USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
WILSON has no mine or deposit of valuable mineral in its immediate vicinity. Marl beds should, perhaps, be made an exception, as these are found often in rich quality. They are specially abundant along the banks of the Tar river and are a source of a valuable fertilizer for the lands in the neighborhood. A fine red granite like the Scotch Aberdeen granite is also found near Wilson.
GOLDSBORO lies some 20 miles north of the area of the recently discovered phosphate beds. A preliminary reconnaisance made by Gen. W. G. Lewis, early in the year 1884, proved the existence of phosphate rock, in greater or less abundance, in various portions of Lenoir, Jones, Onslow, Duplin, Sampson, Columbus, Bladen and Pender counties. It occurs either as the pebbles of a conglomerate held together by a shell marl matrix, or in continuous beds 8 to 16 inches thick. During the summer of 1884 the explorations were continued by General Lewis, under the auspices of the State Board of Agriculture, in a more detailed man- ner. Developments were started in the vicinity of the line of the Wilmington aud. Weldon Railroad, south of Faisons to prove the extent and amount of the Phosphate rock there. Pits were dug according to a regular system and from the dimensions of the pit and weight of rock excavated the tonnages per acre were calculated. The beds were proved to have very irregular boundaries. They are in what is usually termed pockets, and are found along small streams, generally a few hundred feet down the stream from the marl beds. They lie in the bottoms and extend up the adjoining slopes. The pits were dug across the bottom and up the
31
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
inclines till the limit of accessible depth was reached, which was considered to be at ten feet below the surface.
One hundred and twenty-five acres were thus proved in Sampson and Duplin counties, and 790 pits were dug. This area is calculated to contain 50,864 tons of phosphate rock within ten feet of the surface, averaging 407 tons per acre. The average percentage of the phosphate of lime is about 41. The rock is free from iron and alumina and the diluting material is sand which is a specially good ingredient. This phosphate is more readily acted upon by sulphuric acid than that of South Carolina and it only requires & as much to convert it into super-phos- phate. The rock is not as yet mined on a commercial scale but promises to give rise to a val- uable industry.
During the search for thecc phosphates valuable marl beds were discovered which were not previously known to exist.
CLOTHING !
RELIABLY MADE ! DIRECT FROM THE FACTORY ! AT A SAVING OF 20 PER CENT!
C.N. OEHM & SON,
230 W. Pratt St., through to 55 Hanover St., BALTIMORE, MD.
See agent's samples in your town. If none, write for samples and self measurements at Baltimore, which we furnish free of charge.
32
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
From the State Auditor's Annual Reports for the fiscal year ending 30th Nov. 1884.
GENERAL STATEMENT.
Balance in hands of State Treasurer, Decem- ber 1st, 1883 :
Educational Fund
$62,009 90
Public Fund
274,953 10
$336,963 00
Receipts of Educational Fund from Decem- ber 1, 1883, to December 1, 1884
$35,200 33
Receipts of Public Fund from December 1, 1883, to December 1, 1884
1,436,775 66
1,471,975 99
$1,808,938 99
Disbursements of Educational Fund from December 1, 1883, to December 1, 1884
$76,228 65
Disbursements of Public Fund from Decem- ber 1, 1883, to December 1, 1884
785,641 78
$861,870 43
Balance in hands of State Treasurer, Decem- ber 1, 1884
$947,068 56
Educational Fund
Public Fund
$20,981 58 926,086 98
$947,068 56
.
33
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 1884.
STATEMENT A.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 1884.
YEARS.
MONTHS.
RECEIPTS.
DISBURSEMENTS.
1883.
December
$ 2,766 80
1884.
January
174 72
$ 16,666 05
February
3,409 78
27,247 14
March
347 00
18,693 48
April
16,078 30
2,401 35
May
8,182 93
4,704 45
June
1,832 35
3,346 01
July
1,985 00
607 40
August
88 69
474 67
September
66 51
315 00
October
174 69
1.410 80
November
93 56
362 30
$
35,200 33
$ 76,228 65
.
34
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
SHOWING THE AGGREGATE GROSS AMOUNT OF STATE AND COUNTY TAXES DERIVED FROM THE VARIOUS SUBJECTS OF TAXATION IN THE STATE, AS TAKEN FROM SUCH LISTS AS ARE ON FILE FOR THE YEAR 1883.
