Year: 1867

July, 1867.


To the Editors of the Raleigh Standard:


Will you suffer stranger to occupy q
small space in your valuable columns


Reconstruction" is now the watchword,
and it is painfully true and patent to every
rejecting mind that the sooner we are So
cially as well as politically reconstructed,
the shorter will be the period of our pros
tration and suffering. ,4


There appears to have gone abroad an i'm
preston that our brethren at the North
would NETT with but little hospitality should
they desire to seek for home under our
genial skies. I believe this feeling to be
prevalent towards our late antagonists in o
few scattered spots and to be by no means
general But will be responsible only for
that part of North Carolina in which my
lot is cast, and here can unhesitatingly de-
clare that hearty reception awaits "all
good men and true,n no matter from what
point of the compass they hail, especially
if they bring with them ability and energy,
backed by little of that which may as
aptly be termed the muscles of peace" as
it has been the sinews of war;


My remarks apply now to agriculturists.
The Valley of the French Broad is known
far and wide as possessing some of the most
productive lands in Western North Carolina.
It is an acknowledged fact that fertility of
soil is in this country very COMMONLY joined
with sickness of climate. Here we have the
| exception to the rule, and as facts we'll es-
tablished must prccede all rules, I will re-
late an instance known to myself and others.
A well known Rice planter whose persever-
| ing energy had enabled him to retire from
the more laborious life of practical planter
| on the sickly coast of South Carolina was
led to visit this Valley in search of per-
manent home, where with him, as / have
heard from his own lips, the great desiderata
were fertility of soil and salubrity of eli
mate. He found here the home he was in
search of, purchased several contiguous
small farms, and the success he met with in
duced many Others to follow his example,
The fresh river land produces fifty bushels Of
corn p0 acre, and on one farm, thirty-three
acres, measured out 875 bushels per acre.
Where the land has suffered from the wretch.
ed system of renting by the year, an appli-
cation of lime (Which can be procured at O
price that will amply remunerate the farmer
for its use,) will at once restore its produc.
tiveness.


But do not wish to puff my own section
of country, and it is always bad policy to
do SO, as an experienced farmer would, by q
personal inspection, at once detect the exag
Grafton and evil, not good, would be the re-
suit Skiltul and practical farming is what
our Southern country now requires, and
only wish to draw attention to locality
where some of those now seeking new homes
may find the two requisites and 9
soil to repay labor. Let others also make
known the characteristics of their several To-
cations, and think good will be attained
by such distribution of information.
I ought not to omit mentioning thai
abundant water power exists in this section
and capital only is wanting g-and our North
ern brethren can command that-to make
this Valley resound with the clatter O
wealth producing machinery.


If, Messrs. Editors, you think proper to ad
NIT these few lines into your columns, obligl
me by sending me copy of the paper, fol
which enclose postage stamps.


Your obedient servant, KOSMOS.
We publish the above with pleasure
We should be glad to hear frequentl,
from "KosMos." Western North-C -Carolin,
is one of the most inviting spots in th,
world. All it needs is Railroads, capital
and skilled labor. The two latter will sue
ceed the former. As soon as the State is re
stored to the Union steps will be taken II
build Railroads in the West, and to educat
the rising generation. If we go back to tn
Union on proper basis, and cultivat
friendly relations with the great body of tn
Northern people, Congress will no doubt ait
us literally in the great work of improving
the State and educating its children EDS
STANDARD