USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 7
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
many samples of real imported wines (excluding the American sold for foreign) might be found to be even tolerable, and without any distinct shade of goodness at all ?
(New York Star, June 9, 1883.) BAD WINE.
It appears that the consumption of wine in England has fallen off four and a half million gallons in seven years. In 1876 it amounted to eighteen and a half million gallons : but last year it had dropped to fourteen million. The chief cause of this marked decline is said to be the deterioration of the wines in quality. They are doctored too much. The adulterations are not only deleterious, but patent and offensive. It has been said more than once in Eng- land, that it would be impossible to get pure Port wine, were a man to see it made at the vineyard, and shipped for home, riding all the way on the head of the cask. However that may be, the fact that many of the costly wines of England are badly adulterated is well known there and here : while the cheap wines fare better, because it does not pay to adulterate them. It would be strange indeed if the adulteration of wines and liquors should stop their sale, and encourage temperance. But the facts look in that direction.
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Tokay Vineyard, from North-east.
The Future of "The Old North State."
She is, and must continue to be, an agricultural State. It is true that the wealth of her ' forests and the usefnl minerals are varied and almost inexhaustible, and that the water power of the State is nowhere excelled within an equal area on this continent, yet the great variety of seils, yielding so generously to the labors of the husbandman, supplying all his wants : the mild temperature of the climate free from the rigidity of northern winters and from the extreme heat of southern summers ; and our geographical position placing us in easy access to all the great markets of the world ; must make agriculture her chief interest. Nature has not only indicated unmistakably the part she must as a State, perform in the onward march of the world's progress, but with lavish hand has bountifully suppplied her with every essential facility and means to encourage and aid her people. Not only can she produce all the leading staple crops required for the sustenance of man and beast, but those articles of high commercial value and importance are found either to exist, or the capacity for producing them in the greatest abundance and profusion. And when these truths in regard to this State become known abroad, and be appreciated at home, it will be found that no people on earth are better able to take care of themselves than the inhabitants of North Carolina.
Nature has not only given her the capacity, but has generously provided for manufacturing. Take for example the manufacture of cotton. In the New England States, where the greatest number of spindles in our country are concentrated, much of the profits of manufacture is absorbed by idle looms, locked up through long winter months by ice, or in the necessarily heavy outlay in heating apparatus required to keep them in motion. Here the mills are seldom or ever retarded in our operations in any portion of the State by similar causes. Fuel is abundant and cheap, and so is labor for operating.
The extent and capacity of our water power is almost incalculable, and these valuable and wonderfully munificent gifts of nature are not confined as many suppose, to our mountainous region, but are scattered throughout the State. A reference to the estimate capacity, by Prof. Kerr, of our principal rivers, to say nothing of the hundreds of creeks and branches, affluents of the rivers, and many of which are equal to the far famed Tiber; it will be seen that to take one halt of his estimate for the principal streams, we have in this State the enormous mechanical force of horse power to run all the engines stationary and locomotive in mighty Old England and nearly the same strength as is employed in all the mills'and in the thousands of miles of railway in this country from Maine to California ! and the enormous expenditure annually incurred for coal, to keep these engines in motion, is here furnished gratuitously by nature.
In truth there are a score of counties in this State, either one of which would furnish sufficient water power to turn all the spindles of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hamp- shire combined, One single river, (the Yadkin,) by actual measurement, supplies ample power to drive 10,000,000 spindles-twice as many as there are in all the factories of America ! And yet many of these wonderful and magnificent gifts of nature, surpassing in power and volume anything known in New or Old England, continue to hymn their grand old roaring song unbroken by the hum of a single spindle. Many of these streams, having their sources in the mountains, and traversing the State to the ocean, gives with their numerous tributaries, not only one of the best watered, but one of the best drained countries on the globe. With
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
these facilities at hand, the day is not distant when, by the influx of capital. energy and enter- prise, and the restored strength of our people, we may hope to see North Carolina teeming with these varied industries to which she is so well and favorably adapted. Already the grat- ifying evidences of advancement are rapidly increasing. With her beautiful homes and fields laid waste by the ruthless hand of war, her systems wiped out, her labor utterly destroyed, the accumulated wealth of generations swept away as by a breath, her sons slain. her credit gone, her utterly impoverished condition called for a renewed exhibition of those high qualities of manhood always evoked by terrible emergencies. That tenacious and indom- itable spirit, which has ever characterized her people. nerved them to redoubled and almost superhuman exertion, and now again her fields are assuming their wonted pleasant aspect, and her homes are restored to their former eomfort and cheer. A general spirit of improve- ment pervades the masses, as is evinced by a constantly growing demand and inquiry for improved breeds of stock, improved implements and machinery, and improved methods of farming. But above all does this spirit of progress manifest itself in the cordial and enthu- siastic support of the Department of Agriculture, the creation of which was prompted and inspired by it. Notwithstanding the long years of dark adversity through which she has struggled, much of the 1600 miles of railroad now in operation in the State has been built since the war, and projected lines now cover the face of our territory as a network, flour- ishing villages and towns have been built, and half of the 60 cotton factories in operation have been erected since the war.
