davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
The Hard Lesson of the Past and the Brighter Promise OF
the Future to AgriCultursts.
L. Patterson Commissioner
of Agr cuture@

farmer of the crop lien iniquity and
make MIN practically independent Of tine
selfish, wicked, grasping schemes which
design him for their prey.
Many evidences attest the intelligent
Thought now bestowed upon conserving
the fertility Of the soil. and in seeking
information as to ways and means for
securing this. Renovating crops are lux
uriant in fields once marked by barren
wastes and profitless weeds-whiIe the
crops succeeding show the wisdom of the
system Along with such forage ana
fertilizing crops as the cloyers. peas and
yetches, come d marked Improvement in
stock, especially in dairy stock. and the
golden yellow butter now adorns many
tables that were sparsely supplied only a
few years back with doubtful quality
of butter grease.
Along with improved cattle come also
the Berkshire. Essex, Poland China, Req
Jersey and other leading breeds of hogs
These are one result in part of the spirit
Of Improvement and in part is due to the
introduction Of the stock law which has
been adopted i'll SO many counties, and
which itself is one of the evidences Of
an improved system Of farming.
Ry no means least OF the evidences
marking the general change is the COM
mon use now of new machinery and inn
PIGMENTS as against the out Of date rude
contriyances that cling to our early re-
collections.
We are so rapidly nearing the end of
another census decade that statistics,
taken nearly ten years ago, are made
quate to attest the rapid development
along certain lines of agriculture made
since 1890. Yet comparing the census
results of 1890 with those of 1880 and
applying what we know of the increase
since 80, the remarkable improvement is
most gratifying. For instance, shipment
Of truck from the Eastern counties in
creased 500 per cent. during the 1880
1890 decade, while the actual increase
since 1880, statistics being lacking, is
certainly much greater, and the business
has now become one of the States great
industries. Indeed the business has in
creased to such proportions that statis-
tics Of 1890 form but IN imperfect basis
on which to estimate the proportions and
value OF present opera tions.
In regard to the changes which have
come in the tobacco production the II. s.
Department Of Agriculture in 1895 Of
fers some valuable information, obtain
ed by special agents from different
sources. The extract following is from
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

ers, abound with fish, oysters, clans,
crabs, diamond-bac terrapins and 9th
er delicacies It's commercial fisheries
are among the finest in the world.
The entire coast line including sounds,
inlets, and other indentations gives q
stretch Of 1900 miles which by natural
physical formation is unsurpassed for
the pursuit of this industry-the latest
available census returns show a popula-
ton Of 1924 persons engaging in it
as 4 fruitful means of livelihood.
Winters bring to these waters countless
thousands Of ducks, geese and other
rare, wild fowls, and scores of our citi-
zens derive good incomes from the shoot
ing Of this game. Possibly the larger
number Of canvas-back ducks served
by Delmonico at $500 each are supplied
from our own Currituck sound. Here IS
not only profit, but infinite sport for the
sportsman. At least two of our Presl-
dents We're wont to frequent these shores
and delight in these sports.
TO the sportsman this appeal IS
strong, but the interior offers the finest
quail shooting known, for it is here in
our own Piedmont section, that the
great annual trials Of the North occur.
The wild turkey is common in our swamp
lands, and mountains and valleys; and
to no section do we yield in the vast
quantity of mountain trout afforded
by the streams which form the head
waters Of our magnificent river system.
We challenge any other State to offer
greater inducements to the fisherman
or the sportsman.
Our lands are adapted to agriculture,
horticulture and trucking TO ''the man
with the hoe" there is no better place
to locate, for here he can find soil suit
able for corn, cotton, rice, wheat, rye,
oats, potatoes, tobacco, grasses and al
most everything that can be grown i'll
the United States.
Those i'll quest of health can find no
place superior to our mountains. piney
woods and seaside resorts; and no waters
more curative than those of our mineral
springs.
Our forests are laden with the great
est varieties and finest qualities Of tim
bers of any State, in the Union.
Our mines are teeming with hidden
wealth.
Our quarries contain finest stone and
marble.
Our wafer powers are numerous and
immense.
Soon we will be the GREATEST man
ufacturing State in America. Nature
has favored us above all others in water
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
THE WORLD Is LEARNING
THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS THE BEST
STATE FOR IMMIGRANTS.
The lesson Of The Sunny South Co1ny--la-
migration Increased T xation Sl75,ooo
in One Towns ip.

