New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-02
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
CENTRAL GEORGIA.
Editor Of The Tribune.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: recently wrote letter to the Farmers Club
in regard TO colony of Northern families located
near Madison Ca, the quantity and price of lands
for sale here and the desirableness of Central Geor
gia as a home for Northern people wishing to remove
South. This letter has been published in HE lIlb-
UNE and copied by several other papers. Since tnen
have received so many letters of inquiry about 'hS
part of Georgia, that cannot find time to answer
them separately and will thank you to publish TINS
communication as a reply tn them all
Madison the shire town of Morgan Co.. Ca con-
tans about 800 inhabitants, and IS locatcu Oh inc
Georgia Railroad, nearly midway between Augu
and Atlanta. This region is hgh taOIe IanT; Hn,
duIating. well watered ard wooded. NO part OF Ihe
North is more healthy nor more Tree from cnilIS'
(evers other diseases -. -
ORIGINALLY the soil was very productive, but mucn
of IN has been impoverished by shallow blowing and
bad tilIage II has good clay subsoil and the sur,
face soil is mostly clay OF sandy loam' well adaPIed
to the culture of cotton, corn and the cereals Inc
nrncpa varieties of timber found in the forests are
oak, hickory, poplar pine, and walnut, ana THESE
grow To a large SIZE Numerous springs OF pure
water are found on every plantation, and brooks anu
creeks abound everywhere Cattle and sheep REQUIRE
little feeding in Winter. On the bottom GROUNDS
where cane grows they thrive well during WINTER
without feeding The Winters are mild and pleasant
accompanied with very little snow. All the fruits
and cereals that grow in the North thrlNe mere
Wheat, barley, oats, and rye flourish Wen also
and some varieties of Winter apples.
Cotton is the staple crop, being considered more
profitable than any other On nch land, wei cu1l,
can be raised. Even the poorest lands, by liberal
use of guano, can sometimes be made 10 produce q
bale to the acre Most of the plantations contain
few valuable improvements Little attention has
been paiS TO them since the war Houses ana fences
are fast going 10 decay. The plantations being Toe
large TO he cultivated with profit without capital
aud the planters having lost everything during the
war except their lands, are almost ODhged 10 sell
part of their lands in order TO raise means 10 cul
the balance. This accountsfor the large amount
of land for sale and the low price There is but a
limited home market for farm products, except cot
ton of which there are numerous buyers in Madison
and in every town the railroads; yet Atlanta and
Augusta furnish an ample market 1Or eNeTlthlhg
that can be raised on farm. The price OF land
ranges from s. TO so per acre. according to improve
ments, fertility, and distance from the railroad YIN
the 4th of October 1000 acres near Madison were
sold at from s. TO IS per acre.
The Northern people now residing here have been
treated with much respect and kindness by the
people. and IN most lns ances much attention mas
been paid them. The people are DESTROYS to welcome
immigrants that have capital and enterprise LOT the
purpose of having the resources OF the country de
NelOped Many young men have written 10 inquire
of me whether with $1,000 to 5000 capltal they
could do as well IN Georgia as IN the West. Inc
question Is hard to answer. In most instances
think they would need that amount OF capital Il
NOT more 10 commence operations with after buying
their lands For the first year all their supplies
must be bought till crop shall have peer
made Teams and tools must also be bought
1t might be we'll for of limited means
either 10 rent land for the first year. or else combine
their capitals and cultivate lana i'll partnership fol
a while. The price of good horses ana mules range
from $50 to 500 each. With 5000 capital one might
commence aud carry OH cotton planting prOitably
The Fall of the year the proper time to come here
for during the Winter months the lana must D'
plowed and prepared for Spring planting. Freed
mems wages average about 500 year, with ratons
house and fuel. and the wages of women about hall
those of men. They work as well as any IaDOrelS
and IN the MAN, have found them to be mdustr
GUS and faithful. The great inducement for men OF
small captal % South Just now, Is cheap landc
and cheap labor. Very truly yours,
Madison, Ga, Oct. %, 1869. W. +. MOSliER.