USA > Virginia > Charlotte County > Charlotte County > Charlotte County, Virginia : historical, statistical, and present attractions > Part 6
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What Mr. Dunnington says of our tobacco :
FARMVILLE, VA., February 9, 1907. J. C. Carrington, Esq., Commissioner.
DEAR SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of recent date, asking me to state for use in the Charlotte County, Va.,' Hand- Book, my opinion of the tobacco produced in that county and I take pleasure in doing so.
The superior quality of your dark types of tobacco attracted my attention years ago, and I established an agency at Drake's Branch, Va., the leading market of the county, fifteen years ago, and have maintained it ever since. I have used these tobaccos in my export business with great satisfaction, and in considerable quantities- prob- ably 1,000,000 pounds annually-and have found them admirably well adapted to the wants of my foreign trade.
Charlotte tobaccos seem to be growing in popularity, as evidenced by the fact that most of the large manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, now buy extensively in your local market.
The production of tobacco could be largely increased by an increase in your population, for which there is still ample room. More labor is needed, and could find steady employment at good wages on your sur- plus lands, which can be bought at reasonable prices.
Yours very truly, W. G. DUNNINGTON.
Letter from agent of American Tobacco Co .:
RICHMOND, VA., February 9, 1907. Mr. J. C. Carrington, County Clerk,
Charlotte County C. H., Va.
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the Sth instant received and contents noted. Our company has been buying tobacco on the Drake's Branch market for the past four years, grown in Charlotte county, and we think Charlotte county tobacco equal, if not superior, for domestic or shipping purposes to any grown in the dark belt of Virginia.
Yours respectfully, RICHMOND STEMMEBY,
W. J. Walker.
" Hillcroft "-Residence of S. C. Daniel, Charlotte Courthouse, Va.
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
From agent Imperial Tobacco Co .:
RICHMOND, VA., February 9, 1907. J. C. Carrington, Esq., Charlotte C. H., Va.
MY DEAR SIR: I am duly in receipt of your favor of the 8th instant, and in reply beg to say that the character of the best tobacco hitherto grown in your county is especially suited to the Italian and Austrian markets, and this is probably the safest style for your planters to grow, as they understand the methods of cultivation and growing the above styles. If, however, the same varieties were grown on your rich plots or strong lands, and cured after the manner of the Powhatan and Buckingham tobaccos-that is, hard-fired-the tobacco would find a good demand on the Richmond market for the English trade.
Yours respectfully, W. C. REED.
Hon. A. Osterloh, late German Consul, who bought tobacco for that Government for many years, wrote as follows:
When I look back over the last twenty-two years which 1 have spent in Virginia, many of my pleasantest recollections are associated with Charlotte county and its good people. I have had the pleasure of knowing many of them, and nowhere could be found a more genial, whole-souled and honest people than in your good old county. Many were old men when I first knew them, but I will not refer to age in your section, which always breeds longevity. The true old Virginia gentleman could and can be found-in your county by simply going from one home to another.
The county of Charlotte has always been pre-eminent for fine tobacco, such as used to be in vogue, and is to a great extent now. Its fertile soil can produce as fine an article of shipping tobacco as can be grown anywhere. Southern Kentucky and Tennessee cannot equal it in fineness of texture, substance and silkiness, and far sur- passing it in flavor and delicate aroma.
But the soil of Charlotte county is such that it can be made to produce any other article the trade calls for-variegated, as it lies on hill or creek.
I have seen samples of Sumatra and Havana seed which, with proper attention and study, could be made to supply the home demand for cigar purposes.
Letter from Inter-State President, showing the object of the association and what it has accomplished :
JANUARY 15, 1907.
DEAR SIR: From the early days of colonization, when it was found necessary to import wives to this country, and tobacco was
Tobacco Scene on Farm of Dr. Goodrich V. Morton, Charlotte Courthouse, Va.
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exported in exchange for them, down to about fifteen years ago, tobacco steadily advanced in production, became the leading manufactured product of the State, employing large capital and thousands of laborers. Manufacturing plants were scattered all over the tobacco-growing sections, creating competitive markets and profitable prices for leaf tobacco. Some fifteen years ago, insatiate greed of monopoly was first felt in this industry, and under trust methods competition was driven from our markets. This condition became so oppressive that pro- ducers were forced to consider plans of relief and this association was formed. The plans of the association have advanced prices from $7 to nearly $10 on Danville market, the largest leaf market in the State, and the same results apply to other markets handling same types. The producers, through this association, are now successfully operating, reordering, etc., where the leaf tobacco is put in safe keeping condition and is good collateral for loans. No agricultural section can produce crops per acre equal in value to the tobacco belts of Virginia and North Carolina, of which Charlotte is a part, and under association methods this tobacco belt will become the wealthiest farming section in the United States. Values of lands will continue to increase, and the interest of every legitimate business will be enhanced.