Now that the animosities and prejudices engendered by the war are happily subsiding and yielding to a more fraternal spirit ; now that delicate political and social relations between the raees are being adjusted upon a better understanding of their nature ; now that the govern- ment, like the gracious atmosphere, throws its fostering and protecting influence over and around all alike, we can confidently indulge the assertion that an era of unexampled pros- perity has begun in this State. Already these advantages have begun to attract attention and to awake a wide spread interest. The flow of emigration to the North and West has turned its course Southwards. The rapid advance in the price of lands, which places them beyond the reach of those of moderate means, the limited variety of products, with low prices and heavy transportation to very distant markets, the scarcity of timbers, the constantly recurring failures to which the farmer is subjected from the ravages of insects and droughts, the long and severe winters in which a large provision must be made for the keeping of stock, these and many other disadvantages not known in this State, are beginning to enlist the attention of the intelligent immigrant. Europe's crowded population will continue to pour into our ports its thousands who seek our shore as a refuge from their ills. Thousands of the better classes at the North are anxiously coming into the now quiet and peaceful South as a hope of escaping those disruptions of social order which unfortunately threaten to be a source of per- petual danger, not only to their industrial prosperity, but involving seriously the personal safety of the citizen. The turbulent spirit of their society must give it an unrest which will impel its more peaceable and law abiding people to seek that tranquility and repose now so happily prevailing in this State. And with our millions of acres of unoccupied lands, which can be bought cheaply, and with a population sturdy, honest, law-abiding and hospitable, to extend to them a warm and cordial welcome, the day is not distant when the Old Northi State shall receive its full share of immigrants with their energy, enterprise and capital, that has given such wonderful impetus to the progress of the young States of the Northwest.
Francis B.HayB
The Best Method of Cultivating and Curing
FINE YELLOW TOBACCO.
Written after 60 years experience, by J. B. HOBGOOD, of Granville Co., N. C.
Plant Beds. The first work in preparing for a crop of tobacco, is to burn and sow in good time plenty of plant land. in warm moist situations. Select land that will not become sodden by too much rain, and, if possible, let the spots be on creeks or branches (far enough off to guard against overflowing) with a sonth or southwest exposure. Burn the land well. My plan is to put down on my bed, about four feet apart what we term "skids"-poles the size of a man's arm. These are to keep the wood off the ground. When these skids are burned up one may, as a rule, know that the land is burned hard enough, and that it is time to move the fire on further. This is the best guide I can give to the inexperienced as to the length of time the land should be burned. The best time for burning in the latitude of North Carolina and Vir- ginia, is from 1st Jannary to 1st of March. Good, fine stable manure, free from seeds of grass, oats or clover, with some good commercial fertilizer, is what I think best to use on plant beds.
After burning rake off the ashes, cover the ground well with stable manure, hove up the bed thoroughly. and make it fine by repeated liocing and raking ; then mix the tobacco seed. using one and a half tablespoonfuls in every twenty-five pounds of fertilizer to every one hundred square yards in the bed, and then tread in with the feet or pat with the hoe. To. bocco seed require but Itttle covering, and if covered too deep will fail to come up. Cover the bed with fine brush (dogwood is best if convenient), to protect the plants from frost and to keep the bed moist. Sometimes it becomes necessary to force the growth of plants in order that they may be large enough to transplant at the proper time ; this is done by using some quick, reliable fertilizer as a top-dressing, care being taken not to apply it when the plants are wet with dew or rain.
