SU ee Cea Nee \ \ : 7 : | SYOCLe Ss i é ae : ‘= 2 fin i : ag * ES ; Fy i i DA I a BY AY AO BO SOOO 8 Gi BENZ ina romrneresto ite Soe SH ERREEaerig PERE ee Ar Ia eee it ei I I ES OH NN Ses endrehdanngannenaugnqnawesdhanenesiosonmngat® NY - THE SMITHFIELD OBSERVER SMITHFIELD, N. Cc. gnenank seme savese perepenenaneres = CONTENTS - Acknowledgments _---------------------------------- 6 Poreword | . -Sidieeoy Sr eoneur dear ITER ls a= one 7 Historical Background ~------------------------------- 9 Natural Resources, Industries and Opportunities -------- 20 Facts About the Folks ------------------------------- 33 Wealth and Taxation ___----------------------------- 39 Six-Year Gains in White Schools, 1914-15 to 1920-21-__ ._- 46 Home Raised Food and the Local Market Problem-------- 61 Things to be Proud of in Johnston ---------------------- 70 Our Problems and Their Solution ---------------------- 76 Iron Ore in Johnston County ------------------------- 83 84684 ape neheresurannyneEaurent? @henenenerershanarsror sr OyAnssundw saebatedubee veneer eeN ibis. oy eer P2tbFET ‘ aha ss EDR ens i et te cee ae oe tint aes mae Com Ne Ver eH NAN RNeNeRErSansrWarmenanerananrndsamenesienenmenst: | a ACKNOWLEDGMENTS means of their advertisements, for it w in giving us advertisements that makes are very grateful. shown by them. In particular Branson, head of the Rural Socia! University, and to his assis cation of the bulletin, givi the use of state and county studies that have b this Department during the last eight years. University of North Carolina. “W. M.'s June 18, 1922. ae G. Y. RAGSDALE enanbnenearerd peraptmenaversrareseterss ey AI ATPL LLL FOREWORD S. H. HOBBS, Jr. Department of Rural Social Economics, University of North Carolina. Johnston County: Economic and Social, is the work of two University students from Johnston county, prepared under the supervision, and from the files of the Rural Social Economics De- partment of the State University. This is the ninth county bul- letin to be printed by University students, and it is a county bulletin unique in the entire nation. Nowhere else in America are college students taking accurate stock of their home counties and passing the information on to the home folks. Elsewhere people know about their state and county in several ways; but in this small book you will find accurate information about your county and state, how your county ranks with other counties in North Carolina, what you have, what you need to have, and sug- gestions for making Johnston a great and better county. The preparation of this bulletin has been a vital experience in the lives of its editors. They know more about Johnstoa county than any two dozen people who have spent their entir lives with- in her borders. They have completely and thoroughly prepared a study that wil be of enduring value. They have made it pos- sible for Johnston to get a look at herself for the first time, and in the main she looks good, great. Eut she has weak spots. Her weaknesses have been pointed out and remedies suggested. We sincerely urge the teachers, preachers, farmers, lawyers, doctors, all thinking people, to study the contents of this val- uable book on your home county that you may love her better for knowing her better, and, knowing her needs, be willing to remedy them. ‘Chapel Hill, N. C. June 18, 1922. penrrrsererressnnrenr rr ttc et oe RE ena PERSE ey te kee OB A (Dee Pe Bem A a OHS ON Ri HN I ES So EO EDD GHD SEM SPAS ON GH m sea bu eats 3 ens snensnsngauienanavesentadbanerencnenmnyst?” WS > ~~ a : —— wns abn ey IPL LE I HISTORICAL BACKGROUND FOR JOHNSTON COUNTY G. Y. RAGSDALE Smithfield, N. C. Johnston County was formed in the year 1746, largely from Craven county, which at that time embraced a large part of the Coastal Plains area of North Carolina. New Bern was then the center of government; all the trials were held there, taxes were paid there, and for every detail of governmental affairs, the inter- ested party had to go to New Bern. Because of the growing population, as a matter of expediency, ,a charter was granted by the Colonial Assembly for the formation of Johnston county. The county is named for Gabriel Johnston then governor of the province of North Carolina. Governor Johnston was “qa man of learning, and did much to advance the interests of the Colony over which he presided, and the happiness of the people.” Out of love and veneration for this gentleman the county was named Johnston. Smithfield is the county seat. In the early days of the colon- litical and social life. ization of America it was a center of po Raleigh, on the Neuse Smithfield is situated 28 miles southeast of river. An old tradition has it that Smithfield missed being the State capital by one vote, a vote cast by a Johnston county rep- resentative to the Assembly; but of this I have been able to find no record. Very few traces of the old aristocratic bearing of the town are in evidence today. The county of Johnston is located in the east central part of the State. On the north it is bounded by Nash, Wilson, and Franklin counties; on the east by Wayne and Wilson; on the e west by Wake and south by Sampson and Harnett; and on th Harnett. It has a present day population of 48,998, as compared with 11,860 in 1850, at that time ranking 20th, today ranking axes for common 8th. In 1850 there were $1,437 paid in t schools. The total taxes paid in that year were $1,840. There were then 142 whites over 21 years of age that could neither read nor write; six deaf and dumb; 14 idiotic and insane; and 7 blind. Lpypenenane mene rarere Perera eenareronere ncherceN7 shee Es EMEDO hE GPIMEDEHEDELSDER PSI SEH MMIDDSORDY PAVE ELE DLRSS NE TAVEERIEN DSR: 7 Srapere penerean a n BPIPUS ORIN PEVbEREDNREeD . ; : mabe aanprt h AWARe ae Att “4 er ‘ neseneamans? wa enanesusantathenene Tea = Senehsnsnsneant Stee een A sUn to asene 90 Be ns re hae A i mE hn he a 9 " Dene re mena ga engi SEIS ao SS f= of Johnston were Tuscaroras, an In- There is ample evidence be found, such as a few tomahawks, peace pipes, and an abundance of arrow heads in certain sections, It is interesting Johnston ig divided into 18 townships: Banner, Boon Hill, Beulah, Wilders, Cleveland, Elevation, O’Neals, Selma, ‘Clayton, Micro, and Smithfield. Bentonville, Meadow, Ingrams, Pleasant Grove, Wilson’g Mills, Pine Level, tion of North Carolina, John- One of the leading men of » was from Johnston. He at- athering held in the Colony unty. He was active as a ; ee TPP NORE RErerDPRrERIS RANT yITsTE SER PPSCUT OPER EE i 3 SESTBUERS SHEE AY at PTE ETRY ae DEATLGPSRERSHEDER AHEAD REST AMPS ERIE RPE b ODED DETAV OO PIEN DSR, 2 + ae PUSos eae ED ay, PEW LED REDOAT IEE mene ED ERORS > ne nOne serene rarer 2bhynerensnen : i 11 Johnston County: Economic and Social 18, 1775, and held at the Court House in aware Career oe eres i J de 75, respectively. Ben, from Johnston pee raed ‘ueltoMthe Colonial seein a cea ae ae ATT and to the Revolutionary Congr’ c y a . in the Second lieutenant in t b Uni porec days inental Army ever Paes cate Rebel "forces, the first Continen e on the his first appearanc ize ichard Caswell_made ial Assembly from polled Gee Representative to the Colonia der Col. rt of the troops under | in 1754, A large pa ’s Creek Bridge Johnston corny i fought the Battle of Moors Aaa i dames ane! WAP: county. The first iron b snacks at Mere tarak Sieh ae tts 0 ere: LO ident di Se a troops d for Revolutionary War unt of foo Bi ree county furnished a great amo those troops. § paras nee in the bill providing t county pa oy provided for the ated aEMeD me eee of England, ae ae s the established church was hnston county parish a en eats was.8, Datishe, Ihe a. first vestrymen were: = sled “Saint Patrick’s Parish,” and t oe John Beeton, Ab- Sim mB ight, John Herring, Thos. McClen done Carraway, John Tage A by assis Airis, John on FR cate Smith, at Smith, Robert Raeford, ete was held in the mule on ourt ever held i ee Cron ate aes ted wi Francis Stringer, who ce eee ered dwelling ouse This was because the coun asec is ante the Mens Geena The first Ce are ac Sito ae me Francis Stringer, William : x ? Macklenean. 7 the formation of Johnston Academies ty was let in Johnston coun Academy m demy, at rn nb Hes wom oan Avro ASAE, “ struc sl usetin Contracts for the constru let on August 10, : . , were field Academy, situated in Smithfield “two stories py 40 feet, i 1812. The dimensions were 22 feet a claeiealy for an Acad . ‘ veniences as a time on October ment pee lore angie opened for the Paice An adver- ¢ + 5 ieee under the dissetion of Bae ae read, ee ’ ? % i .w Bern in ; agers eee Bee a at convenient and resp be had for four o houses.” i d 832 session rea he minutes of the State Legislature for the 1 The minutes o , senenusnay ne berareatbenese wae Benehsns>engans ene Se ot ee eee 3 fe form te se in en i I NH Seer ar eras seniassg fea Ema roo ARE os a IE no Ae SS 12 Johnston County: Economic and Social thus: € schools in the County of Johnston, ereof, which was read for the first Journal, 1831-32, Page 112.) dered to be engrossed.” (Senate Journal 1831-32. Page 115.) The Representative to the Senate from Johnston county at this time was David Thompson. The members of the House from Johnston were Josiah Houlder and Ashley Sanders, Upenere Wane NOSE NEPESEDEDEPIMERSNALSMIDE NEREMSAN TAPE NEFESUDORTSDIMERLHE DEEL SAHEAI ST H*OMUDYSTRIT IROL EDN DUR GeHETAV IER IENES §: Pros te DOW EDEL EDN DUR Se NEVA SER EEN DS f , Wane ae : OPGRMTOPEN NS DRED@AED ERED . nh AOReNareseparerd ° f 13 Johnston County: Economic and Social lowly i Confederates were slow i rrived, and the : ca aa Aus ae Tortie realized that Oe renee nar " ‘Of ‘the enemy he would sooner or ae Be re tnd epi bis ee aH aes from Sherman’s i ithout further mo eee ahi sai aa mie to get to Goldsboro at oe bate ete This fA ‘the last of the important battles of is was took place east of the Mississippi river. aiaiat Leds at 23 The Confederate casualties were reported They reported . 2,606. ont edna S Ag ee ee eae "this disastrous battle, i red. that 903 prisoners were captu : bat- F Elevation. The ; ping at yah ead rmy had been cam s in a very ie ground sil bene marr eae OL rooted up by ay 'y of the buried bodies ives it a very sania dt oleae of cattle over the field gi animals, k in bad appearance today. ee ie a ae were bad ke f March, Johnston a Brage and Ho Rana Bea. way to Raleigh. Generals 8! were also with him. Towns d is in the county, an Smithfield is the largest and oldest town 1 ted its charter by ran the county seat. It was incorporated Gee August 25, 1775. rue Genet lees Beh Ne eaie whose eae Tae ; d for a family of © ording to Mrs. = “ans sii ae town. John eae) a Aa John Smith,” can: W. Woedard of Brevard, N. C., “the a Pare jn 1742, and eee March, 1687. He moved from dl on which the John- ar 5 6 settled in Johnston Sonn ee aes eae out of respect neh tands, ithfield. + House now Ss wavsivneal Shi pe meal "this gentleman the town was vene in the Col- ; he county in t : He served as the first Representative of t for the remainder ; to serve ; nial Assembly in 1746. He continued ttended being in January of hi lif the last session that he a s buried on the left Get He died some time after this, BT dite Church. 3. He di € Meritt bank of the Neuse river, back of the mportant statesmen and hfi isi rae for i sited by severa in the county fo Sy ‘ ‘ aetna Webster paces Ae William Jen- i icials, i ede pee and court has always been he ly spring of 1920. be- , in the ear. nings Bryan made a speech here 1n witnessed in ings that has ever been fore one of the largest gatherings t hnston, Bragg, and Wade Jo Ne epee an an, Seneray eee oa here before and after t Hampton all spent a short 3 me 209 be Bee tee piereamengat? payin NPPSKAD ryan erdsenenawtnthemene hic Ny Jee ie es A et bis te 8 Gs en OO ANAL Hes BSS APR SK AI He 3 sig ePID tera oebee : ao Re nig LR Ss 14 Johnston County: Economie and Social Battle of Bentonville. The house in which they were entertained is still standing. ‘Smithfield has suffered several hard blows in the course of her lifetime. One of these was (according to tradition) that she lacked only one vote of becoming the State Capital, Another was when a Smithfield man cast the deciding vote ag to the location of the Southern Railway. He feared that the smoke and noise would be injurious tq the quiet life of the village, and that the health of someone might be impaired by the gases from the smoke; consequently he cast his vote as favoring running the town is fast increasing in population and, with the hearty co- operation of all the citizens, it is progressing in every way. Wilson’s Mills is the second oldest town in the county. It; history is more the history of a family than is the case with any other town in the county. T. M. Wilson was its first citizen. This man founded the town, and the Wilson family still lives there and owns a large part of the property in and around it. But the Wilsons, though they own much Property and have done much toward the upbuilding of the town, are by no Means the sole factors in her continued upbuilding and progress. There are many families in the little town, and they all work together, especially when it means something for community betterment The town was named and chartered in 1868, It was not incor- porated in 1920. Ss Away back in the days of the hardy pioneers, there were great forests of pine in this section, and the surface of the ground was more or less level. Hence the name. The citizens of this little city all pull together, and they believe that there ig nothing too good for their town when it comes to a problem of progressive- ness. The town was chartered shortly after 1868. Gaston Britt was the pioneer merchant of Pine Level, then followed Bryant Hinnant, also a merchant, Then came T. T. and W. B. Oliver, who really gave the town its start. The Olivers still live there, and are among the leaders of the town in its every walk, Selma, the town with the best railroad facilities in Eastern Carolina, got its charter in 1873. It was first known as Mitch- iner’s station, but the site of the old station is today one and one- half miles west of the Present site of the town. About fifty years Le pease vi i. oune® eee wert tt De PU Ree nS NOR TEC R SR ae FLELD ET > DORTLEPERUDSHEPAPEDSE DP LSHEANDY IRTP ORE PROb ERED By seshb: or * rt ete » pepenenanerenabe nenercesrane ry ne none ererepe ia G EIT AITAD BLE Johnston County: Economic and Social 15 iving in Clayton sold out his holdings ago, a man who was then living in C te ae Sane pers: nae ae Dig heaca still at that ae pepe rey ¢ Dr. J. A. Noble now stands. The eran wane “i ble retiaed to sell the property around the aon Hh Sasa of improvements, and, as a result of this, as Hale Sellers, nd John W. Sharpe, of Norfolk, Va., a ma ee pltie nas tee 4 elopment of the turpentine industry, ae 3 a eee rah then president of the North Carolina Rai re Fs Brace ie to where Selma peta ne merc an met elma, : oo oaks see An ati eaten town $ it ea hae ie nee and has been going meget aie at as Pech y ing trains Fj sane pee a déstined to become a great center of industrialism. Kate pentane ey Princeton was chartered as a prohibition GH tea: The This oa memngnont tay aay a ace that the town nted with the cond‘tion, nity was eras Fonte GeO RsaI ag chose, and an ee ate Cow ge Yr ear in the annual elections. Having FeO en desive ih Sidi dry, / the anne Mon Bee ihe Hill, the ’ der the nam f harter was granted under in 1873, with LOR a eoet eee in which it still stands, but ae (hese Pay na Mi of the State Legislature, the name e per. to Princeton, which name it still bears. Sai omuahaiy —h erty on which the town is located mee a i ah ‘ley Hastings When he died he left no ies eae cpa busines entero eOs aay ede is one of the ae i ee : the town’s pasate eter eet and business men. peat sf ER ee merchants in the early days ve Leeder aes Balt Hea also gave the property on ine Ba amase eae tare and that on which the first Cage ey on is aa ab i in the affairs of the to LO age A ee ee a to its successful start. He died in and ¢ a i The men- Four Oaks appli its charter in 1881. ; plied for and got 1Us : chiefly responsible for the birth of the town and much of its sub- ee growth were John A. Ford, K, L. Barbour, and Ezekie' He was one of d by Mr. Barbour. Creech. The town wae Seca mne fo cna the, fret man ingen fh his front yard there were four large he decided to use the quartet. the pioneers in to build a house there. me oaks, and, in search of a name, 9 oi as 2 rpniaanbatas imebemrnr meet spasaiiedh amrenaie nena jesennanat?” merase Ema nen theme se hereamnns — - ere rete rt ae hy cepa A De Nee re at tn re Sn "en aia we antes be Sia chia RO mets : bo i sig LT SS 16 Johnston County: Economic and Social To the above three men is chiefly due the credit of putting the town on its feet, The town of Clayton came into existence one year after this. Today it is one of the largest and most thriving towns in the county. Clayton was at first known ag Stallings, the name com- ing from one of its earliest citizens, a widow. When the North Carolina railroad passed through Stallings, the name was chang- ed to Stallings Station. Later, when the railroad had gone on to Greensboro, there stepped off it one morning a gentleman Wear- ing a high hat, a long coat, and other fashionable Wearing ap- parel that stamped him as an individual of some distinction. He was not a preacher as you might think from the description, but a teacher. He was from Tennessee, and in search of a good, healthy locality in which to establish a school. He stayed at Stallings Sta- tion for several days. He liked the people, the climate, the lo- cation, and it was here that he built his school, calling it Clayton Academy. The school flourished and the town prospered. The old name of Stallings Station passed away, and instead Clayton was employed. Since then it has continued to prosper, and today it is one of the leading towng in the county. Benson, it is interesting to note, dates its real birth back to about the time when the Atlantie Coast Line railroad plowed its way through the county—1889, Benson was founded by and named for M. C. Benson, one of the Pioneer settlers and great land owners of the section. The town started with the avowed purpose of being an agricultural center rather than an industrial center, and it has reached its aim to a large extent. It lies nest- led in one of the richest agricultural