Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-09
From the Soil otMe South.
Negro Houses.

Negro Houses.
Mr.. EDITOR AS there seems to be quite
progressive spirit OF improvement pervading the
whole Southern country, in every branch OF ag-
rculture, plantation economy, and improvement
should be gratitied, indeed, to see more atten-
ton manifested to the comfort and durability of
negro houses. That objectionable neglect has
prevailed in this particular among intelligent,
practical and humane planters, is evidenced bya
cursory survey ofalmostevery plantation through
out our country.
Men who clothe and feed bountifully, and pay
attention to the cleanliness and general health
of their negroes otherwise, seem unaccountablv
careless, | might say, in regard to their planta-
ton buildings generally. The old excuse of ha-
wing land to clear, and being necessarily COM
PEELED in consequence of it. to make temporary
improvements, is not so admissible now, as when,
some years since, large portion Of Georgia. Al
ALBANIA, Mississippi Florida and louisiana were
newly settled and rapidly populated. The loud,
though prophetic sound, Of the pioneers axe is
no longer echoed by the hills and his lonely and
hard-troddcn paths have been upturncd by the
cleaning plow-share, and exposed to the genial
influence of the meridian sun. The beast of the
forest have been aroused from their lars, and
their secret retreats converted into highly cult
waited fields. Cities and towns are rapidly grow
ing steam boats plow our grand and beautiful
rivers, and the taams cars glide most graceful
" through our valleys and hitls conveying to
distant markets the products Of oul industry and
skill. To accomplish all these results, our plan
tcrs have cxcrtcd their energies and expended
their Capital The cmigrant's cart has almost
ceased to travel over our roads, and the mgra-
tory habits of people are giving place to feel
in@s of contentment and notions Of permanent
improvement. Every thing bears the impress
of progress and pcrmanency, save plantation
buildings, which continue to wear the face Of
neglect and decay.
Shall such be the case in future? Let the re-
sponse be-No! The tillcr Of the soil should
certainly be comfortably housed us well as clothed
and fed His very nature and pecniar temper
ament require that he should be protected a
cainst cold and inclemcnt weather. Humanity
and the interest Of the planter demand it. The
habits of the negro by nature are filthy and care
Leslie bcstows but little pains to personal com.
fort and appearance, and hence attention on the
part of his owner becomes an imperative duty.
The ordinary manner in which negro houses are
constructed, speaks badly for the performance OF
this duty. Lcaky roofs and airy floors, i'll addi-
ton to shocking chimneys and walls, are too
often met with A little more time and care in
building, will secure both more comfortable and
durable houses. The house would recommend
is, single cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet, con-
structed of round or hewed logs, the openings
between them covered with wcatherboards, brick
chimneys and shingle roofs-Thc house should
be raised two feet above the earth, so as to adj
NIT of a free circulation of air beneath, thereby
preventing dampness, and the cleaning out of all
filth and trash that may accumulate there
Brick chimncys are more secure against fire, and
the weather-boarls render the house warmer, and
give a neater finish on the inside, than the COM
mon board that is used, and dispenses with daub-
ing with mud, us is generally DONE Above the
door one or two openings should be preserved
which, with a window, will admit of sufficient
ven iiatis as more or less air will find its way
under tho weather boafts,, and through the roof.
l am opposed to daubing the cracks with mud,
as it renders the house dsagreeably warm du-
ring the spring and summer months, and does
allow of the ready escape of tho unwholesome
cxhalations pervading negro houses generally
There is no contention, as in the case of a dou-
bic cabin, about the right of the passage, (which
every,double cabin should have,) each one having
his own way, and exercising his own control,
over every thing in and around his house. The
houses should stand from fifty to seventy-fve
feet apart, as in the event of a fire occurring,
but one house may be bnrned-and the rows of
houses should be one hundred feet across.
The houses should have broad and long plates,
to admit of considerable caves and projections
at each end, which protect their corners, sides
and ends from exposure to the weather. The
wcather-boarded cabins are Objectionable, as be-
ing warmer in summer in consequence OF their
walls not being so thick as those of log cabins,