The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-13
INJUSTICE DONE
To WILMINGTON
Writes Hugh MacRae, a
Prominent Banker.
ABOUT THE TEST FARM
Claims that City was not Treated
Fairly, and that Mis-Statements
Have Been Made Relative to its
Lands. Reports Should Have
Been Made Public.

| Hon. S. L. Patterson,
Commissioner of Agriculture,
Raleigh, N. c.:
Dear Sir:
In considering all of the facts which
have come before me during the past
winter and spring in regard to the To-
cation of a Test Farm in the truck
ing region feel that through some
cause and from some source unknown
to me, "a very serious injustice has
been done to the section around Viii
mington, and to the group of citizens
in Wilmington who have been adVo-
eating the location of the farm here.
In the first case, because it has been
frequently stated, and copied in news
papers in other parts of the State
that Wilmington has not soil which is
sufficiently rich; and in the second
case, because there has been an evi-
dent attempt to make it appear that
the citizens of Wilmington were ask
ing for something which was unrea-
sOnable to expect at the hands OF
your Department. Knowing the facts
to. be quite the contrary in both cases.
l feel that it is unfair for this i'm
preston to be allowed to exist when
your Department is in full possession
of facts, which | personally know
have been furnished you, to absolute
ly controvert both of these points.
/ am further forced to take this po-
sition because the Governor of the
State was advised by your Department
that we did not have the land at WIZ
mington, and he volunteered this in
formation to the writer, coupled with
the statement that he was given TO
understand by your Department that
that was the only reason why the
farm was not located here.
In placing the following facts be-
fore you, | will only make statements
which can be proven by reliable wit
neSSeS.
Mr. Hume first wrote to me, as l
understood, with the authority of the
committee, that three points would bc
considered in the Selection: Land,
accessibility, and price
Price-In this direction, Whining
ton has done far more than any other
locality They have offered 200 acres.
of land, which is worth not less than
SIS 900, and can be sold at that price
for one-tenth of that sum, or $500,
the county, city and individuals sub
scribing the difference.
We have offered to Mr.. Hume tracts
of land of undisputed quality as
gift, and agreed further, where lands
were not cleared. to clear and ditCn
them free Of charge. so that they
would be ready for cultivation. These
latter tracts We're turned down bv,
him only because he said they were
too uniform in quality of soil, and be-
cause he stated that the farm should
contain a variety of soils
LOcation.-As to location, any one
who will take a railroad map of North
Carolina can see that the Garrell farm
is easily accessible to every part of
I hn i,ry no is 111r no,
only place which is easily accessible
to truckers living on each OF the
five railroads traversng eastern North
Carolina.
Land.-It seems that different
of your committee had some
what different ideas about land. When
the committee first visited Whining
ton they were shown the county tract,
near Smiths Creek, which Mr. Hume,
at the time of his previous visit,
thought might do. But the commit
tee, on making q closer examination,
decided that it would not. But the
committee at that time were shown
the Garrell place from the road, and
they said if we could offer them that
they would take it. OF course, it may
be said that this was not in regular
and, therefore, not final and
binding but the point is that Mr. Xii
gore who was present, saw the roll
ing character of the farm and could
Judge of its characteristics SO far as
was concerned. The MEM
bers of the Wilmington committee |
stated that it was unfair to ask for
land like that, which was worth at |
least 500 per acre, in competition |
viii land in the country which wac
not worth over $50 per acre. We |
had no idea of being so fortunate as
to secure the place, and so dismissed |
the question at that time.
When We found, later that the |
did no seem to give what |
we considered due importance TO To-
cation and price. but laid especial |
stress on land, we took the steps ne
to get the GarrelI place, and |
what we considered the pick of the
and of the Garrcll place, for them,
With the results heretofore stated.
Before Offering them the land, SO
hat there would be no mistake, we
lad the land examined by several soil
Experts and had them make for us a
written report and maps showing the
lifferent tvoes of soil, and showing the
and to have a clay subSoil, and the
liferent depths of the clay. This re-
BORT was sent to Mr.. Hume, at his
'ecuest.
BY this time the committee had
tbout decided on farm at Willard
md as we were anxious that the tlrn1
hould at least be located on the Wei
Ion road, and other sections were. Ct
ering a cash bonus for Tia location
# the farm, whereas Willard. whit n
vas being considered was not in
position to offer such bonus, we offer