sections in the state. How- ever, progress did not follow a set routine in that town, and it has developed some important industrial establishments as well. Among the first etizens to start things going in Benson were: M. and J. W. Wiood, C. T. Johnson, and J. D. Parrish, father of Alon- zo Parrish, one of the leading and most influential townsmen of today. Messrs. Johnson and Parrish were the chief factors in the establishment of the town, and to them goes the principal credit for the rapid growth and development of the city. Benson elaims the distinction of having a fifty-piece military band. Another town in Johnston owes its birth to the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, and that town is Kenly. The present site of Kenly was originally owned by Miss Lottie Watkins, and it was entire- ly agricultural in nature. The advent of the railroad brought, about the establishment of a turpentine plant and several mer- cantile houses, Kenly’s pioneer merchant was A. H. Slocomh of dapase ne ne ROME NEDESRPEMEPEMERSNA LONDEN SKODESET SME WEFT SEDOAEDSEIDADSHE DER SLRER PADS ATOPIDOI EIR APPL ED EDS a5 , Bae pepenense 7 nee ’ SS Eee Johnston County: Economic and Social ng i SW 8 ercan- Fayetteville, who owned the distillery as well 3 ark oe tile tes Malinois The original school at Kenly i Jesse Kirby built the first two- c a Me a Roe eae father of J. H. ang Elbe Lees iden Beas Bank of Kenly. The first Mayor eee Dp EE eu The first town Council was composed Sra aoa ul G Benen E. M. Munger, Jesse Kirby, an paieel east perm ee 3 a Cae bance who was founder at in Kenly—Dr. . : cia seeemneae Tabernacle, pastor of Se Sioa eiie int fe of a large church in Knoxville, Tenn., an i ee eee ing as pastor of one of the leading Baptist chur aA who own- Micro was first called Jerome, after ie Pe, d the greater part of the land in that oe io pn ee ‘fe acta Coast Line railroad laid the short ie oa There was another Jerome in North Carolina, ue pia The people of that section grew tired a eae mea ang, aioe mis-shipped to that point, and in 1905, ve i ae ee an to iin himself there. i was the first mercha 3 1 oe Dig See became a big merchant Uabesots his two sons, C. W. and R. C. Pierce, are still ean sts ite: ie Mayor of Micro was Dee i eee ee Fae of W. E. Smith, eh AOS ant Tey Aycock. Micro is progressive in every sense Other Interesting Facts ly Demo- P: he Civil W: ty was alternate i ar, Johnston coun a : i ae nd ae nations and state elections, and cena aaa cee has gone Republican in the following N a ime the 8, T In inley; and 1908, aft. elections: 1872, Grant; 1896, McKinley; eet er S d th state elections for Governors nant es EEG SES) i nf since : : ; : 2 ee calieee ae tee the majority vote in state elections an ‘ ; has been Democratic in every ee eo aes house for the sale } aaa fie ae tee: was at Smithfield in the Becca ea tract was let on January 16 of that Te mee He c the Banner, and it still retains ae this mer "Gam derd built a large weeueyee ae nan fe ee ane to the fact that it was bu 3 it 3 ds f the left bank of the Neuse river. In addition to this yards from SOPPIES DS Napa op et P PLE RDGT a / mee eisai er pioseamengae® RE any apm sen Se eames epee Pen BNe HERMAN theme nererenmenge sau e ee eee ert 3) a a epee ae en aia tae 5 RRO NAR a ee re po RE eg WIR é SY 18 Johnston County: Economic and Social he erected a four story prize house. Both of these are still standing, but in recent years the warehouse has been turned into a very large and up-to-date garage, known as the Sanders Motor Co. The principal stock-holder in this concern is a son of Mr. Sanders. The prize house is still being used for the handling of tobacco. The Farmer’s warehouse was built a few years later, and today it is one of the largest warehouses in the state. Johnston county has produced very few eminently great men. One of her more outstanding public men is Edwin W. Pou, now Congressman from the 4th Congressional District. Mr. Pou, however, was’ not born in the county. He was born in Alabama, and moved here while a boy. Members of the Colonial Assemblies from Johnston county: 1746. John Smith and John West. 1746-54. John Smith and John Herring. Richard Caswell, Jr., Stephen Cade. ; 1760. Needham Bryan and John Hinton. 1761. John Hinton and Needham Bryan. 1762. (April). Needham Bryan and John Hinton. 1762 (November). Needham Bryan and John Hinton. 1764-65. Needham Bryan and Lenjamin Hardy. 1766-68. Needham Bryan and Benjamin Hardy. 1769. Needham Bryan and John Smith. 1770-71. John Smith and Joel Lane. 1773 (January). ‘William Bryan and John Smith. 1773-74. Needham Bryan and John Smith. 1775. Needham Bryan and Benjamin Williams. Members of the Revolutionary Congresses from Johnston County: Aug. 1774, ‘Needham Bryan and Benjamin Williams. April 1775. No record. Aug. 1775. Needham Bryan, William Bryan, John Smith, Sam- uel Smith, and Benjamin Williams. April 1776. Needham Bryan, Jr., Samuel Smith Jr., John Stey- ens, Henry Rains, and Alexander Averyt. Members of State Conventions from Johnston county 1788- 1789: 1788. . William Bridgers, Joseph Boon, William Farmer, John Eryan and Everett Pearce. 1789. ‘Samuel Smith, Hardy Bryan, Wm. Bridgers, Wm. Hack- ney, and Mathias Handy. y in errr peenes ‘ ADYUADSOLAW HELPED SeNESAV SER AE ERS PPLE EDT + SUDOREDSEEDEDSHDDSESDAAN PTS EPAMDY UBD S ORIN EDL EDERAL ENE SORA , be th WeNOn abe SEROPGAN TORRE NPESEDORTD SEED > ane meme sereseparertwen onary +” cn AEP ANEHE BLE a Johnston County: Economic and Social 19 Sources of Information 13, 1921; Smithfield Herald; eu erie eK Biographical aang Aire aed Records es ee Be heerlen : rth Carolina Day Programy mies; at a ae Carolina; North Carolina Sd sane ie Public Education; Correspondence of Johnat at k Hamilton’ Re- Thomas Ruffin; Papers of Archibald D. eee Sherman construction in North Carolina; Memoirs ate Wheeler’s d the Narrative of General Joseph 2 i Files Univer- Siete of North Carolina; Rural Social Science Files, sity of North Carolina. . DEERE A Se PAE ND 8H ee Me Pe re a rE ee REIN 8 SO Ne te a Bo ARE esis MRE mee Ad DAe WEN EKeo snunreengne nanan gheneneroreramps® II RESOURCES, INDUSTRIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN JOHNSTON COUNTY G. Y. RAGSDALE Smithfield, N. C. Georgraphy Johnston county is situated on the Western edge of the Coastal Plain area. It has an area of approximately 778 square miles, or 516,480 acres. The northwest side of the county is about 15 miles east of Raleigh. It is bounded on the northeast and east by Nash, Wilson and Wayne counties, on the south by Wayric and Sampson counties, on the west and southwest by Harnett and Sampson counties, and on the north and northwest by Wake county. The surface features consist of high, rolling uplands and .broad, gently undulating inter- stream areas in the wide, level stretches. There is a gentle but fairly well defined slope throughout the Coastal Plain section of the county. Elevations vary from 350 feet through the central part of the county, to about 80 feet on the southeast corner, where the Neuse river leaves the area. The chief source of drainage is the Neuse river, into which empty numerous creeks and branches. The river enters the county about midway on the northwest boundary line, following a generally southeasterly course, and leaves the area on the southwest corner. The most important creeks emptying into it are Swift, Middle, Black, Hannah, Stone, and Mill creeks on the southerly side, and on the north and northeastern sides Little river, Buffalo, Cat Tail, Little, Bowdy, Long Branch, and Moc- casin creeks. The county as a whole is exceedingly well drained. Soils and Seasons The soils in Johnston county may be classes in three groups, according to their origin: The sedimentary soils of the Coastal Plains; the residual soils of the Piedmont Plateau, and the allu- vial soils developed along the streams throughout the county. There are a total of 28 types of soils, including meadow and swamp. The most prominent of these is the Norfolk sandy loam. This soil is well adapted to truck crops, cotton, corn, and to- oop ty ne meme Nave ne barersmenavsesrane nehenses Johnston County: Economic and Social Pat baceo, all of which have very good yields. he es oem are the Cecil soils, of which the coarse oat a a or fine sandy loam, stony sandy loam, and clay i ia pe suited for the production of oats, wheat, ee tas i os and to some extent, tobacco and cotton. and v: county vary from $20 to $200 and eee an acre. y ina cy The climate of the county is well suited aon a wi a : is products. Truck and stock farming are Pea a ne Re tent. The winters are short and comparatively eae Sea winter temperature being 42 degrees. The sum Se ee and not excessively hot. Tne mean summer ce Re degrees F. The average annual rainfall is nae i Seis well distributed throughout the year. Ranoke vate ak drought, and the growing season is about 200 days, g f ll ordinary crops. : sie such seasons, it is not surprising that agriculture is the inci tton principal industry of the people. The principal eee ae corn and tobacco as leaders, with sweet potatoes, peas, ge, and grain as secondary crops. ae Johnston ranks second in the production Ba soar a ee state. Last year (1921) 48,047 bales were pro ue ae. aie acres, a yield of .77 bales to the acre, which i J mE to the acre than the stage average. Much of a se a factories in the county, but a greater part is : ipp aM We rank second in the state in the production eeeatiae Ae average yield per acre is 22.1 bushels, as aise sgh a chet tartar Hits Jouebuecakdte Shnelly, due to i meal. avi ete cee of production, and to the activities of Corn Clubs and county agents. : : In tobacco, Johnston ranks fourth in the ein a Ca producing 9,357,193 pounds of the puta eine sci i. bettering the state average per acre yiel 0! e ae 75.8 pounds. The production of tobacco in eatly increased within the last decade. : Teta are raised in large quantities ete ae a ae ae they are far behind the above nae ee aa ne ent t eS ee oe apie a chiefly in the northern part sre tine é The forage is used in feeding workstock during i necainieaata the Peanuts are raised in small Supa noah et possibilities for this crop are very good and the industry all probability grow in the future. oY pesenerens spe teged SENDQUELATAMADAHEDODAMERANAT ERAN ONYDD OUD DE HOLL ELS DUnSeNPSAPIOIES ARMS. oy ga F27 ESR VPASew EE DHNDOnT aban > : 4 Bate fm SRUDGLTDANIDEDRH EPSP AnsenrsI ER ge aNyD EPS LELE DUR Se MEN Av SOR EES DS SPE 5 BABE oc ane BONESeVESRPEMERENERSMSSEREDEDSHEDSHRT ThE ENTE S Sapanepenerere AEesPAPAPVSTEPY PPV LELN RVR CS NRTA 5 fi Shag anne ene bortrisen enabenchersevreree® ; et tet 2 papene™ RYE eR ara earn Oma oe Bete die te et ee RES ORT ROSS eS RENE NI Sew DREN OAKS GENIE RENE ENA NR pe ewe me OS eAMNTe’ we iat Per NT A esi ae wenlasin fer Bema NEA RKe: oe rt Baan acne mei : Ss = : es FIT VaR bITT” - = = ——— 2 SS 22 Johnston County: Economic and Social- Cotton finds a ready market in all the towns of the county. Tobacco is sold to the greatest extent in Smithfield, but Benson has a fast growing market. Truck farming in the county is rapidly increasing, Fruits are shipped from the southern part of the county, and find a ready market in the North. Great quantities of watermelons are ship- ped annually from Clayton. As many as 100 carloads are ship- ped from this point yearly. In 1920 the land in farms totaled 212,552 acres, with a value of $40,747,814. There were 2,508 farmers who reported expen- ditures for labor in that year, their returns amounting to $380,- 428. The 6,431 farmers reporting expenditures for fertilizers spent, $2,391,401 on this item. The 3,230 farmers reporting as buying farm feed for livestock spent for this feed $298,008. In total value of crops, Johnston stands third in the state, with $19,- 229,785 in 1919. In that year there were 2,366 farms free from mortgage, while 604 reported mortgages. In the census of 1920 Johnston reported livestock on farms amounting in value to $2,920,971, and including 1,770 horses, 8,798 mules, 8,435 cattle, 686 sheep, 46,369 swine, 186,000 chick- ens, 366 goats, and 2,566 hives of bees. ‘The total valuation of property on the tax books in 1921 was $42,272,227. It was more than 60 million in 1920. In the production of agricultural wealth the county ranks 45th of all the counties in the United States, It is, however, a grievous truth that the county does not retain enough of the annual ag- ricultural wealth produced. Because of the system we follow, we consume our wealth in producing it. Witness our bank account savings. Lumber The lumber industry is one of no small importance. There are several lumber mills in the county, and a great number of saw mills. There is one veneer plant at Smithfield, which does a large amount of shipping to northern concerns, Perhaps the leading lumberman in the county is Mr. Arch Vinson, of Clayton. Mr. Vinson is the owner and operator of a very large lumber mill at Clayton, and has many saw mills Scattered throughout the county. Pine, oak, hickory, gum, ash, and maple are the principal tim- bers cut. Great quantities are cut yearly, and a goodly amount is shipped to other markets after being sawed. The timber is kept cut down, and much is destroyed owing to injurious treat- Johnston County: Economic and Social 28 : 2 oth ment of the younger timber while the older is being cut. The best timber is fast disappearing. Dairying commercial basis until is i try was never attempted ona a eee ee Since its advent into the county, i Le favorably met, both by local and distant Lali sia e e sey very best herds of cattle in the state is owned 1 Ba ne, zle, of Wilson’s Mills. He supplies local needs an fe ae Saagiae of shipping to other points. Another bn ao ue is owned and operated by Mr. James Myatt, ee Be ee “ Myatt has a very fine herd of cattle, and his dairy 1s. g ly local needs. us ae the fine pasturage afforded within the i iad es reason why the dairy industry could not be ma in ee able one. Intelligent labor and short winters aks eee tors in profitable dairying, and both are to be ha Gin Plants and Oil Mills i hese There are about 20 cotton gins in the county, a wee are operated at the present time, and 2 Ae gue electricity, water power, or engines. They buy co they sell to the local oil mills. a There are three oil mills in the county, oe ee ee Pine Level, and another at Clayton. All of these ane large business, buying seed from the Ue: gs pe products in exchange for the seed. These mi a era to the county; they afford the farmers a market rae a oi and supply them with feed products direct from Tobacco Warehouses e There are four warehouses for the sale of Se an ee of these are at Smithfield and one at [enson. ey in the to- i housemen are all experts in regenera: it get for the farmer a maximum he houses have a large grad- housemen on a commis- bacco business, and stri : ia i i Three o price for his product. ing room, and are operated by the ware sion basis. Railroads and Highways ‘ The central part of Johnston county, jn a line running nor and south, is traversed by the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line . . . 7 railroad, which runs from New York to Jacksonville. There are ? two local freights that stop at every station on this road every CHE RILE I ERM ENEMA Rage ome me nes em mage” Goss eer tenlasnlbss hehe ORB NER gripe paren SACRO 0 eB Pee en Bh Ee At BN SN NR rn a A ow RYE agg ERP et NS 24 Johnston County: Economic and Social day, one running north, the other south. ‘There are several through freights that stop only in Selma. In addition to this, there are six local passenger trains and four through trains on this road daily. The best transportation facilities in the county are furnished by this road. A branch line of the above road runs from Goldsboro to Smith- field, known as “Captain Jack’s Road,” its name coming from the fact that Captain Jack Collier has been the conductor on this voad since it was first laid. Practically all the freight shipped from the eastern part of the state to Smithfield comes over this road. The Southern Railway runs in an easterly-westerly direction from Goldsboro to Ashevlile, This road affords a good means for passenger and freight transportation, and stops at every town through which it runs in the county. The principal highways in Johnston are the National and the Central. These roads are in excellent condition, being main- tained by the State Highway Commission. Nearly all the main thoroughfares are also in good condition. Both the Central and the National highways are soon to be paved. Every town has a telephone system, and several telegraph offices, Water Power Johnston county is not so well blessed with water power as we could wish. True, several cotton gins, and grist mills are run by water power, but these consume little power. Practically all the streams in the county are slow and sluggish, and there are very few natural water falls. Onportunities As has been stated above, Johnston county is primarily an ag- ricultural county. There are very few manufacturing. concerns in comparison to the great amount of farming. The greatest in- dividual industry other than farming in the county is that of lumber. There are 98 rough lumber mills, and 12 dressing and planing mills. There are 25 garages and repair shops, and 14 miscellaneous industries, such as chemical and oil industries. With the natural advantages that the county has, there is every reason that she should produce more food crops in conjunction with her enormous money crops. Cotton has long been the prin- cipal crop, with tobacco a second. There are only 7 cotton mills in the county. In 1920 they consumed 20,698 bales of the 48,047 DONSDSPAREDSHE PEERAGE NPAT Se STDY USHERS RPSL ERY RVRCe MET AM NORTE R, Baye ope t PLE LART o EVOLUTION OF BENSON SCHOOLS J Nye) AD panemane meme sezessbentranenanes den ne meme saves PORE AeORAwSeon abe DERODSANTANEWEFTSEDANTDSESDMEREHE DSROLEAD PAT SRSTADUDUSER INSEL EDSDURSE METAR IED ELSS : [ PESO SNM RA gp et PLE EDGY a Ens MIRE eee Nhe Ibe tr te lm get siaetn nen n ae mnren eR Sree eH Nunta bienehenenansnanyanneianerananendanensrenenmn ~ . 