Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-19
MADISON STATION. Miss
January 3, 1870.

hence we give 1t room In our columns to day
MADISON STATION. Miss
January 3, 1870
DEAR SIR Mrs Perkins has Just re
ceived:a letter from you, and it calls to mind
so forcibly the time when you were in the
South. that l have determined to write 10
you. | wish to tellyou of the changed con
dition of everything in our sunny CLINE. A
new era has dawned upon everything. Peace
and plenty now reign throughout our coun
try. Instead of the dependency and doubt
that existed when you were here, now, where
ever You may go, the brightest hopes cheer
the Southern heart This years crop will
yield to the South s240, 900, 900, and when
you add to that the immense profits which
have been derived from the Sugar, Rice and
Tobacco crops, the results seem almost mar
veious. As Commissioner Wells says in
his recent report, lands have risen rapidly in
all the desirable localities. On the Yazoo
they have risen three times what they were
two yeas ago. In my immediate vicinity.
lard is renting at 81 ) per acre. The negroes
have a great deal Of money, which they
spend at the little country stores. All the
small towns are becoming cities. Satartia
is improving rapidly. Some of the mer-
chants sold there last year, it is said, $780,
600 worth of goods, and most all of this to
the negroes. The Danes, Germans and
Swedes are emigrating to the State in large
numbers, while, at the same time, the ne
groes from Virginia and the worn out lands
! of the Carolinas, are daily arriving in large
numbers. On my plantation, last year, the
negroes, l3 in number. made 90 bales of
cotton. One man and an old mule made / /
bales, which is s. ,050 for one man. Can
any other agricultural country do better
The usual yield on good land is bales to
the hand, which, at present prices, is about
| $3.50 90. Everywhere through Kinds and
Madison, lards have gone up in value. You
recollect Mr.. Baily' S plantation Oh the Yazr O
River Two years since he would have ia
ken $4,000 for it; he has since been offered
$50, ,0C0, and it is probably correct that be
can sell it for $4,000 This year he has
| rented it to squad of negroes for 81 600
they agreeing to put new fence around all
the cleared land. Mr.. Baily as opened d
bank in Yazoo City. Now IS the time To
invest in Southern lands. In many section.
the people have not yet quite opened then
eyes to the brilliant future that awaits the
South. Let another year pass by, and the
whole country viii have become awakened
to the true condition of things IF onl,
| had the means, could realize untold wealth
| can buy plantations anG pay for them with
two ordinary crops. The fertility of the
soil and the genial climate must draw thou
sands from the old world Working mer
from they est are coming into various coun
/ ties of the State. Quite a.large colony ha,
settled near Yazoo City.
| hope l have net wcaried you with my
long letter. feel that you have sympa
thy for our section, an1 that yon would re
joicc to hear of the gigantic strides which
| the South has made in the last two years
The utmost harmony now exists evcrywher,
in the State. Political excitement has dice
cut fIrever An excellent man has beer
| elected Governor, and now such peace. .quic
and good feeling exist as have not seen
incc the war closed. The levees will now b,
buil', and the great aluvial plains on botl
sides of the Mississippi and its tributaries
| will receive an immense emigration, who vii
cultivate cotton. rice and sugar.
| intend to live in Madison with my fam
lily the coming year. The Colonel has offer
ed me this place for one year; so you cal
write to me here. If you can bring abou
$40 900 you can locate yourself somewhe
to your hearts content.
/ Yours truly, A. G. G.