The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

a evil engineer by profession, though
at tAe time of his death at Whining
ton, on the 24th day of May, 1890, he
was engaged in commercial business.
He was fond of scientific studies and
delighted in Investigations concern
ing Southeastern North Carolina. He
was regarded in his day as an enthu-
siast on this subject. He had studied
the varied resources Of this section, as
!. no other man of his day, and foresaw
5ts marvellous possibilities. 1t was he
who discovered the phosphate beds OF
this section and directed public atten-
ton 10 them. Their development is
now one of the industries. if in a limi-
ted way, Of the State He described
the adaptability OF this section for
fruit growing and trucking of all
kinds This edition of the News and
Observer bears testimony to the accu-
racy of his foresight. The conditions
for the culture of tobacco, he asserted
1vere here. The tobacco edition of the
News and Observer, showing the re-
cent culture of this plant in the neigh
borhood of Kinston and in other coun-
ties within the area described, is a fur
ther testimony and realization of his
predictions. He believes that the area
was we'll adapted for the profitable
growth of the sugar cane. From
the sporadic culture of this plant now
an progress in some sections, it may
become one of the great agricultural
industries of the State. He says that
the mud lands within this semi-tropl-
cal area will produce abundantly the
hemp and jute. 1t is from the Jute
plant that the cotton bagging IS made.
We may vet see its cultivation IN this
r<Ps N11r
planters.
1t must be remembered that Maj.
Young wrote fifteen years ago. Devel-
sOpments since made, as evidenced IN
= this edition, are indeed a tribute to his
sagaeity, research and intelligent
knowledge of the area of which he
writes.
Dr. L. b. Kingsbury, of the Whining
ton Messenger, in june, 1890, paid this
tribute to Mai. Young: '.IIe was a
s man of far more reading and informa-
tion than was supposed by his fellow
men who did not know him as we did.
In his boyhood he removed to Alaba-
: ma, and for a long time resided at Mo-
bile. lie remained there until the war
began, and was engaged in mercantile
pursuits. He was first connected with
the War Department in Richmond, and
after that raised company. lie was
next major of the Tenth Battalion OF
Confederate States Troops. He was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the
consolidation of two battalions, but
1--WE do know that he received his COM
emission before the war ended. lie
was seriously wounded in Georgia
while the army was retreating before
Sherman.
Mai. Young constructed the defences
around Wilmington, we have under
stood. A friend of the departed Caro-
9fniau writes of him: His skill as an
engineer was acknowledged by all who
understood the science. He was brave,
a good disciplinarian, and had the GIT
to inDart to his command the highest
esprit de corps. He was the first to
discover the deposits Of large beds Of
phosphates IN North Carolina. lie
made map of what he denominated
the Sugar Belt of North Carolina"
and wrote a book on the cliTnatology,
peolog-y and mineralogy of it, which
ought to be published. We believe
all this to be strictly true We wrote
>ahsgnf his discovery OF phosphate de-
posits soon after it was made, ana ne
esras beyond doubt the discoverer. MAJ,
Young was fond OF science, ana had
read much and closely IN the depart
rnent of geology, &c. lie was some
thing Of an expert, and would nave
s4lean decided success II ne had puI-
sued those studies all his Ire. ne was
a man Of information in many ways,
. and of good natural capaclty. we eau
, sav this. and It ID what we can not say
IT so very many men we have known,
ave never talked with him ten minutes
rfn twenty years without learning
.zomefhing of interest or value from
MIN" ,
Major Young married Miss Alice
f;ause. OF Wilmington, IN 1887. HIS
widow, who survives him, has IN her
posseasion s. number Of elaborate maps,
showing the topography, geology
.y,bosnhsta beds and general character
isf,ies Of this section, which evidence
his diigent research of the SUBJECT IL
Is bv her permission that this artlcle
IS prepared from the rough manuscript
IF a book which he had contemplated
rubIishing on the "Semi-Tropical Area
or Sugar Belt of Southeastern Nofph
Carolina"
Mai. Young, in his Introductory,
writing about the year 1880, says: iLe
public has not yet fully relllz lt IN, lllao
! portion Of the shores Of North CARO-.
lima are almost washed by the gulI
stream, whose tepid waters have given
this part of the State, lying between
tho two great Iobes Of the Atlantlc
ocean. from 'rCape Fear and back, an
isolated semi-tropical climate, whose
prevailing winds, have become dry Dy
depositinC their moisture in passing
over the area OF perpetual ram OF the
gulf stream"
The peculiar and beneficial effects
Of this drv atmosphere is shown in the
superior healthfulness Of the section
Effected by It and in the luxuriant and
varied production Of fruits, vegetables es
and fropical plarte ~ acquaintance
with this section OF the State ates
back over twenty years ago, when,
with two other officers ] was stationed
awo wears in this part of the country