv man to be found III this dis
crict.
The tobacco breaks continue to be large,
and it seems that the quantity Is mex
haustable, Notwithstanding the cry that
there was none made last year" The
farmers do not leave much OF their money
wiki our merchants only for groceries.
Now would it not be better for the far
mers to raise less tobacco and more home
ID T. -Ll- H. N rnty w
move in them to raise a large crop OF
tobacco and get big prices and then have
TO pay big prices for -four, meat, and Ia
con. when it can be raised at "a much less
cost han tobacco. When the farmers
learn to make their own bread-stuffs and
raise their own bacon. and quit signing
their TO mortgages they will be a
happy and prosperous people. We know
Of one merchant in town who used, during
last spring. over five hundred hen bonds
and over three hundred chattel mortgages,
and no doubt there are other merchants
who used the same quantity. We say
nothing OF the quantity used by men deal
ing 10 fertilizers alone.
Now think of the vast amount of prop
erty that these mortgages have covered.
and for what? Simply to uphold a
majority of the farmers In a suicidal
course, to characterize. They could have
made their own fertilizer and at a much
less cost and had a much better article
that would not have cost them one hall
what they paid for all the ~good-tor moth
lug stuff. Whenever you find a farmer
who does not mortgage his crop for fer
t~izers and raises his own bread stuff than
you viii find a prosperous farmer and one
who has peace of mind knowing that ne
Is not m~ortgaged TO some one else, and Is
1rrer heard TO cry out 'hard times:
NJ. L. B.