12 



The Bulletin 



The farms vary in size for different parts of the county, the hirgest 

 ones being confined principally to the western part. Some of the larger 

 estates contain from 300 to 900 acres and a few contain even greater 

 acreages, the largest about 1,800 acres. The greater number of farms, 

 however, range in size from 20 to 100 acres, the average being about 

 100 ncres. 



Fig. 2. — Showing; the character of the forest growth ou Alaniauce silt loam 



The land values of the county vary with nearness of raihvay facilities 

 and local markets. The best farming lands within a radius of 5 miles 

 of Concord and near Harrisburg and Kannapolis are valued at about 

 $60 an acre, while the same lands at greater distances from the markets, 

 particularly in the northwest and southwest parts of the county, sell for 

 $20 to $50 an acre. The lands throughout the slate belt in the eastern 

 half of the county range in value from $8 to $15 an acre, the^greater 

 proportion being nearer the higher price. 



In liandling the soil problems of Cabarrus County one of the essential 

 needs is the draining and reclaiming of the large areas of bottom land 

 lying along the river and larger creeks. Although these areas in their 

 l)resent condition are practically worthless, except for pasture and some 

 hay, they could be made productive through drainage, which could be 

 accomplished by dredging and straightening the stream courses and 

 cutting lateral ditches leading into these natural drainage ways. The 

 soils of the stream bottoms if reclaimed would produce large yields of 

 corn, oats, and sorghum. 



