The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-04-02
A GREAT ADVANTAGE
THAI WAKE AND RALEIGH NAV
HAVE IF THEY WILL TAKE 1T.

Feasible Plan Proposed TO Give an
Impetus to Raleigh Business.--A
Lease System for Tobacco Lands
Proposed.
The CHRONICLE is keenly desirous of
seeing Raleigh's business enterprises
developed more rapidly.
Ihe following thoughtful communi-
cation, embodying, living and practical
ideas was received by the CHRONICLE
yesterday, and is commended to the
careful consideration of all its readers.
EDITOR CHRoNICLE:-Your paper of
this morning contains an article on the
sudden growth of Kentucky town and
the causes which led to to it. You have
always shown an earnest advocacy of all
schemes looking to the IMPROVEMENT OF
THE CITIES of the South, especially so of
those OF your own State, and at all
times have given your columns to the
use OF any proposition having for its
OBJECT the IMPROVEMENT oE THIS CITY
and the building up of its business.
The falling off in the cotton trade
has dlmsnished the receipts from one
branch OF our business. That this is so
needs no proof. We all feel it. If
we could only be BROUGHT To SEE that
the lands of Wake county, SO long de-
voted to the cultivation of this staple.
are much better adapted to THE GROWTH
OF TOBACCO; that they are eminently
suited to the growth of the finer grades
OF tobacco, we might find this falling
of In the cotton trade was really a
blessing in disgnise.
In Doarlv avory
lands have been cultivated bv men who
have moved in here from adjacent coun.
ties, we hear of SUCCESS AND PROFIT.
Now, although our people welcome
all such; although we have in our midst
tobacco market equal to any in the
State; although our tobacco board do
all In their power to encourage the
PLANTING OF TOBACCO, it seems to me
that when We understand the
TACT that MAJORITY of those
engaged in the cultivation of
OF tobacco In the country north
OF Us ARE RENTERS, who pay q
rent OF one-fourth to one-half their crop
Tor the annual use of the lands they
plant, often amounting to twenty-five
per cent. of the same, We arrive at
point from which CONCENTRATED
EFFORT may be made by the owners of
our lands to induce those people to
come among US.
Ten years ago gentleman of this city
having charge of a large amount of va
cant property IN the northwestern part
OF the city, INTRODUCED THE LEASE sYs-
TEN In use In Baltimore and other North
ern cities. The results are seen TO-DAY
In what few years ago was an insight.
ly sedge fleld-oomfortabl and beau.
, tiful homes, new streets opened, sewe,
pipes laid, electric lights and
and water supply, and the city receiv
ing therefrom a larger ADDITION TO 1T
TAX RECEIPTS. This work was all done
by leasing these lots at an rent equal te
} the interest on their value-the lesse,
using whatever money he possessed Il
} build himself house, and laying by
, sufficient amount to purchase the fe,
> simple OF the property which under
clause OF the lease was his on demanl
3 and payment of the purchase money.
1 Why cannot this system, which ha
: proved so useful and easy ito those de
sirous OF building up a home, be ap
piled to the SALE OF OUR TOBACCO LANDS
The rental Of farm at a rent equal Z
the interest on its value would be unfelt
e The renter-to all interests becomin,
the owner would have every lnducemen
;. to build up and improve the same, will
no mortgage to stare him in the face il
Is case of failure of crops. Having tel
! years within which to redeem his lease
i he would avoid waste and give his earn
est efforts to building up the tobacc,
market of this city.
) Cannot the Chamber of Commerce b
O induced to take hold of this matter an,
). assist by united effort to carrying
out