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HUGH MACRAE & CO.
Bankers
WILMINGTON, N.C.
December 12, 1918.
Hon. T. W. Bickett,
Raleigh, N.C.
Dear Governor Bickett:
The visit of Secretary Lane to the Agricultural Colonies near Wilmington turned out splendidly. He seemed to be highly pleased with all he saw and was convinced that this section offered great opportunities for the kind of development which he is advocating in connection with taking care of the returning soldiers.
I had the opportunity to take up a number of questions with him, which are of importance to the success of agricultural communities, and am greatly pleased with him attitude in respect to these. He has indicated that the would want me to come on to Washington in a few days to make suggestions in regard to the Administration bill which would be recommended to Congress, and at that time I hope to see that the legislation would suit North Carolina conditions.
From a confidential talk with Mr. H. T. Cory, it seems that the Reclamation Service has reached a definite decision that there are three locations in Eastern North Carolina with which they would be satisfied: One in the northeastern part of the State; one in Pender County; and one in Columbus County. The one in the northeast would naturally be more tributary to Norfolk in its development than it would be to the cities of North Carolina. As to Pender County, I am not sure that the landowners there could be gotten together on a basis that will supply the Government with the land at an acceptable price. In Columbus County it will undoubtedly be possible to get a sufficient number of acres of the right quality and at the right price; and my impression is that the Columbus County location appeals to Mr. Cory more than either of the others, partly I believe because he has investigated it more carefully. The Pender County location appears to me somewhat better, because of its accessibility from Washington, and because of the known uniform quality of good soil of the best type, and the simplicity of the drainage problem. My favoring this locality, however, may be due to the same reason that Mr. Cory would favor Columbus -- viz., that I have given it a closer study.
From the talk with Mr. Cory it seems that if you would appoint a committee of three, representing the State’s interests, which committee would approve of one of these locations favored by the Reclamation Service, they would be willing to concentrate all of their efforts on the place so approved and put it before Congress immediately as a definite project.
It seems that we are so near success on this matter that it would be wise to go with the “current” and act with the Reclamation Service, which will have the shaping of the legislation and the direction of the development; and arrange to give moral support to a project which they state they are satisfied with and would be willing to recommend as a concrete proposition.
I am going to take the liberty of suggesting the names of two men whom I know have a thorough knowledge of land values and agricultural questions, and another who through his official position has a general knowledge of public developments and would be a valuable committeeman. They are Mr. G. Herbert Smith, who has resided in Columbus County for a number of years, Mr. Henry Faison of Faison, N.C., and Dr. J. S. Holmes, State Forestor, of Chapel Hill. I have not mentioned this matter to either one of these gentlemen, but feel confident that together they could act wisely on this subject. If you feel that you would be willing to appoint a committee to give approval of the course proposed by the Reclamation Service, and will so advise me, I will notify Mr. Cory.
As I understand it he is going to recommend that the Government shall not wait on the action of State Legislatures; but will devote a million dollars at once to doing the initial work in starting a colony, this work later to be expanded through additional appropriations, and from a fund provided to be used under the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.
If I have not understood Mr. Cory correctly as to this, I will get a more definite statement of confirmation from Mr. Elwood Mead, and Mr. Davis, Chief of the Reclamation Service, when I am next in Washington.
In conclusion would say that the situation looks most favorable for quick action, provided the desired cooperation could be given to the officials of the Reclamation Service.
Very truly yours,
P.S.- In order to make the recommendation of the committee which you would appoint thoroughly sound and reliable, it would seem important to stipulate that they should call into consultation Mr. J. A. Bonsteel, Scientist in the Soil Survey, who has made an intimate study of and report of the soils of the coastal region between Norfolk and Savannah; and he is particularly well acquainted with the conditions in Pender and Brunswick Counties. It could not be claimed that he was not a final authority on this subject. If the committee based their action on his official report, we would all have a feeling that what was done was absolutely conservative and safe.
