The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-30

PCS farms in the State devoted to the
raising of registered and blooded stock
cattle. horses, sheep, and swine.
Most of them are on a small scale, but
a considerable number Will compare
fayOrably with the great stock farms
of the Blue Grass country. The natur-
al result is that stock of all kinds on
the farms is greatly improved and
yearly improving. 1T is comparative
Iv new thing for North Carolina to
be represented ON the grand circuit
every year. but it's representatives IN
the past few years have embraced
Pamlico, John II. Gentry, Maggie Wat
kins. Baronet, Little lobe, and num-
Der of Others These horses have held
rank with the best animals on the
American turf.
RAILROAD MILEAGE MORE THAN
DOUBLED.
The plain figures best tell the tale
of railroad building and prosperity:
JANUARY, 1881.
Mileage. ,499
Capital stock. ........... 2O,225, 10000
Funded debt. ........... 1850, lOO.OO
Gross earnings .. 2,866, 494.OO
Operating expenses. 1,93S,075.O0
Net earnings. ......, 926.423.OO
JANUARY, 1895.
Mileage. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3,3OO
Capital stock. .... $38,946, 1880
Funded debt .. 41,49G, $500
Gross earnings .... 8,864,911.19
Operating expenses. 6,738, 688.7
Net earnings ... 2,126,2 AT
The total amount invested in rail
it is $50, 443, 165, which shows that it
has almost trebled in fifteen years. !
doubt if another State in the Union
has increased SO rapidly in these fif-
teen years, during part of which prog
ress was retarded in North Carolina
first 10y low prices for Gotten and to-
bacco, and second by the panic of
1893.
INCREASE OF TAXABLE VALUES.
The following statement, taken
from the books Of the State Auditor,
gives the increase in taxable values:
1881.
Real property ...... $1O2, 1926
Personal property 67,570,691
Total . 500, 907
Railroads and steamboats,
included in the aboye,)
1894.
Real property. ......... 15G, 743, 965
Personal property. 81G17,543
Railroad, steamboat
etc.. property. 24,565, 611.87
Total. ...S 1862, 1921, 1887
The returns for 1885 have not yet
been tabulated. The above figures
show an increase of almost one hun
bred million dollars worth of property
in the State in fourteen years.
FOUR MILLION DOLLARS N
LUMBER.
The numbering interests of the State
are enormous. 1t is estimated that
four million of dollars are brought
into the State each year from this
source. This deyeIopmentof our lnm-
bering interests has been almost en-
tfrely since 1851. This industry was
stimulated by the exhibit made By
the State in Atlanta in 1881, in Boston
in 1883, and in New Orleans i'm 1885
Many miles of railroad have been con-
structed to reach the heavily timbered
sections, and prosperous towns have
grown up along the line of these new
roads.
FISHERIES a MARVELLOUS HAUL.
The fishing industry has always
yielded considerable revenue to the
people of Eastern North Carolina.
The development in the methods of
catching herring and shad have been
marvellous, in that the great seines
now being used are operated by steam
from the shore. For instance, the
seines at the Avoca fisheries are one
and half miles long and thirty feet
wide. These immense seines are car
ried on small steamers from mile to a
mile and half from the beach,
stretched along its channels and then
drawn in by powerful engines on suit
able ''whims." Or. Capeheart at Avoca,
last spring, drew in at one haul as
many as four hundred thousand her
ring. This catch was so enormous as
to require before the landing of the
great seine three separate landings.
DEVELOPMENT OF TRUCKING.
Truck farming, which now brings
into the State annually about four mil
lion dollars, is almost new industry
The best trucking land is in the east,
tributary to the Atlantic Coast Line.
and Mr. 7. NJ Emerson, general traffic
manager, says that the trucking inter
est has quadrupled itself in the last
five years. During the past season
one man Mr.. j. s. Westbrook, of
Faison, shipped solid train of IS ear
loads Of fine Strawberries for which
he received sixteen thousand dollars.
He is now a rich man; twenty years
ago, he rented the land on which he
began to grow Strawberries, aspara-
gus, potatoes, beans and other truck.
In 1892 100000 quarts Of Strawberries,
from the sale of which $4,000 was re-
ceiyed, was shipped over the Whining
ton and Weldon railroad. In one sea-
son, from Newbern $4,000 boxes and
barrels of truck We're shipped. The
prices for this immense quantity were
extraordinary. A conservative sum
for the 100000 boxes and barrels is
S750000, which, after deducting the
freight expenses, left net profit to
the farmers of half a million dollars