American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-11-05
LOCALITIES ELSEWHERE.


ago, full of meaning. 1t is now less SO.
The Jackson Railroad is an institution
now in full and successful operation, and
no "passes" or "permits" are required;
and as the expression, "thiugs are re-
turning to their former condition." is one
now frequently used, we may say 80 Of
the railroad. 1t is indeed in good con-
dition, and the travel both to and from
the city is greatly en- the increase. From
our city to :Canton, Miss. there are 2O6
miles. The first hundred miles of the
railroad are in good order; the other por-
tions, though subjected frequently to the
calamities Of war and having been put in
working order only recently, still are per-
fectly safe. From Summit, lO3 miles
from the city, the general grade is down.
ward of course, that station being elevat-
ed 485 feet above the gulf. AS we are
here not over five feet above the sea lev.
el. it will be seen the descent is consider.
able from that point to to this.
At nearly all the stations en- route,
there are quantities of cotton awaiting
shipment to New Orleans. We should
Judge between Canton and New Orleans
there are probably $1,000 bales awaiting
shipment ; and most of the towns and
many of the stations it continues to be
brought in.
The results Of war are seen at many Of
the stations in the lonely. looking chin.
neys which once were the centres of res.
licences. The railway platforms in many
places have been burnt. The destruction
is, however, most conspicuous at Jack
son, where but few buildings were left
standing. Many, however. are being
constructed again, but are smaller and
lighter edifces. In most of the towns
there is great deal Of business being
transacted. This is in consequence Of
the moving of the cotton in the country.
Wien the whole crop is exhausted, sold
or disposed of, it is not known what
other basis exists in the country for busi
ness The quantity Of dry droods is very
great and the prices are high.
To one accustomed to see the country
before the war, when Yazoo and Madi-
son counties were almost continuous
cotton field, the prospect is dreary and
sad enough. The eye ranges over moth
ing in the way of cultivation. Immense
fields Of mere weeds and grass, with oc-
cssonslly a small corn field, are all that
can be seen. Few persons are met on
the public roads or are seen at work in
the fields. The South has felt the war in
her very heart of hearts.
Tho cntn Il amt aaau,o In bo ha uanf of
some sufficient system Of labor. A large
planter assured the writer Of this that The
contract entered into with the freed men
does not seem 10 have any il fnence what
ever with him, though it specifies that he
is 'ro do the usual plantation work."
The freedman goes to work about an hour
after sunrise. Al midday he rests three
or four hours. and disconlinues work
about an hour before sunset. Some ser
wants stay on the plantations. Others,
who say they "cannot exactly stand up
10 old master in the way Of contract SO
well as they can do with others.". ".roam
off, but after a while admit that cole
massa" may be their best friend. About
two bales to the hand are all that can be
expected by this system. What the
South really needs al the present time, is
judicious system Of compulsory labor,
adapted 10 the freedmen. We are assur.
ed there are not more than $50 acres Of
cotton under cultivation in all Madison
county, which alone produced over TO-.
600 bales.
Encouragement aud gloom seem to
pervade the minds Of the planters and
the "glory has departed" is written on
the once fair cotton fields of the South
Yet the growth Of cotton is a necessity;
the world demands il. and while the price
City cents per pound. and the fine lands
of the South produce it so well. it may
be safely asserted that it will be produced
it not by negro labor, by labor Of an
other kind. Some Of the planters assur-
ed US they would try the experiment Of
cooley labor. Political economy requires
that each laborer should produce more
than his own mere support; that there
may be surplus for purposes of support
ing others incapable of labor. Neither
the climate nor the government of a
country will maintaip a whole popula.
ton.