1883
Land
$249,571 26
Town Lots
67,225 95
Horses
19,241 54
Mules
13,933 69
Jacks
68 62 -
Jennies
17 84
Goats
59 06
Cattle
11,823 24
Hogs
5,219 29
Sheep
1,250 91
Farming Utensils, &c.
29,527 46
Money on hand or on deposit
11,340 37
Solvent credits
41,172 80
Stock in incorporated companies
2,125 80
Other personal property
39,780 20
Railroad franchise
4,120 30
Net income and profits
3,228 37
Traveling theatrical companies .
720 10
Concerts and musical entertainments for profit
926 00
Lectures for reward
50 00
Museums, wax-works or curiosities
8 00
Circus or menageries
3,100 00
Side shows
180 00
Itinerant companies or persons who exhibit for amusement of the public
108 00
Gypsies or fortune tellers
320 50
Itinerant lightning-rod men
327 25
Gift enterprises, &c.
306 33
Billiard saloons
2,182 23
Ten-pin alleys, bowling saloons, bagatelle, &c , &c.
.
280 00
.
-
35
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
1883
Dealers in spirituous, vinous or malt liquors,
$ 24,327 80
Merchants and other dealers,
31,280 20
Dealers in cigars,
87 25
Hotels, boarding houses, restaurants and eating houses,
1,685 70
Public ferries, toll grates, toll bridges and gates across high-
ways,
209 90
Tobacco warehousemen,
1,127 80
Commission merchants,
1,620 80
Keepers of horses or mules for hire (except draymen),
825 30
Horse or mule drovers,
301 10
Hog drovers,
80 00
Itinerant dentists, medical practitioners, portrait or miniature
painters,
301 25
Peddlers,
1,327 80
Seals of notaries public, &c,
198 90
Marriage licenses, .
10,875 20
Subjects unlisted,
602 30
Delinquents for 1881 and 1882,
378 90
Arrears for insolvents,
43 20
Gross amount State taxes,
$ 583,308 51
Taxes levied by State far School Purposes, payable to County Treasurer :
Licensed retailers of spirituous liquors, wines or cordials,
$ 39,882 47
Auctioneers,
60 99
No. 134,732 of white polls,
153,327 82
No. 62,142 of colored polls,
69,780 26
Valuation of all taxable property (including bank stock) in the State, 12} cents on every $100 value,
285,535 33
Total School tax,
$ 548,586 87
County Taxes :
All county purposes, . .
ยท
$984,441 89
.
Comparative Statement, showing the number of acres of Land, number of Horses, Mules, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, &c., &c. also the value of the same, including Town Property, Farming Utensils, Money on hand or on deposit, Solvent Credits, &c., for the years 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882 and 1883, as per annual returns to this Department.
Year.
No. Acres Land.
Value of Land.
Value of Town
Property.
of Land and Aggregate value
Town Prop-
erty.
No. of Horses.
Value of horses.
No. of mules.
Value of mules.
No. of Jacks.
Value of Jacks.
1875
25,948,328
$75,309,799
$17,047,321
$92,357,120
124,686
$6,573,706 72,547
$4,109,259
618
$31,085
1876
25,966,530
75,221,398
17,458,520
91,679,918
129,620
6,181,425 74,675
4,112,719
618
28,790
1877
25,559,734
74,744,905
17,413,340
92,158,245
135,659
6,117,117 76,967
4,144,378
574
25,981
1878
26,052,161
74,768,791
16,311,043
91,079,834
135,715
5,572,603
80,295
3,848,212
498
20,671
1879
26,823,511
83,034,885
18,764,539
101,799,424
137,133
5,871,006
81,021
3,650,285
254
20,178
1880
26,605,402
83,137,981
19,208,236
102,346,215
140,926
6,214,662
81,395
4,295,336
515
21,508
1881
26,987,907
84,075,375
20,667,556
104,742,911
143,948
7,079,246
84,847
4,857,550
561
25,592
1882
27,897,343
87,590,759
21,397,425
108,987,184
151,377
8,393,653
87,302
4,998,375
590
26,257
1883
28,223,640
101,106,387
23,028,990
124,135,377
161,728|
10,559,055 91,230
5,127,782
682
27.097
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
36
(Continued from Page 36.)
Year.
No. of Jennies.
Value of Jennies.
No. of Goats.
Value of Goats.
No. of Cattle.
Value of Cattle.
No. of Hogs.
Value of Hogs.
No. of Sheep.
Value of Sheep.
Aggregate value of
horses, mules, hogs,
sheep, jacks, &c.
