The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-07-25
In THE WEST.
4 SAMPSON BOY ORGANIZES
ALLIANCES IN CLEVE-
LAND, SWAIN, HENDER-
son, CHEROKEE AND
BuNCOMBE,
A Description of What He Has Seen
Heard and Done.

DEAR FRIEND AND EDITOR |
have not forgotten the promise
made you sometime since. but
as writing for the public print
/, altogether out of my line of
business, it has been no small
task for ME to perform. Just
one year ago to-day, / left my
home and friends in old Samp-
son county. since which time I
have been in the chill country"
of Western North Carolina with
the exception o: three weeks,
| spent with you and other east
ern friends last winter.
Believing / wonld like the
mountains | obtained a commits
sion from President Alexander
and Secretary Polk to-organize
Farmers Alliance. On the 2nd
of July, 1888, ! left for Cleve-
land to engage in this new field
Of labor, where | spent about
two months and organized twen-
ty-two sub-Alliances, and a flour
ishing County Alliance of as
clever and industrious people
as can be found anywhere. The
country is generally pretty level,
laying on the eastern side, and
at the foot of the Blue Ridge
mountains. The soil is fertile
and the farmers produce mainly
corn, cotton and wheat. Shelby
is the county seat, and is a love
ly town of about 1000 inhabi-
tants, The noted and historic
Kings Mountains and Cleveland
White Sulphur Springs are both
favorite resorts for visitors from
the East and South. From here
[ went across the Blue Ridge to
tie estate Of Buncombe," in the
heart of the Gland of the Sky"
| began the work of organizing
in November, but this being new
to the people up here very little
progress was made until in Feb
ruary of this year when the or
ganizatien was completed-new
mum nbering thirty-two subordin-
ate and a County Alliance of the
best farmers of this country.
BuEcombe is a large and thick
ly populated county and is quite
rolling, but produces excellent
corn, wheat, tobacco, cabbage,
potatoes, fruits, also grass and
clover, which is king in the
mountains.
In Asheville is found the best
market in the State for all farm
aid garden products. Asheville.
as hour readers we'll know, is
known as the metropolis Of the
West, and indeed it is the most
progressive city we have ever
visited. Within the past few
years it has grown to 10000 OF
10000 population, and in less
than a decade it will be second
to only a few of the Southern
cities: Its several railroads
electric street cars, electric and
gas lights, large and magnificent
factories, stores, colleges. &c.
all add to the prosperity, in a
commercial sense, and the pure
water, bracing atmosphere, pic.
turesque mountain scenery, at
tracts thousands of visitors and
invalids from every source to it
magnificent hotels and santa
RUINS.
From Asheville | went to Hen
derson. which borders on the
south of Buncombe, and which
is about the same altitude 1900
to 25,OOU feet above sea level
and soil is productive Of about
the same crops. I organized
twenty subordinate and a Co'ln
. ty Alliance. Hendersonville is
the county-seat and a beautiful
and healthy resort of 1920 i'll
habitants. One of the most de
lightful and attractive places il
the county is Flat Rock, a little
village built up by wealthy
South Carolina planters. The
huge rock from which the place
! derived its name, is near by, anl
rears it's lofty head into the al
; nearly 1000 feet. Tourists sci
dom comes to the county with
out visiting this rock.
From here, in company will
w. f. Tomlinson, editor of th'
! Asheville Country Home, whicl
> is; by the way, one Of the bes
!, agricultural papers published il
i the State, l went to Haywoo'
s county, which lies on the west
l ern borders Of Buncombe an,
is the highest county in th
= west; however it is no less Pre-
E ductive than her sister counties
h For grass, clover, stock and frui
$ it is especially noted. Corr
e wheat and tobacco grow we'll o
: ; the table lands, to say nothin
q of the fertile river bottoms
al Owing to the busy season W
only organized few Alliance:
but the county has been sine
r worked by Mr.. Tomlinsol
IS WayEesville is a town of abou
e 1000 inhabitants, but tn
/. most attractive place is CD