To the Editor: North Carolina offers
as many or more Inducements to the set
tier, through her varied climate and NUM-
erous resources, than amy other State
in the Union. But with her slowgOlng
and conservative people these facts are
Just beginning to be knowm to the out
side world. Numbers of people and vast
sums of money have found their way
into the State in the past six months,
notwithstanding the fact that the State
has never made any, or but little effort
in that direction. The Resources OF
North Carolina" published some years
AGO by the Agricultural Department,
has been a great factor in bringing
about this result. | don't think there
was ever time in the history OF The
State when systematic and intelligent
advertising would bring the same results
as at present The advertising OF the
States resources by few private andl-
yiduals is already attracting widespread
attention throughout the country. Ter
hans no State in the Union, notwlth-
standing her great retources and lnylt-
ing climate, stands iA greater need OF
intelligent and thrifty immigration. With
her thousands of acres of unoccupled
land. untouched mines and vast timber
interests, the State can easily support
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

To the Editor: AS misfortunes seem
to come not singly. the North Carolina
farmers found at the close of the war,
among troupe Of evils, their labor sys~
tenn reyolutionized, their property gone.
their credit destroyed, their courage near,
IL exhausted and their farms to great
degree impoverished by constantly pur-
suing system which took little heed to
the necessity of restoring an equivalent,
aud more, to the soil in exchange for the
crops taken from it. Instead, it was
rather the custom, with land cheap ard
plenty. while wearing out one field, to be
clearing another, to be put through the
same process. Nor did this needless
waste stop with the close of the war.
High prices of farm products, of cotton,
tobacco, the grains and stock, tended to
Increase tit was the easiest thing to
do-that SHINING of the land without
thought of future consequences-an for
a while all went merrily enough. a
change had to come and it came with a
vengeance
Silent influences, almost unfelt for
years, were gradually bringing about con-
ditions which should force a reyersion Of
50 rninons a system. Or this perhaps
the most potent was the constantly
lessening of prices of farm products AMI
tue ever increasing value of money. With
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

population ten times as great as It's pres
ent population.
Practical experience perhaps teaches
a better lesson than anything else. Inc
object lessons derived from the sunny
S0ath Colony at this place are worthy OF
consideration. 1nis colony is but four
wears old, and the taxable value OF
property in Chadbourn township, which
was practically nothing prior to the set
tlemen or the Colony, has increased
in that time over $1,000; ami where
great strecheS Of timber Rand lay four
years ago are to-day neat and comfort
able homes and productive farms. Four
years ago not a dollars worth Of tobacco
or truck of any description was shipped
from this point. This year the receipts
from truck alone amounted TO over SoO,
600. while tobacco growing is only begin
ming to be introduced. Improved methods
OF farming and cultivation, improved
stock and better farming implements are
to be noticed om every hand; and the
infusion Of new blood and increased i'm
dustry is inspiring hope into the heart
of the average farmer, and he, Likewise,
is making rapid strides in progress. The
average farmer in North Carolina has
lost hope for several years. Renew their
hopes of success. and inspire confidence,
and imnlemate progress and development
win result. Teach the people of North
Carolina chat their State is as good as
it really is, and they will teach the
people of other States that it is bet
ter than theirs Advertise the advant
ages we have to the people of the world,
and the State will soon be filed with
sturdy, thrifty people, and when a suf-
ficient number have come here to de-
velop it's resources it will be one of the
greatest States, if not the greatest State
in the Union All that is needed is to.
advertise it, and let others know the adj
yantages to be enjoyed here.
]. A. BROWN.
Chadburn, n. c., August II.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

