The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-21
AN 1NTEaEsr,Se coaHus1cAr1oN.


One Of our Intelligent Citizens gives an Ac-
count of His trip North. and Compares
the Agricultural Condition Of that Section
with the South.
EDITOR GOLD LEAf:-The committee to
visit certain Northern cities to select a
place where to hold the Interstate South
eru Exposition have returned, after visit
ing Philadelphia, New York, Hartford
and Boston. We were absent ten days.
Everywhere the object of our visit met
with approval. 1t was considered one of
the best projects suggested since the war
to bring about an interchange OF views be-
tween the people of the North and South,
and better understanding of the conditions,
resources and capabilities of each, and
would conduce to a more cordial feeling
between these sections of the country.
In this view, there was no dissent, and
Allison, Hoar and Hawley the Mayors of
the different cities and prominent citizens
generally encouraged the scheme. And
should there be special meeting of Con-
gress in the spring an attempt Will be
made to get Congress to endorse the enter
prise by making a reasonable appropria-
ton for it.. The times seem peculiarly fit
ting for the holding of such an Exposition
in the North.
We ascertained facts with reference to
the state OF agriculture in the Middle and
New England States. that certainly have
a Philadelphia paper that there were more
farms sold the past year in Berks county
(the county where the Iourishing city of
Reading is .situated) by the sheriff for
taxes, than since the year Of the financial
. panic NS73). lii Bucks county, adjoining
the city of Philadelphia, and one of the
, most favorably conditioned of the agricul-
tural sections of the State. lands have de-
preciated from one-.hirdsto one-half their
former value, and during the past season
numerous farms comprising thousands OF
acres have been sold for taxes. A gentle
man told me that in his county, Staten
Island, adjoining New York, there were
sic hundred- farms sold for taxes the past
year. The Springfield Republican, a lead
ing paper of New England, in recent ed
itorial says ''there are plenty of farms
close to prosperous manufacturing towns
in Massachusetts that can be bought for
the taxes due on them; the owners being
willing to give them away to anybody who
will pay the taxes"
We find that both in New England,
Pennsylvania and New York the decline
in value offarm property has been start
ling and general. There we find rapid
and wonderful development of manufac-
turing, a growth of many great cities, and
withal a remarkable expansion OF the do
nestle market for agricultural produce,
and yet, with it all, the people have left
the farms; improved land is seeking pur-
chasers at a sacrifice alid all values re-
lating to agricultural property have de-
clined even i'll the finest farming sections.
The cause of this remarkable decrease in
values of farming property in the Middle
and New England States is ascribed partly
to the attempt to work large farms on the
old lines in the face of Western competi-
ton and the remedy suggested, is the con-
~ fol I
! areas of land; that is, farmer must put
his money, his labor, his manure upon one
half or one-fourth the acreage Of his fore
| fathers, if he would reap the same tradi-
tional profits. This remedy will only be
partial because farming lands even in the
| West in such States as Iowa. Illinois, Kan
sas, Minnesota, &c, where land is cheap
and of virgin richness, have deprecated
| from 20 to 80 per cent. since 1870.
The trouble lies deeper, and is largely to
| be laid to the high protective war tariff OF
| 1862 which has taxed the agriculturalist
| for the benefit of the manufacturers, until
the latter have been so multiplied that
| supply all home demand, and are cOntriv-
| ing to diminish protection, so as to keep up
! their prices whereas there being no pro-
| lection for the farmers products he has to
| buy in the dearest market and sell to the
lowest-and all over the country except in
| the South the farming interests seem to be
going from bad to worse
Hence the time is very propitious for
| the holding of our Southern Exposition, for
certainly thrifty, industrious Northern
farmer can come South, ard at the price at
which our lands can be bought, with our
moderate taxes, make a support for him
| self and family There can be no doubt
that we in North Carolina live in one of
the most favorably conditioned States in
| the Union. if not the most favored and
our young men in thinking other States
more desirable as a home make great
| mistake, and should discard all such vain
thoughts and settle down to do their part
| in making North Carolina the first State
| agriculturally speaking, in the Union.
VIM. H. S. BURGWYN.
Henderson, N. g., Feb IA, 1889.