The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-07-11
VALUATIONS UP
IN JOHNSTON co.
An Increase Since 1910
of $3,O02,901
NEW LAND CREATED?
Big Coco Roads and Education i<alIy
1000 PrcSent-Iand Values Up
-Torrens system .AdyOcatcd-De-
iightfuI Barbecue.

IShiIuI "a
Especial to News and Observer
Smithtield, July S.-The people OF
gathered here twenty-five hundred
strong today at a good roads picnic
and barbecue. 1t was a great day.
People came from all parts of the
county, and the business men OF
Smithfield, who had sent out a cor
dial invitation to the people of the
county, had the doors wide open.
The celebration was under the direc-
ton of the County Good Roads
Committee. of which body Mayor
James a. w ellons is chairman.
The Farmers Union of Johnston
county came out in full force to take
part in the big day. and to welcome
the president of the State Union, DR.
H. .. Alexander, of Charlotte, who
was one Of The principal speakers
by II o'clock the courthouse
lawn. the place chosen for the cele-
grafton, was a lively scene. The
meeting was called to order by Mayor
Wellons, who vas appropriately Sc
lected to preside, being chairman of
the local committee and a leading
member OF the North Carolina Good
Roads Association. He was one OIL
the committee selected to go from
Murphy to Morehead City to fix the
Central Highway route. Among the
leaders in the Central Highway move
ment he has Wen high place.
\ Johnston County Miracle.
After an eloquent address OF wei
come, Mayor Wellons introduced Mr..
f. II. Brooks. who read a letter from
County Assessor r.. II. Cover. This
letter showed that the number Of
acres listed in Johnston county for
taxation had grown since last year
by 1896.
Mr.. Brooks said it had been OBJ
served by land dealers hat people
ton has been limited n there isn't
going to be any land. But to this,
said Mr.. Brooks, Johnston county is
a conspicuous exception. Either
1895 acres have been created in
Johnston county since 1910, or-is it
possible that some owners forgot at a
convenient season, about some Of
their real estate hOldingsr
Great Increase of Valuation.
Mr.. Covers report further showed
that the valuation Of property listed
in Johnston county was SCOOP, 9O1
moe than last year. Last year the
assessment aggregated $7,6S8,O 34.
This year IL aggregates S10,690.9 S3.
That is to say, the valuation Of John
ston county property has gone up
nearly a third.
Land Nalues Up.
The reDOrt showed further that
whereas Johnston county land was
listed in 1910 at $3.50 Is per acre
on the average. the average assess
ment per acre his yea was S9.4S Is,
And 1t must not be forgotten that
somebody had created-or remember
ed-14,335 acres of good solid John
ston county earth.
Mr.. Brooks said that the assessor.
MIR. Cover, had been exceedingly dill
isent in attention to his work. The
speaker added that the figures show
ed great progress for the past few
years. Mr.. Brooks's remarks were
heartily applauded.
Mr.. JoseDhuS Daniels.
Mr.. J~osephus Daniels, editor OF
The News ard Observer. was intro
duced by Mr.. Brooks as the editor
of the greatest newspaper in North
Carolina.'
.Mr. Damien congratulated his
twenty-five hundred hearers upon the
great progress they had made in edu-
cation. agriculture. and good roads.
He SAID that this happy result was
due to cooperation, every man being
in harness; and Mr.. Daniels expressed
the belief that the progress so far
made was only an earnest of futre
progress. He added hat never before
had he seen such crops as those he
had seen i'll driving through the coun-
try this morning.
Col. +. A. DC
Mr.. W. NJ. Sander then introduced
Col. L. \. Olds. Of Raleigh. CoIonai
old woke up his big audience win
an energetic appeal for good roads