The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-06
BLADEN COUNTY.
Preparing for the Berry Crop-Pro=-
res i'm [ he County-Adyanfages as
a Trucking Saction-BIaden County
People and the County Industries
Clarkfon, its Tobacco Market and its
Business Men.
Special to The Messenger,

R@@A ~ AA~
CIarkton. January During the hol-
fdays many men were working making
the soil ready for the berry season Of
1905, and many more had their fields as
trim as in spring. and the warm sun
and blythe breeze were more like April
than December.
Clarkton. according TO the census OF
1900 had 131 Inhabitants; it now has
about 400, and the carpenters hammers
are mailing busily.
Bladen county viii show a wonderful
Transformation and increase of popula-
ton long before b next census. as it
is awakening from a Rip Van Wrinkle
like sleep. and with the progressive
| spirit within it's borders, and the in.
vestments Of Wilmingtonians and
Goldsboroites, and the coming of good
| soil workers and ambitious, thriving
| people, will be a big garden Of proGuc-
tiveness and a land of happy homes.
The land is level, and the water pure,
timber is in quantity and variety, and
| while I write the sun is shining, and
children are romping in joyous
| play, and in the north-snow blockades
and high winds.
The Carolina Truckers Association,
| with 5000 acres between Abbottsburg
and Clarkton, which are four miles
apart, will be of ~incalculable benefit to
| this region, and will accomplish much
development the coming year.
| Bladen county lands are much cheap
er now than they will eve be again,
and there is room for thousands who
can soon own homes and truck farms
| which insure solid comfort and a COM
ing competency, where the people are of
the stalwart, level headed Scottish race,
and C%arolinian pioneers. Churches and
| school have been here from away back,
| and new ones are identifying the scene;
in fact, there is no pioneering to be
o n to secure the advantages of civlli-
cation. Clarkton is the largest town in
Bladen county, and although small, has
a great trade and it's stores are the
biggest and best between Wilmington
| and Lumberton. ClarktOn ships from
| $500 to 5000 bales Of cotton a year, and
| shipped SO car loads of Strawberries
| last season, and ten a loads of Irish
and several cars Of sweet potatoes, and
| that III. T. Heinz has a picking station
| here shows that are raised
| extensively, but Bladen county is in
it's infancy as to berry culture and
vegetable raising, and gardeners had
| better look hitherward.
| Clarkton sells goods over a big terri
tory of country, as shown in it's receipts
of $780, 900 pounds of merchandise by
| the Seaboard Air Line railway in No
| vember, and receives more his month.
| E. J. Cox & Co. received a car load of
! mules on Wednesday, making the fifth
car of live stock they imported this
| season, and there is a great demand for
better animals every year
| Some timber is shipped, but mills will
| henceforth be busy answering local de-
| mand.
| On Wednesday the 18th of December
a crew of men began the erection of a
new store building in Clarkton, to be
occupied by J. C. Gore, Of Wilmington;
the contractor is c. D. Morrill,, of Will
mington, who has several building con-
tracts in this vicinity.
The Lyon Manufacturing Company,
lately organized with Sheriff c. w.
Lyon as president, and N. A. Currie
secretary and treasurer, have also O.
T.. clark and Hon. &C. H. Currie as di-
r%ectors. The manufacture will consist
Of crates and fruit packages and potato
barrels, and the machinery is on the
ground, including a 40 horse power en-
CINE, saw mill, veneering machine etc.;
steam will be raised on or about the
18th of Janaury.
N. A. Currie and Bro. have brick on
the ground for the building of a ware
house 40 by 80 for heavy goods, and
they will erect another brick structure
for fertilizers. By the way, the cost
price of fertilizers received here in 1904
was $50, OCEAN indication that the ma
tives at last believe in intensive farm!
ing.
Many beautiful cottages are complet-
ed n a number are in course of con-|
struction; the pride of the place howev-
er is the Clarkton Military Academy,
the building of which cost $40, 900; theI
institution has 10 acres for exercise,
drill n play. The members of thel
faculty are all college men and will
make it famous.
Clarkton is also good tobacco market,
with a warehouse 10 by 60 feet, m inl
1903 it handled one million pounds of
tobacco. The proprietors are Oscar L.
Clark and N. A. Currie and Hon. G. H.
Currie.
The Bank of Clarkton is being organ-l
lied, and will be a solid financial insti-I
tuition, but mention Of the directors isl
premature.
The postoffice has four daily mails byi
rail and four rural and two star routes
making ten mails per day, and anotherI
rural route going north will be applied
for. S. Meares, the postmaster, hasl
filled the office seven years., and wasI
a member Of the legislature eight years.
Oscar L. Clark, of Clarkton. has reat-t
ed The Thompson building at Abbotts-
burg, in which lie will put in from