The farmer and mechanic., 1913-12-09
(By BION II. BUTLER.) }

White Oak, Dec. Cone of the
most inaccessible spots Of North Caro-
lima is the heart of Bladen county,
and one Of the spots of North Caro-
Ina best worth getting acquainted
With is the interior of the unknown
region.
Bladen is the biggest county in the
State in acreage, unless we figure that
some of the mountain country,
through being turned up edgewise, O!
fcrs more surface. Bladen is the only
county of the State with an area CT
above a thousand square miles Cum
berland and Robson were slightly
larger until the creation Of Hoke
couple of years ago, but slicing off
the land and for the new county
leaves Bladen the leader.
In population it is different. Bla-
den has less than twenty thousand
people, and has not made any great
increase in thirty years. The average
rate of increase is not over fifty per-
sons a year. A man might wander
over the great forests east Of the Cape
Fear river and not strain his imagi-
nation much to make himself believe
that the county does not have fifty
people in it.
But it is n fascinating bit Of coun-
try, and the possibilities OF the big
needed is the one thing it has the
least Of, and that is inhabitants.
Bladen county Is not divided into
three parts like ancient Gaul, but by
the Cape Fear river it is effectually
divided into two parts, although the
division does not signify much. The
east side of the river is not easily ap-
proachable, yet if a man will take
the pains to get down into the center
or lower end Of the county he is a
queer horse who does not appreciate
the journey.
selves from which to make the pill
grimage. One is the Coast Line road
from which routes enter the unex-
plored region. The other is Fayette-
vile. where facilities may be had for
the trip, which is one Of the most pic
turcsque in the State.
Start From Fayetteville.
Fayetteville Is a pretty good town
from which to set out on pilgrimage
for it is full Of interest, particularly
to stranger who has gathered UP
some OF the stray ends Of the local
history and tradition. Here is the
capital of the old Scotch civilization
the center of the Cape Fear settle
ment and development. Here is
pointed out the home Of Flora Nc
Donald. Here is the Confederate
monument, with it's spirited apprecla
ton Of the soldier dead. Pity tha
here is no longer that fine old speci
men Of bridge archite cture. the Clar
endon bridge, curious old structure
that presented an odd example of sub
stantial and intricate truss work a!
practiced in the early days before tn
present steel bridges permitted bOlde
spans and bolder treatment of arcl
and truss effect. After standing tn
tremendous flood of seven or eigh
years ago when the water in the Cap
Fear rose to crest of over seventy
two feet, the fine old structure fell
prey to fire, and in its place is now
modern steel bridge, which is good fo
its kind but lacking in historical am
mechanical interest.
Gets a Running Start.
When you start for Bladen cAunt
you might as we'll begin your jOurne
back in the days when Charles II. i
1868, granted to the Earl of Claren
don, the Duke OF Albemarle, and
few other big wigs of England, a.
that territory from the Atlantic to tn
Pacific lying between the thirty-firs
and thirty sixth parallels Of latitude
The Cape Fear section was create
into a county called Clarendon. Clal
endon county has been cut up int
so many counties that it no longe
exists Bladen was formed in 173
and from that day to this Blade
has been a live wire on the eXper
enceS of the country.
From Fayetteville after the river
crossed, the route to Bladen county
through farms and truck gardens ths
supply many car load of prOduo
for the Northern markets Then a
ter q voyage of miles down fine in
proved road towards Wilmington til
forests of Bla6en county are encOur
tered not far from the old Jessup mi
property, an: from there down it Is