Soil. Gray, friable soils-fresh from the forests, or long out of cultivation-with a dry porus subsoil, are the best adapted to the growth and maturity of yellow tobacco.
Plow your land and put it in good condition before bedding, run the rows off three feet four inches each way, using, according to the strength of the land, from ninety to one hun- dred and ten pounds of good fertilizer to every one thousand hills. Use farmpen manure in the drill with the fertilizer ; it will be found of very great advantage, even if it is not convenient to use it except in small quantities.
Planting. Plant in hills as early after the first of May as the plants and season will admit. As soon as the plants take good root, commence cultivation, whether in a grassy condition or not, and continue to stir the land with plow and hoe until the tobacco begins to come in top, using short singletrees as the plants increase in size, to prevent bruising and breaking. After the plants become too large to admit of the use of the plow, use only the hoe to keep down grass.
Topping. It is best to wait until a good number of plants button for seed before beginning to top, as these will then ripen together. A man must top according to the appearance and promise of the plant, the strength of the land, &c .; he must use his own judgment on top- ping, bearing in mind that a strong healthy plant can bear higher topping than a small one.
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
As a general thing the first topping will bear ten to fifteen leaves, priming off the lower leaves neither too high nor too low, so that when the plant ripens the bottom leaves may be well off the ground. As the season advances continue to top lower, so that the plants may ripen be- fore frost.
Cultivation after topping. Never plow tobacco later than the first of August, after which time use the hoe, as late plowing keeps the tobacco green too long, and causes it to ripen with a green color. When tobacco begins to ripen use neither plow nor hoe, as quality is better than quantity in this case.
After being topped tobacco should be kept as clear as possible from worms and suckerz.
Cutting. Let your tobacco stand on the hill until thoroughly ripe, bearing in mind not to cut any until a barn be filled with plants of uniform ripeness, color and quality. Put seven medium sized plants on a stick four and a half feet long. Let the plants go from the cutter's hands over the stick in the hands of the holder. After being filled the sticks should not touch the ground for any length of timc; in fact 'tis better for them to go directly from the holder to wagon and from the wagon to the barn, where they should be tiered about eight inches apart -that is if the tobacco is of medium size.
Barns. I think those that are seventeen and a half feet square are the best for curing suc- cessfully; a barn of this size, with four firing tiers below the joists. will hold about four hun- dred and fifty sticks
Curing. As fluc curing has taken the place of the older method of curing by charcoal, it is only necessary to give directions for that process. A dry curing heat is the principle of both methods. Flue curing has many advantages over the primitive way, being cheaper, cleaner, giving the tobacco a sweeter flavor, and it is attended by less danger of fire. My ad- vice, right here, to the novice is, to see for himself the plan on which a tobacco barn is built and arranged for curing.
Temperature. After filling the barn with ripe tobacco, start the heat at about ninety or a hundred degrees Fahrenheit and keep there for thirty or thirty-six hours, which length of time is commonly required to yellow tobacco, some taking a little longer or shorter time. Right here is where a man must exercise his judgment, as neither the best theory nor the most minute directions will serve-it is practice that makes a GOOD CURER.
After finding the best leaves in the barn of a uniform yellow and the others of a pea-green, one can, as a general rule, begin to raise the heat from the yellowing heat at the rate of five degrees every two hours. When one hundred and fifteen degrees is reached, it is time to give the tobacco air by cracking open the door and making holes as large as a man's hand on cach side of the barn ncar the bottom logs ; which treatment will be found to be of great advantage. as the tobacco will commence drying off and the tails will begin to turn up. Continue to increase the heat at the above rate until one hundred and thirty-five is reached, where the heat must be kept for twelve hours, which is the length of time required to cure the leaf. Raise the heat now five degrees every hour and a half until it gets to one hundred and eighty degrees. This heat will in a short time cure both stem and stalk. As a general rule, by fol- lowing these directions, tobacco will come out of the barn a pretty uniform yellow. To cure it a bright, clear yellow, it must have all the heat it will bear until it reaches one hundred and thirty-five degrees.