1875
605
$10,539
14,031
$12,388
594,185
$4,003,352
1,159,361
$1,188,784
474,829
$453,983 $16,683,004
1876
508
8,500
16,874
14,805
595,960
3,850,166
1,181,980
1,475,588
375,803
457,871
16,130,858
1877
466
7,305
19,435
15,495
542,196
4,195,293
1,383,967
1,840,276
512,514
487,664
16,833,500
1878
423
6,453
21,335
18,512
640,607
4,885,443
1,413,042
1,673,515
525,613
471,511
15,894,918
1879
536
6,526
25,772
19,371
678,311
3,844,964
1,413,042
1,703,245
582,468
521,345
15,994,918
1880
448
6,326
29,212
22,970
665,373
4,033,159
1,402,733
1,608,736
602,140
538,514
16,641.251
1881
451
6,986
27,917
21,840
636,383
3,953,624
1,370,162
1,678,394
536,266
500,702
18,123,934
1882
503
7,057
28,300
21,960
727,891
4,329,745
1,416,318
1,727,881
537,217
528,303
20,221,334
1883
601
8,220
30,090
23,107
825,321
5,009,828
1,892.320
2,129,380
626,340
637,879
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
37
-
(Continued from page 37.)
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
1875
13,500,218
4,084,127
12,047,513
2,376,216
10,520,499
977,134
43,505,807
152,546,023
1876
12,351,655
3,189,559
12,007,313
2,275,781
10,070,452
859,021
40,753,781
148,564,557
1877
11,226,259
2,461,484
12,786,359
698,258
9,316,797
889,591
37,378,939
146,370,493
1878
10,308,200
2,145,020
12,552,768
628,266
8,876,122
722,874
35,233,350
142,308,102
1879
10,124,553
3,106,076
'13,518,809
893,819
9,996,058
892,582
38,551,897
156,268,241
1880
10,621,161
3,540,439
13,943,548
1,017,843
11,490,529
913,645
50,927,440
169,916,907
1881
11,521,245
4,192,527
14,343,678
1,418,712
12,175,630
1,420,002
44,471,794
167,738,639
1882
12,121,178
4,937,642
15,998,131
1,877,112
13,069,322
1,844,527
51,168,007
180,376,525
1883
13,372,880
5,199,728
16,927,372
2,086,344
14,066.327
1,972,347
77,087,346
201,222,723
Year.
Value of
Farming Utensils.
Money on hand or on deposit.
Solvent
Stocks in
Incorporated
Companies.
Other Personal
Property.
Railroad
Franchise &c.
Aggregate amount of
Credits,
Stocks, other Per-
sonal
Total aggregate Val- ue of Land, Town
Property, Horses,
Mules,
Farming utensils.
money on hand or on deposit, solvent credits, &c.
&c.
Farming Utensils,
Solvent
Property,
Credits.
Cattle,
38
39
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
RECAPITULATION.
Valuation of Land $101,106,387
Valuation of Town Property 23,028,990
Valuation of Horses, Mules, Cattle, Farming Utensils,
Money on hand or deposit, solvent credit, &c 77,087,346
Total value of Real and Personal Property $201,222,723
40
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE STATE FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR FROM 1868 TO 1884, INCLUSIVE.
PUBLIC FUND.
EDUCATIONAL FUND.
Total Re- ceipts.
Total Dis- bursements.
Year.
Receipts.
Disbursements
Receipts.
Disbursements
1868
$1,925,564 98
$2,019,909 41
$21,564,64
$35,866 01
$1,947,129 62
$2,055,755 42
*1869
8,550,877 62
8,687,428 97
169,870 42
167,158 18
8,720,748 04
8,854,587 15
1870
3,557,867 48
3,454,214 10
333,973 76
203,411 01
3,891,841 24(
3,657,625 11
1871
558,147 38
645,579 97
229,990 79
177,494 94
788,138 17
823,077 91
1872
654,476 21
628,532 70
46,000 81
173,275 92
700,477 02
801,808 62
1873
481,224 91
524,168 47
41,705 01
83,007 18
522,999 92
607,175 65
1874
667,114 49
448,839 68
44,384 21
56,260 94
711,498 70
504 869 62
1875
508,317 67
551,816 78
43,677 08
37,959 91
551,994 75
589,776 75
1876
524,039 17
528,055 22
42,235 59
54,702 93
566,274 76
582,758 15
1877
533,635 55
613,264 59
33,783 57
24,433 10
567,419 12
637,697 69
1878
533,322 04
534,187 07
12,592 39
4,915 03
545,914 43
539,102 10
1879
553,339 96
577,658 41
5,269 65
4,074 90
558,609 60
581,733 31
1880
546,796 04
492,720 33
6,233 47
4,000 00
553,029 51
496,720 33
1881
645,743 05
625,616 59
114,501 31
50,651 25
760,244 36
676,067 84
1882
755,881 44
629,112 37
12,712 05
66,125 00
768,593 49
695,337 37
1883
965,107 08
944,343 76
29,879 30
135 00
994,986 38
944,478 76
1884
1,436,775 66
785,641 78
35,200 33
76,228 65
1,471,975 99
861,870 43
*Much the larger proportion of the Receipts and Disbursements for 1869 are on account of subscriptions to railroad companies, &c., where no money actually passed.
