The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-08-31

wears sickness and death played havoc
with the people on either side for miles
opposite those dams, and the enterprise
was abandoned, after which the health
of that country improved greatly.
The tearing down of many mill dams
and putting the old ponds in cultiva
ton in other sections of the State after
such sad experience, improved the
health of the people greatly. Ny pa
rents settled on the edge Of the low
lands of South river, near the mouth OF
Second creek. Though they both pos
sessed sound bodies and were very tenn
perate, they died at the ages Of 80 and
So; and there are now several old
graves to be seer where their house
| stood which show how a family had
suffered previously, when the natural
life of q person in this State ought to
be 100 years.
Some twenty years ago Mr.. Jonas
Harmon, of north Iredell, built a stone
dam just below an old log n and left
the old timbers to be covered by the
water. Soon after Mr.. MiIas Jordan
erected a saw mill just above Mr. Har
mons. The washing of the sawdust
AMI slabs of Jordan's mill into Har,
mons pond soon created many cases Of
fever and chiIls in what had been a re-
markably healthy location, and the
evil was remedied by the sands filling
up the greater part Of the lower pond
and the dis~continuance Of the upper
one.
Though the health Of many counties
of cur State has been greatly improved
by removing dams, ditchlng and clear
ing lowlands, and clearing streams Of
old decaying logs, ETC., there is much
more to be done before our State Can
invite immigration and health seekers
as she might do. There are thousands
of miles Of large creeks and small riv
ers in North Carolina with their
crooked channels greatly obstructed
with old. decayed logs, and the ada
cent lowlands covered with timber,
much of it dead and decaying, and
natural ponds that turn green ii hot
weather; and the de0aying leaves end
grass every fall added thereto creates
sickness. Those streams should be
Strengthened that the pure water flow
ing from our western mountains and
hills should pass as rapidly through
the State to the ocean as possible. Be-
sides all this, there are millions of
acres of rich swamp lands in eastern
Carolina which should be drained and
put IN cultivation or kept for timber
without damaging the health Of the
entire State. In passing from vii
mington to Fayetteville on boats, /
have often thought of the immense
amount Of money, time and labor that
could be saved by straightt ming the
Cape Fear river, to say nothing Of the
improvement Of health.
Nearly sixty years ago my brother,
o. G. Foard, bought a large plantation
in Rowan county and lived On it thirty |
years. During those years there were
28 deaths on that plantation. About
the same time Mr. T. O. Graham set |
tied one mile from my brother, imme-
diately on the edge Of Third creek bot
tom, where he sold goods and acted as
postmaster of old CowansviIle postc flee
for many years. Though his family
suffered greatly from miasuatic dis
eases, still not SO much as those living
kko LS0hnaE hSRg1 nnOV1~I Ls- 4
While living at Eupeptic Springs, we
had one season prevailing winds from
the east for several days, l told my
if this continued awhile
longer we would have fever around
there, and in less than two weeks there
were several cases in the little noun.
tains near by.
Soon after the late war 81 man from
Wilkes county attended Federal Court
at Salisbury and camped on the ridge
between the large Mccoy mill pond and
the town. On their return home II of
them oon died of fever. Since chen
that pond has been drained; the creek
above and below strengthened, and
thousands of acres OF the very best
land put in successful cultivation,
which has greatly improved the health
Of the town and surrounding country.
These and many other cases prove
that elevation is no guarantee against
those poisonous vapors. Besides, the
most obstinate and fatal cases of fever
occur in the mountains. Legislative
Is necessary to remedy all this.
II the remedy could be applied cur
State would be the most attractive Of
all the States. as it lies between the