The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-23

without rendering marked assistance
to Nature, the nnest tobacco lands
yield poor returns. Before tobacco
raising made its advent into the COM
munity this land went begging at two
or three dollars per acre; and even to-
day the price is not high, though re-
cords of $3.50 and even $500 per acre
for tobacco grown upon it have been
made, and the average ranges well be-
tween $1O0 and $500 per acre.
To raise tobacco successfully re-
quires experience and skill, and, the
more successful farmer Will tels you
good luck as we'll. From the time the
plant beds are prepared in the winser
until the matured growth is cut, cured,
housed and marketed, danger of some
mishap-sOme false step in the pro-
cess-attend the labors of those who
most diligently apply themselves in it's
cultivation and care. But these farm
erS, who have now had the benefit of
the accumulated experience of their
fathers and themselves for a quarter
of century are generally successful,
and, barring the coming of hail,
against which no ingenuity, no skill
can prepare, the experienced farmer
of today can with some degree of GER
tainty look over his fields along about
the time of maturity and approximate
what his returns will be.
But the hail can and sometimes
completely does change the calcula-
tions of the most adept Pathetic is
the case which now and then happens
of the honest, Industrious farmer who
looks over his field today, thankful and
glad that his labors have been so
abundantly blessed; retires tonight
tired but buoyant with hope. intending
tomorrow to cut and begin the curing,
upon the completion of which the re-
suit of his years work will be made
sure; but awakens to find. that hail has
completely destroyed his crop, and
with it the result of his years toll and
self-denial.
But this is a risk incident to the
business of tobacco growing, just as
there are risks incident to every other
line of human industry. And, though
the stricken farmer may, when his
is the turn to receive the dread vista
ton, declare that never again will be
plant a hill of tobacco, he goes on
planting with the coming of another
season, and goes on prospering with
the coming of another marketing time.
There are no mortgages here now:
homes have been redeemed, rejuven-
ated and added to. LANDS that were
poor have been brought to a high state
of cultivation and fields made beauti-
full. The CALLED and jaded horses of
poverty has been replaced by the
strong young healthy mule or the
frisky young filly Of prosperity, and
the cart by the top-buggy.
The people of this community are
staunch supporters and advocates of
public and higher education. They
have the intelligence. the means and
the public spirit and here one can
look for progress to be made in this
great work of the State. and efforts di-
rected to this end will not only be
gladly welcomed by its progressive
people, but they may also be looked 20
to set an example which will strength
en- and advance the cause elsewhere.
stock company owns the school
house at Green Level and the public
school has been assisted by private
subscription. Messrs. w. B. Upchurch,
l.. ID. Baucom, w. M. Yates, Wilson
Womble, A. M. Council, S. S. Rogers
and A. S. Sears are trustees of the.
private association and are among the
most public-spirited men of this Sec
ton.
The teachers have included such tai
ented men as w. H. Penny, now of
Raleigh; Rev. J. M. White Prof Hold
ing, of Wake Forest Rev. g.. V.
Brooks, of Apex, and George n.
Beavers.
Numbers of boys and girls have
gone from this school and from this
community to the higher institutions
of learning, and numbers more will
follow them. And here today, upon
their farms live the fathers and moth
erS of men occupying positions of hon
or, trust and usefulness away from
home in this and other Statesmen
VINO reflect great credit upon the COM
munity of their birth and of whom
this section is proud, but men who
4 L. 1, L
to it's strength, and the greater por-
tion of whom would had opportunities
more rapidly unfolded themselves To-
bacco lands of this kind are not over
plentiful and men of this character
are not too numerous. Given, in course
of time a more perfect road system
and school facilities, Green Level will
conserve to itself and the Western
Wake county the greater portion Of
that brain and energy which now sup
plies to other places, and the contact
of this brain and energy with that
which it now has will create opportu-
mites, and Western Wake county will
be pride to the State The roads to
Raleigh, Durham and Apex are not
of the best but Wake county is max
ing preparations for their improve
ment. One of the greatest practical
drawbacks is that of getting to and
roads the farmer will be relieved Of
what Governor Glenn has aptly term
ed the mud tax the most burden
some of all taxes; will be placed near
ef the markets, and the economical
question of exchange will be solved
Supplied with improved schools his
children will have greater opportuni-
ties for moral and physical growth
than would they have were they re-
moved to the cities and towns, and one
of the greatest objections to country
life will have been removed. And. al
ready possessing the soil, the industry,
skill and character. the business of
tobacco growing here will become one
of the greatest industries of the State,
even more remunerative to the inli-
vidual and the commonwealth, and
worthy, with the enterprises which
will spring from it, of retaining the
best trained brains which the COM
munity can produce.
The Green Level people are a re-
ligious people. The Green Level Bap-
tist church, whose pastor, Rev. j. A.
Campbell. principal of the Buies
Creek Academy, is one of the best and
most favorably known men of the
State. is always we'll attended It's