The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-03-23
HAND BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA

With the compliments of Hon.
John Robinson, Commissioner of Ag-
riculture, the GOLD LEAF has received
a copy of the "Hand Book of North
Carolina" just published. The work was
written and compiled by our venerable
and esteemed friend Col. John D..
Cameron the we'll known journalist
and man of letters of Asheville, and it
goes without saying that ii has been
carefully, faithfully and conscientiously
done. 1t is full and complete, con-
sidering the scope and time allowed
in the preparation of such a work and
reflects the highest credit upon the
literary skill and ability of the author,
his State pride and fund Of informa-
ton concerning its industries and re-
sources, physical aspects and future
possibilities. The book was gotten
up for special distribution at the
Worlds Fair and can not but prove a
a big advertisement for the State. We
can not do better than to reprint the
following review of the book from the
Asheville Citizen. That paper says:
At last we have book about North
Carolina by North Carolinians that is
worthy of the subject. Knowing that
the work was in the hands of ]. D.
Cameron, of this city, very high ex-
pectations of its probable value were
excited, and, we believe, are more than
satisfied by the result now before us.
Col. Cameron gives ample credit in
the preface of the book for the assist
ance derived from several sources, but
the work is in the main his and in
the original. Months of hard work
were devoted to travelling throughout
the State in the collection of informa-
ton at first hands, and the material
once in hand the labor of preparing it
for the printer followed and was pushed
with the industry characteristic of the
author.
The work is an exceedingly compre-
hensive one. There is first general
typographical sketch of the State.
Then the characteristics of the State,
its mountains, rivers, lakes, sounds,
bays, swamps and forests are treated
of in the order named. Then follow
as topics of elaboration, climate, pop
ulation, government, taxation, State
debt, religion, public institutions,
labor statistics, geological museum,
railroad commission, public buildings.
Twenty pages are given to the topic
of education with a full list Of the
schools in the State, private as we'll as
public. A Description of Counties"
takes over 100 pages and contains a
vast deal of information, concisely
yet clearly told. Other topics are
Agricultural products, ports and har-
bors, truck farming, silk, minerals,
springs, fisheries, vineyards, resorts
and hotels of the State, manufactures
covering IS pages-railroads and
canals, building stones, gold mining,
with full and very interesting chapter
on economic minerals mica,
kaolln, tale, corundum, etc.
The work is handsomely illustrated,
is accompanied by map, and is in
every way credit to the high reputa-
ton of the author and to the State. A
copy should be in every hotel and
reading room of importance in the
Atlantic, Middle and New England
States. 1t is greatly to be regretted
that the book is not to be on sale on
all the newstands and at all the book
stores. Asheville alone would dispose
OF several hundred copies yearly. But
the Hand Book of North Carolina is
certain of doing no little good at the
Worlds Fair where it is to be distri-
buted as literally as the provision for
that purpose will permit.