The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-02

l
ROAD BUILD1NG-Go LD-MINING-THE
CROPS-POLITICS. -.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
RALEIGH, n. c., December 81, 1888.
The year which closes to-day has not
been very prosperous one for the State,
on account, principally, OF the drought OF
the past summer and the low price Of cot
ton, It's largest money crop. II has not
been bad year, however, and, altogether.
an impartial observer would say that the
State could report progress and rise for its
work OF 1884.
The drought was local in its effects. and
did not smite any one section so grieyously
as to call for relief from the others. Then,
too. the work on the Western North Caro-
| lima railroad. on the Chester and Lenoir
Narrow Gauge road n FEEDER, the compile
ton of the Cranberry road. all in the west
and OF the Albemarle railroad from Will
lamston to Tarboro'. in the east, and the
Cape Fear and the Yadkin Valley, in the
centre, have opened new sections to mar
kcts, built villages, given impetus to trade,
and made some compensation for the mar
row provisions OF nature. The disposition
OF the people is the most hopeful evidence
OF the future. They are not only content
tu. Dut lucTc - ~ W lutspl eau anu lhCltdS-
ing movement in the direction OF diversi-
flying industries. There has not only been
a multiplication OF small factories, but an
Increase in the capacity OF established
ones. At least $4,000 spindles have been
added to those already at work, and two
knilting-mills have been put in operation.
1t is below the mark to say that score
or more Of factories for wood working have
been established. There has been consid-
cradle activity in mining. The great prob
lem IT. mining in North Carolina is the
working OF the low-grade sulphurets.
When a cheap and satisfactory method OF
doing this has been furnished by the SCENT
ISIS or the genius OF invention not techni-
cally scientific, mining in this State will be
followed as regular occupation, with GER
t1in rewards as results Of labor, economy,
and intelligence, and with the mercSt ele-
ment OF speculation in it-not more than
the hardware trade, for instance.
There are at least dozen processes for
extracting and gathering the gold from
placer and vein-mineS now undergoing
tests in the various mineral districts, and
probably as many more to take their places
il these fail.
EFFECTS OF THE BOSTON EXHIBIT.
The exhibit OF the resources OF the
State ut the Boston exposition has stirred
NJ New England people and sent them
hunting the State over Tor investments. 4
good many have purchased, and will begin
wOrk-some in agriculture, some in manu-
facturng-as soon a. the spring opens.
Probably the best effect OF this agitation
has been the awakening OF our own people
TO their posses ions. and the inquiries OF
others have put them to suggesting to
themselves: Why cannot we do this and
that if New England people can come 4
thousand miles TO do it, The satisfactory
answer will be: Set about doing it.
THE GRAIN CROPS.
| have reports from seventy-fve coun-
ties, and they represent the condition OF
the wheat, oats. and rye sOwed rs very
fair. and the acreage slightly above that OF
1882. So it would seem that we are not 10
want for our yearly bread il the seasons
come in order.
FOR TIE FARMERS.
DR.. G.. W. DabnCy, Jr., State chemist, is
preparing an able paper OH our home re-
sources for commercial fertilizers. lie di-
reefs attention to the numerous s0uI ces Of
ammonia IN gaS-WOIhs, slallSllteI-Houses,
coast fisheries, refuse material OF tobacco
factories. cotton-seed-oil mills, of which
there are shalf-dOzen, &c. The home
sources OF potash are sketched, and all are
illustrated by full and careful analysis.
This valuable information is sent broadcast
to the farmers, and is good lesson for
them to read at the opening Of new year.
POLITICS.
OF politics one hears little. II may be
the Christmas-tide holidays, or ii may be
that there is very little Of it. Certainly the
people are not talking OF it. Occasionally
the names OF Coke, Gilmer, Holt, and
Scales are heard in connection with the
governorship, but the nominations Tor en-
tries have not been made yet. L. III.