The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate

The Heather, Etc.
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocated
SOUTHERN PINES, MOORE Co.. N c., 4
August II, 1885.
MEssRs. EDITORS "A copy O. your excellent paper
came into my possession short time ago in Angus
ta Ga. TO say that devoured its contents would
not be putting it too strong. Every column was
eagerly scanned and every item of news carefully
perused. To me few things afford more genuine
satisfaction than the perusal of bright sparkling,
newsy home paper like the ADVOCATE.
Last December it was my good fortune to make a
flying trip through western and central North Caro-
lima. The incidents of that journey still fresh
in my mind The result of my necessarily hasty
observations was given at the time in two letters TO
the ADyocATE-one from Charlotte, and the other
from Raleigh.
If the country attracted my attention then by its
beauty what shall say of itnow, when Nature is ar
rayed in her loyeliest garb? The woods full of
wild flowers the air is redoent of the odors of the
pines and the south wind signing through the tree
tops makes sweeter music than the strains of an
Eolian harpl
But aside from the great natural beauty of this
section, it possesses many advantages that commend
it specially TO those from the North and West, who
desire cheap homes in the South Those who are
accustomed to regard North Carolina as a poor
State, and her people as slow and non-progressiye
make O big mistake. The reverse is the truth. In
fact North Carolina is naturally one of the richest
most productive States in the Union and its climate
is most heathful and delightful. Take the western
and northwestern portions of the State-from Citsr
lotte to the Georgia and Tennessee borders-and no
better agricultural and mining region can be found
ever seen-not excepting those in the famed garden
land of Western Maryland and Pennsylyania-are
western part of the State. Splendid apple and
peach orchards, fields of waving corn and grain
rpening cotton and tobacco greet the eye on every
side; sleek, wellfed cattle Craze in the rich mead
ows aocks of sheep brouse on the hilsides, and
blooded horses roam at will in broad pastures-a
scene OF pastoral beauty that lends an additional
charm to the pieturesqueness and grandeur of the
mountain spurs in the near distance. Dairy farms
simiar to those in the North are found in this part
IF fbn tafa n
ing mills in the State also located here. Tobac
co has played an important part in the develop
ment of this part of the State. One example Will
suffice. The town of Winston, in Forsyth county,
eight years ago had but 800 people, to-day it claims
population of nearly $780, and is of the great
est tobacco mars in the State, ranking next to Dur
ham. could give you much interesting data upon
this subject but have neither the time nor space to
go into Details
Gold is found in twenty-eight counties of the
State seven of which along the line of the Sea-
board Airline Railroad of which Mr.. John NJ
Robinson, of Baltimore, is president. Up to June
80, 1882 over $50 100000 had been taken from the
mines of North Carolina, the first State i'll which
gold was discovered, away back in,1S04 l think.
Iron and copper are found in ineXhaustible
quantities in different parts of the State; coal is also
found in several localities and just now North Car
olina is shipping building stone TO New York. AS
for native woods it is claimed that every with
one exception, which do not know that flourishes
in any part of the United States will grow equally
us well i'll the Old North State There are over 40,
900 acres of woodland in the State which the wood
mans axe has never touched. The value of the
forests is almost incalculable.
One of the most important industries, and source
of great revenue is the fisheries. The Albemarle,
or eastern and southeastern sections of the State is
the paradise of the fishermen and fayorte resort
of duck hunters Curituck Sound is the home of
the canvass back duck, and thousands are bagged
every season by adventurous sportSmen who come
from the far North for that purpose. Herrings
caught by the millions, and the water courses
abound with fish of every variety. novel feature
is the terrapin farms. SO great has become the de-
mand for diamond back terrapins that number OF
raising them. / hear of several who have made
snug fortunes in this way. North Carolina is in the
lead on the fish question Even Florida must take
a back seat Like many Others had no idea of the
variety and quantity of the nny tribe that inhabi
the waters of the 1ar-Heel State until | saw the
wonderful display at the New Orleans Exposition.
