The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-29

GRAND JUNCTION, (oS THE WING !
IrIx- O0rI 1GSQ

July 22nd, 1869. I
The picture which is presented to the
eye of the beholder as he is borne with
the speed of the iron horse from one end
to the other of our State, has its bright
as well as its dark coloring. 1t is tabled
that the green grass never grew in the
footprints of the war steeds of Attila.
But not so in Mississippi. The marks of
the invasion of the federal army were
deep, it is true, but thanks to the indom-
table energy of our people, they are re-
building their waste places, and soon, un-
der the magic touch of industry, the will
derness will blossom again as the rose.
The Mississippi CENTRAL RAILWAY
was great achievement for the people of
the State. As the cars wheeled rapidly
past the fourishing towns Of Pickens,
Goodman and Durant, on the borders of
the Big Black valley, the mind of the
writer was carried irresistibly back to the
day, not remote, when near that same
thoroughfare he was accustomered to
travel where no track of railroad nor sign
of village were to be seen. 1t has not
been many years since the first spade-full
of earth was thrown up in the construc-
ton of that great artery of trade and
travel, and when the pioneers who origin
ated it were scoffed as dreamers. All
honor to the Vaidens, the Vests and the
Walters, who wearied not in the work
which their hands found to do. The
MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL will be a monu-
ment of their energy, forecaste and pub
lic-spirit, more lasting than marble or
brass.
The Chinese immigration movement is
a constant theme on the cars and at the
stations where people most do congregate.
1t claims large share of the attention of
our people They have embarked in it
fully and are determined to test its merits
as means ofsupplying the labor so much
needed for the tillage of the vast tracts
of unoccupied lands. The readers of
THE CLARION have been appraised of the
measures that have been taken to intro
duce Coolie labor into the South, not to
exclude other labor, but to supply need
which all, white and black, know to exist.
The limited opportunity which l have
had to interchange opinions with the citi-
zens at the various stations along the
route, and on board the cars, has encour-
aged the belief that popular sentiment is
almost universally in favor of adopting
the Virginia plan in the pending election.
The people in this matter are in advance
of the politicians. Lntuitively they have
made choice of the road whose end is the
restoration of our State to civil rule on a
basis of peace and prosperity.
Until within the past two weeks, crops
both of corn and cotton, particularly the
former, have suffered for the want of rain.
Copious showers have fallen, however,
within that period, ''all along the line"
Early corn is irreparably damaged; but
the rains are in time for the late planting.
Cotton has not recovered from the effect
of the unfavorable spring, and is still be- |
hind the usual mark at this date, but is
catching up rapidly. l find no one who
expects to gather larger crop than was
realized last year. The need of fertili-
zers is painfully apparent.
To the credit of the planting commu-
nifty, it ought to be said that the crops are
clear of grass and bear the signs of indus
trious culture. Whether the cotton crop |
be large or small, its producers may safe
ly anticipate remunerative prices; and in |
this there is occasion for profound thanks
giving.
1t does not take a discriminating OBJ
server to detect that WATER VALLEY is
outstripping all other towns in rapid
growth along the Central Railroad. Its
machine and workshops of various kinds,
and its handsome residences and new
formed streets, give it an appearance of
thrift and prosperity, creditable to its
founders. In addition to the enterprises
already in thetide of successful operation,
it is in contemplation to erect a cotton
factory at this point. That staunch friend
of THE CLARION, Capt. H. L. Duncan,
is the President of the Company organ
lied for this purpose.
WATER VALLEY is pretty title for
ciVage; but when this town attains to the
dimensions of a city, of which it gives
early promise, it will have entitled itself
to a more pretentious name. E. B.