croosed without any statistics to snow
,,I,,,t tho rrop was. until III 1890 an or
,anization was effected with an ofhclai
htod Nblch Kept correct account of the
shntuents OF strawberries between nj.
1nra ona Wilmington, and Wilmington
md Chadtqrrn. In 1896 these points
+ ,nfd about 20S0,000 quarts; in 1884,
100000 quarts; i'll 1888, S.oUo,ooo
Quarts. and in 1890 100000 quarts
we're shipped The revenues derived
from the sale of this immense quantity
~ fruit varied in the different years,
owing very largely to the condition OF
the market. In 1897 the railroad
freiehts on this product alone amounted
10 S1S4 900; in 1893 ii amounted 10
SoSt; 600. and in 1899 to S540,UU0.
No record was kept of the amount OK
ali other truck crops produced, but they
will probably equal i'm volume and value
the strawberry crop. The last years
crop. from a pecuniary standpoint, was
practically a failure, for two reasons:
First, the exorbitant freight rate from
this territory; second, the bad season
and the consequent poor condition OF fhe
fruit put ON the market, and probably
the excessive large crop and over pro-
duction The rate question has been
partially relieved by concession OF 2t1a
per cent on the rate, and the growers
have determined to diversity their crops
and not depend so largely on strawber-
ries, which win probably reduce the acre
age so as to keep the business ON about
its former basis. With a constant reduc-
ton in freight rates it is more than
probable that in the next five years theN
principal part of the early truck con-
sumed by the Eastern and Middle West
ern markets will be grown in Eastern
Nort Carolina, and it bids fair to be
ONE of the largest industries IN the
State: due very largely to the fact
that Eastern North Carolina will pro-
duce from two to three weeks earlier
than Eastern Virginia points. The pro
duee from this section is usually placed
ON the market about the time spring
opens in the large cities North, which
creates a big demand for this class of
produce, which SHOULD therefore COM
mand good price and larger profits than
like products from other sections
J. A. BROWN.
Chadbourn, n. c., August IL.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

To the Editor: "The beauties and
attractions of North Carolina cannot be
distilled into expression by words, nor
painted upon the widest canvas" 1t
is one of the most attractive States in
the Union in natural resources, in mag
nificent water powers, in agricultural
and horticultural advantages, in grand
scenery and delightful climate
1t reaches from the seacoast to an
altitude nearly 1000 feet on the high
est mountains east Of the Rockies. Its
soil and climate afford opportunity for
proftably raising most of the products
OF the earth common TO the United
States. Its vast range of minerals
stones and woods invites the attention
Of persons seeking such investments for
immediate or future development.
Ii is included nearly between the paral-
lels 81 degrees and 361o degrees north lat
tude and between the meridians 70l2
degrees and S41a degrees west longitude.
The extreme length of the State from
east to west is J03A miles; its average
breadth is 100; its extreme is 1S1&
miles. lis area embraces 52,286 square
miles, Of which 1866 is land, and $500
is water.
Its climate is unsurpassed.
DR. X. Ii. Lewis, a distinguished ply
stefan, the able and efficient secretary
Of the State Board of Health, says: 'As
to climate. we occupy the vantage ground
Of the golden mean, inclining somewhat
to the warmer side. 1t is neither too
hot nor too cold. While we have gem
erous summers, long enough to mature
two crops of many kinds, the thermome-
ter does not rise as high as it does far
to the northward Of MS, and the SUM
mer temperature is not usually oppress-
i've. We also have sufficiency of
winter, with occasional light showers,
and once iii every few years, ice thick
enough to skate on i'll safety, and with
rain and dark days, but on the whole
bright and sunshiny. Our winters are
just long enough and severe enough to
restore the snap and yiYor and elasticity
that mny have been weakened by the
summer. We are enabled to fully re-
coup any physical wastes attributable to
long and continued heat
Inviting settlers to come and live
among us their first inquiry is, '.Vhat
have you to offer us?' We reply that
no State can offer more. Beginning at
the seaboard, its sounds, bays and riv-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

