The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-17

the increased short crop cause him to
return to the old ONE crop system All
along / am told there have been farm
ers here, even at the lowest prices, who
have made money raising cotton. SO
long as farmers depend chiefly on negro
labor. cotton must be the leading crop
on land ideally adapted to its growth
have heard OF some farmers who have
averaged from three-fOurths to a bale
of cotton to an acre this year. They are
of course farmers whose lands have been
kept in high state of cultivation. The
number of such farmers is constantly in
creasing. One gentleman tells me that
the Edgeeombe farmers have made this
year ten per cent more cotton than last
year. with at least fifteen per cent less
acreage.
Trucking has come to be a big inter-
est in Edgecombe particularly around
Conetoe where the fiat, loamy soil is
said to combine all the clements for early
production. Mr.. n Il. Dawson and Mr..
Will Thigpen, of Conetoe, and Messrs.
De Berry. C. III. King and Thad w.
Thrash, Of Tarhoro, have been leaders
in growing truck Mr.. Thigpen has four
acres IN lettuce alone this year ana eX-
poets his crop to net ntm four thousand
dollars MIR Dawson has $40 acres in
vegetables and grows most everything
that can be called vegetables. The truck
in this section natures earlier than
about Norfolk and the gentlemen who
have gone into it and given it the neces-
sary attention have made money.
The cultivation of tobacco is also new
here. and Tarboro with its three large
tobacco warehouses and prize houses
ranks with the best tobacco markets of
Eastern North Carolina. The low price
this year has discouraged the farmers
and they will raise iess tobacco next
year. 4 prominent lawyer, speaking of
the drawback to agricultural improve
ment in the low price of tobacco said
to me, And yet i heard yesterday OF
a tenant of MIR. b. Il. Eagles at Crisp
who has already sold seven hundred dol
lars worth of tobacco from one-horse
crop and has not yet sold fwo-thirds of
his crop" The recent sales at the ware
houses show that farmers realize the
highest prices the Trust permits to be
paid for the weed anywhere and the
Tarboro market viii sell twice as much
tobacco this year as last.
The peanut has come to be a big crop
in this county. The yield of the Spanish
peanut has BEEN good. Farmers have
made from - to 100 bushels Of the
Virginia pea per acre. The county will
produce at least 100 per cent more than
last year The peanut factory is to be
erected during the coming year. Stock
is being solicited for this factory and
l am told that many farmers are taking
stock in the company that is to erect
and operate the mill. This is good
sign. IF farmers have surplus money it
shows that conditions are improving, and
when they invest il i'll local factories
they are as surely making two blades of
grass grow where formerly only one
grew as by actually doubling the blades
on their farms. The increase of manufae-
turing in the towns and villages gives
ready market for every sort OF truck and
fowl grown on the farms, and frees the
farmer from the necessity of making cot
ton or tobacco at unremuneratiye prices.
The new peanut factory will with rhe
increasing production of peanuts, give
employment to workers and enable the
buyer to pay the farmer more for this
legislative necessity. SO far | have
heard OF no agitation ON the part of
peanut growers for frequent sessions of
the Legislature, but If the price con-
tinues to go down it may be the only
legitimate way to increase consumption
and therefore increase the demand. An
average legislator win eat more pea
nuts in sixty days session than an or
binary citizen viii consume i'll a year.
The late Bishop Lyman gave a boom to
the peanut market when he prescribed
roasted peanuts and sweet milk as
remedy for insomnia. If the peanut
growers could induce Bishop Cheshire
la loyal son of Edgecomoe) and all the
other leaders of thought to make the
same recommendation, the falling prices
might be arrested. As it would help the
farmer and induce sleep nobody could
be hurt and everyone would be blessed.
Among the other manufacturing estab-
liShmentS hereI may mention the plant
Of f. S. Royster Guano Co, the Edge
conpbe Agricultural Works, an extensive
dying establishment, two buggy facto-
ries and qlEfe a number of smaller i'm
dustres that are found in up-to-date
communities.
I'm addition to the two 100000 fac
tories and fifty homes for factory opera
tiyes that are being erected, this has
been a period OF much building Several
handsome residences have been COM
pleted, a number of smaller ones are
being erected, and other building is in
progress The Bank of Tarboro,
strong and hourishing institution, of
which Mr. j. L. Shackleford is president
and Mr.. Joseph ]. Green is cashier, is
building a large storage warehouse here
for the storage of cotton and peanuts.
and viii advance money on the ware
house receipts, thus enabling the farmer
to hold his crop or part of it as long
as he deems it to his interest to do
so.
The county commissioners have author
lied the building of modern fre-proof
vaults and an enlargement and improve
ment of the court house, which is being
done on a plan that will give Fdgecombe
one of the finest court houses in Eastern
North Carolina. In this connection
cannot fail to mention that rs a result
Of the 1888 elections the officials in the
court house are most efficient and popu-
lar officials. The clerk, Mr.. Penning
tom has been in office long time, and
an ex-Judge here tells me G1Iat he is