1 ecanaeenannd \ E as > See . ; Zz i Johnston County: Economic and Social 25 bales produced. On the other hand there are only two redrying and they have a capacity of 92,000 pounds per day. This.has been sufficient to care for all the drying needs in the past, but with the coming of the co-operative marketing plan, there will be need to enlarge plants, or else to construct others. There is adequate negro labor for this kind of work, vking the weed, and there negroes being employed mainly in wo ore cotton mills, which are is an abundance of white labor for m certainly needed for the development of the industrial life of the county. With her 28 types of soil, ‘excellent climate, sufficient rainfall, d diversify her farming. and long growing season, Johnston shoul ; At present, practically all the food produced in the county is consumed by the producers, while enormous quantities are im- ported from the north and west. The neighboring towns are not supplied with enough vegetables even during the summer months. A great many potatoes are shipped in yearly, and likewise a great amount of green produce. Hay is shipped in by the tons. Like- wise oats, and other foods for work animals. The two great food crops grown in Johnston are corn and sweet potatoes. Corn is fed to the work animals and ground into meal. The sweet potatoes are marketed in the county, to a great extent, but a few are shipped to outside points. We import practically all our flour, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of other food sup- plies, the bulk of which could easily be produced at home. John- ston county is adequately equipped for furnishing labor to al- most any kind of industry where skilled labor is not required. There is an abundance of white labor and also of negro labor, although, fortunately for the county, only 24.6 per cent of the population are negroes. With this abundance of labor, food crops could be grown, and this would greatly enrich the population. Factories needing unskilled labor would also find a good labor supply. There is need of these two things toward the enrich- ment of the county—factories and food crops. plants for tobacco, AT ¢ 1D “NOG! i THITHLLIWS “TOO HOS aaqvuyo NOLONIINAL Markets for Food Crons One of the county’s greatest opportunities lies in the establish- farmers and townspeople ment of co-operative organizations of for the marketing of food supplies. Should such organizations for the marketing of the food supplies be effected, there is al- most no limit to the profits that could be realized both by the farmers who would get more for their surplus produce and by the townspeople who would get more for their dollar. Some little produce is shipped to northern markets now, as watermelons woe ERR erin PEARL NAR eta ee sme tN ose 9 Oe lade mange?” 3 r wy ons hea ONeEnaneriarendnenananthpeeneng ronermmngst® ADEDAHE DEE ADEAAD AT SRST AD UDOS THAW EDEL EPSPS Ree NET ARSON IES RS . i ' POESE EMS oped PEERY a = Sore | —_— > 26 Johnston County: Economic and Social | # ; ee ee Pm the southern part of the ae Johnston County: Economic and Social Atl loa S than anything els Kaos be out Bt the county anne SG ROut 00. car N. T. Flowers, Bentonville 1,800 1,235 4,580 8 He snr ave established ourselves on a home-raised f A. M. Rose, Bentonville. _ 3,560 2048 eat ay world. W © can begin to develop in exportation to th potand Percy Barbour, Clayton-- 1,750 60 2,300 5 our posable: send out fair totals but nothing as co poe Jy 8; Barnes, Clyne aplege. Bp pe) ean we when our farmers organize LC en pee te J. W. Barnes, Clayton --- 7,850 1,200 7,560 10 as ae aes to afford a safe market for the i ea aed a G. C. Bryan, Clayton_---- 7,750 985 5,740 10 oven eee neore 1s no safety in our present cheat nae C. P. Ellis, Clayton —~---- 5,650 585 4,900 8 done to the best ae ee Products in large quantities ar pleats pereanilg ae ganized into co- ntage only when farmers are proper! ayton _------------- 13,200 3,785 17,200 11 operative selling societies, perly or- E. R. Gulley, Clayton_- 10,100 2,200 9,800 10 The solution of marketing probl SHER W. T. Allen, Sr., Clayton-. 2,500 660 9,200 12 both producers and Problems lies in co-operation of He eC: Glomtion all) POPRB «> BOs al i : consumers, If the far . é pa task aay ; : pressed with the fact that should he mer could be im- Wall-Jones Mill, Clayton_ 8,100 4,800 40,750 21 find a ready market in the nearby wea more foodstuff and Fletcher Price, Clayton--- 6,000 5,100 1,400 13 market, both he and the consumer ns, even though only a small Herman Vinson, Clayton-- 3,400 5,000 18,750 10 large, would be profited. Snen amirren: well as the county at Turner Vinson, Clayton - 4,500 6,025 23,125 14 cash income for the farmer, and a lesse Supplies a constant ready Walter Wyatt Mill, Clay- ing to the consumer; for of course aoe of the high cost of liv- ton, sured 9 RES! 3,100 6,660 19,500 10 cheaper. There would be more read odstuffs will then become _ Jessie Tart, Dunn —_--== 8,600 4,050 22,260 12 and the whole county would live on » hi: = among the farmers J. H. Allen, Four Oaks -_ 1,400 360 2,350 4 The following table shows all the i oe level of diet, Varan Coats, Four Oaks-- 1,900 515 2,700 10 ty for the year 1920, as reported ¢ e industries of Johnston coun- J. T. Cole, Four Oaks_--- 3,000 2,500 10,500 10 the state department of iabor : he census authorities, and to G. L. Collins, Four Oaks-- 2,000 6,200 17,500 10 my and printing. Sessoms Cosley, 4 Oaks-_- 3,000 23,432 46,150 10 | MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIE: Flowers Cotton Gin and Rough Lumber, Post Office, Cavi Ss Saw Mill, Four Oaks-- 10,000 10,000 2,000 3 ie eee em » Cavital, Value Plant, Output Employes A. B. Johnston, Four Oaks 4,300 9,000 34,000 11 Willie nate oes --- $ 2,500 $ 1,450 $ 5,000 10 E. S. Lassiter, Four Oaks-- 3,950 1,825 8,000 6 Di OBER geen == 1,250 550 2 250 4 Chas. Lee, Four Oaks_-- 8,750 2,915 7,900 11 Oral Bae Sree --- 1,500 415 27950 5 Tra Lee, Four Oaks ----- 1,800 700 3,500 6 IP ArAIn: Cahn eee ones 550 2.250 a R. E. Lee, Four Oaks ---- 3,750 10,050 28,800 9 : W. RB. Dating Bei cul 2,000 650 3,000 3 Nicholson Saw Mill, Four | : ap ZN, ise cae mson —- 2,500 1,500 7,500 ss Oakes Perea Sioa ee a 5,700. 18,640 39,360 10 GP. hence noe Bure! 1,250 850 1,500 A A. H. Phelps, Four Oaks_ 9,850 3,870 20,500 14 Moore Wood Sia ez 1,500 875 1,500 @ J. D. Pope, Four Oaks_-- 3,500 6,500 18,750 10° | A. P. Tart Bee enson 6,300 8,500 4,000 10 Thos. Rhodes, Four Oaks_- 2,600 2,900 8,550 10 | Te Wewonat i aah nee 1,500 TOO Roos G. H. Roberts, Four Oaks 3,400 1,085 6,880 9 | eee ae ase sae he 2,000 640 2.700 A Sanders and Smith Mfg. | Preston Woodall, 1 Benson 31/000 9,225 2.700 Co., Four Oaks..:---- 20,400 12,960 48,000 = 10 | ae pete een 31,000 12,350 Af i06 ia B. Stanley, Four Oaks---. 2,800 7,475 13,800 5 Ville » Benton- uy H. M. Stewart, Four Oaks 5,150 7,825 30,400 10 il RRM i aes ORS Nara ae Cae maa 1,960 8,480 25.280 W. E. Stewart, Four Oaks 2,800 4,065 13,770 6 | ; 19 W. W. Stewart Co., Four 3,500 2,800 10,500 10 Ol kc senna aaa a oS sea ‘paper enannmeseng rend borep Uengueranapeneinnss HP nne Ne EMEDenTiqhaNHRSHE DED ALSIP SISRATABUDTABDAD A OELEr SANE KENETAREOE SENDER, inde 5 : ' THERM, oh eTP PLE LADY aw oe RE ae gig ARI Re Ret Ie AT RN TO ASHMAN MDAEMON ENE HUM AERANGHUENANEA Heme nerionenmmngat’ ” ths f 15 ——— summnnneeneshttesei OL OEAIEE a 4 | i 28 Johnston C ounty: Economi : ; i € and Social Johnston County: Economic and Social 29 Josephus Wood, Four Oaks 2,300 J. L. York, Four Oaks___ 1,200 ieee ee ¢ W. D. Moody, Wendell _-_ 2,625 960 7,050 8 J. B. Boykin, Kenly _____ 5,000 Sai 3,090 7 C. R. Stroff, Wendell ____ 44,000 17,900 60,000 21 Williams & Son, Kenly__ 3.000 ia 8,880 9 Bit. Thompson, Wendell’) 96150) ees 000. 2s e00r 418 John T, Wrenn, McCullers 5,600 900 20 6 Andrew Wise, Wendell _-- 8,500 7,805 17,400 12 ft O. Aycock, Micro _____ 5500 an ween 8 Beasley, Jasper, Wendell__ 2,950 7,075 18,900 10 . , Ra a ce Micro__ 4,900 950 4711 5 Dressed and Planed J cn & Gas Ly Micro=-_3_ 6,400 1,755 7.240 9 Lumber Postoffice Capital_ Value Plant Output Employees S.J. eek agen pete pee 2870 10 Wilson Mills Sash, Door W. W. eee, Mid ese aa 8,320 15,300 10 and Supplies Gratesry. J. V. Narrow, Middlesex... 9 05, 1,215 6,255 7 Wilson’s Mills ___._--$ 45,000 $ 30,350 $ 70,100 19 Thadeus Whitley, Middlesex pane 9.300 80,000 15 Star Mfg. Co., Benson_-_ 3,500 6,500 85,250 17 W. B. Oliver as Sete 25200 110 2,050 5 Preston PWwoddall Planing Level pie i Mill, Benson ~-------- 9,750 42,482 58,748 9 MEE ne ape 000 100 TAC ei levers WWD J. H. Ad pa 5,000 7 . A. Vinson Planing Mi 7 eWi Bae Princeton --_ 4,000 10,800 67.750 410 Glagtongeneis aie ae 25,000 100,000 210,000 8 Sen nee He ; ; Carolina Handle Co., Four AON tein date pas ae Re O00" et 4d> 4 28\G4p enn g Oalcep Rimes RU Beau 7,000 00> -sF8y1007 me a7 DH eeee sone ae ee. 7,660 25,950 109 Pope & Tart, Four Oaks. 4,000 20,750 + —-70,000 9 Ra A AM ey Sele ag ca iio 1,240 4,935 10 - Woodall Cole Mill, Four Tguther Greaney cen Ute GOO ag TO“ o mero Calis Hath sO Rae 2,500 840 22,000 8B Wroy Creech, Selina t. ay 124 1,880 5 Newson Narron, Kenly_-_ 40,000 10,650 41,000 28 dj, 4s6, Godwin sere prea #7830 825 5,350 10 Little River Lumber Co., E. Grant, Selma ey eee 330 3,090 9 [Princeton anne yl 102,114 17,621 32,341 59 Goon Heflin Bere ------ 7,100 3,000 18,500 10 Benoy Planing Mill, Selma 6,000 9,445 19,610 9 | CS.&5.D jr aes 6,300 5,950 . 18,550 10 Benoy-Winston Co., Selma 22,500 15 ine Wall Sr Sel; Se 7,500 5,400 22,620 11 Swift Creek Lumber Co., Won Ags quotes er 200 4,080 24,000 30 Simisn@eldes 0) meee 102,748 3,150 29,000 19 Dt Ging Stag Bee 1,540 4,500 19 Grist and blouci Mills J. E. Creech, Smithfield % Eee Bes 15,660 10 Post Office, Capital, Value Plant, Output, Employees E. F. Crump, Smithfield___ 5.310 eee aun a0 Byrd’s Mill, Benson ----$ 2,000 $ 6,000 $ 7,000 R. ©. Gillett, Smithfield. 12’000 i F000 aihO A OHna nich Mille’ Bencones Cuan 0h) «ino e ee 000 W. B. Hobbs, Smithfield__ 1.500 pe 80/000 fy 4 Kings Mill, Benson __--- 3,000 7,000 8,000 -W. S. Ragsdale, Smithfield 10,900 23,100 acad® McLambs Grist Mill, Benson 2,800 15,662 17,550 | John a Claude Sanders, 3 88,800 23 Stewart Mill, Benson-__--- 2,000 3,500 4,000 } Smithfield _______ 1. 4,500 134 Blackburn Water Grist Mill, | J. C. Smith, Smithfield... 6,189 ey a0) y Bentonville _-_--_--- 12,812 14,256 1 Will D. Tomlinson, Smith. é 67,200 12 Weaver Ross Grist Mill, | Held ee res ae 7,925 22.06 Bentonsville -.__-_--- 2,000 11,200 12,600 | E. E. Wallace, Smithfield__ 2,700 te 56,800 15 Barbours Grist Mill, Clayton 2,500 9,984 11,232 Barnes Sawmill, Wendell_ 6,960 5,850 Sean 3 Ellington Grist Mill, Clay- C!S Hamm ; , : UO Slee | ee PNP ne Sk cag Des pba 6,000 16,320 18,260 ammce, Wendell. <9 8,800" a 200i aang = ? ? , | ‘ he rank in Southern Cotton Oil Co., | state average. a Johnston. elma wee Ma ust UoB96 817,198 “ain .oan ene ing a better showing than iss Hood Wegeo Sela 20817 675 <5 ny 12,000 4 Size and Popula hewn D. H. Creech Chemical Go ighth largest county in the sta ewes Smithfield _____ 680 1,221 2,403 1 Johnston county is the eig illion acres, nearly three-fourhs a Export Leaf Tobacco Co a total area of over half e ag the last census. This area ee Smithfield _-_- 967 2,594 3,039 1 which was in farms according ee Robeson, the largest coun Hood Bros, Smithfield____ 500 5 resents exactly 807 eee ‘990 square miles. has been Sanders-Beasley Brick Co., in the state, has an area 0 during the last ten years aes Smithteld, 0g eu a oy 14,000 1275 21,120 17 The increase in population 7,597, with over three-four Smithfield Herald, Smith- very noticeable, amounting to 7,597, antes | 4 vhite. ‘ opulatl a Ce. es wep00 2 4,406 Teagaeee ty | napa: oe be I Fe ee eben en Durin. 1 ic . increas ata a Textiles Capital, Spindles Output, Employees | ’ d sey one percent. The ae in the combination cot Cl cas as smaller than in any coun a of the farms of John- | ayton erators Ww ed Ve EOI Oo aT) + rate to Clayton Cotton Mills____ $480,723 $ 10,240 $553,522 496 ton and tobacco he ane farmers. This is the a ei id Liberty Cotton Mills ____ 322,845 5,100 377,833 78 ston are cultivated tat half of North Carolina Ses popu- Selma DEE ae Ce ee cy Hale nON te io of the } Ethel Cotton Mills ______ 319,376 8,100 310,339 72 ‘Carteret down on us act the.low negro se ae one into Lizzie Cotton Milly ______ 368,588 10,480, 302,197 gg lation can be ‘attribute aratively low tue eee Se tae | Selma Cotton Mills _____ 606,950 10,560 650,127 87 county, and to a comp ties during the period. Stace Smithfield Johnston from other coun inhabitants is one of the ee auite aa S | Ivanhoe Mfg. Co. _______ 256,532 22,322 1,125,000 118 The small eye ae sa pelow. A large number of the ibited in the | —— ——___. ee et ele facts exhibited in | $4,695,301 $66,802 $18,866,284 2516 | 1 q c borers on fs acity of day la ty only. in the cap: 3 in the coun- pce pean peter ane the number aes ae te dean ee farms or in the ek + blessing to the pate Hee i i DUNES Es ducated race is a de ty is low is dou is backward and une rigaes : ut that this bac hey are found in larg is no doubt but t : iety when they i EOP Oe i the blac. a neat opr else collet Cobb has aptly said that numbers. roress senenenmmnst? amengnanunawerthenene . Seneranensnwny ors eneewnuahinnene Sa aa ene Be Med me ot reh e s o HE ET . jayhemn: paren: s Seige I ao in E “Ss j mous totals of agricultural weal sult, densely populated, an ay people living on every square Son on every 13 acres for the en towns and the population is well Ss gain, increasing nearly 2 ter educated than in Johnston. That is, can read and write. About 13 out of adult males are unabl are below the state average, are better educated j while 41 counties have better recor 34 Johnston County: Economic and Social man has seldom accomplished anything exce ship of the white man. Yet, one cannot aff against the negro population of Johnston, useful to us, i pt under the leader- ord to say too much They are undoubtedly As a rule they are Whites anjd blacks in along together remarkably peacefully, A Farming People erage by more than ten percent, every six people live in the open Seven out of every ten are country dwellers, Three counties hay no incorporated towns. We are almost wholly an agricul- tural people, digging our living out of the soil, contributing enor- th yearly, and building up a sturdy undings. The county is, as a re- erage of more than fifty country mile of our territory, or one per- tire county, We have no large In Johnston nearly five out of country. In North Carolina 3 of 21 years of age and older are bet- a larger per cent of them every 100 of our white » and in this respect we The white females of this age-group n 73 counties of the state than in Johnston, ds for literates among both ie enayanonasinein apewneee . ah © * SNE VAPNODIEN DSR titi) enw’ LON PESLERNDUROO NY ’ PESEDONSDADEMADEHEDEDADSRA DAT SRST MPI DS TROND pe nerergeny > > epeeens: ‘ 4 ose serene 7 rd ei ee Bay, sacs ALAR MeL y 3 Johnston Count, . Economic and Social 5 Sixty-eight counties make “ 1k ; a iitbrattes over nine years of ag ; 5 counties in Fl since only 2 Fp Our negroes make a better eas a eo 10 years of age and i ) tter the state better our rank in negT better schools, be schools, older. Johnston county needs more a educated and more bette ore teachers, ducational fa- equipped ees. ete we need proper e experienced. Cc t they can live a f r adult males and females, go tha ilities for ou a h: h ier and fuller life. “ happie Hee Cie Membership + of four of its in- three out of h : in the state has ae: o some church, While one county fe age and over beleaei nee in Johnston. habitants ten Meh are affiliated with sae erteiet a lower church less than one in e that: plo tat ich There are only 18 counties In he ised the state average, whi i a e muc a been making eae ay as a eee The Caste rural areas. is only 45 out o Spe . ir own, é i h a hard, uphill fight to retain their owl, vr obstacles to chure td i sy e illiteracy are two ser in failing to se See cee Sats ee with the churches in progress. € Serving hurch endeavor. that ‘ ils is a proper e believe that correcting Be ey hl of serving God. ined & remarkable humanity is une eo Johnston will increase alize that serving seer BBR nc churches of the county re degree only when ’s concern, 5 the church’s ‘ in his daily work and needs is properly us organizations the Man in Nis of the religious | he churches, and that through Beir ies caring Sapte ills. The problems of ata to solve social and e it, and the larger nS ee are trongest community un “its work will be. church ee ta : hurch, the more effective the number within A ath Rate o pane th rate. Only 37 counties gimianden 3.6 people out of every ‘ d very little be- ld races ten years of age ae better showing in native white Johnston county has too # es ee had a higher rate in 1917. Fee een 1,000 in the county died, and t one , : fore or since that time. ee eet This proves that there is too mu is p S t be blamed for é egroes canno ur which could be remedied. The neg h of them to affect o this high rate, oug) t for there are not en ties could do a grea much average very much, The health ae n-up of homes, mills, by effecting a great ¢ ee filth and disease. Or ees 1 stagnant pincesslnce pies under one year towns, swamps, and al ce of deaths among babi asinine tonne There are a Fae nae ake mothers do not know of age, showin / cc Naplinnvens-snsi pre Sassoon mene as peter emnene mapas ry~saneennnabeatesabannan an engnnabsannvasahen banana onenmant! SS 36 J ohnston County: Economic and Social of their newly-born babies done to instruct them how t ne nOneSaVEse PEE RINERANSHONTDE NER OPSENP EMRE ESR RRD ENED ES Johnston County: Economie and Social 82nd in population increase 1910 to 1920, per cent__ Forsyth. led with a 63.3 per cent gain. State gain 15.9 per cent. 55th in population living in open country, per cent__ State average 71.4 percent in the open country. New Hanover has only 16.8 percent rural. Three counties have no incorporated towns. 183th in townships losing population, per cent Only one township in Johnston lost population. State average 32 percent, 308 losing. Nearly one in every three in the state lost. 10 coun- ties lost none. 18th in rural population density per square mile State average 37.3 people per square mile. Forsyth led the state with 73.5 country people per square mile. 66th in white male illiteracy, 21 years of age and over, per cent ~._------------ State average 10.95 percent. New Hanover only 1.7 percent. 74th in white females illiteracy, 21 years old and older, percent State axerage 10.4 percent. 8.1 percent. 42nd in illiteracy white and black 10 years of age and older, percent --------- i State average 13.1 percent. Buncombe leads wi only 6.4 percent. 