MILITARY.
We believe North Carolina is the only Southern State which has a regular military code and a regular national guard. THE STANDING FORCE IN 1882-FROM THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORT.
Present Strength Present for | Equip- of Company. Inspection. inent.
Regiment.
Company Letter.
Name of Company.
Location.
Date of Organization.
Date of Inspection.
1 1 1 HHH | Captain.
3 2 3 2 to co coro as | Lieutenants.
5 6 Ur proro + | Sergeants.
4 4 C++A+ | Corporals. 5
4 24
35
3
8
2
33
26
1
D
Goldsboro Rifles .
Goldsboro .
March 26, 1877 ..
June 11, 1881
33
46
3
9
23 35
2131
15 27
37
1
I
Washington Light Infantry Fasquotank Rifles.
Elizabeth City
September, 1881.
April 28, 1881.
1
29
52
3
10
36
19
50
53
5 12 25 21
144
207
1 4
5
4
48
62
3
9
20 32
40
36
Wilmington.
May 20, 1853. .
February 25. 1884.
1
5
4
42
51
3
6
25 34
40
Shoe Heel.
May 20, 1879
August 9, 1884.
1
4
28
40
9
F
Sampson Light Infantry
Clinton ...
February 28, 1882.
June 13, 1884.
3
4
31
44
1
6
19 29
36
2
H
Smithfield Guards.
Smithville
April 4, 1883
February 26, 1884
1
5
27
29
3
20 29
10
33
3
Forsyth Riflemen
Winston.
June 7, 1981.
1 2
5
4
36
48
3
8
27 28
39
48
Ashville
February 1, 1883
Nay 27, 1884 .
1
3
4
00
38
3
4
16 23
40
39
3
Haywood Grays ...
Waynesville
May 10, 1883.
May 20, 1884.
1
4
3
3
117|27
0
28
D
Durham Light Infantry ..
Durham
August 6, 1878.
May 12, 1884. .
1
5
4
20
43
4
8
17
10
34
3
I
Reidsville Light Infantry.
Reidsville
October 1, 1882
April 10, 1884.
1
4
27
69
9
18.30
40
40
K
Iredell Blues.
Statesville
May 10, 1580
May 29, 1884
1 31
5
4
30
43
8
22 33
48
48
6 11 27 23
180
250
4
B
Southern Stars.
Lineolnton.
-- 1876.
September 12, 1884.
1
4
4
32
13
3
7
40
35
4
D
Monroe Light Infantry.
Monroe ..
March, 1882.
September 15, 1894.
1
3
5
4
22
25
3
9
15 2
40
32
4
E
Hornet's Nest Riflemen
Charlotte
June 1, 1883.
September 10. 1884.
1
5
4
39
3
5
21 2
40
38
4
I
Polk Rifies ...
Pineville
June 5, 1877 ...
September 10 1884.
1
2
4
3
25
25
2
4
15.21
10
4
K
Dallas Light Infantry ..
Dallas .
February 9, 1883
March 27, 1884
1
5
4
23
25
3
9
19 3
40
-
-
5
11 23 19
129
187
Ist Batt.
Oak City Blues ... Howard Light Infantry.
Raleigh Fayetteville
May, 1876 August 2, 1873.
October 15, 1884 October 15, 1884.
1
2
6
36
3
10
15 29
27
1
4
33
45
4 10 10
55
81
37 37 9998 Guns 40 54
Uniforms.
1
B
Greenville Guards.
Greenville
May 1. 1884.
September 22, 1984.
1
Edgecombe Guards ..
Tarboro.
January 17, 1884
January 22, 1884.
5
21
37
1
9
1
G
Washington.
April 17, 1878.
April 23, 1884.
