The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-29

product Of any county In tne o'a,e'
Ora sses and red clover are abundant, the
common wild red clover growing WIG
over the whole of this piedmont region
| There is clover now coming up when
was planted fifty years ago, which makes
the country paradise for stock-raising.
In the southern part of the county the
soil is of a gray, sandy loam-partcular-
| lv adapted to cotton and tobacco.
There are some large and noted fruit
farms with apples, peaches and grapes
and a number of nurseries. The fruits
from these farms have taken premiums
at every fair that has been held IN Ral-
eigh. One dealer in Pittsboro bought
10000 pounds of blackberrles. Inc
State Agricultural report showed Chat-
ham county as having more cattle and
sheep than any county in the State. Only
five counties have more mules and horses.
The land, by rotating the crop, is sus-
ceptible of high state Of Improvement,
and once made rich it retains its pro-
ductiveness to remarkable extent.
There are four -four mills in the coun-
ty. besides numerous burr and rock mills
for corn and -four.
During the last few years quite num-
her of farmers from the Northern and
Western States have moved into this
county and bought farms and are sue
ceeding well, and are thoroughly pleased
and satisfied with their surroundings.
The unimproved lands Of the county
embrace some 300, 1000 acres, with Origi-
nal forests of oak and hickory and cedar
and pine and nearly all the varieties of
the hard woods. A quantity Of walnut
timber has been shipped to Germany
direct, also a large quantity of oak
timber has been shipped to Norfolk and
Fortress Monroe for the use Of the Uni
ted States government. In the county
beginning about four miles from Pitts
boro are high hills, known as Hickory
Mountains. The valleys and hillsides
are very rich and the region specially
strong in hard woods.
The manufacturing facilities are main
ly enhanced by more than 10000 horse
power from the Haw and Cape Fear
rivers with q fall of from 300 to 400 feet.
The country promises richly in minerals
and coal, there being iron ore of the best |
quality and undeveloped areas Of cop |
per IN many parts Of the county. A !
company of capitalists is now forming to
develop these resources on large scale. ,
In Chatham are the celebrated Egypt !
coal mines.
The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley |
railroad runs north and south through |
the county the Seaboard Air Line
running east and west through the south
ern part of the county, being tapped |
at Moncure by the road, which runs
thence to the county seat of Pitsboro.
The population is some $4,000, Of
which only about 5000 are negroes, and
the valuation of real and personal proper
ty is over 100000. There are in the
county 135 public schools and about 100
chiefly Baptist, Methodist,
Christian, Presbyterian, Friends and
the quiet and refined
bones being but the product of these
two parents Of orderly and progressive
citizenship as liberal in
views as it is loyal to right living.
Improved farm lands can be bought in
this immediate vicinity for from So to
$40 per acre and good timber land at |
about the same figure. This land is
capable of a very high state of cultiva-
ton and retains it's productive capacity
to a wonderful degree, fifteen barrels Of
corn or thirty bushels of. wheat to the
acre being no unusual yield for the best
Of this land.
In this connection it may be well to
mention that Mr.. Spence Taylor has lit
acres of good land, which can be bought
at $1,000, another % acres in the town
for 81, 200, and another fine tract Of 81
acres with good houses, stables, dwell
ing, etc. Among other farmers owning
land are Messrs NJ. Il. Williams,
]. B. De Grafenried, David Womble, r.
w Bland, A. III. Merritt, l.. j. Hough-
ton, b. G. Lambeth, A. J. Bynum, w.
l.. London, A. G. Headen, VIM. Heath