69th in native white jilliterates, 10 years old and over percent) 2.252 aee = nee State average 8.2 percent. New Hanover only 1. percent. i 26th in negro illiterates 10 years of age and older, Orcent! onsen ee ee eee oi a nein une ORY : Pamlico 11.3 percent. State average 24.5 percent. 44th in race ratios, percent white : tate average 69.74 percent white. percent. 74th in white ratio gain 1910 to 1920 percent State average white ratio increase ots Vance 6.9 percent gain. Mitchell 99.5 percent. 84684 EDGPADUDSHOPAEALGA NAAT Se STAYING S HEI PPL ELN DUR ee NeTAV EDEL SES R: mee ; ait tt Bo ee 37 18.3 82.7 5.9 50.2 12.9 13.2 12.4 9.5 21.7 76.4 1.0 oe FER EE NS siesenmnnat? ona HEnERAnRnthanenerione Sep ersnenenunueenane sys Sega seo terns any i nro ee tie nti ee ahtaectatae 2a 38 82nd in church membership, 10 for both races, percent State average 45 percent, percent. 22nd in births per 1,000 Population, 1917 rate ______ Yancey 45; Currituck 19,2; 63rd in deaths Per 1,000 Population, 1917 Tater seen ‘Cherokee 6.7; Wayne 20.6. 27th in homicides Per milli Bertie leads with 74 on inhabitants, 1918-1914 Total in 4 years, 10. State average 95 homicides per million inhabitants, This is the highest rate found among English-speaking people. 64th in divorces Per 100,000 North Carolina has th except South Carolina, given. Alexander 0; vorces per 100,000 population, 32.00 60 21.1 “2pawenes tt ILENE AIEEE IV. | N COUNTY WEALTH AND TAXATION IN JOHNSTO G. Y. RAGSDALE ‘ Smithfield, N. C. ission there te Tax Commiss ues Se ee which have more t; This is remarkable, due Be ccaeres in the county. According to the report a ee are only fourteen counties pee taxable property than Johns : re no greal ming people, ae oer 3 ns ae gericultural wealth, the far Take away from us ' nty. For- ld be a pauper cou ie i imals, and we wou any county i apes Pate ian of taxable porns any Soe a eee pay: had nearly one is largely an meapeeis ond mn a Forsyth, pee hat ae first in more ables age: some establishments tha industrial county, ? if ears ir line in the world. ensus value 0 ee Ree as in Johnston in Tee pall ieee machin- $ aor svete includes farm ae ge ae the tax books, 40,740,814, this property ists of farm ery and live Mera) as taxable wealth consists but the grea 2 per properties. oe pie nay a $862 p In 1921 our wealth on $1,007. John- i alth of the state was Bee ines Sak sonia a ae ‘pverage boca = Has swell the iy agcicultuval, with fow big manufacturing P at it will acutally ieeericulital aria ae seldom listed at WEY cea s Sa ge Pee real wealth per person bring on the market. above $862. Negro Taxable Property ; i ‘There are e rank fairly high. ae In negro taxable rage torah more Beeto tanep at perce si Johnston own only Sa “Forsyth RMS Peet oe if taxable property, whi ante of the ne- eee ee this amount. The eae class. Bie he ae a Johnston is of the labo gro populatio ey ke 51.2 per cent are Gite Of all the farms operated in Johnston, © PO them, while \ a. being ope: He te ER is means tha eee ae. eet eee by owners. This 252, acr’ a Sr Ohebarnbor peeves SUPT AR TOREE ED SR: aPPPEE EADY a " 4 a spubeone y Kia ese bare panenanercranenehencenpenen tesa: baheennnes hee ct PUSEDenerenax p » Lover Narerabe e , arenes > 4 2 aE eng re arenpere? kphanengnere gee en une san awen dhs men Paenavenmnr, r aera wir om teins ea ene ara ne 0s easter ¥in _ » Social, or economic se are the things that make a People. There ers practicing five different kinds oduce crops of wealth accumulation, It js too costly, With the advent of Cooperative marketin rease in acreage of mo- Alleghany Pays the lowest it being only 41 cents, while Caswell county This goes to Show that We, pay lower rate than in 59 other countj than we do, Our poll tax is $2.46, wi a higher rate than Johnston. The tax value of land in 1920 was $65.30 little more than half as much as the t sister county of Wilson. $26 above the state ay- crage. The lowness of our tax value of land is due to our large areas of Wooded land an SERIMRDOMMDEDELT PEPER IDANGNEHITSPESLORIARY Heke UEMPERARSSANIMERAMEPSPANRE AL ADREAEAMYD DORAdR DDL ErERVE REAL EAMRO EAD R EL as penpr se dar . SPADER SREP AD Ab ReRE AS SRAE AD DOSS vi ennee 3 noe sane ae 7 rr : aoP-d EME MLE : ; AL Johnston County: Economic and Social Juation, not only in Johnston rane rae ae at saarolna The aa we lesnags Ho vette neste was made left many Phe waa ae after the Tene ed Siesta aio bat acumenes ve been Hoey ae 2 aie cee in this state is on the Mae one si be sed ee This was never the Get Fa a ce eat ie @ St aiae depended on the aor fe Sardis (Wegener! the true value of the land. owner. Farm Wealth 910 to 1920, had a great increase in farm Wee MUI EN Rt Bat Poe? | th Woe increase amounting to 197.5 aaa ae, ge Gat | : to gam oe : eee rapidly growing county are being so ‘ Gd Maes? Otis 3 s are increasing y Bath Seu au are NESE increasing ae sei ei Bo ee tor in land value Se. ine i reatest factor \ eth aed / growth is the grea ae ste Pena ; Bathe ny tion of agricultura primary factor is : okey deal bei a shird in this state z SR Fe AD Vis esate ae crops and year arn pee ae aaa fee geenta an ited States, Jo a es Pia eae s. The producti ie ue pict the production of crop valu aE Roe Ha ees wealth per farm in Laat Tee ering pee ich is dingly high, i 3 ars, which is excee gly codes thee pa fn aids dollars higher than eas seat AACE none aie geet it also costs more to pro But remem i tobacco than other crops. e@ av Ww inhabitant was th erage tarm ealth per country in In 192( a if t over a than 200 per cen 1 Ti cd increase of more increase was only Boas nee while the state Ene oa country in- period of ten y in in farm we te asa hus the gal in for the state 112 per cent. Re twice the average gain LOT sas Mee Rant habitant we nee was due to the high iota rise in the whole. Much o 5 nd to the cons ith this : cent war, & sy even with 1S ducts during the #68 and tobacco soils. ae in farm wealth ae of ae eee counties gained mo gratifying gain, : it ty making the mos ; did, the coun ith our ; tant than we did, in accord wi ee tet Seat This is ae Sane we command notable gain Edict 1 wealth, for to- aa a cultura : ounty and to ahiaviit eerie yay cay lascty eee ik ek aa aa an more than cotton ean in real estate bacco land is lous prices. t Alle t fabulou é 500 per cent, tobacco was feline ae ten-year period was pa oe over 1,000 eters Cas te ee estate tax values incre while Hyde coun ° pa S 5 “ r counties S18 plea ng g. 8 e ovner C 4 vh th fg hi per cen Th when e gains 0 om: ¢ aeghttt or Fs Lpyhererannsemesanestheneyewenswe SNSIMERAA ENED ADREAEASSHAPAM UD US EDMRANN ErEDKndoNETARAEDALE MUDSEEDWR RMP ROROR ELSE MMA. | Sanne? Sty pee ee PE SEAT 4 an APIA AIEEE DRE A FEE? EE ~ 42 Johnst i : : von County: Economic and Social Johnston County: Economic and Social 43 received. Eut it must be remembered at this point that there are many counties in the state which are not so favored with nature’s blessings as is Johnston, and that we should, by all rights, help to defray the expenses of these less fortunate coun- ties. The cause is a worthy one: our children must be educated, » in- Savin The bank accou ‘ Ye and our aged and infirm heroes of the South must be cared for were only $9 per nt savings in the county in the year 19 in their declining years. The growing children must be trained Person, or just half the is | in their youth, for in later years they are to step into the har- ness now being vacated by those growing old. They will be the future builders of our state. And even while they are springing into manhood and womanhood, we must care for those who have played the game and built up this our state. change, due to varying eppeets of banking is ever subject to There are thirty-three counties which received more in re- Means of saving, Our People mabe sa a therefore, not the best turn for these two causes than they paid into the state treas- nlo the future; they are lj -» We regret to say, are not looking ury. They are mostly mountain and tidewater counties, not leither looking forward to firth to mouth; they es | having the natural resources that we possess. Ue abc ahead of us in bank achueh, eee Teen Nineteen counties paid more in professional taxes than did ropean countrie ia Us in wealth production! The ae fee Johnston. These men, doctors, dentists, lawyers, pharmacists, Johnston Seite eae immensely larger savings per ca Him th oe | etc., paid over three hundred dollars into the treasury. Twenty- times more per Baste €. Denmark, for Instance, has ar 6 | two counties paid more state income tax than did we. Our cellent ways f pita. A savings account is one of th ee total tax paid under this heading to the state was $1,679. The sae BOOr i i SNUG | income tax paid into the Federal Treasury was several times Most of the more than this. | The average township road tax rate for all townships is 27 | cents on the $100 worth of property. The county school tax rate is 60 cents on the hundred dollars, 10 cents on the hun- dred for court house bonds, and the county tax is 12 cents. in schools and automobiles there | There are 150 school districts in the county carrying a special we lead. There are over EE former we lag, and in the latter school tax. Capita investment in school ae which have a higher per In natural resources, in wealth, and in the ability to produce On the other hand only i ciate Heyes ours being only $7. wealth Johnston ranks among the foremost counties of the capita in automobiles than Raiser 2 ao more invested per state. In our willingness to convert out wealth into welfare, to per Person. /It is appalling sie a our investment being $71 invest in schools, churches, and other community interests, ten times more invested in ie ohnston county should have there is room for improvement. We must think of taxes We ride and travel more than ae than it has in schools, in terms of community improvements, as investments in com- ment in automobiles is far above Hela puss wis ane Sources of Information (e} ther Tax Facts U. S. Census reports. ‘State tax reports. Files of the Department of Rural Social Economics, University id m stabs: 6 ore for the equalization fund than we of North Carolina. 4 sme nenerenmnnpit” tga rye in aye eae bib in fee acim Onn an einen unr ee evan an tars ib ine ee 8 Sep 2 20 2 eae ee Pradeep ete, = apes RE eng PERE a> eee 44 Johnston County: Economic and Social Facts About Wealth and Taxation in Johnston 15th in total taxable DEO DELL, BLO Di see eerie $ 42,272,297 Forsyth first with $141,899,000 in 19217 .Johnston had $62,776,640 on the tax books in The reduction in 19 83 percent, 19th in negro taxable Property, 1921 Forsyth first with $4,121,000. 40th in tax rate per $100'of taxables, 1921 21 from 1920 values was eee A ee bt $ 1,702,857 pdtat da BS -82 Alleghany lowest with a rate of $.41. Caswell highestw ith $1.61. Thirty nine counties have a lower tate than Johnston. 12th in tax value of land per acre, 19200224 4_ 2s. 65.30 In 1919 before revaluation it was on the tax books, at $10.57 per acre, State average $38.94 in 1920. Wilson highest in 1920 with her land on the tax books at $113.17 per acre, 15th in ten-year Increase in farm wealth 1910 te ErOUe Deesehibpd we Picts si ort ats wai. pee 197.5 Green highest with 310 percent, State average 134.5 percent, 8rd in total production of agricultural wealth, So pad see te SOG 20,646,863 Robeson first with $24,045,294, 18th in Production of agricultural wealth per farm Porat s Pov cbistn 4 coast aera 2,939 Scotland first with $5,022. State average $2,104. 10th in farm wealth per country inhabitant, 192025 1,004 Wayne first with $1,497, State average $684, 19th in ten-year increase i inhabitant, 1910 ¢ Bek pp sees od 204, State average increase, 112 percent. Pitt, 335 percent. 15th in increase in real estate tax values, 1910 to ; 1920; percent _.______ em nn SE ee 586, Hyde, 1.098 percent. ‘Cherokee only 58 Crank mesererere pert ene “ SPDRTERPONBREESHERGHSAAUINUREHMESRANRCAEAZ HEAT AMYDDSEDARAD DSL EDeRtemhenMRO RIED BeaL 95 9thP? SL ADy cr VERS PNAC ME VAR EOR TES nneneeunneneoanan C eenanessnanee sexe! DeMaRR NONE NADEDEPENER ED aS ect PLD A AE LE i ial 45 Johnston County: Economic and Socia i 918. age $17.86 in 19 ; : heats Rp ees $110 per capita ae pee The people of Johnston had $457, men t in automobiles, 1920 (als i ita investmen a ea es with $107. State average $ v i operty 56th in per capita investment in school prop f h in St an "$9. “Transylvania $24. a in excess of aid into State treasury a $7. ets dere: and pension money recel Se = a ac ch aiecinatucloneeeke D eh ea in $66,590 more than she r by i back ed back. Thirty-three ee es, pie id in. than they pal Alc Mie a and tidewater ey i aid in 1919 s-222222- ae a pane ata paid cheteasionel pew lawyers, ag is ete. Be ais dentists, pan pee feat 24th in state income tax paid Sy to oe Mecklenburg first with $24, 10,196 Se FREES er ig PERI HO TD he erate are sis Be oer: EDI et et ste te RR NS SPAN RN RNa his ee DRIP MR Og ye tor aE SOLEMN ple ame me wescamanpite school plants, great success, large school, i s more pupils, bette i ; ' ter classification i eatibment Mies wie ne » More life, and much better quipped, schools scattered as coe worth their nts of a one-teach ; er school, j tools jammed t i see Seven grades, the teacher’s tim ‘ ae ae Tee mong tants ae geet e being divided ditions of this V. SIX-Y | EAR GAINS IN WHITE SCHOOLS IN JOH STON 1914-15 TO 1920-21 - _G. Y. RAGSDALE Smithfield, N. Cc At the beginni ; ginning of thi mee : is chapter, I wish secu education clear. I am in favor of ee oa ery child in Johnston Bea ee wo After the garmmar But first, we m : . ust lay a good f i a the towns and in the countr aes oe 0 require much money. ¥ mine good equipment, and ne consolidated schools, oe back home, 1s best it is goj better teachers, better flare eae enone, aad abigzer Consolidation of Schools Very few ef our schoo here and there all over th upkeep. Think of the een nese ‘f 2 fajpenemaniemesies arene honey Sire naeeraneveneknngaRPannedeEeEnenesa rand PRTENDANARP ARASH ES EEDONSSASENERSADDSDAURARDAS SEAT AUD IS EDAR AHL ELF AVECeRESABEONTEH ELEY, PA APROM PENA Mi opat PE SEEDY a = arr ns eee Johnston County: Economic and Social 47 teaching on pitifully low salaries. It is almost unbelievable that in 1919, 71 of our 90 white schools in the county were taught by one and two teachers. Rural schools based on such a system can be little more than miserable failures. What Johnston needs is to abolish these weak one-teacher and two-teacher schools and to establish a consolidated system of schools of real merit, which will be of real value to the county. We need real educa- tional centers, not little recitation centers having little or no life or influence. Thanks to the untiring efforts of our former Superintendent of Rural Schools, Mr. W. H. Hipps, much was accomplished to- wards consolidation. In addition to the schools consolidated during his administration, he laid a good foundation for fu- ture consolidation. Today we have several trucks carrying children to good schools, to be taught by good teachers, in well- * equipped school buildings. Attendance In 1917-18 we ranked 49th in white school attendance on enrollment. One-third of the children enrolled were absent every school day. In 1921 our white rural school population was 11,357 and enrollment 12,201. Ninety and eight-tenths per- cent of the white children of school ages were enrolled, of which 6,554 were in daily attendance, or 68.6, percent of those en- rolled. This means that last year only 49 per cent of our children who should be in school were in daily attendance! Too many children of school age are not enrolled and school at- tendance of those enrolled is miserably poor in a county with compulsory attendance. There is a state law making school at- tendance compulsory. The law does not seem to be function- ing well in Johnston. It is the fault of parents partly, and the result of weak small schools that offer no attraction to live children. What Absences Mean In this brief discussion, it is impossible for us to treat this matter at length. Below we will briefly stated the facts of the ease, and leave the rest to the intelligence of the readers. 1. The child that is allowed to be absent from school when he could possibly be there is establishing a bad habit from which he will suffer all his life long. 2. The constant absentee nearly always gets out of gear with the school, falls behind in his classes, loses interest and then drops out to repeat the same thing the next year . 