New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-30
A FERTILE REGION NEEDS PEOPLE.
The ynileg of the Tailahatchie.

The Valley of the Tallahatchie in Sunaow'-
er county. Mississippi, is a fertile and pro-
ductive region that may be made to pour
immense wealth into the lap of the Cres-
cent City. 1t is approached by the Tall
lahatchie river, which empties into the
YazOo.
1t is fiat country, abounding in timber,
chiefly cypress, walnut. hickory, ash, req
oak, white oak and cottonwood. The white
oak is capable of being converted into
slaves which find ready market in New
Orleans at one hundred and forty dollars
thousand. Though timber is abundant there
are no saw mills in the valley to produce
supply equal to the demand, while with
saw mills enough there the lumber export
might be large and profitable.
The people sadly lack energy. The coun-
try is spersely settled and plantations are
from three to five miles apart. Immense
cane brakes furnish nutriment for cattle
| and horses all the year round, and swine are
fed abundantly from the mast or nuts that
fall from the trees. Poultry need nothing to
| feed on, except what grows wild in great
abundance. The valley is interspersed with
bayous, and abounds In deer, bears, wild
turkeys, wild ducks and other game.
The soil is capable of producing cotton,
corn and wheat, and is adapted to fruit OF
almost all kinds. though little attention has
been given to.the cultivation of the latter.
A bale and half and two bales to the acre
! is the average yield of cotton there. Land
can be rented at very low figures, or labor
ers can work it On shares. Thousands OF
acres of land can be purchased at from SIX
to eight dollars an acre.
Cane Lake, half a mile wide and about
five miles long, in the central portion OF the
county, abounds in fish of various kinds
and is the resort of large birds called water
turkeys. Splendid fishing and cunning may
be enjoyed on this lake.
Stores are needed in the Tallahatchie
valley to create healthy competition, for
those already established there get about
five prices, and almost absorb the earnings
OF the farmers in that country. There iso
indeed, no postoffice in the county, but ap-
plication has been made for the establish
ment of one there, which will be shortly
done. In short, what Sunfower county
greatly needs is the example of Industrious,
energetic men from other sections of the
country, who have some progr essiye ideas.
The climate is mild and pleasant. The win
ters are neither too cold nor the summers
too warm. The country is healthy, and no
disease prevails there, though chills now
and then attack lazy people.
Boats go through from New Orleans in
four or five days, and one, the Marcella,
leaves every twelve days direct for the Tsi
lahatchie, making regular point of arrival
and departure at Minters Landing near the
head of navigation.
One of our former citizens, General James
Dugan, has lately purchased the Cane Lake
plantation, embracing some three thousand
acres, and to induce a settlement up there
ne will give building for a store on the
best site on that plantation. He will also
donate the site for sawmill on what is
known as Deep Bayou, where timber is easily
accessible. the supply of white oak for
slaves being very large. Lumber being
comparatively exhausted in this vicinity,
the valley of the Tallahatchie can be made
useful in contributing to the supply for this
market.
The new postoffice will be located on the
Cane Lake plantation, and, in the mean
time, all who have any desire to seek their
fortunes in that comparatively unsettled but
fertile and healthy country, can learn all
the details about it by addressing General
James Dugan, Cane Lake plantation, Min
ter's landing, Tallahatchie river, Sun
flower county, Mississippi, and sending
their letters on the MarcelIa.
That portion of the South especially
needs labor for its proper and full develop
ment, and the efforts of the pioneer in the
new civilization there General Dugan,)
will add materially in the trade of New Or
| leans, which is the natural mayket of the
great Tallahatchie valley.
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