The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-09-05
Letter from Tippnh County.

RIPLEY, Miss, Aug. Goth, 1872.
EDIToRs CLARION
Perhaps some of the readers of your wide
| " circulated journal would like to hear
word from this end of the State, so have
concluded to drop you line. L settled in
North Mississippi th!rty-eight years ago
and have remained here. 1t was then per-
haps the prettiest and best country outside
of the prairie and great river bottoms, the
scenery as fine as could be desired, and the
soil very fine. Game of all kinds was in
abundance; but the game disappeared years
ago, and much of the best soil has been
worn out and washed away by constant Gull
ture in cotton, yet we have good deal OF
good lands to open.
Tippah and several other Northern cOun-
ties have always been where The pedler
froZe to death-in the middle-right be-
tween all the railroads and convenient to
none; but now the ears of the Ripley and
Middleton Railroad are rolling through the
streets of Ripley-running through the
heart OF the county; and the people here
are now looking forward to better times. AS
they are put in communication with call
the world and the rest of mankind they
expect capital to be brought among them
and new impetus given to every branch
of industry. Col. w. c. Falkner President
of the Road, has shown as much financial
skill, energy, and good Judgment as l have
ever witnessed. Tue work on the Ripley
Railroad did not commence in good earnest
until spring, when the whole road was put
under contract, the grading, trestling, &c.
Contractors agreeing to complete their
work by given time, in view of compile
ting the entire Road by first of September,
everything went on pretty well until July,
when the rains descended and the floods
came. L think it raned sixteen days in
succession; everything wore a gloomy as
pect. Some of the contractors thought the
prospect hopeless. The President called on
them and inquired ii any contractor had
fears of failing? if so, to speak it out, and
give up the contract; that the Road could
and should be completed i'm due time; that
if there was any faltering he could find men
and contractors to go through. This gave
a new impetus to the work, and it was press
ed on until Saturday, the oath day OF Au-
gust, 1872, when the iron horse entered the /
town of Ripley, the present terminus of the |
Road-the length OF which is about TWEEN |
ty-tive miles.
The friends of the Road have Basket |
Dinner in the town Of Ripley, on the Goth |
inst, to show their appreciation of the Road /;
but amidst the rejoicing OF the people in |
the success of the Road, there is gloomy |
aspect in regard to the cotton crop. The
best farmers in this community have in
formed me that three or four weeks ago the |
prospect of the cotton crop was better than
II hah ba 100
last ten days the rust has swept over the
country, and cut off the crop at least one
half, some say two-thirds; that no weather,
no matter now good, in the future can rem
edy the evil done. There is now a severe
drought prevailing here.
There has been good deal of excitement
here during the spring and summer in con
sequence of the arrest of many of the best
citizens under various charges. Men who
have ever stood fair as to morals, integrity.
&c, have been arrested and bound over TO
the United States District Court, at Oxford.
to answer to charges, and / am informed
that the character of the witnesses upon
whose testimony many of the indictments
were found is as bad as could be imagined.
hear that the court has been adjourned
over until after the Presidential election.
hear that nearly all the white population
are for Greeley, and some of the colored
people too. l have been lifelong Demo-
srat and can't say that 1 like Greeley much,
but 1t is said that he is an honest man, and
las generous kind heart, and if elected
night release some of our citizens who
nave been transported to Northern prisons
I so, think our people ought to do what
hey can to elect him.
OLD CITIZEN.