7 \ on frien PE IPS I 0 NBR Sins ee te I En OS In ETE he Oe wig SOSA tage miner gana ianaren tts 2 pple UNieia ne renee eRe amin eet PRE SD Ae he ee Be RN ws sama z (oer pensar are i A Sana sn REO po ia in . — a ee Without the Vitalizing touch of well houses, Playgrounds, and schoolrooms chanisms, Life, Spirit, vitality, all ar ' awake teachers, erage annual salay of $235. Getting enough money to pay teachers decent Salaries is g difficult task, They have never been paid decent salaries, especially rural teachers, and the quality of teachers we employ depands upon what we pay them. And $661 a year will neither attract nor retain trained and ef- ficient teachers, ent, whereas ou This was ‘an impro pupils per teacher was lessened. ber of teachers wi ber but the n remained the same up to 1920, university trained teachers. But cannot employ well-educated teacher; Salaries, and he cou required to teach the i ited salary fund, because teachers go Where the best vement in that the number of On the other hand, the num- perience increased 58 in num- We need more college and the county superintendent S without Paying them good t, due to increased numbers reepertt prepared teachers, school- are dead, soulless me- e the product of wide- ‘st LD ; . . AQ Johnston County: Economic and Social i ed. We ‘cl ston must be improv KEL BG Ie: vane idated schools, ent day pee taxes, build ee i Fae Gr sie TASER IEE prepared teachers, or else w and emplo live in darkness. Need of More Special Taxes t of he state average of 25 percen : sistance nieiae ae al school taxes, we ee aaa eat school districts ty leads the state with 90 ee i enapies teen ne ised in Johnston count, a how naa Tena ages tae se Hials We realize, although PUN cette ee His ‘Gullteee is a tax-payer, that aah bad Mr ae sated i fae the World War. But we are Eero athena esto ib ian He to vote taxes pee ae ree meen en eee Gre i i end. 1 x age Haletidl oa senda! te finite that you RP a as community sane of the benefits, but how na a Hee i nose s baa an children to the extent of ra sate a: ye cheba How many dollars do ee ap ne Mea REE os i e of your s 2 | devine to sad ene Hes per scholastic seated es ates ages a There is really only one way A iat se oh huiste. das 93 white school districts in way is to ° dis S well- i ildi employ well- : istrict: build large, ell equipped buildings, 1 S; trained teacher t or hool b ges. Then “ e ( Ss, transp: t the pupils in Be ae will have the best school system in North Carolina Johnston City Schools well Clayton are wel . F d, Benson, Selma and j ; The schools in ys i pike CM ae dern, well : 1 oa worthy of mention. dls attending them are? taugh ildi mevubhes up in the equipped ete dette Aer esadise Bomb atienet ix by the very bes The school 4 oud of them. , pics hot a cchools but in her cee an ir oe lies not in her town ne Ae edoaaveneol crane The country children bape: sins iat cotlenes Pied teeny Gah but they are 4 handi- advantages Rae es ie They have to enter life’s race ha and it is not fair to ° . Let us see that the country children in the et us: capped at the start. Ravewanweduall chance ton great agricultural county of EGE: with the children who attend to AF Rural and Urban School Contrasts ew au 1. n with the h hi his b i avi ittle fault to find it] i lletin have litt! Q a at ile Be goftbis jin Johnston. The schools at Cc ayton, three ite to AP aDeNSHONSA RP ARNE ESSE ERODE SN NANERSEE DED AD SERRA DEERE nam ease Reem eAPRERanRES neeshdog * PERC B iS yy at fey naan Leethar Sear ay Unyennoe seeberery, Pannen eowneeenanas c : ERAN ENE DE MEN EASA RP ARR OY ‘72 ARMOR ENADEDEDENTD eens as. Apeuenemannses » seephttt ‘Was 2 denen nnens eesenesthenersieenenenanapewennnsearannatenauneensAnanentaunahshaieneaomnaranuneseninanabrapaneeanennerttency WARM RORENAD WAL goat PESLIDY a Ne pg I OI Ne I ee 0 BO IN Sr PN rs GIN RCO ER GY Gye CaehS EM Ran bh see nenierentnnpi’® © eee a 50 Johnston County: Economic and Social bi and Smithfield are as good as ar ot equal size and Wealth in the state, rural districts of Joh nston do they begin to ¢ } reeteriea three’ town schools, e to be found in towns But the schools in the Rural Urban 94 3 Value of schoo) hou ses $131,287 $265,000 White school enrollment School expenditures epee etre Pera abe Expenditures per child enrolled gr ie eee ae. Spent on white Lea chers Se cuent ey matt ANE ee aed average white teacher salary ey sn ee ae white teachers ___ er eachers with college dj lomag: A Average enrolled oiniean pete LS ies 3 cg Pia apf 2.6 The above are jus could be made. ae aeice wae Oe DY, A few startling facts are as follows: The three 1,890 children ay : th white rural school hou arate eee, : ses enrolli enrolled is $12.70 ae SM ici se ftee) property per ie 11 ¢ child and $140 1 times as much for each town child aoa aS ROA ITLL AERPIE IEE APPR E YE GI Johnston County: Economic and Social 51 A very significant factor in school work is the time a teacher can give to each child. The number of children enrolled per town teacher is 32.6, while there is an average of 45.2 enrolled children for each country teacher. In 19 of the schools there is only one teacher and she teaches all comers for a total of seven grades daily, giving about ten minutes to each class. And what is the answer to the present rural school situation? The answer is found in converting the 93 rural schools’ into 15 or 20 centrally located big rural schools and transporting the children in motor buses. We do not advocate a complete change in a year but a gradual change extended over a half dozen years. The program should be worked out and gradually carried through. Then the rural children in the great agricul- tural county of Johnston will be able to begin life equally as well trained as the town children. It is nothing but right and just, and the peope of Johnston are rich enough and big enough to take care of our needs. Rank of Johnston in School Matters 57th in per capital school expenditures, 1919-20___$ 4.70 Durham county led with $11.24. State average $5.44, 75th in school expenditures per $1,000 taxable prop- erty; } 519022 09 Se ehen: Bee Ee ean ee Pamlico leads with $8.55. State average $4.41. 50th in average value rural white school property, 1919-20 We had 95 white rural school houses valued at $113,987. Washington leads with 20 schools valued $150,000, averaging $7,500 each in value. 59th in local school tax rate per $1,000 taxables, 1917-18 Scotland leads with $7.44. 22nd in local school tax districts, 1919-20, percent Dare led with 90 percent. State. average 25 percent. 12th in school fund raised by rural local tax, 1919- 2 Opie ee oe ener jal atest cy ay em 34th in tén-year gains in local tax districts, 1910-20, 3.68 1,199.00 5.01 State average $5.10 37 21,000.00 11.3 percent State average Chowan led with 27.9 percent. 6.7 percent. . ssi amend gc SPD Be se I hes ora phon as Nass pdndaa aeRO Ho an gianna grids (eter se verarsirmtins> 5 oH aRESS ere ig EIRENE . SS ph seve ane see stemtaangat 52 Johnston County: Economie and Social 9th in white rural schools having two or more white teachers, Heng pipercent — = UHR TIIRD. 67.4 Wake led with 81.8 percent. In 1919, 80 per- cent had two or more teach Ore teachers, In 1921, 80 percent of the white rural schools had two or more teachers, 49th in white school attendance on CRE ee At 65.6 led with 91.8 percent, i n enrollment in 1920-21 ately. pA ogg! 56.1 t was 59.9 percent, enditures per $1,000 taxable prop- . erty in Te le; matem chee e tO Maes 8.14 Buncombe led with $14.41, 21st in investment in rural school property, LOUS=1 ORs Spy Sane te a Sea 122,953.00 Buncombe led with $455,250. In 1921 the white SOO CHEE LUG SI Oneal Buncombe led with $56,632, 60th in Rural white schools having patent desks, HOLS, Percent (ones {got Ipties BNANE Gite aay 75 Cumberland led with 100 percent, In 1920-21 the home-made desks, schools, 7,577.00 , University of County Super- f Schools. 1914-15 to 1920-21 - Percent 1914-15 1990.94 Gain ge Re $94,410 $131,287 39.1 und (white and black) _ 70,017 865,814 4209, Rewer ENE 15,065 = 22,000 4g. “ RELISH AML T ITAA RE NE EK EDS 2 AVEWESORY ARP OME RN ER HENS AEAG NE NHRSHM HAD AURORP ASSAM ANN gO RED 7 eee PEnenSinensuerananenesnntem . Peper rennsesesezes ss "i ? ef GRE TIE O Johnston County: Economic and Social 53 233 324, Total expenditure (white and black) - eee Bemece a Spent on teaching and supervision__ 47, i 768 261. Spent on teacher salaries an------- ee ae an Spent on buildings and supplies_---- eae irae Pe White school population__-------- ees see sae White school enrollment -------- cee ae = Percentyenrolled: 2-42 === oes Peas White daily attendance ---------- HA i ae ee Percent daily attendance —-------- so aa Number white teachers Bs gen se attins aan te Average annual salaries ---------- a es 2 Number white schools Saszen Soren ae BS aH Number white en Seah fae he ot Ps white schoo ouses__---= iC Arise value of each school house__$ ee $ ma a Number white one-teacher HEN ate Teachers with 4 or more aed didi cal ¢ 18 m1 erience +---=----------- ; arbstiors with college diplomas_--_ oi rei Hocaleitax, districts s==sess—=——— = ane 1 abaloag Average term in days ----------- ie ata White schools with patent desks__-- a ie oars White schools with home-made desks *Means decrease. Sources of Information i f£ County Superintendents ° f rts of the State and P fae sae and special files of the Department of Rural u Social Economics at the University. SEREAVROR SESSA DHS. suede! 329i. VI i : "ARM CONDITIONS AND PRACTICES W. M. SANDERS, Jv., Smithfield, N. ©. '3,307 was produced by two Only $4,206,478 was pro- Z In addition, ab . ivestock and li » about $1,400,000 ver, . lvestoc ¥ interesting to know just how Sieh ore a ate ne arm wealth the producers r Ki ; etain. W, fertilizers, 5 e send out a very ] and the ae Pane food and feed, foe tte Bf Aor is poor Sans a sein in Johnston little that oe end horses producing only cotton and tobacco aay, day ie ae i and tobacco, wh elds raise f, 6 5 where I ood for his, family and livestock. cs u oe very easily e assured of getting profitable pri ae prices for his e Situation would not be so bad, ie crops each year the duction costs and the profits and saving After pean geinee of fat years are wiped for his family and live- A feqWenermnnnewerarere peney tire naweranepenewense Rr anne HERO ENO eEA4SdNERAAE NED ADSETAASELAS AMES RDS ENN EH SEDER E POP LEY” Johnston County: Economic and Social 55 milk, butter, eggs and gardens. Experiments made by the gov- ernment and by thousands of farmers have proved that the man who raises food and feed crops along with his cotton and tobacco is invariably in a much better condition financially than his neighbor who raises only cotton and tobacco and buys food and feed with the cash received from the sale of these crops. Food Crons and Farm Wealth In 1910 our total farm property was valued at $13,684,318, whereas in 1920 it has increased to $40,747,814, or an increase in farm wealth of 197.5 percent. The state average increase was 134.5 percent. This is evidence that Johnston is a great agri- cultural county. She made marvelous strides along agricultural lines from 1910 to 1919 when the census was taken at top prices and when all were happy and prosperous. While we are richer today than in 1910, farm wealth would not now be given in at 1919 prices. The slump in prices hit every one and especially those who had incurred large debts to be paid from the sale of high-priced cotton and tobacco in the fall of 1920. Johnston’s crop-yielding power per acre in 1919 was $108.3 and only eight counties were ahead of us. We were ahead of the state average which was $61.4 per acre. In the production of agricultural wealth per rural inhabitant in 1919 we stood elev- enth, our average being $508, while the state average was only $318. By agricultural wealth is meant everything that is pro- duced on the farm, such as livestock, livestock products, food crops, and non-food crops. Non-Food Crops By non-food crops is meant crops that do not serve as food for man or beast. In 1910 the value of our non-food crops was $8,221,386. Our cotton and tobacco crops in 1920 produced wealth to the amount of $15,023,307. We are 86th in percent of agricultural wealth produced by non-food crops. Only four- teen counties give large attention to cash crop farming. Seven- ty-two percent of all farm wealth ni Johnston is produced by cotton and tobacco alone, while food, feed, livestock, livestock products, and the like make up twenty-eight percent. In the state at large sixty percent of all farm wealth in 1919 was pro- duced by the two big cash crops. Cotton Here is where Johnston is among the very first. In 1860 our total production was 2,892 bales. Highteen counties were ahead of us. In 1900 we ranked eighth in total production with 17,- 1 at eee zs BBY» was 34,795 bales, and » Which county produced crease. The s; pound bales, mgs ei production in 1860 was 145,514 400 in 1919 e had increased to 858,406 500-pound bales Tobacco Johnston county has Increased y, ; The numbe 1909, and 13,637 ieee ae 5 pourtien were 5,862 during + “onnston produces an excellen t The census of 1920 credi redit In 1900 we had 4,452 farms. This Sine But the farms in Johnston are among is They average only 25.3 cul- Only seven coun- In 1920 we had average number of acre, i Ea aa nsatie Out of our 7,026 farms in 1 J Perated by owners, 3,597 were operated managers, % Hed only 3,421 by tenants, and Farm tenancy is the rule in dating Between 1910 25.9 percent, while farms in- Land ownershi ‘ : D ip for the few and e many is becoming the rule. And it poate unwholesom e, and uneconomi iti mic condition. W 5 . € cannot ac- enants increas creased only 16.6 percent, a orphanage for t ; safe, ApqRenerm an serenererlpenNnerensueranenenewnnteRrHhhet Banners 4a NWh#en eb AbSeRe AS SHATAN DRA RaImENNbEreDandenyen i PIE LPR ILID FE IE Johnston County: Economic and Social 57 cumulate wealth and have really wholesome economic and so- cial conditions when the masses of our farmers have no land and no home they can call their own. They are forever on the move, either from choice or necessity. More than half of our population has no real interest in the community in which they live nor in the land out of which they dig their existence. Livestock Status Johnston county suffered a loss in poultry production from 1910 to 1920. In 1910 we produced 316,850 poultry and in 1920 we produced only 272,018, a decrease of 44,832. Only Wake and Pitt counties were ahead of us in poultry production in 1920. In 1910 Johnston was led by only one county in the state, namely Wake, which produced 321,664. The production of poultry should be an interesting sideline for farmers, and could easily be made a profitable one. Every farmer in Johnston would be wise to stock his farm with good poultry. : In April of 1910 we had 52,619 head of swine, 33,638 of which were mature hogs, with an estimated total value of $164,- 844. In January of 1920 Johnston had on hand 46,369 hogs, 19,567 of which were hogs under six months old, with a total value of $603,811. The difference of date of taking the two censuses accounts for the smaller number reported in 1920. There was a large increase in value, since pork was about four times as costly in 1920 as in 1910. Although Johnston led the state in the production of swine in both 1910 and 1920, we hsould give more attention’ to this form of meat production in the fu- ture. It is the easiest and-cheapest source of meat supply in a cotton and tobacco region, where corn must be grown to feed workstock. The value of home-raised meats is known to every one, and this subject need not be enlarged upon here. With the present good prices for pork, we should greatly increase our pork production. Fourteen counties produced more cattle than Johnston did in 1910. Ashe led in that year with 21,446. Johnston had in 1910, 10,878 cattle. Twenty-three counties produced more cattle than Johnston in 1920, in which year she had only 8,435. Ashe again led with 22,332. Johnston ranks first in farms and farm popu- lation but low in cattle, especially dairy cattle and consequently milk and butter. Her tenant population knows not the taste of milk and butter except occasionally when a neighbor treats. Our farm stock, namely’ mules and horses, increased in the ten years from 7,714 to 10,568. It is astonishing to know that our sheep loss from 1910 to PROR AEA B SMA yet PSE GOT A \ 5 rie emet Asie nem vercrirmiea " oot per WERE LOS EGIS RY DR RON 1 RO TT RE PONE re AW ALND MDSHA 8 ABN Hen ANAS TEEN AER p mews seem apne? 58 Johnston County: Economic and Social 1920 was 71 percent, ‘sl P t. In 1910 we h ; 686 in 1920, or one sheep to ten Minot aoe ecomieael Tels Ou ‘ } SE Mee Te A always to bear in mind that whether we Fa ae e or the United States, we invariably find that ae SPE SEOUP GY wealth goes hand in hand with an Aig bee esti¢ animals and a substantial production of ae ane fit Santee that low per capita wealth is always see ansehen animals and home-raised necessities are lack- eee By San aerea county with an;abundance of good evade chmate for agricultural purposes. Her present farm system. pes ae ae ee See os a n pe to be the county w f Hea maniac must own their land and homes and ue ye producer of cash crops on a food-and-feed and livestock basis. Then and n i ad not until tt i 2 Riles il then will Johnston have permanent Farm Conditions and Practices in Johnst on For thi Unless Indicated memantine ite in farms, number ____ in Increase in farms, 1910 to 1920. soccenin as ; , 1910 to 1920 Edgecombe increased 31.1 percent, ; A a He creased 66.3 i . fee Cee Percent. Thirty-eight counties 69th am Farm tenancy, percent tenants __ cotland 79.6 percent tenants. State aver. Phe at se a3 43.5 percent tenants, im increase in farm t Lette Sachse ecis e ANS, 1910 to 1920 mee counties decreased in tenants. State ee? ie ot arene in number of tenants 9.5 percent. Se in negro f ceeeuare a ay a 1910 to 1920, ; Te hc 71.6 percent in ebro Pare a ns. te increase 16.2 a i een 2.8 percent white. ple uaaee st in Land area under cultivation, percent of to- State aver- tal ane 2 eee Scotland 66 percent, Sta ito wee ed obs Rei m : . State average 26. ou in Total farm wealth, 1920 : ates 40,747,814 in Ten-year increase in farm wealth 1910 in na ah toat Sopa ee ed wealth, 1910 to Ce a le, 197.5 e . = State increase 134.5 percent Greene increas. Johnston County: Economic and Social 59 2nd in Investment in farm implements per acre of land in; farms :1—24---- ae ences a State average $2.70. 7th in Investments in farm implements per farm__$ Scotland $441. : 3rd in Total production of agricultural wealth___$ 20,646,863 Robeson $24,045,294. : 13th in Production of agricultural wealth per farm $ State average $2,104. Scotland $5,022. 8rd in Total production of crop TWieal DN eree a eore $ 19,229,785 Robeson $22,955,950. $ 6.50 290 2,939 75th in Average cultivated acres-per farm ------- 25.3 State average 30.4 acres, and only Massachu- chusetts has smaller farms. Johnston farms are too small. 19th in Increase in farm wealth per rural inhabi- tant, 1910 to 1920, percent------------ 204 Pitt increased 835. percent. 12th in Tobacco production, pounds ------------- 9,857,193 Pitt produced 25,390,000 pounds. In 1910 Johnston produced 2,652,000 pounds. 2nd in Cotton production in 1919, bales ~------- 48,047 Robeson 61,737 bales. In 1900 Johnston pro- duced 17,835 bales, and in 1860 she pro- duced 2,892 bales. 86th in Agricultural wealth produced by non food 72 erops, percent —-----.------------------- In Scotland 84 percent is produced by cotton and tobacco. In North Carolina 60 percent of all agricultural wealth is produced by cot- ton and tobacco. 389 8rd in Cotton production per acre, mounds ee = State average 312 pounds. Scotland 424 pounds 12th in Tobacco production per acre, pounds —---- 686 State average 610 pounds. Greene 825 pounds per acre. 2nd in Corn production, total crop, bushels ese 1,279,856 Robeson 1,376,244 bushels. 