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

I L
Dear Sir:-Having been engaged in
the practice of my profession in this
place and vicinity, for about twenty-five
wears. / think | can safely say that no
locality in Western North Carolina pos
sessses greater natural advantages as
health resort, or for the establishment
of SanitaTium.
There are no sluggish streams or
stagnant lakes to generate malaria, but
being billy and unduating it is naturally
drained. and is consequently free from
many epidemics dangerous to the pub
lie health. which often prevail in other
sections of the country 1t is protected
from the bleak northwest winds by the
Blue Ridge and Black Mountain, and
is not subject to the sudden changes,
dense fogs and great dampness that
prevail at greater attitudes and more
in the mountains.
The air is pure and bracing, the
water abundant. cool and sparkling, the
scenery grand and picturesque, making
it most desirable retreat for invalids
especially those suffering from pulmo-
nary affections, diseases of malarial ORR
gin. of from nervous depression, a resi-
dence in this climate. in such cases Of
te ndoing more in the way of cure than
any amount or kind of medication.
J. II. GII4ILEY, NJ. D..
Supt Mcdowell Co. Board Health.
WATER POWER.
The sections of Mcdowell county,
adjacent to Marion and Old Fort, have
some of tine finest water power on the
continent South of Marion, Broad
river contains sufficient water power to
run machinery enough to spin and weave
all the cotton of the South. This river
in many places having fall of 100 to
200 feet to the mile. On the north
Of Marion lies the North Catawba river,
much larger stream, running twenty
miles through a rich limestone farming
country, with unlimited forests of the
best timber of every variety. This river
has a fall if possible greater than the
Broad" Armstrong to the north, n
tributary of North Catawba, affords
equal advantages. The new railroad,
previously spoken of, traverses the
country watered by these streams, and
for miles runs near their banks or cross
es the same.
SCHOOLS.
The public school fund of North Caro-
lima is steadily increasing from year to
year, and deeper interest is being mani
tested by each succeeding Legislature,
and purpose to place North Carolina in
the first front, as to educational facili-
ties, is being rapidly developed among
our people. An annual tax is levied for
school purposes, and all fines and for
FIXTURES imposed are strictly appropriated
TO educational purposes. More rapid
any State in the South since the war in
this respect.
CHURCHES.
In Western North Carolina and es-
peeially the section around Marion, are
represented nearly adj the leading evan
gelical denominations; the Baptist and
Methodist being the strongest. While
the Presbyterian, Episcopal and Iuth-
eran are also represented. In the town
of Marion there are five church organi-
cations and edifices viz: Baptist, Meth
odist. Presbyterian, Episcopal, white,
and the Methodist Zion, colOred church.
PRICES OF LAND.
Within the last few years, lands have
advanced, materially in price and value.
In some instances the advance in the
u.
Of Marion, has been from two to three
hundred per cent and yet the value of
here is almost nominal, as
with other sections of less
and possessing not half the nat
ural advantages of this place. There is
but little difficulty touching the titles TO
lands. In North Carolina. seven years
actual adverse possession. under a color
AZ Al dor
les will perfect a title, otherwise defec-
tive, where the legal disabilities Of COW
erture or infancy do not exist. SO that,
ON improved lands under cultivation,
there seldom arises any question of title.
GRASSES
The system of farming adopted here,
that of clearing new fields, year after
year. and cultivating the hillSides in
maze or Indian corn until they become
worn cut, has been a great drawback to
this country. Untilthcpast twelve or
fifteen years, hut little wheat was
grown in this county, and only a little
oats in the spring of the year were
'own. Since that time, however, wheat
and oats have become a staple crop on
the farms. and large quantities are
yearly shipped to other markets. For
many years the impression was abroad
among our farming population that
wheat and oats could not be cultivated
Drofitably here, Simply because it had
not been attempted. This delusion has
been diS2e,lrd and Mcdowell county is
becoming every year more and more a
wheat growing country.
SHEEP HUSBANDRY AND
DIARIES.
This section is highly favorable, and
we'll adapted to these industries. The
climate is so mild and the winter sea-
son so short. that it is necessary to
house your herds, only during the
months of January, December and
February. In fact cattle and sheep do
we'll and grow fat on the mountain sides
IN summer, and frequently find forage
enough in the sheltered coyes, upon
which to live nine or ten months in the
year. No extensive or systematic at
empt has been as yet made to establish
larry farms. although herds of improved
stock nave been started by some of the
more enterprsng citizens on a small
scale.
AGRICUITUIe RE.
Perhaps no section is better adapted