, 1861-12-23

HtatoF1caI Facts and Proofa.

Our recent publications Of facts connected
with the culture Of cotton IN this State hsY'
created much surprise among those to WHOM
the entire subject was new. Many Of our oil
residents looked upon 1t justly as but tn,
revival Of an old topic, return to source
I agricultural Tea1th, well established in tht
past, and only abandoned because made les:
| profitable by competition. All that is needed
to prove the p1acticability Of profitable and
| extensive culture Of cotton in this State is &
proper presentation Of historical facts, Thu
actual record will outweigh Ill theory On the
subject
The following statements in relation to Cot.
ton growing in Southern Illinois, were fur
nished to the Illinois Central Railroad Cou,.
pany. An agent Of the Company is now col
iecttng information Of q similar character far.
ther south, and there seems to be conclusive
evidence that ne have Eight to Ten Millions
OF Acres Of Lands, which will afford good
merchantab1e Cotton, from 800 to 500 pounds
to the acre: During the coming year, If Hi
noas cannot market her Corn crop, she must
turn her attention to Cotton, Fla1, Castor
Beans, Sorghum, aud other semi-tropical pro-
ducts.
JAMES L. LAMB, Esq, (Mather, Lamb &;
Co.}-Resident now Of Springfield; forme1Iy
resided IN Randolph county in 1898 1921 and
1s25. Was storekeeper; used to purchase cot
ton OF the farmers, and shipped it from Kas-
eco to 800 bales during the year. There Were @
several gins worked BY horsepower in the
ID. +. HACKETT-Liyed in Sangamon county
from 1S29 to 181. Many OF my ueighbors At
that time raised cotton every yeaf: Elihu
BoWen's gin worked by horse power; was gen-
orally reso.ted to to gin the cotton I never
heard Of any trouble bJ frost-1t was raised as
easily as corn. I have often seen it raised for
hrst crop on new prairie sod.
w.. BUTLER, State Treasurer-Came to Ill
nols N 1874 with his father, who raised cotton
annually Tor several years. Butler used TO
take the cotton to BoHen's gin, and names a
dozen different neighbors who made cotton
part Of their annual planting until the fon
pace 81 manufactured goods drove homespun
out OF the market. E1ihu BoHen's gin VAS
Springfield.
IN Fayette county, twelve miles from Van
dalla, cotton gin was in constant use be-
tween 1882 and 1886.
1IECT. GOV. cAsEY's LETTER.
Q. CASEY emigrated to Jefferson comfy.
Illinois, from Middle Tennessee, in the year
lsl7 - bad been IN the habit Of raising ali
the M cotton the family used prior to coming to
this State. For twelve years after I came to
Illinois, to nit, froh 1917 to 1888. We raised
cotton every year sufficient for home consump-
t1on, and discontinued raising cotton there
because cotton goods could be purchased
cheaper in the stores than made at home. We
used Tennessee cotton seed Planted usually
abont the first Of May, and picked ont during
YNfNfh n mt
troHble from frost.
- have no doubt but that cotton could be
raised TO advantage in all the south half Of I'LL
lois every year. ttZ, CASEY.
mt. Fcrnon, Jefferson Co., H.. Dec. 9, 1861"
~ SAMUEL HENRY, aged 81 years, came from
tennessee in l819post Office, Nashville,
tan tmnsmngt9n 1an county; for SIX years raised cot
subsequent years raised it where he now lives.
Gave up the culture because it imposed Ton
much labor upon the women, and cotton VAR,
could be bought cheaper than they could raise
Il: f1anled as soon as the ground WAS In con
f1al9 d,1ion-a69ut Eo ths tlrHt Of May. Very early
can DC raised here successfully.
,3i ,LiSEsA7 CARTER, aged SO Jcars-post Office,
NASHVILLE, Washington county-came from
Tennessee IN 1915; raised cotton six years:
planted IL Mag, and picked from first Of Sep
temher until November; used native seed:
It sometimes was slightly affected by>frost
1nlnks cotton can be raised here as well as
anywhere.
WM. D: MITCHELL, aged 45-post Office.
Ashley, Washington county-camo from Ten.
nessee in 1923; raised cotton for ten Years:
ceased to raise it because cotton goods could
be bought cheaper; used native seed: plantcd %
as early as the ground was in condition to
Work, and bad no trouble from frost. the
yield vas quite uniform.