31st in Wheat production per acre, bushels ----- 9.4 State average 7.7 bushels per acre. 6,956 34th in Hay and forage production, tons -------- Mecklenburg 26,208 tons. Johnston leads in mules and horses but ranks low in hay and So REESE ET crete oaty: eS Sn aciaal 2 le rt ae er dati ARR i Far LNRM QA a eH mB Seg gh pe en eh mes weegeett ” Hn aan ten Onan Rea py werner nett anergTt ity \ 60 Johnston County: Economic and Social ) forage. , VII 83rd in Increase in h reas ay and forage producti to 1920, percent ar ee HOME RAISED FOOD AND THE LOCAL MARKET 9th in Crop-yieldi ere yielding power per acre renner tern average $61.40 per acre. th in Oats production, bushels Anson 108,276’ bushels, 58) 1) a nie 60th x a potato production, bushels uplin 246,212 bushels. State total 2,853,997 W. M. SANDERS, Jr., Smithfield, N. C. bushels or a little more than one b capita, ushel per 1st in Sweet potato production, bushels _ 80th in Livestock 1 s evels i Se be » percent of a lightly stock- A eee eae tT IRS LR agape Nie TG oc e eere tee — ealh pope stocked farm area has one animal unit ee five acres. An animal unit equals a ee “2 re: mule, one dairy cow, two other cat- A ee 10 pigs, 100 poultry. The live- Hoes n Johnston consists largely of mules Leni orses, not dairy and beef cattle a ae for imported food a nly fourteen countie ( S$ send out more m for imported food stuffs, all with (aves towns: and mo : ston, - re manufacturing than John- 418,750 nd feed supplies__$ 3,854,591 Our Immense Food iShotrare We find there is a shortage” of food production in Johnston county amounting to nearly four million dollars. Out inhabi- tants, along with their cattle and livestock, consume nearly twice as much feed as they produce. In dollars and cents, we produce nearly four times more in money crops than we do in food crops. In 1919 this left us a surplus of over eleven million dollars, out of which all other expenses were paid. But there were clothes and livestock to be bought, taxes and house rent to be paid, chil- dren to be educated and books to be bought for them, automo- piles to keep up, mortgages to be paid off, enormous fertiizer bills, plus a thousand and one other. incidentals. These addi- tional expenses consumed practically all the eleven million dol- lars, for we had only nine dollars per capita in bank savings, mo- ney laid up for a rainy day. | We must remember there that 1919 was an unusually good ‘ ‘ year, that we were paid high prices for our money crops, name- } : ly, cotton and tobacco, and that we could afford to buy our food , that year, which was one in twenty. In other years we go in | the hole, lose money by this terrible practice of neary all money | : ‘ crops and little or no food crops. If this is not changed John- = ston county will never be the rich county she should be. True we have other products to exchange for food products, but the time will come when this system will in all likelihood fail as grieviously. | Sts r f - The shortage in detail will best be seen by’a complete study ; ‘ of the table on food and feed needs and deficits at the close of this chapter. We are showing here some alarming facts about critical conditions in Johnston county. Why Our Farmers Fall Behind Our farmers fail to the extent of $3,854,591 in supplying food and feed needed, for three reason: First, because of excessive ee Sig PORENE RET HES TS Ne eae rae A ay Sense nem a ace LAU are Na OPN BTN aD ey OH NEAT eee tootanngeit a rnb eee wre aes tanel Ses _ a — i = 62 Johnston County: Economic and Social production of cotton and tobacco: ancy under mortgage systems f food and feed crops—they. ae starve; and third, the lack of food and feed. The fact that we to be regretted. It i » isa feed production. ge second, excessive f. - which prohibits ie: eae St raised money crops or. else cash markets for home-raised have not such markets is much ctor in the neglect of food and Too Little Home Raised Supplies aoe non-food erops instead of 5 S causing an unsound farming ars Sonsiatibriete oe ge degree dependent upon other states for In the production of of only 4.9 bushel f H s ther behind ne corn, we do fairly well, having a deficit auohos: rae per year. We fell much fur- oduction per person, in this respect ti ate produce enough wheat for local needs. bushels. Even with ite EW eet pes ASaenve Le not produce enough to su g pply our own consu i mption. We rank very low in the production of hay and f i orage with only 6,596 tons. Mecklenburg led the stat e with 26,208 tons. hnsti rank: it Ss horses: but Johns on s first in mules and ] S: : Our ha creased 14 : i ea Shing Saks nee See beet, pr 1909 to 1919, while ere aap Sint ecs. tuenisiny Rate Our production in both census 8.2 dozen per inh dozen. We 926 dozen. pluses, abitant, whereas ther t, e was a ne : Bae 452,539 dozen, and our donee fae y a very few counties in the state sro dies ein We have a i pproximately 21 pitas lane sre y 216,000 poultry. dred thousand pounds, Our milk and not a port great quantities of Riese, Neu a we fail to consume as much butt We im- and of condensed milk and yet er and milk as is needed to bal- lar are we about self-fee Ne ee er acdieid fee EP Johnston County: Economic and Social 63 ance our food diet. We lacked 9 pounds of doubling the state average in the per capita pork production of 99 pounds. Johnston is the lead- ing pork producing county of the state and in this one particu- ding. We had 46,930 swine in 1920. Fifty-nine ‘counties in’ the state produced more Irish potatoes than did Johnston. But we lead the state in producing sweet potatoes. In 1919 we produced 4183750 bushels of sweet pota- ‘toes, which fell short of our 1909 crop by 56,733 bushels. Tt is appalling that we ranked 86th among all the counties in the bill. for food. and feed supplies in 1919. This means that Johnston county is bettered by 85 counties in North Carolina ‘in “living at home.” The deficit of nearly four million dollars has been given above, but we wish again to give warning that if this farm system is, not changed for a better one, Johnston county will never be the rich and prosperous county she could easily become. Why We Are Not Self-Feeding pay too much at- First, we are not self-feeding because we Farmers seem~to tention to cotton and tobacco, money crops. think that they must continue the time-honored custom of in- tensive agriculture, that they must spend all their time and energy in the production of money crops—and indeed it does take a'l their time. From’ daybreak till night they toil in the fields, slaves of dollars, forgetful of food. Food and feed crops do not require so much attention as the money crops, and farm- ers could raise enough of them to feed their families and livestock and yet have considerable acreage to put into cotton and to- bacco. To do this would involve very little extra cost and trouble. Second, excessive tenancy and tobacco.. Land owners, ‘forces tenants to produce cotton desiring maximum per acre yields, cannot afford for tenants to turn their lands into food and feed crops. The yields are too low, they require large tracts of land in order to get sufficient produce for a fair per worker return. Landlords and supply. merchants wi duce anything but money crops in most. cases. Third, the lack of good marketing facilities causes a lack of food production. Money crops are sold so much more easily, because the market seeks the producer; but not so with the food crops. Here the crop seeks the market. No towns in the county are large enough to demand large quantities of food at. ll not allow tenants to pro- o> GRE Ag Ser pete array st: ae erg PEE? ws PR De IEE SD MTT BA IO ION SEP ra EONAR SiR D881 tApm ges Ban UME ATTA inp sae eng aoe tapengett!? \ ei - es 64 Johnston County: Economei and Social one time, It is hard fo load of vegetables, cient. The same is ra farmer to go to town pecalise the demand for Reet ae ae ine of many other food products. These é jon of food in Johnston to be unprofit- oe en commercial basis. But there is no excuse sts. ane ee any food products. He can very easily atest gat A » Hour, vegetables and fruits to last through » ana can also raise enough hay, forage, corn ea roughout the year. The sooner we become a wealthy county. If our money crops; far from it. money crops, but we can wel supplies. Too long have we food for ourselves and livesto and we have found that it farmers are rich because they con trying to. get rich by buying ck with cotton and tobacco money, cannot be done. Middle-Western ele a _the do the very things we fai e not learn this simple lesson? pe shee ou - } e our teacher We ca fill o “houses, a . e i d n 1 our pantries, barns, smoke-hous: S, an silos with home-rai eke ised foods at a smaller cost than we can buy Solution of the Market Problem Brief] i ies i as pean? Bite lies in the co-operation of the producers cree ae jie i: their “getting together.” The producer So RTS r his Products at the same time the consumer ie fer roe money, and if this does not happen the b en solved successfully. The middleman is a aie of this failure t 1 e e Wh ot bui 0-Operative - Oo a large d i fe gree, ny not : de operati Co-operative Marketing ° Here is the One solution. Ss ie dibperteamncen Lea? he producer is powerless unless > and vice versa. Success in. this Johnston County: Economic and Social 65 What the Banks Can Do Bankers in Texas refuse to loan to supply-merchants who do a crop-lien business protected by cotton alone. They set a minimum acreage which must be devoted to food’ production, usually half the cultivated acreage, and farmers are required by their mortgagors to produce this acreage of food. These Texas bankers are forcing the farmers through the merchants. to do this in order to produce a sufficiency of bread and meat on every farm. This is a sound policy. It could be applied in eastern North ~ Carolina. Johnston county is not producing enough food and feed within her borders. Johnston county bankers could do the people of the county a great service by instituting such a system. It means bigger, better, and safer business to the merchants and bankers. Bankers could do more in a single year to solve this problem than all the farm demonstrators could do in a lifetime. The farmers could materially help in the solution of this problem by producing enough food and feed on their own farms to feed their families and livestock plus enough to help feed the towns as well. There should be a co-operative food Marketing Association, which would function in avoiding over-crowded markets and insuring a standard price. The products so mat- keted must be as good and taste as well as those who have been importing. Eggs, vegetables, grains, meats, butter, fruits and other things must be produced in steady and reliable quantilies, and the farmers must stand ready to supply market demands upon short notice. Food and Feed Needs and Deficits 1. Food and Feed: Needed— 48,998 people @ $155 per year -- 11,327 work animals @ $78 per year __$7,594,690 883,506 7,215 dairy cows @ 387 per year-- 266,955 1,552 other cattle @ $16 per year 24,832 686 sheep @ $3 per year ------ : 2,058 46,930 swine @ $13 per year_------- 610,090 2,163 animal units of poultry @ $78: 168,714 Total food and feed needed -~------------- $ 9,550,845 2. Produced: ~- : Food and feed crops ~------------ $4,206,478 186,469 Dairy products ~----------------- GREE ean PERE ET oN ltr Artin Ge Bhat ee AMERIPLAN ante ern atE as eb ph ate eesomtnayst? 66 rene steep ty Johnston County: Economic and Social Poultry products mn iae Mee Sage ere 421 Honey end twaxvare ey tas eagle Hee Animals sold and slaughtered ______ 877,834 Total food and feed produced _.....______ $ 5,696,254 Shortage in home-raised food and feed______ $ 3,854,591 All other crops were valued teins gore td 15,023,307 Surplus in dollars ___________ $11,168,716 . Distribution of Food and Feed Shortage: P d (1) cee needed for 48,998 people @ web Tbs Oe ee a atte OS Eel ia eee ee 7,468, Produced— pen 400 Calves at 150 Ibs. a 60,000 2,600 cattle @ 350 lbs., 910,000 316,000 poultry at 3.5 Ibs,; «Coys wa crnn 1,106,000 36,000 hogs @ 200 lbs, __._.. 7,200,000 700 goats and sheep @ 100 Ibs., --_ 70,000 Total home meat produced 222200" PARTE Bg ay: yop Sarplussvat “8 thliv aa asieet pers. tintle Mie S48 1,878,000 : Pounds (2) Butter needed for 48,998 people @ 48 Ibs... 2,351,804 produced’ pei e nite ee 819,323 MONG oe 2 aie Fowls (3) Fowls needed for 48,998 people @ 18 fowls___ 656,974 PrOducedwEtine Sues a » 186,010 Deficit ies eee eyes eer ae 470,964 oe . Dozen (4) Eggs needed for 48,998 people @ 171-2 dozen 856,665 PLOduce dt peiawe tea e tea 452,539 GERI AL Ree 404,126 Rates ; Bushels needed for 48,998 people @ 81 bushels _ 1,518,938 Droduceds ews meee k a eet 1,279,356 delicites Mex oumemmeea ty ee 239,582 Johnston County: Economie and Social 67 Bushels (6) Wheat needed for 48,998 people @ 4 bushels 195,992 ° DYOQUCEC ane teat ee er 24,864 deficit, Be nen vu Ring iia se 171,128 Tons (7) Hay needed for 10,591 work animals @ 10 Ibs periday . eee ere anaes et ene 19,323 DEOCUCC Cuter eras en eee 6,956 DO City sae Se a eek ee 12,467 Facts About Food and Feed Production Rank indicates counties in the State that make a better showing. 10th in Corn production per capita in 1919, bushels__ 26.1; Hyde led with 46.3 bushels. State average was 16 bushels. Needed per person for man and beast, 31 bushels per year. Deficit 4.9 bushels per inhabitant. Total deficit 239,582 bushels. 54th in Wheat production per capita in 1919, bushels 5 Randolph led with 9.6 bushels. State average 1.8 bushels. Needed, 4 bushels per person per year. Deficit per person 3.5 bushels. Total deficit 171,128 bushels. Only 18 coun- ties produced wheat surpluses. : 18th in Oats production, total crop in 1919, bushels 28,127 * Anson county led with 108,276 bushels. State total 1,671,308 bushels. 34th in Hay and forage production, total crop in SU Ie ass ayy yap gus ote cae peaks tape ai a 6,596 Mecklenburg led with 26,208 tons. 21st in Pork production per inhabitant in 1919, pounds 189 Tyrrell led with 864 pounds per capita, State average was 99 pounds per capita. 59th in Egg production per capita in.1919, dozen --_ 8.2 Needed, 17.5 dozen per capita. Only 9 counties in the state produced surpluses. Our deficit was 404,926 dozen. Produced 452,539 dozen. 60th in Butter production per capita in 1919, pounds 6.5 State average was 10 pounds per inhabitant. 1st in Sweet potato production in 1919, bushels ___ 418,750 60th in Irish potato production in 1919, bushels___-_ 12,860 Duplin led with 246,212 bushel. S : | } } 68 Johnston County: Economie and Social 86th in Deficit in in home-raised food and feed sup- TCS reas La Op sem sips yt ai cpey Sp is pin Byes gs WR $ 3,854,591 Only 3 counties produced a surplus. State de- ficit $230,000,000. 2nd in Total corn production in 1919, bushels____ 1,279,356 State total 40,998,317 bushels. 31st in Wheat production per acre in 1919, bushels___ 9.4 State average per acre production. was 17.7 bushels. 33rd in Increase in hay and forage production, 1909- NOMO Sper ecente swe iwaye Wet ualaga Aine 141 State average increase 90 percent. 31st in Value of dairy products in 1919, dollars__-_- $ 186,469 Buncombe led with value of $744,901. Milk produced as ‘reported, 958,855 gallons, and butter made on farms, 319,323 pounds. JOHNSTON IN 1860 AND 1920. Crops and Livestock 1860 1920 Corns bushelsige sue Saami cin ed Cen. 468,583 1,279,356 ays a CONS grantees rokaee. coweigoie re oo ete 8,137 6,956 Wheat, obushels = alsin Maumee a erie 5,967 24,864 ats) bushel scm espace Le ena eas 22,871 28,127 Peas and beans, bushels ____________ 77,708 17,840 Sorghum, foallons «sec eel ae 1h 9,778 Sweet potatoes, bushels ___________ 222,210 418,750 Irish potatoes, bushels _____________ 4,927 12,860 Wotton; bales -eatekeeun an ema aur 2,892 48,047 Mobaccowspounds:. = = aeeen emu oe : 13,070 9,357,198 Wool, 10,920 1,419 Butter, pounds 68,883 319,323 Honey, pounds 13,628 15,937 Horses 2,236 1,770 Mules 772 8,798 Dairy cattle 4,343 7,033 Other cattle 6,447 - 1,402 Sheep y 8,453 686 Swine 40,527 46,369 JOHNSTON IN 1909 AND 1920 . Crops 1909 1920 Worm bushels (24. eee ee cg 951,441 1,279,356 Hayertons — 22s 2,892 6,956 Wiheat;sbushelsts2: serene atria 19,888 24,864 Johnston County: Economic and Social 69 bushels oso aoe = ooo 45,450 ae Oats, bushels ~------------ Soy "beans, bushels ------------ “ae Ee ae Cow peas, bushels --------------7-- Saag a Peanuts, bushels ------ ae matece Rod Sorghum, gallons --------------777 eo eee Sweet potatoes, bushels = Iasi Ee Irish potatoes, bushels Se Tata coe asin Cottons PGE «saat aaa amen 3,960,881 9,357,198 Tobacco, pounds ---------------"-~ oe SEK) ee pe ete > KRESS Tn he a eter A NE elle Perici een aati ‘ ee ie ate eee ee . a Choe ome tee he aaa Riemann rER em Nien en DinE TEINS bh arena erenteayil SS —< i VIII TH INGS TO BE PROUD OF IN JOHNSTON W. M. SANDERS, Jr., Smithfield, N. ¢, their native energy, spirit A stu i dy of Previous chapters will clearly Johnston’ are her s 516 i OS ae real natoral te No a ae land wealth comes aan land than ta pre state has pnaston’s eli esult of this fact. } ‘ur principal cold. 480 acres of h source, Johnston County: Economic and Social Teal Owing to our agricultural opportunities, our rural population density is 50.2 people per square mile. This means better labor conditions on farms, more tilled farms, and better crops, greater wealth production, and all the social advantages that come from wealth and relatively dense population. Highty-one percent of our farms are cultivated by white people and no cotton and tobacco belt county in the state has as large a ratio of white farmers. Dare and Carteret counties on the coast are the only counties east of Greensboro with a larger percent of white farm- ers. We have 1,741 more white farmers than any county in North Carolina. They number 5,695 while Sampson, which ranks next, has only 3,954 white farmers. Farm Increases Our farm wealth of $1,004 per country inhabitant in 1920 is an increase of 204 percent over the wealth of 1910. This - means that Johnston’s rural population is using better methods of agriculture, that more acres are being tilled, that better products are being marketed, and that the people are making and saving more. We want this to continue in the future, and to have a greater Johnston this will be necessary. However, it must be remembered that land values were much higher in 1919 than today; and it was increase in land value that brought about the greater part of our wealth gains. Real estate tax values increase nearly sixfold from 1910-20. This means that Johnston’ county real estate on the tax books has nearly doubled ever two years. The demand for fertile fields in her rural districts and for desirable