this should be done in North Carolina.
The clay is here and all the conditions
are favorable, but the artisans are lack
ing. Can't our A. and NJ. College or
the deaf mute school undertake the prac-
tical training necessary to make this
resource available?
Among the gems, the hiddenite stands
out as a rara avis, because it has only
been found at one place in the world
Alexander county, near Taylorsyille.
Aside from its uniqueness, it has the
merit of being a real gem, j. e.. it possess
ses a beauty Of fire and splendor of lus-
tire far superior to the emerald About
$4,000 to $4,000 worth of this gem
has been found and marketed, so that the
happy possessors Of really fine speci-
mems boast quite rightly of exclusive
ness in such possessions.
The chrome green beryl-is perhaps
next in beauty to the above, but it is
rarely found with sufficient depth of
color to rank in the emerald class.
Nevertheless the beauty of the paler
green, blue, yellow and white beryls is
undisputed. They are now on the list
of fashionable stones and the miners
find ready sales at fair prices for all
that is found of commercial value.
Now that colored stones are fashion
able, perhaps the most attractive to the
average eye is the rhodolite," so named
by Professors Pratt and Hidden. This
new candidate for public favor IS none
other than the rose garnet Of 4 few
years ago. But it's beauty is uniyer-
sally acknowledged, and its type so dis
t;po from ordinary oarnpt as TO warrant
the new varietal cognomen, and it will
doubtless be adopted by both the scien-
fife and commercial worlds as proper
distinction for so handsome "a gem. In
color it ranges from pale red and deep
ems in purple, resembling slightly line
AMETHYST. but of far deeper fire and
richer brillianey. 1t is found most album
dainty in Macon county, where 1t oc-
ours in the gravel of the branches ana
in situ in a greyish stone called klnzl-
Cite, in broken nodular MASSES anu IN
separate small PARTICLES, OF generaily
inferior grade Prof Hidden has done
extensive mining in Macon county Tor
these '.ruddy beauties" and Win 1alr
success Many natives are employee IN
the summer months in washing graVei
beds for rhodolite and make FAIR wages
for the time employed.
The ruby, sapphire, oriental topaz ana
oriental emerald, all corundum gems
are still found sparsely in the corGndum
bearing regions, most notably IN Macon
aounsy. The quartz gems, including
amethyst cairngorm, citrlne, etc" are
abundantly found, but of so limited Y2lue
as 10 cause no systematical search Tor
them.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

powers, raw materials and climatic con-
ditions
Some apprehend that the building Of
cotton mills will be oyerdone. Dismiss
such fears, for every cotton mill built
in North Carolina has come to stay.
1t will be d survival of the fttest. If
there is giving away anywhere it will
not be in the State whose raw material
is raised. as it were, at the very doors
of the mills, and whose climate will per-
init working every week in the year.
As attractive as is North Carolina
TO the artisan, the mechanic, the miner,
the manufacturer, the capitalist and the
health and pleasure seeker, it Is just at
this time peculiarly attractive to the
home-seeking farmer. There has been
but little immigration into this State
no foreign immigration to speak Of
there has been considerable emigration
Of negroes to the South and Southwest.
The countless industries such as saw
mills, cotton mills tobacco factories and
new railroads which have sprung up,
as if by magic, within very recent years,
have drawn their labor almost exclusive
III from our farms aud the consequence
is that. at the present time, very many
farms have been depleted of their la
borers and are now being offered at
prices far below their real values. Farm
ers desiring permanent and pleasant
homes cannot do better than invest in
North Carolina lands, without delay.
The present condition cannot continue.
Land viii advance and then you will
have lost your opportunity.
The space allotted me is too short to
enumerate or elaborate the countless
advantages North Carolina offers to
settlers, but / am reluctant to close
without saying that, great as are its
opportunities for Health, Wealth and
Happiness, great as are its water pow
ers, magnificent as are its forests grand
as are its mountains, fertile as are its
plains, fruitful as ARE its waters, de
lightful as is its climate and varied as
are it's resources, vet greater than all
these are its people. lnher'iting the yir-
tues and accepting the traditions OF
brave. hospitable and law-abiding ances-
tors. they have not, in the midst OF
material advantages, so beautifully be-
slowed upon them. forgotten or neg
lected their Duties to God, to themselves
and their fellow-man. In every ham
let there is a church. in every district
a public school. which is growing in
efficiency year by year, in all the larger
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

