The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-02-27
IT'S TRUE SIGNIFICANCE.
Object of that Special Committees
Visit to Southern Pines.


The GOLD LEAF last week mentioned
The visit of a party of physicians and
others from Washington City to South
ern Pines, n. &. We were slightly
mis:nformed as 10 the object Of their
mission when we stated that it was 10
investigate the sanitary condition OF
the place with vieYto making re-
port on The same for the benefit OF
their patients and others who are
troubled with pulmonary diseases. AS
we learn from the Carthage BIaae
they went TO Southern Pines 10 inves-
ugale its advantages for a National
Soldiers Home, Congress having been
urged to locate one at that place. The
BIade says the visitors were favorably
impressed with "The Pines," and
strongly endorse it as suitable place
for the location of such an institution.
In its report the committee says:
when contemplating trip TO a
health resort one of the first things we
take into consideration is its accessl-
bility. Southern Pines, winter
health resort, is conveniently located
in the Southern central portion of
North Carolina, on the Seaboard Air
Line, therefore being easily reached
by tourists from all parts of the country.
This village of 500 inhabitants, stu
ated in the center of the long leaf pine
belt region and among the sand hills
Of the old North State, with an eleva-
ton of 600 feet (abcve the sea-, is be-
coming extensively known as a Mecca
for those suffering with tuberculous
diseases. In the village there are sew
eral hundred cottages built from the
wood of the long leaf pine. Tie ma
10 'ity of the inhabitants OF these cot
tages are people from the different
States of the Republic, but principally
from the Northern and New England
States. These persons seem unani-
nous in their praise Of Southern Pines
as health resort, and many of them
have informed us that they have been
greatly benefited by their sojourn
there. Fruit culture is the main in
dustry of the country surrounding
Southern Pines; the principal products
bel lg grapes and peaches. There are
thousands Of acres planted in peach
trees and over two thousand acres de-
voted to the culture Of grape. The
flavor and quality of the fruit is such
that it commands high prices in the
markets of the North and South.
Where fruits and flowers flourish there
you will find delightful climate. The
soil is sandy, ranging 40 to SO feet in
depth and so rapidly is water absorbed,
that within an hour of a heavy rain no
moisture can be found on the surface.
This being the case the air is dry and
pure, due to the ozone in the atmos-
phere, it is delightful. The water is
free stone and is as clelr as crystal.
There is a mineral spring in the neigh
borhood, which is highly spoken of
for its health giving qualities.
considering the average age of
veterans of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public and their needs for years to
come, the overcrowding Of our North
ern Soldiers Home and the large pro-
portion of tuberculous diseases among
them, it seems to US, that more wise,
patriotic, economical or humane pro-
vision could not be made than the To-
cation of National Soldiers Home
for the treatment of physical troubles
among G. a. r.. men in the mild and
unsurpassed climate ofSouthern Pines.
For the kind reception and hospi-
tality of the people generally we shall
ever feel deeply indebted. Our visit
has been most pleasant and on; leave
a matter Of regret to ourselves. To
our esteemed and most pected friend
Col. A Nj. Clarke, who is ably promo
ting this great enterprise in behalf of
his suffering cohli AIDES Of the G. A. r.,
we tender our most sincere thanks for
his many courtesies exter ded to us du-
ring our soiourn at Southern Pines,
and we wish to assure the citizens of
North Carolina that they could not
have chosen a more energetic worker
or an ADLER champion Of their cause"
The committee was composed of
Drs. l.. J. Battle, n. 2. Barnes and
J. r. hewitt, and members of G. A.
r., ID. G. Gentch, NJ. D. and Gen. S.
S. Yoder.
The endorsement of this committee
will have a great deal of weight with
the G.. A. r. and, through that great
organization, with the members of
Congress, and we feel safe in predict
ing that the location of a National
Soldiers Home at Southern Pines is
assured.