The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-10-11

of sugar could not be made from these
canes, by using improved machinery. and
subjecting them to the most approved des
sicating and granulating process Broom
corn Cf long staple and excellent quality
IS raised on many Of the bottom lands, and
the manufacture Of brOOms was formerly
an industry IN many Of the smaller towns
THE RAILROADS AID.
Prior to the completion Of the n. ". \.
Z. K. T., to this point but little attention
was paid to agriculture, beyond the pro
ductlon OF sutficiency for home consump-
ton, owing TO the inaccessibIity to mark
Ct and 70 tho fact that no special CONNER
cial interest centered here Upon the
opening Of this road, and the establish
ineEt or the first tobacco warehouse in
1872 by Major T. J. Brown, a new era
seemed to dawn upon the country men
BECAME aware Of their own resources, and
an air of thrift and enterprise seemed to
lnfusc itself INTO the whole atmosphere.
Before giving a full description Of this alb
SofoinS industry, which in its rapid and
extensive growth has surpassed the prog
noatlcatIonS oi the most Sdnguine, we will
III defeIcnce 20 antiquity return and trace
through the DIM pages Of our early history,
the progress Of other manufactures, and
-
which are to this day recognized as NOV
Ing eXponents III the energetic and enter
pIlsin5 spirit, which renders this con
splcOuS among the counties Of the State
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SALEM, IT'S OLD
INDUSTRIES, OLD HOULES, ETC.
AS yet the keen eyes of Daniel Boone,
looking down from the craggy peaks Of
the AlIeghanies, had not rested upon the
green fertile lands Ct Kentucky. Washing
ton Was still unknown, and unrevered as
the '.FatlIer OF his COuntry.' The cry Of
''GlEe me liberty or give me death had
Tot yet kindled the fires of rebellion. In
known was he whose name but yesterday
might l>ve stood against the world and
whose memory was to consecrate, as
though it were an altar, the bleak coast of
st. iieltna The red man had not then
been remanded TO the i,ocl>y Mountains,
OF 70 the smooth pages OF historic romance,
but with mourntul and savage presence,
stood Watching the progress of a small
band OF German settlers, who leaving the
vast tracts of fertile lOUlands in the rear,
nerVtd Dy desire for social and religious
freedom, pushed on far beyond what were
then the confines of civilization, and at
last selected with that wise and prudent
fOrethought, for which emigrants Of Teu-
tonic origin have ever been conspicuous
those lands which now form the county of
Forsyth, as being most peculiarly adapted
by nature to furnish all the requisites of
life to an isolated colony. The location
was selected by Bishop Spangenburg, after
a search Of over four MONTHS during
which time nearly the whole of the ives
tern part of the State was traversed, and
the wisdom Of the selection has long since
been fully demonstrated. These lands
comprised an area of 9o, 9S5 acres and were
conveyed to the Brotherhood, August 7th,
1853, as has already been mentioned. The
first settlement took place in the fall Of
the same year. The present town of Salem
around which cluster the most interesting
items Of history connected with this
county, was laid out in 100 and designed
as a centering point for the MOravian re-
igion in the South, which position it has
continued to hold to the present time.
Many exclusive privileges, and legal
amenities were granted to the settlers of
Wachovia which they continued to enjoy
up to 1881, when by legislative enactment
they were rescinded. 1t was not however,
until 1857 that a complete separation of
the town and church offices took place,
and the first municipal election was held.
We have made this apparent depression
from the real purpose of this article, be-
lieving that it is in great part to the fru-
gal and industrious habits of these early
settlers, as well as to the peculiar Gus
toms and ObservanceS of the MOravian
church, that the present prosperous con-
dition of our county is due. Lying con-
tiguous IL the lands which were subse-
quently to to be chosen for the ideal Re
public Of Pennsylvania Wachovia is per-
haps the only instance in modern times
in which the principles of Arcadian life
have been successfully applied, and ad-
hered to for a period extending over near
" a century. A custom prevailed here
which required each man to seek through
different trades or channels, the means OF
suS. .enance. This created an army Of
trades and tradesmen, and though wisely
abandoned in later years as being too mar
row for a more progressive and compro
hensive state of society, it is still recog
nized as forming a basis upon which is
built the great diversity of manufactures,
which makes SO distinguishing a feature
in the industry of our county. 1t is a
fact worthy Of notice, that the first house
ever built in Salem in 1866 is now Occu
pied as pottery shop which business has
been uninterruptedly carried on for over
a century, many of the moulds dating
back as far as 1874, now in existence, and
a curious and antique appear
ance 1t is hardly possible that a parallel
can be cited in the annals of American
history. The second house also standing, |
built during the same year, was as history
tells us Immediately occupied by Brother
Praezel and Brother Holder" who carried
on the weaver's and saddler's business.
These instances are only given to show at
what an early period the seeds of manu-
featuring were sown among us. In 177S, |
ted by James Krause which continued in
operation substantially as built for exact
ly one hundred years, when because of the
inability to supply the increased demand,
they were supplanted by the present sys
tenn. They were the first and for many
years the only water works in the State,
and were greatly admired by Gen. Wash |
ington during his visit to Salem, in 1891.
In 1871 the first paper mill in the State
IL u i