Ordering and Handling. After tobacco is thoroughly cured, let it come in order enough to handle well ; then move from curing barn to packing barn, or some tight house, and bulk down so that it will retain its color, as exposure reddens it.
Stripping. When ready for stripping, take as much bulked tobacco as one wants, and hang at some damp time in a curing-barn, so as to bring it in order to handle. In stripping. select leaves of uniform size and color, making about six or seven different grades, and tie in bundles of six leaves. After tying, the bundles should be hung on a stick. putting about twenty-five bundles on a stick, and the sticks put down in a bulk, perfectly straight. This will press the tobacco out flat and cause it to make a better appearance on the market. It should remain in bulk for several days.
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PLANING MILLE SASH&BLINDFAEY
ICE MILL
LEVYTYPE CO PHILA
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
GOLDSBORO: RICE AND PLANING MILLS, GOLDSBORO', N. C.
RALEIGH, N. C.
I.C. HARRIS, - RALEIGH, NE
STATE CAPITOL
The first General Assembly, of the Proprietary Government, of which record is made was held at Little River, Perquimans county, at the house of Capt. Richard Sanderson, in 1715. In 1720 it met in Chowan Precinct General Court House; in 1723 at Edenton. In 1731 the Royal Government succeeded the Proprietary Government, and met in 1741 at Wilmington, but returned the next year to Edenton. In 1745 it removed to New Berne, at which place it regularly assembled until 1761, with the exception of one year, when it met at Bath. In 1761 it met at Wilmington. In 1766 Gov. Tryon's mansion was commenced at New Berne, being completed in 1770. During the Revolution the General Assembly divided its sittings between New Berne, Kinston, Halifax, Smithfield, Wake Court House. Hillsboro and Salem. In 1786 it met at Fayetteville, in 1787 at Tarboro; in 1788 at Fayetteville. In that year the Conven- tion which met at Hillsborough left to the assembly to "ascertain the exact spot for the un- alterable seat of Government, provided always that it shall be within ten miles of the plan- tation whereon Isaac Hunter now resides in the County of Wake." In 1790 the Assembly which met at Hillsborough was tied on the vote to re-elect the site, and Speaker Cabarrus gave the casting vote in favor. The Senate, however was also tied, and Speaker Lenoir gave the casting vote against it. In 1791 the General Assembly met at New Berne, appointed ten per- sons to lay off and locate the City, within ten miles of the plantation of Isaac Hunter, and five persons to cause to be built a State House. at a cost not to exceed ten thousand pounds. Commissioners Frederick Hargett. Wille Jones. Joseph McDowell. Thomas Blount, William Johnson Dawson and James Martin met on April 4th, 1792, and purchased of Col. Joel Lave 1,000 acres of land in Wake county, and made a plan of a city, containing 400 acres. in five squares of four acres, and 276 lots of one acre each. The center Square, upon which the State House was erected, was called Union Square: the Northwestern Caswell Square; the Norteastern Burke Square: the Southeastern Moore Square, and the Southwestern Nash Square. The streets starting from Union Square were named New Berne, Hillsborough. Halifax and Fayetteville. after the towns in whose direction they run, and are each 99 feet wide. The rest of the streets are 66 feet wide. The other streets of the city were named after the Commis- sioners and other prominent men of the State, and also one for Wilmington and another for Salisbury. The General Assembly first met in the State House in December, 1794. The first gubernatorial residence was upon the site at present occupied by Christ Church rectory, on a lot facing the easterly line of Union Square. The next residence for the governors was erected at the foot of Fayetteville street, facing the Capitol from the South. It was com- monly called the Palace, and was completed and occupied first by Governor Miller during his term 1813-1816. This has in time given place to a new edifice now being erected on Burke Square. The sale of lots supplied sufficient funds to pay for the State House. In 1831 the first State House was burned to the ground, and with it was destroyed Canova's noble statue of Washington, which was located directly under the apex of the dome. In 1833, on July 6th, Governor Swain laid the foundation of the present Capitol.
