The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

age one. his crop would have been al
most doubled. think myself, judging
from the bulk of straw, that there was
q heavy loss, No land reclaimed will
produce as much the first year as the
second. And now these lands are in
splendid condition, would it not be
mistake should our penitentiary board
abandon them? | am sure this year
they will pay the State two dollars for
every one invested And apart from
from that, they are leased and the
amount is to be paid whether they are
planted or not / think farmers all
agree 5-cent cotton 5O-cent peanuts do
not pay. Rice can be made for fifty
cents per bushcl. and it is not at all
likely we will get less tIau 81 per
hushel for tide-water. and the proba-
bility is the price will exceed that
amount. | have consulted several
planters and they think my views con-
seryatiye; if 50 the producer may cal
culate on fifty per cent OF profit. 1t is
my opinion in the near future these
lands win be in great demand, and many
who are now making tive-cent cotton
and tiftyccnt peanuts will rurn their at
tention in this direction
Before closing / must say something
about Eagles Island. which l think is
the most valuable body of land according
to acres in the State This island lies
between the Cape Fear and Brunswick
rivers, the astern portion for "A short
distance, just opposite the city of Will
mington, is laid off in lots and is within
the corporate limits of that town This
magnificent island contains about B.
300 acres. probably not surpassed 10y
any alluvial land in the world. The
soil is blue clay, ranging in depth from
- to 100 or more feet. Its formation
has no doubt been extremely Slow, and
for what we know, millions Of Years
have been consumed in accomplishing
1t. In ditching, no matter how deep, all
through the mud you find partly de-
composed leaves sometimes stained with
yellow clay which coucusively proves
the hills OF Chatham. Moore and other
counties along the river have contri-
buted largely to its formation.
As nearly as can be ascertained, about
four-fifths of the island has been cult
waited and now quite a portion is plant
ed in rice The rise and fall Of the tide
at this point is from two to three feet.
It is always lower when the wind blows
from the northwest, and higher when
from the southeast
Without storm or freshet, it runs up
five hours and down seven, every twelve
hours. The island is fraction over
seven miles long, and at its widest point,
two miles
There is quite bold and deep creek
that commences at its extremity and
penetratcS the center which is trans
formed into smaller creeks known as
fingers.
These creeks are filed with quite a
variety Of the finest fish, Following the
meandering of the rivers. approximately
speaking. the distance around is about
eighteen miles Thousands Of ducks
frequent these creeks and rivers. and
under protection would be heaven for
the Nimrod. 1t is estimated that a
bank can be built eight feet wide and
six or seven feet high, which would be
imperyious to all tides for 5000 per mile.
According to this estimate, S10,S0O
would dixie it, For contingencies add
1920. making it $4,000, which | am
sure would accomplish that part of the
work
OF course the irrigation is perfect ms
we have the rivers to flow from. A few
pumps stationed at the most convenient
points to dry the land in case of excess
sive rains, with flood gates to let the
water in, or out, as the occasion re-
quires. is all that is necessary to make
the island one Of the most valuable rice
or truck farms in the United States.
Remember there is no Iencmg, for the
rivers are a legal inclosure. No manur-
ing, no guano, for the soil is one bed
of richness The island is owned by
eight or ten persons who would sell at
reasonable sum-say $50 per acre.
Now the question arises, what are the
1900 acres worth when put in perfect
state of cultivation? Simply not less
than $500 per acre. or one million four
hundred thousand dollars.
| regard it as a perfect bonanza, and
how it is that capitalists have overlook
ed this great investment. is a mystery.
The cheapest and best labor is to be
had All Of the Island is in Brunswick
county. excepting the four town lots
mentioned. As long MS we have
State. there will be convicts. A hint to
the wise is sufficient To the board of
penitentary directors: Gentlemen, do
look this way.
t. NJ MOORE.