JAMES MARTIN, aged 58-post Office Osborn.
Washington county, came from Tennessee III
1925, says for the first eight years raised cot-
cheaper. Used native d-planted from inst
to tenth OF May, and picked during the fill;
aoh lMnk this will ever be q cotton coun-
Try. Cannot tell the reason whY-Ie acknorl-
edged that it grew with him; the frost would
nip it sometimes.
from South Carolina in 1887. Says for fist four
years raised cotton successfully, until the vo-
men began to buy their cotton goods, Used
native seed-had no trouble from ffost,
lhlnk cotton can be grown here Of as good
qnality, and With larger yield, than in South
ISAAC FoED, aged IS years-post office. Os.
porn washington county, came from Missor-
II In 1865: Had raised cotton the past tro
yeaIs, 1850 and 1s8l-used native seed; plant
ed 1oth May and picked early in the fall. Had
no trouble from frost. Thinks it can be- raiacd
crop. 'NN'' '~''1'
ZAcHARA1n PARISH, ..aged 57-Post office
Osborn, Washington county, came from Ohio
IN l84ohas raised cotton most every wear
slnee-uscd native seed, planted early il HAY
and picked during the full. Has raiscd on old
and new land; does better on new land; had
no trouble from frost.
MRS. WA. F1NCu-Post' Office Mt. Vernon.
Jefferson county, CAME from Indiana- raised |
e9tton = M Tor about twenty years before 1916 un-
~ eotton goods became cheaper Used South
efn secd-panted Us early as possible in May,
and picked during the fall--had no trouble I
from frost-does better On new land. It is a |
sure AID good crop, planted early in the !
sprns on fresh turned sod, and requires no |
CULTIVATION Their average yield off Of an acre |
ana Quarter alter taking out the toll for gin
nlng, was four hundred pounds equal to q |
yield OF Oyer four hundred pounds To the |
acre. VIZ
- ArroLLos CooPER, aged 60-Came from |
Tennessee in 186o--Post Office, De Soto, jack
son son county, raised cotton this year, planted |
planted the Last day of May, and it was as
sec-yielded at the rate Of from 100 to l6Oo
pounds per nero Of seed cotton.
BAN1sTEn KRusE, aged 46, nati.e of Illinois
-PoSt office, De Soto, Jackson County, has
used native seed; planted in NAV and nicked |
ID September. f~~
HAkpEr hRusE, aged 4S-post Office. De |
eolo, jackson County, native Of Illinois, has
tolton for the psst twenty years, used
native seed planted the 1irst week In Mny
md picked during September ana October,
had no trouble from frost
JAMES kEUsE, aged 35-post Office, Dc Soto,
jackson County, has raised cotton for the past
ght years, used native ssed; pl,uted tenth
u May picked in September, thinks it ia
sure crop with proper cultivation,
ROBERT PUGH, as to the culture of cotton. /
1ear fana, By lis father Thomas Pugh, RI
Pugh, age 46. Thomas Pugh is dead his
on, Robert Pngb, says, they came from Ken
uck9 IN 1918, for first six years raised cotton
very year, did SO until cotton goods were sold
'heaper, nsed Kentucky seed. The only crop
nat tailed was planted on newly cleared tim
'ef land, It grew too rank and remsined green
90 long, and was considerably injured by
Tost; planted about the first Of May and pick
d Curing the fan- Had no trouble from frost,
.ut IN the single instance above mcntioned'
lives on Sec. 4, II n, E, 8.
THOMAS WELLS, aged 81. P. Q, DuQuoin. |
'errJ county, came from South CaroIina in
a5 Raised cotton for twenty-five years.
lntn cotton became cheaper; used Kentucky
eed; planted first Of May and commenced
'icklng the last Of August; thinks it will
TOW and do well, unless the climato has
hanged very much.
MICHAEL TAILOR, aged Sc, 2. o. Duouoin. |
cry county, native Of Illinois. Raised cot.
on 1or ten years-untik spun thread could be |
ought cheaper than it con1d be made Plant
1rom f1rst to tenth Of May, and picked In
eptembeT, bad no trouble from frost.
RICHARD Z. TAILOR, aged 63, came from
outh Carolina in 1905 Raised cotton for
JFfE mn