Yours truly, S. C. ADAMS,
Inter-State President Tobacco Growers Association.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
RANDOLPH, January 30, 1907.
DEAR SIR: I moved to this county the beginning of the year 1906, which was a wet, bad crop year. From the labor of myself and two little boys I made $1,600.00 worth of tobacco, of this amount $500.00 were realized from two acres, I had five acres in corn, on highland, and made thirty-five barrels of corn.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
W. M. JONES.
$412.00 FROM ONE ACRE IN BRIGHT TOBACCO.
RED OAK, VA., January 19, 1907.
DEAR SIR: I bought a farm of 118 acres at Red Oak, Charlotte county, Va., five years ago, and I certify that I cultivated five acres in bright tobacco that brought me clear check of $1,200.00. A part of the five acres was planted late and was inferior. One acre brought me $412.00 clear check in tobacco. By "clear check" I mean after deduct- . ing all selling charges, I paid $4.00 per acre for my land.
W. A. ROWLES.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
Corn Field-Staunton Hill.
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
DOUBLES PRICE PAID FOR FARM IN ONE YEAR.
RED OAK, VA., January 19, 1907.
DEAR SIR: Two years ago I bought a farm, containing 470 acres, near Red Oak, Charlotte county, Va., and paid $3.20 per acre for it. I cultivated twelve acres in bright tobacco and sold the tobacco for $2,500.00 the first year. I raised also usual crops of corn, wheat, etc. My corn crop yielded ten barrels to the acre.
I am from Pittsylvania county, but think Charlotte county land produces better than any land I ever saw.
J. W. LOVELACE.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
$3850.00 FROM FIFTEEN ACRES.
RED OAK, VA., January 12, 1907.
DEAR SIR: This is to certify that I recently cultivated fifteen acres in tobacco, near Red Oak P. O. in Charlotte county, Virginia, and sold the tobacco for $3,850.00. I also made plenty of forage, corn, oats and wheat for my use. I bought farm here five years ago.
W. H. RUTLEDGE.
PLACE FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS SETTLERS.
JANUARY 16, 1907.
In 1891 I bought a farm of 291 acres, for which I paid $500.00. When I bought this farm it was considered one of the poorest places in the county, and at the time of purchase I was not worth a dollar. I moved on it and went to work, and now have a new, comfortable dwelling and all out buildings, which I have built since I purchased it. I have now twenty-five acres in grass, and my crop of tobacco last year averaged me $152.00 an acre. I am out of debt, with money ahead. This, after supporting my family, consisting of a wife and four children. Last year I refused an offer of $3,500.00 for my farm. I would further state that, in my opinion, any industrious, practical farmer can do fully as well as I have done if he will come to Charlotte and buy, for here he can buy lands susceptible of the highest improve- ment at a reasonable price, and on reasonable terms.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
B. L. JORDAN.
DECEMBER 18, 1906.
Letter from one of our largest, thriftiest and most pro- gressive farmers :
DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter of recent date, inquiring about
" Avondale "-Residence of G. W. Watson, Taro, Va.
1
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
the number of pounds of tobacco per acre, price or market value of same, and the amount of labor and cost to cultivate the same. I take pleasure in furnishing the following facts, the figures being taken from my books, and are exact:
From a good clover fallow, and planted the 20th of May, 1905, one of my tenants cultivated two and one-half acres in tobacco that made 2,730 pounds, and was sold on the market at Drake's Branch, after all warehouse charges were paid, for $400.45-net average, $160.16 per acre. The balance of his crop was on land not quite so good.
Farm Scene-Maj. R. V. Gaines.
On seven acres he made 7,000 pounds that brought net $735.55, an average of $105.06 per acre. This tenant hired one hand and worked himself, and paid the hand $7.00 per month. His crop yield for the year was:
Net amount tobacco
$1,136 00
350 bushels corn, at .50 cents per bushel
175 00
168 bushels wheat, at .90 cents per bushel
151 20
$1,462 20
Off fertilizers
$102 50
Labor
204 00
Feed, etc.
