The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-11
letter from Spring Hill.

To the Editors Of the Columbia Herald:
Your correspondent has been silent for some
weeks, and he doesn't propose to bore the
good people of the county with another long
letter on the subject of turnpikes and rail
roads. | was fearful that summer would
pass, and winter come again, and find the
roads, like the Arkansas tiddler's house, still
uncovered, So be 1t. This generation must
pass away, and we hope the next will have
more pluck and enterprise; or we will hardly
remain what Mr.. President Ledbetter styles
us at present, can army of slip-shod, thriftless
cotton growers" "Whom the Gods wish to
destroy they first make mad. " The cotton
mania, or madness, is fast hurryipg both the
land and people to ruin.
A few Of our farmers, around about here, u
have planted tobacco this year, and believe
the crop will pay double that of cotton.
Three acres of tobacco and ter acres ofcorn is
a fair crop for a good hand; whilst five acres
of cotton and five acres of corn is considered .
fair crop for good hand. Put the cotton and
tobacco down to yield the same, say thou
sand pounds per acre; price the cotton at
cents in the seed; and the tobacco at cents
per pound-and the account stands: tobacco,
$240 per hand, cotton 5000 per hand with
twice the amount of corn on hand from the
tobacco hands labor, worth about $l00 more,
which is very pretty profit over the ''slip-
shOd farmers"
But did not intend to write you anything
but gossping, "slip-shod' letter about mat
tiers and things generally in the neighbor-
hood. First, then: wheat thrashing has com
menced in earnest, and though the yield is
not as large as was expected, the quality is
very good. Farmers are anxious to sell, but
there are no buyers IN the market Corn and
cotton, where they have been we'll worked
look well, but the truth Is, not much ofeither
has been well worked. The grass crop is
very fine, both in the meadows and cotton and
corn fields. Tobacco is very fair.
Capt Henry Pointer has the finest short
horn Durham bull in the State, with pedi-
gree longer than his horns.
Col. L. w. McLemore boasts that he has the
finest field or Corn in the neighborhood, cult
waited entirely with Kuhn Il Turpin's doube
shovels. don't charge these gentlemen any
thing for this honest and best compliment to
their skill and enterprise. They deserve
much praise, and we wish them great sue
cess.
We observe that Messrs. Rogers d McLe-
more arc hauling large quantity of lumber
to the depot. The shrill whistle of their mill
enlivens things generally. The mules and ne
groes in the nelghborh0Od all work by that
whistle, and the mules actually refuse to go
another round after the whistle blows in the
evening. Johnny Witt says that whistle is
for it he might get his cotton
ploughed out by moonlight.
The Minstrel Band, Of Spring Hill, gave one
of their popular performances on the night of
the 4th, before large and select audience.
The Miustrels themselves were well satisfied
with the results, and we hope everybody was
well pieased-but we were not there, aud
CAM say positively.
Robert Akin and lady, from the rich lands
of the Tallahatchie river, reached here few
days age to spend the summer. We regret to
state that Mrs. Akin is in feeble health; but
we trust she will soon look as well as when
her beaux styled her 1.-The Belle of Maury."
The Doctors say there is a good deal %
sickness through the country, but so far none
of fatal character. We pray for good crops,
and no more cholera. Yours truly,
MONTGOMERY.