Few States can lay claim to the great
the soil or clustering in prismic beauty
in the assures and goodies of the
mother rocks of the Old North State
A catalogue of them shows about 1S5
distinct species; these are largely of pune
" scientific interest or value, while a
few are now of much commercial inn
portance The same may be said a
few years hence of many which now
adom the shelves of collections, and are
known to men of science only. The
onward march of science will soon BRING
one and another TO the front, just rs
zircon and monazite have come to the
front at the magic touch Of science.
Twenty years ago these were useless
specimens priced for their rarity and
crystalline forms, while today they have
a market value per pound and the sys'
tematic search for them in this State has
been the cause of adding very consldera-
bic sums to the wealth of our people
These are now classed among the eco
monte minerals of the State, along with
corundum, mica, tale, coal, graphite,
kaolin and clay.
to lie said; their uses and abuses are
pretty well known. Corundum IS most
~ used in the arts as an abrasive, hut
its value has been somewhat lessened
by the manufacture OF carborundum-
a resulting product of silica and carbon
from electrical fusion. This materiel
was discovered in an attempt to make
diamonds artificiaIly. The experiment
for diamonds failed, while carborun-
dun, the unexpected result, has proven
of great value to science. 1t is harder
than corundum, which is 3, and is not
quite as hard as diamond, which is 10
in the scale 1t is therefore placed at
80, and is of service where corundHla
is too soft, and has supplanted it in some
grades of work entirely.
Tale and pyrophyllite are abundant
and, it is sad to relate, are being used
as an adulterant in candy and flour, to
say nothing OF soap. 1t has been said
that 20 per cent is put into candy. Think
of it; the child buys sticks of candy
for d nickel. one of them is ground tale
stone! Then it is sometimes called
mineraline, and shipped from nearby
TOWN for use in the adulteration of Hour,
meal and feed stuff From II to IL
per cent of ground pyrophyllite is rec
commended for this purpose. No won
der the late Legislature passed pure
food law. 1t is sadly needed.
Eaolin is one of the most valuable
Of the economic minerals not develop
ga in the State. True it is dug and
washed to d limited extent in jackson
county and the washed kaolin shipped 10
New Jersey " here it is manufactured m
e china porcelain and stoneware. But
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
f The Laborer the Farmer, the Capitalist Find in North F.
Carolina Unrvaled Opportunities.

Fo the News Observer, by w thompson COMMITS
of lmmgaton1
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

chapter in North Carolina and its
Resource, "a publication prepared by
the State Department Of Agricultural
anu may lie relied ON as presenting cor
reclly the results arrived AT by the Y. >.
Department Agents.
Standing sixth III roiiM Of production
in 1873, fourth in 1889, ii 1850 Noftn
Carolina FORCES ahead anu stands sec
ona to Kentucky only in amount Of pro
dnetion. and first Of AL the States IN the
value of her products, exceeding Ken
lucky BY over one million dollars.
Hardly secondary 10 the great truck
ing and small fruit interests Of the East,
The rapid development OF the fruit and
grape and trucking interests Of the sandy
lands Of the middle section arrests at
tention. Lands that il few years ago
Wire given away at > cents per acre are
now in demand at $40 TO so; not for
town lots, but for legitimate Industrial
purposes.
lii 1889 North Carolina raised mil
lion more bushels Of peaches than Cali
fornia, and six million more bushels Of
apples; notwithstanding which our peo-
lle consider ii a luxury to spend their
money Tor al inferior grade Of California
peaches.
Only eight States exceed our total pro-
duct OF apples. aud only one kentucky
exceeds the yield per tree only three
States exceed the yield in peaches and
only Georgia exceeds the yield per tree.
Farm methods i'm the Western part Of
the State are constantly improving.
This is evidenced in many ways and the
results are visible in the new bindings
dwellings and barnsthe neat yards,
the better stock Of I'LL kinds and the
general air Of thrift that greets The trav-
eler ii every neighborhood
We have had experiences III the past
that have been instructiye-soIn OF
which, like the burnt child and fire,
ge will be wise not to repeat.
What Is still lacking to further MS ON
the read 10 success! ! answer without
resitation: Education and diversified
industries.
With improved educational opportuni-
ties, with multiplied diversities Of indus
tries and with constant increase Of ma
chinery, all Of which are surely coming,
North Carolina will leap forward with
undreamed hounds in the race for sue
cess. and will realize that notable predic-
ton Of our loyal and distinguished
friend Col. A. X Mcclure, OF Phila
delphia. that
Every part of North Carolina has
some one thing that will make it dis
tinctly a great section.