1
24
27
4
8
33 45
50
56
Fayetteville
May 20, 1856 ..
August 22, 1884
1 2
5
24
36
B
Fayetteville In. Light Infantry Lafayette Light Infantry ..
Fayetteville
August 23, 1793,
August 22, 1884
-
--
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
41
Officers
Officers.
Privates.
Total.
Commissioned
Non Com.
| Privates.
#9% | Total.
21 33 40
1
5
6
6 15 30 24 200 2:5
September 5, 1834.
Asheville Light Infantry ..
2
39
3
3.
2
..
-
5
Shoe Heel Rifles.
Wilmington Light Infantry ...
36
37
3
23 35
An Essay on American Grape Culture.
By HON. W. J. GREEN.
If he who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is greater than he who winneth a battle, surely he who causes a new industry to spring into existence where it was unknown before is not without service to his fellow-man.
The pioneer is usually a public benefactor, be it a Columbus, a De Soto, a Raleigh on un- ploughed seas, a Boone in the wilds of Kentucky, an Arkwright, Fulton, Faraday, Maury, Morse, or Edison in the fields of science, or he in agriculture who demonstrates the feasibility and profit of growing valuable products in localities before considered unsuited. In either case the essential elements of the hero-nerve, penetration, self-reliance, and contempt for the sneers of witlings-are indispensable to success. And we hold that the humanizing agents of advancement are infinitely more to be honored than the representatives of the destructive or brutalizing idea.
If a Krupp, an Armstrong, or a Gatling are to be held in honor of men for their terrible engines of destruction, who shall gainsay at least equal praise to him who contributes in any wise to the amelioration of the race, or the development of his State? Such, as a rule, are not without honor, save in their own country. There, contempt is usually their portion.
Nicholas Longworth setting out his little vine-patch on the hill-slopes of the Ohio over- looking Cincinnati, was probably as much an object o." ridicule to the wise-acres about him as was the first arkwright whilst preparing for the big freshet. The one, however, became the second founder of the human family, and the first recorded patron of the wine. The other, although he cver led an active life, and accumulated a colossal fortune, always main- tained, and posterity will affirm, that the vine-patch constitutes his chiefest claim on the gratitude of those who are to come after. And why? Others had planted vine-patches be- fore, and rested in the shade thereof ? Most true. But none in the New World had planted with the purpose and intent of working out a mighty problem, the solution of which was considered as chimerical as the quadrature of the circle.
He it was who answer gave to the sceptical query of quid nuncs, "Can wine be made in America?" His experimental answer was no doubtful affirmative, and is to-day worth an- nual millions to his trusting and confiding followers. It will, in no distant future, be worth untold millions to his countrymen in the moral, economic, hygienic aspect of the case. The proposition critically examined, and none but bigots will refuse him a niche amongst the world's benefactors. Reason why? This strong conglomerate race to which we belong ever has, and, as much as it is to be deplored, probably ever will use stimulants. Then give us the least pernicious. Is it corn-juice, or is it grape-juice ? Upon answer to this hingeth answer, " Was Nick Longworth a benefactor?" Science tells us at the threshold, that alcohol evolved by fermentation is less noxious than that of distillation.
O "ye unco guid !" follow me to the vine-clad hills of sunny France, the Rhenish slopes, the Spanish plains, Italian arbors, and terraced hillsides of the Sicilies, Tenereffe. and Ma- deira, where the vine has, or had, an established home, and tell me if amongst the festive bands of youths and maidens returning from the luscious clusters and well-stocked cellars, after day's work is done, you observe a beastly Bacchanal, half man and half goat, Silenus-
43
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
like, tottering under an excess of alcoholic dead weight. And yet I invite you to the lands where the juice of the fruit of the vine is almost as abundant, cheap, and free as Nature's beverage. Let us now wend our way to the lands where the grape growetli not, or is just be- ginning to grow,-Russia, Sweeden, Norway, England, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, and even our own favored country. Mark the contrast, and answer make according. It seems to be an inscrutable law of nature, that, as wine increases, drunkenness diminishes. As regards the United States, it has lately been stated officially, that, population considered, there is not half the amount of distilled spirits drunk at this time that there was twenty years ago. Whilst the advocates of a high direct tax on the article-in spite of the admission of parlia- mentary committees to the contrary, in the case of Scotland and Ireland, where the experi- ment of a tax supposed to be prohibitory has had a fair test and trial-are disposed to claim all the credit of the reduction in consumption. the native wine-grower modestly puts in his claim, and holds that the largely increased production of home-made cheap wines accounts. more than all things else, for the corresponding falling-off in consumption of gin, rum, brandy, whiskey, etc.
