The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-21
THE STATES FARMS
Great Damage TO Soil and
Crops by Freshets.
The Worst at Farms One and Two, Tefy Is
Gaping With Slight Damage. The
Competent Management.
Special TO News and Observer. J


Tillery, N. c., July 20.--I have just re-
turned from trip to Caledonia. Having
heard of the giving away of the dikas ana
the damage done to the crop during rho
May freshet in the Roanoke River. | was
anxious to see and learn for myself lust
what the damage amounted 10. The first
freshet in May broke the dizas IN two
or three places. The principal break is
about 1,500 yards. and through this alone
great yolumns of water rushed with such
force as completely to wash away the
upper rich soil about Is inches deep, and
the sandy stratum beneath piling the lat
ter up some distance from tho bikes in d
ridge from to Az feet deep, rendering at
least 100 acres of valuable soil absolutely
worthless for years TO come.
The water continued to rise until it
came up to within a foot of the elevations
upon which the two camps, Nos. ! and 2
are located. These camps are about one
and a half miles from the di.ies an all
this land, about 600 acres, was covered
with as promising crop of corn as ever
grew on it, This was entirely destroyed
After the river went down, this same land
was prepared and planted again The
low land corn. but ~" har'- voter follo."~
ed the low level places all through the
field, on the west side Of the camps
going towards Tillery, and did considera-
BILE damage to cotton and peanuts.
| reached camp No. 2 about { D. m.
the 18th instant, and was told that there
was another freshet almost equal to the
May freshet. and that the water was ;'is-
ne m Moi McTu = mi
Rhem were out among the hands direct
ing and doing all they possibly could to
save part of this second crop of corn
which was about 81 to feet high, but
nothing could be done as the water con-
tinued TO rise until, except for some small
ridges the entire SIS to 600 acres was
under the flood again.
The condition of the farms on Camp No
l and 2, at this time ard the outlook Tor
crops this year are considered aboue
IS per cent cotton. % per CEN peanut ard
25 per cent corn. The wheat crop was
sorry amounting to about q third of a
crop. Most all Ct ,ha land has been
planted in peas which a. this time are
considered to have made q good stand
All the Tillery farm or camp No. >, / rn
derstand that conditions are much bet
ter, the camp mostly away from the river.
There are about 126 eonvicts each at
camps / and and about 100 at camp 3.
OF these at Nos. / and there are about
IS white. There are 90 employees OF each
of these two camps consisting OF over
seers and guards. The health record Of
the place is very good. | am told that
there hasn't been death at either enc
OF these camps for a year. Since tic
freshet some Of the ronvicts have been
troubled with slight chills, but none are.
so far as | could learn seriouly sick.
/ believe that I can truthfuly say that
the State is very fortunate in posseEsins
such competent men as Mr.. Christian at
camp No. and Capt. Rhem at No and
Maj. McIver at Nc. 1. ] am sure cheese
men assisted by their efficient guards
and overseers, are working Just as hard
for the State and looking after her inter-
est with the same economical care and
judgment, as if it was their own business.
| am told that the convicts. all things
considered, are we'll behaved and it is
rare that any of them have to be pun
ished. II. b. HARDY