lots in her hustling towns has greatly increased land values. realizing to some extent the importance of home production of food, have increased their production of poultry and swine. But our food crops lack a great deal of supplying the demand at home. F Agricultural Wealth In taking stock of our wealth, agriculture again looms into importance. Our agricultural wealth has increased enormously during the last ten years. The farm wealth increase was due to increased value in farm lands more than anything else, for Jand values constitute a large proportion of our agricultural wealth. But it is the ability to produce crops, twenty million dollars worth in 1919, that gives our land its high capital value. Johnston ranks 8rd in North Carolina and among the fifty lead- ing counties of the nation in the value of her crops. The aver- Farmers, aes ” Teta RP AMM U SES ENS: AVERSA MNES ANREREAD KAA AP ND TOR DIS MONE EY SPUR GeMETAVEED ELAS By erat tT c > ROPORMEAM ES ganesh gD . wae qed c da i Enentansaneneennes Po nanan mens —— 4s 4 J iby a nanend peney eve nameranes eh f dene iene Ss oe » tobaeeo, corn and hogs. All other crops and li Johnston, and this is Carolina. county. Second, yield ber acre is very high here, due to the fertility of the soils. We are one of the leadi i ents per farm is $290, which is gh in a state of hand farmers but miserably low when com- pared with all western states, Our cultivated acreage per farm is too small to use much farm machinery profitably. We need to double the acreage per farm, pled with our native energy and good growing season, afford us excellent advantages for high agri- cultural production. We should change our: tactics a little and produce more food crops on larger cultivated farms with the use of more machinery. Could We secure better markets for the sale of our produ ce; then Johnaton would utilize her ad- vantages with a marked a nd profitable degree of success. . Taxable Wealth Cur total taxable we alth is enormous, property alone reached the amazing. am little more than one and the property of negroes. In 1921 our taxable ount of 42 million one-half million dol- | Our farm wealth is our taxes. The in- ELD, N. C. JOHNSTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, SMITHFI due largely to the values. Real estate in Johnston boomed | tracts of land exchanged hands, and mil- was sold. The increase in tax value of real estate from 1910 to 1920 wa S$ nearly 600 percent, Money as great demand for land. ar prices, giving notes, e w Many farmers bought land at w: and later were ——— CLAYTON BAPTIST CHURCH, CLAYTON, N.C oh BAPTIST CHURCH, BENSON, N. c ey Johnston County: Economic and Social 73 forced to give it up due to the resultant depression because of low prices for farm produce. Speculation was at a high pitch and enormous sums were made and lost. Town property is also a big source of revenue. Practically all land in the towns is at a premium. Additional sources of revenue are livestock, incomes and the like, from which are realized considerable wealth. With the taxes paid from these sources, Johnston is soon to have a finer system of schools and better roads; and a handsome court house is near- ing completion. Factories, mills, gins and like enterprises also furnish a large source of revenue. Johnston has a great many rough lumber mills, many gins, and a few factories, most of which are large and have large outputs. These sources, when combined, yield a great amount of revenue. Education While Johnston county ranks well in certain phases of the educational life of the state, it must be borne in mind that our schools, especially our rural schools, are far from being what they should be. This matter has been treated fully in another chapter. Here we sum it up. We have a large school population jin average daily attend- ance, yet only 56.1 percent of the children of school age were in daily attendance in 1919. In 1920-21 only 66.6 percent of the white children of school age were in daily attendance. This is a crime against the rising generations that should be brought home to parents who do not see to it that their children go to school, especially when there is a law making attendance com- pulsory. We have a great many local-tax districts and a large school fund as compared to other counties in this state—a state of poor country schools. Our people are not willing to spend on schools as they should, and consequently there is enormous room for improvement. Only 20 counties had more invested in rural school property, yet on the whole our buildings are poor. We rank first in the number of farms and first in farm popula- tion. Why should we not rank first in the value of rural school property? ie We are proud of the above facts in so far as we are high in rank among the other counties in the state. But we must re- ‘member that where we are high in the state we are low in the nation; for North Carolina has a long way to go in improving her schools. Nevertheless, all things being taken into considera- tion, Johnston ranks well in educational matters in this state. MADE WLHOMIC RP HAEAU ESO RNeHASMDENERSAM NED ARERR RRNA eer manny SADE OR SAME RD ADRERERSSNANRS RD PSRADM ANA EL SPN SEM TAPROM ARERR A ASS. era ee PH GEREE nner ig PERE IAN Oe Pe 0 DI HE ORI I SN BNE NLA nh es mM SH ade Mom ten nS TREATED pl neuen nie iota tanerge SS { ——— 74 Johnston County: Economic and Social Especially is this true as regards city schools. Those at Clay- ton, Selma, Benson and Smithfield would be a credit to any county. The untiring efforts of the last County Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Hipps, have made a great change in our system of rural schools, while the Superintendents of recent years in the above named towns have done equally as much. We are well ‘ under way, but there is much to be done. Johnston is a wonder- ful county, but she has many problems to solve. Where We Lead Stns INBSIZ oma Cr eg see mares wees eee ae ae 516,480 1st in sweet potato production, 1919, bushels___-_ 418,750 2nd in corn production, 1919, bushels __________ 1,279,356 8th in corn production per capita, 1919, bushels__ 28.1 18th in oats production, 1919, bushels ___________ : 28,127 21st in pork production per capita, 1919, pounds___-_ 189 Stheinspopnlationssin, JOP0 6 oo. 3 Ss 48,998 32nd in population increase 1910 to 1920, percent 18.3 State increase 15.9 percent. 13th in townships losing population, percent-_____ 5.9 18th in rural population density, per square mile ___ 50.2 26th in negro illiterates 10 years old and over, ID CEC CT gee te erpepe ven nee cree roar ye ern sage 21.7 27th in homicides per million inhabitants, 1913- GE se Heys Sige aN te Rh ia ee la 60 22nd in birth per thousand population, 1917, rate__ 35.7 15th in total taxable property, 1921 ____________ $ 42,272,227 19th in negro taxable property, 1921 ___________ $1,702,857 12th in tax value of farm land per eter AGP) cs $ 65.80 8rd in total production of agricultural wealth, LOZ Ogg sete etre Sod ee eae aR Pate aS $ 20,646.863 13th in production of agricultural wealth per farm $ 2,939 10th in farm wealth per country inhabitant, 1920__$ 1,004 19th in increase in farm wealth per country inhabi- Peacattts Lol O19 20s spercent \saessee Beal wae ae 204 15th in increase in real estate tax values, 1910-20, DOL CON ee memameca nese ea ieee eine Pee, Seer te 586 12th in per capita investment in automobiles, 1920__$ 71 32nd in autos, people per automobile in 1922 _____ 16.2 Johnston had 3,020 cars in March, 1922. 28rd in surplus paid into the State Treasury in ex- cess of school funds and pensions received back, OTe waee) PAM S: 1 kao ano vem. $ 10,196 20th in professional taxes paid, 1919 __.__.______ $ 315 2M erd ene GnensweranasewewenteR> SACK GE OENehANGNGNUREME EEDANSRHASENAT AND INERIOANEL GED ED CeMEHABAEN AT RRSE, d paienenmansenesen: secon * 3 , : Johnston County: Economic and Social 15 24th in State income taxes paid, 1919 scone Qnd in cotton production, 1919, bales pal 3rd in cotton production per acre, 1919, pounds__$ ee 12th in tobacco production, 1919, poundspesss22 = ; ad 12th in tobacco production per acre, 1919, pounds__ ane 9th in crop yielding power per acre, TOMO fee e sae $ : 2nd in investment in farm jmplements, per Near oe TOD Osten oe ee ee re i 7th in investment of farm jmplements per ae Be 1920) Becher Oat eel ee a ee 1st in production of poultry, 1920, number ----- e600 1st in production of swine, 1920, number ------ . 9th in rural white schools having two or more ite teachers, 1917-18, percent -------------- f 4 21st in investment in rural school property, 1918-19 $ 122,953 14th in white school population in average daily at ot tendance, 1918-19, percent -------------- : a geet PEEL NDT a : pen ener # 22 pana nema aienecenerenl Perey Ginenseer aman neN hate RP AHEAE AS ERNSHEAENENERSA REED ALBARN ASLAN AED TARDIM AMAL EKTA SA RENETABAEMATRRS ya aopesagny RES arpa ERE SPBO SS 0 Dee RPI OI IORI Oe Ura Nang Peat Oa a meee nz tga aan Tee SSM n TA ean pl etn sn A pynenenaannesenanengpeney Greate be Mg 892 SEEDY an \ { Ix OUR PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTION G. Y. RAGSDALE, Smithfield, N. C. The many things that we have to be proud of in Johnston have been related and discussed in the preceding chapter. Here the’ extolling of our virtues comes to an end. We now have our problems to look at, and a few suggestions to offer that will help to make Johnston a better county. The real solutions will have to be worked out by the leading and thinking men and women of Johnston. And there are real problems to be solved in Johnston. We have conditions existing in our county that are retarding us in our progress and further development. True, we lead in more respects than we lag, but there is plenty of room for im- provement. Obviously then, we have work to do. Our prob- lems can only be solved by the hearty ‘co-operation of business men and bankers, preachers and teachers, and farmers. It will require a united people to blot out our faults and to reach high levels. An Iil-Balanced Farm System The 1920 census shows that we have a per capita farm wealth of $1,004; a deficiency in home raised food and feed supplies to the extent of over three and a half million dollars; an average of only 25 acres under cultivation on each farm; over half the farms operated by tenants; and per capita bank savings of only $9.00 in 1918. ‘Clearly, our farmers are poor. First, they fail to produce enough food and feed to supply the wants of the county. Send- ing away enormous amounts of cash or food and feed supplies we could produce at home keeps us poor. It is just about the biggest problem facing Johnston today. An average of 25.3 cultivated acres per farm is not sufficient to produce all the food and feed necessary to satisfy our local needs and in addi- tion produce our cash crops. Few areas in the nation have as few cultivated acres per farm as Johnston. We need more cul- tivated acres, and we can have them, for only one-third the land area is under cultivation and there is little land in our county SRO OE Johnston County: Economic and Social 77 that cannot be put into crops or pastures. Lack of seedy cash with which to buy improved farm implements: and t ere a to lower the cost of crop production, causes us to eae ae acres by expensive hand labor. We must have rea ts i we are to have good roads, schools, churches, and good farms. The reason for this deficiency is lack of home-raised food sup- plies. The solution is at once obvious. We have been Bes to cotton and tobacco for more than half a century, to the neg- lect of foods, feeds, and livestock. This is a crime against coms mon sense. Our soils and seasons are adapted to diversified farming and 70 years have proven that cash-crop eas is not wise. We are poor not because we do not produce wea ee we produce it in abundance—but because the bulk of ne ips through our fingers in the fall months to meet ane Bt s in- curred in producing the crops. And it is not entirely because farmers choose this system. More than half of our farmers are tenants and tenants have no choice in crop selection. Farm Tenancy Over fifty-one percent of our farmers are tenants. oe ae 2,059 were share tenants, 733 were croppers, 56 mens s teen tenants, 396 were cash tenants, and 351 were stan es sie te The landless, homeless farm tenants in Johnston sche se se 597. Our tenants are not negroes but native-born w he ‘arm- ers, The negro tenants number only 1,011, while the w ite See ants number 2,586, or about 13,000 souls, native white sons Johnston with no land and no home they ean call their oe an mighty few chances of ever acquiring either. . They are “ grims within our midst with no home or community ties. T a are cropper farmers for the most part and grow cash crops, not from choice but from necessity. Must they be tenants or is there a solution to the problem? Illiteracy Among the native white inhabitants of Johnston fen years os and over, 9.5 percent were classed as illiterates, BBA e boa e in any language in the year of Grace 1920. In this par a ar we are 69th,—near the bottom—meaning that 68 counties have a lower illiteracy percentage. This is one of bie erent Bohs lems, and an insistent one. There rre many arritiona near- illiterates, needing practically an equal amount of attention. Wie were 74th and 66th respectively in illiteracy among females an males 21 years old and over. Over 13 percent of our whites of voting age are unable to read and write. These are the bare 2 RENE Snr EEE he remade beim rae ett ee RE NS na RNa Lac RR gH sme ene SUA ph seem re neomenaga \ : ats SS ta 78 Johnston County: Economic and Social facts. The problems that result from illiteracy have been treat- ed fully in a preceding chapter. Plenty of Room Sixty-five percent of the land area in Johnston is cut over, abandoned land, or is in woodlands and scrub timber. Thou- sands of acres of cleared land are idle. It is necessary that we bring this land into use if we are greatly to increase our wealth. Our cultivated acres per farm are too few. Our 7,026 farms in 1920 had a cultivated area of 177,433 acres. The land area of Johnston is 516,480 acres. The reader is left to draw his own -conclusions as to how much room for new farms Johnston has. A large increase in rural population coupled with sane farming would give us an inestimable increase in prosperity. Livestock a Solution Reserving 100,000 acres for woodlot purposes, we can hardly bring these 289,000 acres under cultivation unless we change from a cropping system. Livestock would largely solve the prob- lem. Our climate is admirably suited to livestock, and our op- portunities for the development of livestock industries are ad- mirable. Grain grows well on our soils, and so do grasses. Our soils are fertile and well drained. Some one thoroughly famil- iar with dairying could come to Johnston, organize a farmers’ co-operative creamery company, or companies, and materially aid Johnston, her farmers and townspeople. This company could collect and market milk, butter, eggs, vegetables, and meat at a good profit. There are many small towns and a few large cities easily within our reach. Practically all our farms are too lightly stocked. We do not have enough meat-producing animals, and what we do -have are not of the best quality. Our good showing as a livestock coun- ty is due mainly to our horses and mules, of which we have more than any county in North Carolina. As a lightly stocked farm area Johnston ranks 28th in North Carolina. She is 65 percent below the level of a lightly stocked farm area of one animal unit to every five acres of farm land, as in Iowa for instance. Our shortage of 65 percent shows that the number of livestock should be almost trebled. Especially do we need more milk cows and beef cattle. We must raise more and bet- ter meat and milk animals. They are valuable for their meat and milk, and they would furnish, besides, rich manure for our depleted soils. Meat prices are high, the demand for it is in- creasing, and the production in our western states is falling off. Johnston County: Economic and Social 79 Johnston farmers can raise meat, sell it at bigh prices on ee kets, and have plenty of time to raise cast crops also. : see a forward to the day when Johnston will begin to pro hed eaters livestock, and have home-grown meat and milk in Adept aon A our greatest Southerners, Henry Grady, rs nd philosopher, once an eH ED ho i bread from his own fields peels ne Sauls haly fae disturbed by no creditor and he ee no debt, shall amid his teeming orchards and vine- esther d a iries own barns pitch his own crops In his own wis- Pe a A them in independence; making cotton and tobacco Comoe ttn and selling these in his own time, eng his yket, and not at a master’s bidding—getting his pay pee ae A in a receipted mortgage that discharges his debt, EP Rees his freedom—then and not until then shall be the breaking of the fullness of our day.” : dance. ‘ editor, philanthropist a Co-operative Solution of Johnston Problems As said above, our people must orci: ry r 28) Ss . ae gee oes this fs is foolish. So long as the eas ns ld back, then all of Johnston will be held back. ear e me wehneeon are its backbone, because Johnston is - ee county, and we depend upon farming for our aD ee When prices are Bete wie mee rae mer . suffer, and as . isaac? ee aoe oe ge and most influential men, a i fe ese eee necessities. We cannot get along without a aa districts; and yet they are cramped he oe oe b Ifish forces. Our biggest men come from there, ae ey doko h the best educational facilities. The farmer is en- ai a he best advantages available to any of our, people, and ae a sb red that every good deed the banker, merchant or Dies aetlee for him will be repaid in increased prosperity for all. Mutual Prosperity i i eatedly said that a town or city af this pal era ie rabee dane countryside is neg- rested Aepiivels and distressed on every side. In He end ae town for city will cease to progress if these cae ions eaet Many towns and cities, directly dependent st eir ane ia surroundings, have come to realize that ae act i oe a they are doing their utmost to promote the welfare of, the \ 80 Johnston County: Economic and Social farmer. They have realized that the better the condition of the farmer, both in trade and in farm conditions and practices, the better off the cities will be, both materially and in the good will of their farmer customers. The