St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-02
THE DISMAL SWAMP.
A Wilderness Containing Over 10000
Acres to lIc Reclaimed.

Acres to Isc Reclaimed.
Down in Eastern North Carolina,
situated between the counties Of Wash.
ington Tyrrcl and Beaufort lies
vast tract OF lanl containing over
80, 900 acres. known rs the DISMAL y
1t runs along somewhat PARALLEL to
the Albemarie sound. at a distance Of
from three to five miles from the sandy
shores OF that beautiful inland sea
The strip of high land in between
forms some of the finest grain and
truckery lands in the South, while the
almost impenetrable jungles OF the
bordering Dismal afford shelter and
protection to various wild animals
notably the common black bear and
deer
Numberless wild cattle browse upon
its extensive reed pastures; the fox
finds in its solitary thickets congenial
camping ground, while the raccoOn
and opossum from its dense shades
make nightly forays upon the border
ing corn-ticlds. In early days tho cry
| CT the panther broke the stiffness OF
its depths. and even now the huge
wildcat is often encountered by hunt
crs. During the rainy season it
is mostly covered with water
from a 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 tall
that the sun never strikes the ground.
In such places We are reminded Ol
twilight at high noon. 1t is only
drained by sluggish creeks that cir
cuitously find their way to the sound.
Strange as it may seem the waters Oi
these juniper swamps are considered
IA panacea for the ills OF the locality,
and their medicinal qualities are SO
well established that it is sent away by
the barrel icr such use. Natives. who
had been shaken up by the ague until
they We're as white rs a piece Of cot
ton-cloth, would plunge into the shingle
swamps, 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.
II is about the color of scuppernOn9
wine and smacks little Of the juniper
in 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 a
hundred farms. A railroad has been
run from the sound across It's entire
width, connecting with towns on the
opposite side. and with the Norfolk
Southern railroad at EdentOn. An inn
mense mill has been built that saws up
five hundred Of the largest pine logs
daily. The lumber. after being thor
oughly kiln-dricd, is loaded upon cars
and shipped to Baltimore. Philadelphia
and other markets. The juniper is
turned into shingles and coopers' tim
Der. Quite town is springing up
around the mill, and hundreds of native
men are finding ready employment ut
good wages. The snort and whistle OF
the steam engine now startles the bear
prowiing 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
be dug, completely draining the land.
and thousands of acres will be turned
into fertile farms and smiling gardens
Pittsburgh Dispatch.