Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-10-02

~ Wilderness Confirming Over GO,OOG
Acres to he Reclaimed.
Down in Eastern North Caroline,
situated between the counties of Wash
tagton Tyrrel and Beaufort, lies
s~vast tract of land contai ming over
aA0Q0 acres known as the Dismal"
Do runs along somewhat parallel to
roe Albemarle sound, at distance of
Gasm three to five miles from the sandy
shores of that beautiful inland sea-
The strip of high land in between
Ssrms some of The finest grain and
sxuckery lands in the South, while the
sslsaost impenetrable jungles of the
bordering Dismal afford shelter and
Tir0tectiou to various wild animals
E1otably the common black bear and
aseer
Numberless wild cattle browse upon
RS extensive reed pastures; the fox
@nds in its solitary thickets congenial
camping ground, while the raccoon
:.1ad opOssum from its dense shades
wake nightly forays upon the border
eng corn-felds. In early days the cry
d)s the panther broke the stiffness of
ass depths, and even now the huge
wildcat is often encountered by hunt
eafss- During the rainy season it
Is mostly covered with water
Syom few inches to several feet in
depth, though it contains many high
spots, acres in extent, that are never
submerged. The timber is mostly
Juniper, with considerable cypress,
some long-leaf pine and scattering
poplar and gum. For large areas the
Growth of juniper is so thick and tell
that the sun never strikes the ground
In such places we are reminded of
twilight at nigh noon. Tt is only
drained by sluggish creeks that cir
cautiously find their way to the sound.
Strange as it may seem the waters of
taese juniper swamps are considered
panacea for the ills of the locality.
and their medicinal qualities are so
we'll established that it is sent away by
the barrel for such use Natives, who
had been shaken up by the ague until
they were as white as a piece of cot
St31-clot would plunge into the single
sswamps, remaining for weeks drink
ing only this water and return to the
hill hearty and robust with the roses
OF health blooming on their cheeks
Is Is about the color of scunDernong
wine and smacks little of the juniper
La taste. 1t is very palatable, and
when taken from the quiet depths of
It's natural reservoir on hot day
makes a most delightful drink.
Enterprise and capital are about to
Change this vast wilderness into
hundred farms A railroad has been
ran from the sound across it's entire
width, connecting with towns on the
opposite side, and with the Norfolk
Southern railroad at Edenton. An i'm
fnense mill has been built that saws up
i've hundred OF the largest pine logs
daily. The lumber, after being thor
oughly kiln-dried, is loaded upon cars
and shipped to Baltimore. Philadelphia
and other markets. The juniper is
turned into shingles and coopers' tim
her- Quite a town is springing up
around the mill, and hundreds of native
naen are finding ready employment at
good wages. The snort and whistle of
the steam engine now startles the bear
prowling through the underground,
and deer are frequently seen flying
down the long stretches of railroad
track. Soon their haunts will know
them no more. All will be changed.
The timber once taken off canals will
he dug, completely draining the land,
and thousands of acres will be turned
into fertile farms and smiling gardens
Pittsburgh Dispatch