city dweller must help the farmer raise abundant supplies and afford him a ready cash mar- ket and a fair profit. The evils of the supply-merchant, time-credit system have al- ready received our attention, and it is a recognized fact that the small farmers and tenants are powerless under this system. They have failed in Johnston county to produce enough food and feed supplies to the extent of nearly four million dollars, either because they did not care to, or else because they were not allowed to do it. Recently I heard a supply-merchant ab- solutely refuse to allow one of his tenants to plant five acres of corn. He said, “Plant cotton.” What could that tenant do? When this four million dollars for imported food and feed left Johnston county it left farmers, bankers, merchants and land- owners just that much poorer. How much better off our con- ditions would have been had this enormous amount of wealth been retained by a bread-and-meat system of farming. It can be retained, and easily. The bankers of Johnston can do more in a year to promote bread-and-meat farming than our gospel of diversified farming can do in a lifetime. The Texas bankers saw the folly of allow- ing $217,C00,000 to leave the state annually for food and feed supplies that could be produced at home. They put their fists down on supply-merchants by refusing them loans on crop-liens protected by cotton acreage alone. They refuse now to discount a note for a-farmer unless it contains a detailed written agree- ment by the farmer to plant a part of his acreage, usually half, in food and feed crops. What they did is simply this: They forced the supply-merchant to force the farmers to become self- feeding. In 1920, 230 million dollars left North Carolina for the importation of foreign-raised food and feed supplies. Near- ly four million dollars of this came from Johnston, “Self-feed- ing farmers are self-financing, and self-financing agriculture spells prosperity for farmers, merchants and bankers alike.” The Future of Johnston County In our study of Johnston county, the authors of this little bul- letin have endeavored to see everything in a broadminded way. We may have been radical, but in some respects it seemed best to be so. Johnston is a great county but there are problems to he solved. We are merely interested in seeing these prohlems Johnston County: Economie and Social 81 attacked and solved. Sag: Now, in this last study, we want to dip into the future, and to visualize the time when all hindering causes shall have dis- appeared, when there shall be few farm or town tenants, when in place of many one-teacher schools, there shall be a few large consolidated schools, and when we shall be beyond question a county of constructive ideals and policies. First, we hope some day to see a county of land owning and home owning farmers, based on the instinct of a home-loving and home-living people. It will mean better roads, better schools, churches, better supported, with more than 32 percent of our inhabitants as members, better homes, with more home conven- iences and comforts; more attention to health and sanitation ; a greater regard for law and order, and a better community life in general, when every farmer shall own his own land, shall sit by his own fireside, before his own table Jaden with his own bread and meat, work his own-stock, and till his fields with his own machinery. ; During the last few years we have gone forward rapidly in our school progress. Several schools have been consolidated, and we hope to see further consolidation in the future. We expect to see the time when Johnston’s school-children will ride to.school and learn in fine school houses, well equipped and taught by the best of teachers, rather than walk through mud, rain.and snow, and sit in poor buildings, poorly equipped and taught by fairly good teachers, as they do now in the rural Cu cs: To create the best living conditions in Johnston county is the task of all good citizens. Many have already set themselves to the task, and we hope that others will catch the vision, de- velop the spirit of hearty co-operation, and work hard to make Johnston’ county the foremost county in the state in every phase of its life. Here we close. It is our hope that Johnston may not only lead in the future where she leads now, but that she may also lead in the future where she lags now. WHERE WE LAG Rank aiaicates the number of counties making a better showing. 60th in Irish potato production, 1919, bushelseesas es 12,860 60th in Butter production per capita, 1919, pounds. - 6.5 86th in Deficit in home-raised food and feed sup- plies #2 22-- "2222 2 eer See ---—-- $3,854,591 wey erenunentpenensmensuesansphrshenscRranunacnnarenssnnanundurabalsenear snr dn entsmesmnoa chenentemhinweenttAsintn. sane Sngay ed pepeneraansesesen eRenERawtey 3 : 7 i ~ 82 Johnston County: Economie and Social Only 14 counties have a bigger bill for food and feed. 74th in White female illiteracy, 21 years old and over, DORCON Die rsy 2 sie GER i's Le Ty ote ge eae 13.2 That is, 73 counties have a smaller ratio of such illiteracy. 66th in White male illiteracy, 21 years old and over, Mercer t sana rearrange cla ah Gee oid eats 12.9 69th in Native white illiteracy, 10 years old and over, TET eee ey tartan Rd Ny dp Pog 8 a Sf ga ee 9.5 74th in White ratio gain, 1910-1920, percent______ 1 82nd in Church membership, 10 years old and over, HOSEG Ve Dercen tare me Leate tlk nuh. 20 pau pn sH2 63rd in Deaths per 1,000 population, 1917 rate ______ 13.6 64th in Divorces per 100,000 inhabitants, 1916 rate___~ 21.1 64th in Bank account savings per capita, 1918 _____ $ 9.0 75th in Average cultivated acres per farm, 1919, ' acres a25.3 69th in Farms operated by tenants, percent ________ 51.2 i That is, 68 counties had a smaller ratio of farm tenancy. 73rd in Ten-year increase in farm tenancy, percent__. ever State average increase 9.5 percent. as 75th in School expenditures per $1,000 taxable prop- : (SHU USO A ala aa a irl Re ape $ 3.68 68th in Expenditures per high school pupil, 1915-16_-$ 20.82 60th in Rural white schools having patent desks, 1918, PELC Cn een ee eels SEG SUNS ie aS Le 75 In 1919, 37 of the 95 white rural schools were fur-* y nished with home-made desks. ave ow 25.9 Sources of Information U. S. Census Reports. : Reports of State Corporation Commission. Reports of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Rural Social Economics Files, University of North Carolina. SS eS ane “ZEN ; ———— x IRON ORE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY W. M. SANDERS, Sr., Smithfield, N.C. About the year 1800 a man by the name of Frost ae yee Pennsylvania to Johnston County, attracted here by ie Coase charts claiming that there was iron ore of superior a Ae in : county. Mr. Frost was so impressed with the ore that he nae here and worked it for a number of years. It is a ss ore and similar in quality to the ore around Birmingham, ae He employed only crude methods of working the ey al is to say that he made great heaps of logs and stuck t 4 ore e the cracks of the logs and in that way the fire converte it ue a liquid. He used large hammers to shape wheyone into ve of iron. The power employed was water and the ie get's ge his plant is still in existence, also the pits from which he dug . ore. Some years ago several gentlemen employed an eke f a Mr. Brown of Nashville, Tenn., to come to the county an a amine the ore and also to analyze it. Mr. Brown stated that me ore was of very. superior quality, several degrees better than that found near Birmingham and was not surpassed in quality by a anywhere except one or two mines in Switzerland. Some of the implements used by Mr. Frost are still in existence, ce are re- garded as great curiosities. Mr. Frost resided on the aon known as the Frost Plantation, and hence the name. Mr. Frost was the grandfather of the late Mr. Abner Avera, a man of tne character, and most pleasantly remembered by many of our citizens. NOTICE!!! The business men of the county who have made this booklet possible by their advertisements have shown themselves to be wide-awake and vitally interested in the county and its welfare. They are doing al! they can to make our county even better than it is, and they deserve your patronage. We recommend them to you. Patronize them. eat a ee ne ne rn eT 0 me eae 0-0 (0 ° % Of) 0 a 0a 0 0c 0 SP 0D) TE) ED) DOSED) ED (HEPC 0-0-0: A complete line of Dry Goods, Notions, i Shoes, Hosiery, Underwear. The largest and most up-to-date Ready- to-Wear Depariment in the County Nee eS EES SHS SAE) AD When in SMITHFIELD —Trade at— W. L. Woodall’s Sons “Smithfield’s CASH SHOPPING CENTER” Where Your Dollar Counts Most OS 1S 0 A A KR? oo 1D) EEE SE OS) SE) A GL ood ec Ae RE) ) EP) ) DL) A SE) A) ND 'HOLT OIL COM’PY| (Established 1913) Distributors of Texaco Petroleum Products We maintain large storage in Smithfield and can supply you with Gasoline, Kerosene, Lubricating Oils ! ! { | and Greases at any time. Superior Quality Dependable Service \ \ Telephone 191 | Smithfield, North Carolina Branches at Clinton and Warsaw > EF) EE SELLS) OG) SD SE o ee: a) 0 a SP) AD) De) (a SY IEE A A OE a a mm ram Ae a) (ED ED) ERD {) ER) SE ERE) (ACR) EE) TU. aL. | Sauces . Established 1880 General Merchant and F armer Smithfield, N. C. I offer for sale: Registered Hampshire Pigs. Brick, Lime, Cement. Wall Plaster, Finishing Lime, ° Manufactured Lumber, Laths, Shingles, both metal and © Red Cedar, and other Building Materials. I sell the Cole Planters and Distributors, and the I. H. C. Farm Implements, including Riding Cultivators and the McCormack Mowers, and Hackney Wagons A complete stock of Vulean and Chattanooga one and two-horse Plows and Castings will be found at my store. Reliable Mules and Horses will be found for sale at my Stables during each winter and spring. Always in the market for all Country Produce W.M. SANDERS Phone 21 Smithfield, N. C. AS) (ED) ( () ( “ 4 ae Phone 21 ED) SE) SESE ) EA) SD) ED) RE) SE) A) RD) ED) ED FO ) OND) SE) ES) AD) ) EM SD ) ERT) ND) EN () HED) ENED () EE, ee CR ERD) ERE) SD) ) EE) AE) A) ) ED) SED) ED A € 2 Qe 4) ERD) ED) ED) EID () AAD) ERD) SETA (RED () CD () CLAD) ED) SE DE 0D ED 0) ED OED ERD) 0 ED () SNE ED oe oe 2, A) SE) SRD) EA () SND () ND () ED () D-NY ' ! ! ! ! ! ' ' ! ! ' i \ ! ! t t i ' ! i ! i ! ! ' ' ' ' ! ! ! i i i ! ! t DE) AY EH) SED NE) ) ND (HP The University of North Carolina Maximum Service to the People of the State Regular Instruction for students in Accounting, Foreign Trade, Banking, Transportation, Political Economy, Business Law, Elec- trical Engineering, Chemical Engineeing, Highway Engineering, Soil Investigation, Journalism, Social Science, Government, Edu- cation, Music, and all subjects embraced in the College of Liberal Arts, the Schools of Applied. Science, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Commerce, and the Graduate School, Public Welfare. Special Instruction for teachers and those preparing to teach in subjects offered by the School of Education and the Summer School. General Instruction for the public through the following depart- ments of the Bureau of Extension: (1) General Information; (2) Lectures and Study Centers; (3) Home Study Courses; (4) Debate and Declamation; (5) County Economic and Social Surveys; (6) Municipal Reference; (7) Educational Information and Assistance; (8) Women’s Club Activities. Write to the University when you need help. For further information, address The President of the University Chapel Hill, N. C. DOE) ED (EAS EEE ED ETO EED (ED OSE OLE) SS) SC) J. H. AUSTIN, President BANK OF FOUR OAKS FOUR OAKS, N. C. Capital Stock Ss Se ee tar Se eR ica eT $25,000.00 Surplus eae Ree Sooke eS eer Bae Nee 10,000.00 We are in better position than eve trons, Loans made on real estate at 6 per cent interest without bonus or commission charges. Notes payable in 20 years, or can be retired at any time after 5 years, r to take care of our pa- We make all reasonable effort to take care of the needs of our regular customers. Thanking you for your patronage in the past, we anticipate a continuance of the same mutually pleasant and profitable re- lation in the future. LF) DY) () Charles W. Horne, Pres, D. H. McCullers, V.-President ‘Jno. T. Talton, Cashier W. F. Weathers, Asst. Cashier THE CLAYTON BANKING AND TRUST CO. CLAYTON, N. C. Capital and Surplus over ____ $125,000.00 We Will Appreciate Your Business D. W. LAMBE, Cashier Se ee ce ee) a a NS oe) a e-em o" I ! i { I i ! i I ! I I ! ! I i ! ' 1S GD (em AE 2) ) SS) FS o TE) ED) () A ED) E () D-6 rt) ome a Qemoeo "ss he NES) DD ET) ES EE DT) DD) ED () CED ND (a): (A () OE) ) A) A) (AD) SD) SD AE 4) (DD) A () DEED) IPC F. K. BROADHURST, ) 8) ) ED) HE) ED) NE) 7” e PSUR OHAAANANHR ASHER ANSATHAT SEAT M HEDIS ERIM MAND ERND ND COME TAPLED INE D Sg, a9 bgp Uo pean ema Oe N AD ENE PONE Ore nsue ran epeneHON Ta RT AHERN SSM RNeNTANTTNER Saab ANSE RHRD Re Wi a a RADY a > ' i i I i i i 1 i When in Pine Level Visit W. B. Oliver and Son Merchants and Planters Fertilizer-a Specialty Cotton Buyers Established 1868 * 11) 1 0) OE 1) DO) 0D (5 7, DEE EID) DEED SAN) D-DD, OS a % ° 0S OSI OLE) SDE) DO ED) TD) EP > () (0 J. D. UNDERWOOD President Sec. Treas. & Gen. Mer. Cotter-Underwood Company Authorized Capital Stock $25,000.00 Surplus, $230,000.00 Organized 1902 —Dealers In— Dry Goods, Groceries, Fertilizers Buggies, Furniture and Cotton Undertakers and Embalmers Smithfield, N. C. ES) HD 1O- -EEERD ()A D (ND(-SED-) ) D( eam eam {iw cem en ew vem eee ame (ee ems) erase 1am ee vA , ote . 7 “ eet srospegeos ales ea pom ab ane i tT a asa eta iy weet sne ane taney? FRESE ERIE EI RRS Phe Rt te ee NON PE SN rs OOS NDS DHA Dn Op hey bese tape . vemecate SODAS— SERVICE— OUR Prescri partment We are glad SMITHFIEL SO) () (RD) AD) ED ) A SD () A) AN) A) ND) A) () fo Po Of Om Oe 0s 0am) am) ase 0. SS (1) SS) (RN your needs 6 Oe am) ee 0) ee) oS 0 ( eD (-D() CE ()) DDS (SEED) ()-) ) ED) SN) A) END ED 1h benenensm J % oS fem 0c ee) (1) () eS fem ED) EE) AE ae %0) rT See nae Shtembinenensnens, a py naeMenarenthennnenensuananahewesnnteRr Onna teneunenSrerauheanrenaheentas gear Anan maunimansyersryncenrinvar Maa gh OTP FEE RADY aw , Dem. 2 0S OEE ED VED YE) SD) LG) SD) ED SED) SNE) EDD ASE a () 2 Ashley Horne and Son Farmers and “Dealers in General eMerchandise Clayton, N. C. FE) OE) 1D) 1) A A) (20S) EEE) TE ADE SD SR D-H ) <0) S SS ar @ Se pa) ch © Ke © = La} ee ws eo > © ™M = 2 95 Le} 0g @ © ae) TM 5 ~ When in Smithfield Give Us a Trial Agents for Chase and Sanborn’s Teas and Coffees Purina Chows PEEDIN & PETERSON, Grocers SMITHFIELD, N. C. fem cee) ce) ce) er => «=> « : : : ED) ew) ear: )()-eaaD< erm. ( 2-0 >) Ca () aw) PE () DDO C. M. & W. G. WILSON —Manufacturers of and Dealers in— Sash, Doors, Blinds, Mouldings, Brackets and Other Building Material, Dressed and Rough Lumber Grolls, Mantels, Balusters, Scroll Work, Porch and Stair Rails, Pul- ' pits, Pew Ends, Newels, Plinth and Corner Blocks, Screen Doors, : Windows, Store Fronts, all kinds Turned Work, ete. 4 Wood and Metal Store Fronts a Specialty Wilson Mills, N. C. => ae >) mm. LLL SL SSD SE (SE) DHE) ) (0 (> > (<> % > D> (a>) eam) com aS (com RO -URD ) CD ED) ED) TRS) OOP -) () SD (RD (ED () ED () ERED () ERED () Ae : ~ t = : -~ ~ ; -~ : ~ | ~ i = i = F ~ § ~ ~ i 4 5 n~ { ~ : =~ | ! ~ { : j : : | % ¢ 2) A OP OCR BEAT THE BOLL WEEVIL eed are planted in DEEP FURROWS which protect — eae Pi Cold Winds, and PREVENTS WINTER KILLING. The Cole is fine for all kinds of grain. a will sow ANY KIND of Oats, and make Oats a SURE jane PROFITABLE CROP anywhere. The Cole One-Row Dri is just as good as the Three-Row, only it takes more yew Call and see these Drills and let us tell you more about thelr £000 UR STORE IS HEADQUARTERS f s COLE PLANTERS and GRAIN DRILLS. 4 ree agen the GENUINE COLE and do not let ell vou an inferior imitation. ore Wer "ARE WELCOME AT OUR STORE ther you buy anything or not- See our high class He a low ‘di siped so you will know hte best place to go when you need anything in our line. W. M. SANDERS SMITHFIELD, N. C. Phone 21 HUNGER SANANUREURAD AL SSAEAD HAT AD EDAD weImINNbErEreR seme InwReRILAR ANA. | og KPsSE ED arc) aA rae aan de oesl vase baeatasuocod buh eexaravanaae? stize eC eAtael tatatbiatet) : Waar re = x A pynenemennneesanes entre na “ rs eres 1 aaetaogen ie see tata real sewte wee wie orange a aah tt eaten a at ae ee RT Oe pa REET ‘ NS = - ~ ; / err enraae Et poe | ee ' A Good Dru it [ies asl i : E Store ¢ % y ! C. W. Beasley ! With a complete, mod- ! ! ' 1 W. M. Sanders ' ; ern stock, of everything ! ' P. B. IOHNSON t | ! ! carried in a progressive ¢ | : bee tere Fa) t ! Drug Store. Our service { ¢ Leading Merchant in ; ey i j is thee oe ue serve j { Benson, N. C., a Thriv- 1 bat shabiek a { eu 2 sider = 2 z y . ’ S S Y fe) bs i ¥9 Ay eas ue Pa i i ing Town, in the Best | 1 When you consider building wit ick y { Motto. ( ¢ Farming Section in j i fee the i We Appreciate Your i i North Carolina i i should Ce ae ; ] BE: Trade With —Dealer in— : | L s. L pe ‘ ] { Jen 3 | Cotton, Fertilizers, Live } § { ze aoe Bounty. j Stock, Building Mater- : ading Drug Store | J! * 2 : t { j j { ial and everything for { Y i (CREECH DRUG CO. jj the farmers BEAUT j . Heber Creech, Mer. i f 1 | Smithfield, N.’C. | BENSON, N. C. QUALITY ! j Telephone 363 : i ! fe a CHD Pelee | | PERMANANCE and ECONOMY of our brick. i oS SE cm SUNNYBROOK FARM | Clayton, N. C. My principal work is farming, here in John- j ston, but most of my ; time is taken up with promoting Profiressive Agriculture. I am still i j Johnston County | { { i | at the Farmers’ service. i j ] { { | | | Hospital, Inc. A Brick Made in Johnston Smithfield, N. C. A memorial to the Sons of Johnston Coun- ty who rendered service in the World War, and an institution to serve the people of the county. My hobby is corn; Iam breeding five varieties ; to determine the most profitable for Johnston. You are welcome at my home anytime. Yours ! for better times for the j Iarmer. Manufactured by SANDERS and BEASLEY SMITHFIELD, N. C. Phone 21 or 150 0) 0) AE) 2 ED) ED) A () eae is 4 cm () SN SMD) AR) AD ND) A AD EE SD () RD (ED) A IE) 2 eg) SO DR) RD. ea, Se pe eet em {) a {) A {) RE) 1) (I) ED) (EE a ele i (cr (a ( (a (ee () (ea 1 A () rie ee acerca rem eee yen yeme lem imme iemien, ea oe Re § i { i ! I i >) A$) AD) SEND) ED a AE EE) SD) SD) AD) SE SEY SSD ABD) ED “ _— 0 0 (5 2) 0D 0 ea WW QQUE MLL 30372 0057 5552 2 tinea, adn & % é i -