Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-03-19
INCONSISTENCIES OF COUNTIES
OF TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DIST.
statistics Showing Development and
Possibilities of Thirteen COun-
ties in W. N. c.

made greater progress during the past
90 years than the western part Of
North Carolina. Forty-two counties
in the western part of the state. ira
yersed by the Southern Railway or
contiguous to its lines 20 years ago
had a population of 667,639. These
same counties now have a population
Of almost 100000. During the past
10 years the farm values in these
same counties doubled. According to
the most recent census report, the
value of all farms in these counties in
1900 was more than SIT, GOO, 900, In
1910 these farms had an estimated
value of about $3.50, 0OO, 900, showing
an increase of 100 per cent.
OF this entire western section of the
state the mountain country kept stride
with the Piedmont region in develop
ment along agricultural and manufac-
turing lines. While the recent cen
sus shows no astonishing growth in
population yet in the mountain coan-
ties more acres are under cultivation
than aver before, and land which for
merly was valued at from So to 81 an
acre, has jumped to an average of SO
an acre, while the best of the soil in
the bottom lands have a value equal to
that in most other parts of the stat
Although the work Of cutting The
timber has gone on for years, thee
still remains many thousands of,acres
of land covered with a good growth,
which can be used for commercial
purposes. In recent years the marble
industry has grown to a larger ex-
tent than ever before.
But Western North Carolina in the
mountain section is peculiarly adapt
ed to the establishment of permanent
and temporary residences because of
its unusual climate and scenic beau
ty. 1t has also added advantages, due
to the influx of visitors to the big ho-
tells in the section. There is material
in every county available to construct
every building contemplated. The Ia
Dor is here, and the western part of
the state can be developed still full tn
er.
Thousands of acres of land are still
lying uncultivated and the fact that
all cultivated land in these sections
has doubled in value in the past 20
years shows the opportunity home
Sc kers will find here. In addition,
the settler can make his acres pro-
dice, guaranteeing a livelihood. There
is little of this mountain zone that
cannot be utilized for the culture of
fruit, dairying, stock raising and gem
eral farming. 1t is. peculiarly adapt-
ed to the dairying business, because
not only do cattle thrive here, but all
kinds of forage, a be grown here,
and, in addition there is always d
local market for both the products of
the dairy as we'll a. beef cattle. In
addition, diseases among live stocE
are practically unknown. Among the
cities in this section which imports
most of it's food products is Asheville.
The growth of Buncombe county and
Asheville are criterions of the posi-
bilities in this section.
BuncOmbe County.
Just 20 years ago AsheVille had a
population less than 10000, and now
there are 10000 persons living thern.
Prom 1880 to 1890 the city showed an
increase in population of 291 per cent.
The city today is the fourth largest IN
the state, according to the last census.
In Buncombe county, of which
Asheville is the county seat, there are
las individual farms, and the value
of the farms today is more than $13.-
100000, as compared with the value
Of 100000 for farms 10 years ago,
and $4,000, 900 20 years ago. In 1910
the value of the average acre in the
county was about $40, compared with
$40 just a decade before. In 1870 the
value of the average acre-in Buncombc
county was only So, while the average
debt Of mortgaged farms has decreas-
ed 80 per cent during the past &c
years. s
At the present time in Asheville,
the largest town in the mountain sec
ton, there r II distinct manufacture
ing concerns whose capital stock is
more than $4,000. 900, and of this num-
Ter but two were incorporated before
1900 and 20 during the past z years.
Macon County.
Macon county shows a gain of few
in population during the last decade,
but its farm values increased about
81 900, 000, while the increase in the