150 00
456 50
Clear profit
$1,005 70
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
One of my other tenants planted six acres in tobacco and made 8,150 pounds, which netted $619.40, being $103. 231/3 per acre, and used only $44.00 of fertilizer.
. Timothy .- Timothy grows fine where the land is rich and moist. I had twelve acres in timothy and cut twenty tons.
Fruits .- This soil is well adapted to fruits of all kind- grapes, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, pears and apples.
I have peaches that ripen the 12th of June and successions that last until October. The winesap is my favorite apple. Have almost every variety of apple trees, but find the winesap the hardiest. They bear every year. Among my varieties there are a good many cheese apples and summer varieties that will make forty-five gallons of cider from a single tree.
Yours truly, G. W. WATSON.
l'o J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
CORN.
Corn makes the best yield upon the river and creek bottoms, where the yield is from fifty to seventy-five bushels per acre. Highlands yield from thirty to forty bushels with favorable seasons. Upon improved lots the yield has gone much higher. Corn with a pea fallow makes an admirable preparation for grass.
WHEAT.
The average yield of wheat is about fifteen bushels to the acre. The yield sometimes goes as high as forty-five bushels. Clover sown with wheat usually makes a good yield and acts finely upon the soil.
OATS.
The winter oat succeeds best and sells readily on the market for $1.00 per hundred.
RYE.
Rye is one of the most useful of all crops, thriving well on almost any kind of soil. It makes good grazing for cattle all through the winter, and is ready for the blade earlier in the spring than any other crop, furnishing from two to three cut- tings a season. Rye cut in the green state makes the finest food for milk cows, and is also excellent for horses and a very popular diet with them. It is also an improver of the soil.
-
" The Grove "-Summer Residence of William W. Galt, Pay Director, U. S. N., Charlotte Courthouse, Va.
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HAY.
Grasses of all kind make splendid yields. The main varieties cultivated here are herds, orchard, timothy, german, red and saplin clovers and alfalfa. These grasses yield from one and one-half to three tons per acre. Alfalfa makes a fine yield and is becoming very popular with our people. Fowls are very fond of it in the green state, as are also horses and live stock of all kinds. German clover makes excellent feed and is a great soil improver.
FRUITS.
Our climate and soil are admirably adapted to fruits, though little general attention has been paid to fruit raising. Those who have given the matter some attention have reaped the most flattering results. Apples, peaches, pears, grapes, cherries, dewberries, raspberries, blackberries, plums, damsons and prunes all flourish and make ample yields. Our people know but little about fruit culture, having given the matter very little attention. Few know anything about spraying or the use of the Bordeaux mixture. As a consequence, orchards are generally allowed to take care of themselves. When ever the slightest attention has been given an orchard the results have been most gratifying.
Vegetables of all kinds grow to as great perfection and are as delicious as anywhere else upon the globe. The principal vegetables cultivated in our gardens are Irish and sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets, okra, salsify, onions, corn, peas, squash, cucumbers, lettuce, kale, parsnips, turnips, and pro- duces the finest salad and celery.
CHARLOTTE EXCELS OHIO IN CORN RAISING.
DECEMBER 28, 1906.
I moved, with my family, from Wood county, Ohio, to Charlotte county, Virginia, in November, 1905, having purchased a small farm in the latter county a few months previous. I have found the people intelligent and hospitable, the climate almost tropical and the lands
XALLERAD
" Saxe " Village on Southern Railway.
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productive. I do not believe any section of our country offers better advantages to industrious settlers than does the county of Charlotte.
My experience in raising corn the present year justifies the belief that Charlotte easily equals-yes, excels Wood county-in this product, comparing amount of money invested. The county is well adapted to cattle and sheep raising on account of the mild winters, living water and the natural grasses which furnish them food nearly the whole year through. In conclusion, will say I am well pleased with the move I have made and believe this county has a great future.
C. C. GRIFFITH.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
PEACHES BRING $4.00 PER BUSHEL.
CHARLOTTE COURTIIOUSE, December 21, 1906.
Mr. J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner:
Replying to your inquiry, as to my success in fruit raising, will say I have about one hundred and sixty (160) apple trees bearing, consisting of winesap, Johnson's winter red, Ben Davis and Payne's late winter.
