American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-04
A Northern Mans, Opinion of Mad
ison. County.
Her Advantages and Resources.

We extract the following we'll
timed and sensible letter from the
Daily Patriot, a paper published at
Harrisburg, Pa. The writer, Hon.
w. X. Verbeke, present Mayor of
Harrisburg, sojourned at Canton
several lays, and by his unassum-
ing manners, gentlemanly deport-
ment and general intelligence, ia
vorabIy impressed all who had the
pleasure of forming his acquaint-
anco:
Editor Patriot Before starting
upon my southern trip last month
made inquiry among many of our
citizens concerning the route l
should take to reach Livia gston,
Madison county, Mississippi, but
could find no one that could give
me any information upon the sub
ject, consequently l wrote to per
son at Canton, whom l had heard
of, requesting him to tell me the
nearest point by rail. This person
was not living, but his wife kindly
replied to my letter, and from the
directions given, was enabled to
reach Livingston without any diff
Guilty. l state these facts for the
purpose of showing how little is
known by our people of the South
ern States, and a. "a reason why l
have thought proper to write an
article relative to Madison county,
Mississippi, that they may have
some knowledge of that portion Of
the South.
Mr.. ", after describing the route
to Mississippi, says:
Canton, the county seat of Mad
ison county, Mississippi. is situated
on the Miss. Cen. Il. r., and is a
fiourishing town of probably 5000
inhabitants. 1t has many fine build
ings-sOme quite elegant-and does
considerable business, supplying the
country around for a very consider
BILE distance with goods, and taking
cotton at the end of the year in pay
ment. This is almost the universal
custom of doing business in this
section of the South. The mer-
chants supply producers of cotton
with goods in advance of the matu-
rity of the crop and take mort gage
upon it for security. In this way
planter or the freedman who raises
cotton OIL his own account can have
the necessvries of life furnished
him while his crop is growing, and
the merchant holds lien upon it
SO that he can reasonably look for
payment. at the time of our visit
the streets we're crowded with wag-
ons, mostly drawn by Oxen-sOme
by horses, loaded with bales OF cot
ton coming in from the country
The stores were full of people, most
ly cOlOred, settling their yearly ac.
counts and making new purchases,
and the busy scene which presented
itself was quite interesting and no.
vel. 1t happens sometimes that
through improvidence, in buying
much more than is actually needed,
that the cotton does not reach in
paying the bills, so there is no al
tentative for the merchant but to
wait for the balance until the next
crop natures. In this way it is
likely that on an average the mer-
chant does not receive more than
eighty cents OH the dollar Of his
credits, as recompense for losses
it is reasonable to suppose he must
put a higher price on his goods than
he otherwise would if his sales were
for cash, and in this way makes him
self whole-fOr it is likely many
never pay the balance due.
Madison comfy is abont fifty
miles long and from fifteen to TWEEN
ty wide-the lower portion some
what hiily,the balance gently undu-
IatiDg. The soil is sandy loan, with
clay foundation. 1t contains nj
trate Of pOtash-lime is the princi-
pal salt in it-these two are its
essential constituents. 1t contains
chloride of sodium and ammonia
also. In consequences of the soil
being so thoroughly impregnated
ese substances for depth