From the earliest recorded times, the cultivation of the vine, and the expression and fur- mentation of the juice of the grape, has been one of the recognized great industries of the world. After the indispensable "staff of life," it has been the chiefest pillar of national prosperity for more great States than any other one agricultural staple that can be named.
During the long period that " The Eternal City " was the recognized mistress of the world, and when the Roman Legions bore " the eagle " from the Pillars of Hercules to the Euphra- tes and Indus, and from the equatorial south to the frozen north, wine was the established market and money crop of that puissant people. The vine was the foster-child of the senate, of consuls, and of tribunes. The annual product was immense, and freely was it consumed. At home and in camp it was drunk like water, and yet drunkenness was not the prevailing vice of Rome. That its use was not enervating, we have but to turn to the recorded achieve- ments, the unparalleled endurance, of her matchless soldiery, to have all doubts resolved. The reason is obvious. They made a pure article, and drank nothing stronger. In the hey- day of the republic, before national decay, the inevitable result of personal decadence, set in, honesty was no less the rule in Rome than were patriotism, courage and frugality. Short weights and measures, counterfeiting and adulterations, stamped the guilty party with the Latin synonyme of the good old English word "scoundrel;" and swift and terrible penalty fol- lowed. The diabolic arts and playful tricks of modern chemistry, by which harmless simples are so blended and compounded as to prove most noxious and destructive to human health and life. were then unknown on the banks of the Tiber. Pure wine and healthy food, neither of which had undergone the manipulations of an "expert," were the only sort sold in the markets of Rome : and a brave, vigorous, simple, and healthy race was the result.
Unlike the citizens of "the great modern republic," those of "the great ancient," had nothing more terrible to apprehend than a Carthaginian arrow, or the javelin of a Gaul. Grim distrust had no seat at the festal board to whisper with every crook of the elbow, "Do you know what you are putting in your month ?" But to return from this digression. The vine to-day (or, rather yesterday, before the terrible phylloxera began to work upon it ) is or was the source of the material prosperity of the nations of Southern and Central Europe.
In France it had for centuries maintained proportions which dwarfed all other pursuits, the yearly crop largely exceeding in market-value that of our much vaunted textile fabric, cotton.
Has inebriety kept pace with yearly increasing product in those countries ? It has, but in the inverse ratio. The traveller will tell you that it is a rare sight, that of a drunken man in the wine-producing countries of the Old World. If such be a fact, does it not behoove the philanthropist to pause and stick a pin, and ask the reason why ? If fact it be, taken in con- nection with another, viz., that the immaculate Saviour of mankind turned water into wine at the wedding-feast, it surely ought to silence those self-sufficient and narrow-minded bigots who cry out against the morality of grape-growing and wine-making.
It is, of course, a new industry in the New World, but in the last few years has been making headway with the strides of a giant, and bids fair, at a no distant day, not only to drive the
44
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
refuse stuffs of the foreign vineyards out of our own markets, but to compete with him in neutral ones, if not in those under the shadow of his own vine.
For generations its introduction and development were retarded in our country by the ex cathedra scoff of the Old-World culturist, that wine could under no circumstances be made on this side of the Atlantic, and the implicit credence given the statement by would-be beginners in the experiment, as well as by wine-drinkers themselves, who had to be educated up to the point of impartial trial, and to put their own palate on the witness-stand, instead of placing implicit reliance on the damnatory verdict of an adverse and partial jury. That point has now been reached, and it is a great point gained. According to the " Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics," published by the United-States Government, the amount of native wines consumed in this country is over twenty-five per cent. of all that is used ; and the supply and the demand are increasing with accelerated speed.,
Whilst there is undoubtedly a certain class of Americans, sui generis who prefer to set up as connoisseurs, and who, to maintain their self-complacent assumption of superior taste, will persist in being cajoled and "put upon" by foreign pretenders, and native dealers in foreign wares, nevertheless, the great bulk of our people are too practical, common-sensed, and mat- ter-of-fact to continue to take forever foreign notables or foreign wares at the exorbitant val- uation which they put upon themselves and their products. A little while back it was impos- sible to get a bottle of native wine at any of the high-priced and fashionable eating-houses of the large cities. Now few of them can afford to be without them. The repeated demand of their customers for a pure, low-priced native beverage has remedied the omission on their shelves.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.