I have one hundred and sixty (160 peach trees, consisting of the Greensboro, Connet, Thiumph, Mamieross, Green Twig, Mammoth Heath, Worth, Carmen and a few other varieties.
I have sixty (60) pear trees in bearing, consisting of the Keiffer, Triumph, Seckle, Garber, Lincoln and Duchess.
Besides I have about two acres in young orchard of the above varieties. I have been very successful in raising all of the above fruits, and my experience is the soil is well adapted to fruit raising and the climate is as good as can be had anywhere. All of the above varieties of apples produce well, but I consider Payne's late winter the best keeping apple.
I consider the Connet peach the best variety for sandy soil, but all of the varieties mentioned produce well on any of the soils of this section-the Worth and Carmen especially adapted to red soils. Pears all seem best adapted to red soil.
Apples bring $1.00 per bushel, peaches $2.50 per bushel and pears $1.50 per bushel, and find ready sale at these prices. The Connet peach does better than this. I can net $4.00 for every bushel of this variety that I can make.
In conclusion, let me say that my success in fruit raising has been extremely gratifying, and I believe the time is near at hand when our people will engage in the enterprise more largely and find greater profit therefrom than from farming. I live near Bethlehem Church, and have orchards in both Charlotte and Prince Edward Counties.
Very truly yours, J. H. THACKSTON.
Residence of S. C. Adams, Red Oak, Va.
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
A SUCCESSFUL FRUIT GROWER.
HILLANDALE, VA., January 24, 1907.
Among the various undeveloped resources of the county fruit grow- ing is one that promises to be most profitable. Heretofore, fruit has been grown for merely domestic uses, while, during recent years, considerable orchards have been planted for commercial purposes.
On a well-regulated plantation fruit can be found, either in the orchard or on the table the year round. If one were to name the kind of fruit grown in this county he would give almost the entire catalogue, but the apple, peach and pear found in our orchards are admirably adapted to our soils and climate, and cannot be excelled either in quantity or quality. Our fruit season begins in May and lasts until October. Our orchards are comparatively free from diseases, blight being known only among these varieties that are known to blight in other climates and soils.
Great care is had to fumigation by our State nurseries, which send out nothing but healthy stock.
The writer speaks from experience, having lived in other latitudes and travelled extensively, in saying that the flavor of all fruits grown in this climate is more luscious than any he ever tasted.
Charlotte county has two great railway systems passing through the county, giving easy access to all the markets-north, south, east and west.
Anyone wishing to know what can be done in this line of business is cordially invited to visit my orchard.
W. S. MORTON.
To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
VALUES, TAXATION AND INDEBTEDNESS.
Charlotte county has a bonded indebtedness of $27,000, in- curred for the construction of iron bridges, a Macadam road, Test Farm and balance on fire-proof clerk's office. It contains 303,890 acres of land, assessed at $1,622,311.00. It has 2,978 farm animals, assessed at $181,015.00, and farm stock valued at $69,654.00.
TAXATION.
The rate of taxation for county purposes is seventy-five cents on $100.00, which includes twenty cents for county and district school tax.
Residence of F. C. Thornton, Charlotte Courthouse, Va. .
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
No FARM MORTAGES.
As an evidence of the thrift and enterprise of our farming community, the farmers have paid off practically all the mort- gages on their lands and you can't lend money to them on real estate. On the contrary, farmers' deposits are large factors in the banking business.
WHAT A BANK CASHIER SAYS OF FARMERS DEPOSITS. OFFICE CHARLOTTE BANKING AND INS., CO. CHARLOTTE COURTHOUSE, VA., January 1, 1907.
DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiry, as to financial status of the farmers of Charlotte County to-day as compared with that of twenty years ago, I will say, that by reference to the books of the bank I find that when I became cashier, 1887, I found the bank carrying the farmers' notes to the amount of $15,000 while their deposits were very small-less than $10,000-and that too when this was the only Bank in the county. To-day conditions are changed, with three banks in the county bidding for patronage. The average balance carried by this bank of farmers is about $60,000, while their indebtedness has been greatly reduced.
Yours etc., F. C. THORNTON, Cashier. To J. C. Carrington, County Commissioner.
TRANSPORTATION AND MARKETS.
TRANSPORTATION.
