The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-17
THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF HOKE
IN AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION
How a Systematic Plan to Plant Tobacco on a
Large Scale was Mapped Out and Then
Executed by A. G.. Johnson and Others.

w iiAdbN, ol to 4 up
r~esenting the territory to be planted
not far north Of the Hoke county
line.
New Life Is Interesting.
1t goes without saying that the life
infused INTO this section by the pros
pective tobacco crop is something in
teresting. New clearing is going on
all over the county. New buildings
are in progress in town and county.
Houses to rent in the country or in
h towns are almost an unknown
thing. At Aberdeen complaint is heard
that the new implement works has
to employ single men because no
homes can be found for families. Rae
ford is absolutely at the end Of the
string as far as providing houses for
newcomers is concerned. Carpenters
are busy all the time providing new
houses, but the man who wants to
rent puts his name on the waiting
list. Each week sees the transfer
Of building lots to those who want
to put up houses, but each week sees
more people who want places to stay.
When the schools came to open in the
fall it was next to impossible to find
places in Raeford for the teachers to
board.
Three new brick blocks have been
started in Raeford since the tobacco
talk commenced last fall, and they
will provide room for seven new bust
ness places. All three Of the blocks
have upper stories.
Two Alternatives.
A Raeford man speaking Of the sit
uatiOn said, 1T means either that this
county is going to be a lively place
to stay BY the middle of or
we are going to hear something drop
with a Sickening biff in the bottom of
, the we'll"
But nobody believes it will work out
wrong. The intelligence and money
back of the tobacco crop leave no
doubt that a crop will be made in all
four unit unless something turns
up that is not on the schedule. One
big farmer put it this way, w can
, make tobacco here as we'll as we can
, make cotton or anything else, and it
, never scares US if something happens
!, to put a crimp in the cotton crop. We
! just go ahead and make another one
, the next year. Tobacco is like all
I the rest. Other people make it. What
q the rest can do we car do, or l guess
wrong on our kin of people"
The tobacco men figure that there
6 is no chance to. lose. They say they
have gone into the question Of soils
q with a great deal Of care, and that
Y both from soil investigation and from
comparing the quality of tobacco
n made on a small scale with Via is
q done in other places there is no doubt
9 of the fitness Of soil and climate. They
n say it is not at all a question of guess
4 work, but of deliberate investigation
nnd calculation.
Careful Planning.
They have planned the crop here
q just as they would plan a new shoI
n or a new railroad or any other new
institution in any place. They a
brought to this county men trained
in making tobacco, and these me,
have been brought into contact Will
: the LAND under the most promisin,
fertilizer, and all things necessary t.
carry on the business Of making tn
,e crop have been provided, and all tn,
IN elements OF uncertainty and CUES
m have been removed. The whole pro
10 ject has been planned and undertake.
with the precision Of mathematics.
10 Operation OF Magnitude.
to The magnitude of the operation to
e. gether with its precision, gives it un
usual interest. Already the Who'll
w State has been attracted to h oper
ge alton, and it is certain that next ia
ee will see much greater preparations 10
nd a crop for the ensuing year. Man
n strangers are coming into the lou
counties looking for Ian or investiga1
ing the tobacco situation, and occa
co sional sales or farm property and will
'e- land to the newcomers is al eVidenC
nd Of What is the program for the ne,
n season. There was never a time
the history of this part of the Sta
when SO many inquiries We're beir
made for land. Neither was thel
nd ever a time when anything like
Ter much farm making was on foot Sin
to last fall the change in the face
de the country along the railroad and II
main roads leading out of Raeford
ct surprising wen TO those who freQuen
iii IL vn hack and forth
to- Naturally there is more or less
las a land speculation on by reason
the inquiry for tobacco lands. althous
not the longer headed men Of the oun
iu- are trying to avoid such a result. II
effort of the leaders is to discourai
is the sale Of land to any one exec
en- those who mean actual d~evelopmeI
en- for the hindrance that comes from {
in possession OF land by the speculate
veil buyer is not desired by those w
are familiar with what Such hindran
q meanS
'oS- Land Goes Up.
.--- " l4-r- Ia TnaS , J.