Magnificent water power is afforded by the waters
of nearly all the Southern States but in this respect
as in most others, Nature has abundantly blessed
the Old North State. Haw, Deepriyer, the Roanoke
Yadkin, Cape Fear, Tar, Neuse and other streams
furnish abundant water power for all purposes.
Railroads penetrate every part of the State, and
the facilities for travelling and the transportation of
freight are good 1t must be confessed, however
that trains do not as fast as they might In
this immediate vicinity the cost of construction,
am told. amounts to only g, 500 per mile The rail
road is the courier of civilization Eight years
ago there was but one station between Raleigh and
Hamlet (the junction of the Carolina Central and
the Raleigh 4 Augusta Airline Railroad) a dis
lance of 100 miles Now there are dozen thriving
little towns with schools and churches.
am residing now at a charming health resort in
and historic capital of the State Southern Pines,
the place is called is under the control of the
board Airline Railroad. 1t is located on ridge
$50 feet higher than Raleigh and the superb natural
advantages of this region attracting the atten
ton of eminent savants in the North. The water is
excellent and the climate perfect. Old inhabitonts
say that this has been the hottest summer ever
known in Moore county and yet the thermometer
has not gone above $50 and we have always the
most refreshing breezes; The half dozen or more
Northern families settled here all agree that it is
much cooler and pleasanter here than in their old
homes in New England and the Middle States. FIRE.
quently wants extra covering ut night; and this
in the centre of North Cardinal As for mosquitoes,
spent here. Southern Pines is, without exception,
the heathiest locality in the United States.
Since my visit here last winter many changes
have taken place newspaper has been estab-
lished by Mr.. Frank Z. Woodward, formerly of the
Scranton(P Pa )Sunday Morning News; Uncle Sam has
created postofice, and number of neat dwelling
houses have been erected by Northern colonists. A
handsome platform station is now being erected by
the Raleigh and Augusta Railroad. Among the
possibilities of the future is high school, which
will be presided over by talented young gentle
man from Massachusetts.
DIR. A. n. Bell, the famous sanitary physician of
Brooklyn, n Y, and ec4tor OF the Sanitaran, was
here last week. He went all over the grounds, ex-
amining every point of advantage. Although very
guarded in his remarks, he expressed himself as
very favorably impressed with The Pines" He
will give his views at length in the next number of
the santarian; The proposed sanitarium here will
of the Legislature an act of incorporation for South
ern Pines will be asked for.
Several Pennsylvania and two or three New Jer-
sey families are located on farms about five miles
from here; also some Canadians and colony of
Frenclmen engaged IN the culture OF the grape,
which grows naturally here.
There is plenty OF good land in this county that
can be bought Tor from So to 81 per The soil
is sandy with clay sub-soil. Allthe cereals fruits
and vegetables grow here with little trouble. Labor
is cheap and outdoor work be done almost
every month in the year. The destructive billiards.
floods, cyclones, drouths and grasshopper plaques
that play havoc i'll the West are unknown here
No state in the Union offers such inducements to the
small farmer as North Carolina.
Half the care, trouble and expense Northern
farmers bestow upon their farms. if given to farming
in this state will make one independent. Parties
who go West make a grand mistake. Farming is
much easier simpler and far more profitable, if
properly directed, in the South. The inducements
offered immigrants to this state are: list, cheap
lands on time; 2nd, cheap labor 3rd, nearness to
Northern markets. 4th genial climate, with chance
to make too crops in the year. 5th halftare rates to
bona fde settlers.
The people who leave Western Maryland every
spring for the far Northwest would do well to turn
their eyes toward this land of golden promise Mr..
John T. Patrick, State Commissioner of lmmigra
tion at Raleigh; will gladly furnish information to
all who are looking for cheap homes and chance
TO better their condition
North Carolina will have fine display at the
BePks county Pa. agricultural fair in October. If
your people hold tricounty fair this fall Mr. Pat
rick might be induced to join exhibits with you.
In that case | afraid Maryland aud Pennsyl-
vania would out of the small end of the horn.
have already spun out this letter longer than
intended. may write you shortly from Durham,
the prcat tohaecO centre of the state Is. A. r.