The county is traversed by the Southern railway, which runs across the entire middle section of the county, a distance of 19.20 miles, being the main line between Danville, connect- ing with all points South and Richmond, the State Capital, where it connects with all points North. The Richmond and Mecklenburg division is a branch of the Southern, and leaves the main line at Keysville, and passes through the lower end of the county. a distance of 8.47 miles. The Tidewater rail- way, which, when completed, will be the greatest coal-carrying road in the world, runs across the county from near Abilene to the Campbell line at Brookneal, a distance of 26 miles. This road passes through a fertile section, abounding in timber and
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
good farm lands, and places the county in direct communica- tion with Deepwater at Norfolk. The Orange and Keysville road has been partially constructed, and will connect with the Tidewater near Abilene and with the Southern and its Richmond and Mecklenburg division at Keysville. Thus it will be seen the county has extraordinary railroad facilities, and best of all she does not owe a bond for their building.
MARKETS.
Thus placed in communication with all of the large markets, we still have the advantage of local markets at the Courthouse, Drake's Branch, Keysville, Ontario, and Saxe. In addition to these we have the substratum of small villages at Wyllies- burg, Madisonville, Aspenwall, Abilene, Randolph, Red Oak, Rough Creek and the Red House, with Pamplins on our northern border, a growing town on the Norfolk and Western Railroad.
Our chief markets for staple products are Danville, fifty miles south; Lynchburg, thirty miles west; Richmond and Petersburg, seventy miles east, and Norfolk at Deepwater, 140 miles southeast.
There is no section of the county more than five miles from a Railroad.
NORFOLK, VA., January 2, 1907. Mr. J. C. Carrington, Clerk, Charlotte, Va.
DEAR SIR: I acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 27th, requesting some information with reference to the construction of the Tidewater railway through Charlotte county. I take pleasure in giving you, briefly, the following facts:
Generally speaking, the Deepwater and Tidewater railways will constitute a system tapping the New River, Pocahontas and Kanawha coal fields in West Virginia, and forming a highway for the transporta- tion of this product, and of passengers and freight, from West Vir- ginia to the sea. At the present time, about 445 iniles of standard gauge railroad of the most modern type is under construction; it reaches in an almost direct east and west line from Norfolk across the southern part of Virginia to the West Virginia line, and then northwest and north through the latter State to Deepwater at the head of naviga- tion on the Great Kanawha river. About 110 miles of the main line of the railway is within the limits of the State of West Virginia and is known as the Deepwater. The entire remaining distance, constituting the Tidewater railway, is within the State of Virginia,
Tramways of The McDermott Contracting Company, Tidewater Railway Company, near Tola, Va.
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAND BOOK
and extends entirely across the State to the terminus of the road at Sewall's Point on the waters of Hampton Roads. A series of articles, descriptive of the road and its construction, are now (December, 1906), running in the Engineering Record, of New York, from which article many interesting facts may be gleaned.
The road is being constructed upon the lightest possible grades, the maximum throughout being six-tenths per cent. compensated as against east-bound traffic and one and five-tenths per cent. as against west-bound traffic. But, from the summit of the Alleghany mountains in Montgomery county, Virginia, to the coast there is no grade higher than two-tenths of one per cent., as against east-bound traffic. These last figures cover the grades of the road through Charlotte county, where for the entire distance through this county there will practically be no grade higher than two-tenths of one per cent. against traffic either way.
In Charlotte county the road will pass entirely across the county, from where it enters same just east of Brookneal, to where it leaves the county near the corner of Prince Edward, Charlotte and Lunen- burg. There will be approximately twenty-six miles of the Tidewater in the county of Charlotte.
The road in Charlotte county will be single track, but with ample and convenient passing tracks and siding facilities. As to the general benefit to be derived to the county of Charlotte by reason of the con- struction and operation of this trunk-line road through its boundaries, there can be but little question. It is no doubt evident to all that there is not a county in the State touched by this road that will not feel its good effects. The situation of Charlotte is such as should cause it to receive its full and complete share of all the advantages an enterprise of this character will naturally bring to a county where the railroad facilities have heretofore been to some extent limited. While all the arrangements as to local stations, sidings and spur tracks have not yet been completed, nor all the plans for same fully matured, yet it is safe to say that ample facilities will be provided for the accommodation of the public and for the receiving and delivery for shipment and transportation of all products that may be offered. I feel that it is not necessary for me to go more fully into details of the construction or proposed operation of this line, as the grading throughout Charlotte is being rapidly completed, and no doubt every citizen of the county is acquainted with the progress that is being made and the manner in which the work is being carried on.
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