The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-09
OUPLIN TRUCKERS BUSY
3.G SHIPMENT OF TRUCK MADE YE5Itk
LAY.
Strawberries ard 0tter Crops Damaged by ih'
talns Icb eco GrtWrg. Inc lonA-
tulionai Amer dment.

Warsaw, n. C., May 8.-(Special.l-
Ten years ago Duplin county was one
of the poorest counties Ill
North Carolina; ten years hence Ii
will be one of the richest. The truck
ing industry on the railroad and to-
bacco planting in the eastern part OF
the county has caused the rapid dc-
velopment of the county. one day
spent in the county, at this and adj
Joining points on the Wilmington
and Weldon Railroad, is convIncr"S
that the people are wide-awaketo then
bestinterests and are making agricul-
sture pay. a man in the western part
of the State has no conception OF the
proportions TO which the trucking in
terest in Duplin has attained. Dupiin
is now shipping more Strawberries
than any other county in the State
Today is the Big Monday OF the sea
son and no less than fifteen thousano
crates will be Slapped from this coun-
ty before the sun goes down tonight
! his means that more than four thou
sand dollars Will be paid into The
hand of the women and children OF
the county for picking berries today;
it means that the railroads VIZ get
freights in one day: it means that The
farmer, after commissions are deduct
ed. viii nave to take what is left. II
may be an amount large enough to pay
off his debts and set him straight fof
another year. or it may be an amount
small enough to keep his nose to the
grind-stone another twelve months
1t is all like gambling. One day it
may be Il big profit, the next day a
big loss. The picker the railroad
company and the crate manufacturer
Except for bad colections) are GER
tain OF their money, but the berry
grower has to take his chances on
what is left. Much depends on to-
days shipments and the odds are de
cidcdly against the shipper. Con
tinued rains have damaged the crop:
many of the berries are rotten and al
of them watersoaked and soft, anC
consequently can not be put on the
market in good condition. There is
not sufficient labor TO get all the CROP
gathered before it is too ripe; man!
complain that the railroad service Is
not what it ought to be, and taking al
into consideration the growers are moi
in the best spirits today. However
TIE Ntdin cI Is DIiSIit tHfS iiltIIlltp
Every town on the railroad FROM WI
mington to Goldsboro is in a perfect
fever of excitement. Dozens of North
ern commission men are here in The
interest of their houses; every person
you meet is a local agent am wishes
to mark your berries to my man
who gives him Il commission on al
he ships. Berry spectators have ais,
developed in great numbers who Offer
SO much crate and take their. chances
on making a profit by shipping. 1t is
huge business and means much l.
the people of this section.
One of the largest manufacturers
in the South is near this Jplace anC
conducted by Mr.. T. B. Pierce, one 81
the most enterprising rlen IN East
Carolina. Every day, for months. he
has been shipping crates by .hc thou
sand. all over the eastern part Of thr
State and to other Southern States ana
can hardly supply the demand
While the truckers are endeayorina
to reap the just rewards of a wears
labor. your correspondent is told thai
in the eastern part of the county hun
dreds of acres are being planted in to
bacco. 1t is only during the last few
.ediS tlldt clIl/enS OF IDUDlin uiSp0T
cred that they had some Of the fine
lands fois tobacco inn the State. sem.
Of those who first made the disco,
cry are fast growing rich These mel
live twenty-five miles from the rail
road and for several wears have beer
working hard and talking little. They
sold their tobacco in another count,
as there is no warehouse in Duplin
A number of the progressive citizen
of this place have Incorporated
company and IA warehouse will b.
erected here at an early date. 1t il
expected that the tobacco business
will be quite as extensive as the truck
ing industry in a few years
People are not talking constitu
tionai amendment at present, bu'
they arc no less interested in it. NJ
opposition TO amount to ANYTHING has
been developed against ii. The voter,
are waiting to hear it discussed and
understand it. The strongest sent
ment favors it and this county will
give it large majority when it is