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
Thus the Capital City of North Carolina, named after the noted Sir Walter Raleigh, is one of the very few seats of government that have been planted on virgin soil. Most of the cap- itals have been chosen from cities already prominent for size, or wealth, or enterprise: but her foundations were laid upon ground undisturbed before by the tide of business or of pleasure,
General Sherman and army occupied Raleigh from 13th April to 21st May, 1865.
The city is most beautifully situated; the country around it being rolling, the city itself resting upon the crest of the highest wave of the soil. It is literally " a city set upon a hill, that cannot be hid, and its numerous public buildings make it a most striking and attractive sight. The view is especially fine from the Southward. To the left rises the huge Asylum for the Insane, crowning a ridge that overlooks the city, and whose fine trees make a picture that the eye comes back again and again to rest upon. In the valley near by to the right the lofty brick walls of the State Penitentiary show their lordly proportions. As the eye roams toward the center of the view the perfect outlines of the First Methodist and First Baptist spires arrest the attention. In the center, fitly dominating the circle, rises the Capitol, one of the most perfectly formed buildings in the world. The five immense buildings of Shaw Univer- sity fill the right foreground, and complete a circle that can scarcely be surpassed in the country by any city of five times the size of North Carolina's Capital. The Southeastern out- look adds to these buildings the view of the post office, whose white granite gleams from afar, present proportions that surpass any other Federal building in the South.
The city has its place among the poetical names that have been scattered abroad in the land, and rejoices in the appropriate title of the "City of Oaks." Her streets are heavily shaded, the oaks of immense sweep of branches and large trunks largely predominating ; but elms and maples are also numerous, and magnolias abound, while some specimens of the umbrella tree are also to be found.
The streets are regularly laid out, wide, and well drained, which accounts in a measure for the great healthiness of the place, its death rate, including the deaths among the blacks, being only 14 to the 1000. The streets are well lighted at night, and property and life are well protected by a competent police force. It may justly be called one of the quietest cities on the continent, as the noise ot a brawl or a disturbance is the rarest of sounds.
The religious element of the place is very strong in numbers and influence, and the tone of the community may justly be pronounced devotional. This finds expression in the conver- sation and actions of the people and in the attendance upon public worship, which is remark- ably large in proportion to the population. The number of churches is extraordinarily large, there being no less than twenty-five for a population of thirteen thousand, so that Raleigh is one of a very few cities that can furnish a seat in a house of worship for every one of her people. Raleigh is no less distinguished for her schools. From whatever direction a person enters the city he passes a seat of learning whose extensive accommodations for students arrest the most careless attention. At the west entrance of the city the wide spreading parks of St. Mary's School makes a most attractive appearance. In the centre of the grove of lordly oaks stand the four large buildings of the school. This well known institution was founded by the late Rev. A. Sinedes, D. D., in May, 1842. He was a man of singular fitness for his chosen work, of varied learning and well balanced mind, with a sympathetic heart and a wonderful magnetic power to attract and influence the young, After thirty-five years of faithful labor the beloved and venerated founder was called to his rest, and his son the Rev. Bennett Smedes. A. M., succeeded him as Rector and Principal. Having been associated with his father for sixteen years, Mr. Smedes brought to aid in the fulfilment of his duties not only long experience in educational work but a full knowledge of and sympathy with the system of discipline and government, which has stood successfully the test of so many years, and now carries on the school with over increasing thoroughness and efficiency. The school is an institution of the Episcopal Church, but like the broad and liberal spirit which has always characterized this body throughout the world, the names of scholars of all denominations from every state may be found on its rolls. St. Mary's has always enjoyed an entensive patronage ; when it was opened schools of high grade were rare in this part of the country, pupils flocked in from every side and to-day men of prominence from every Southern State send their daughters to Mr. Smedes to be trained in all those qualities and accomplishments which make them good, useful, refined and cultivated gentlewomen. And admirable women they have ever turned out to be, adorning society. blessing their home circle, wielding good influence in every walk of life and earnestly working wherever they may be in the cause of Christ. Rarely, says a late distinguished American, is an ex-St. Maryite found who does not venerate her Alma Mater and recur with grateful pleasure to her school days, or wish for her daughters the same advantages of moral culture and thorough education that she profited by, and so children of the third generation are now coming to be enrolled and add their names to the long list of the daughters of St. Mary's.
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