The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-09-14
WANTS OF THE SOUTH.
Interview With an Old Indi-
anian Now Living in
Tennessee.
An Impartial Statement of the
Situation and Needs of the
Southern States.
indianapolis Sentinel.

indianapolis Sentinel.
A Sentinel reporter yesterday en-
joyed the privilege Of half an hours
conversation with a gentleman for
merly residing in this State, who |
has been a resident of the South for
some years, and is well qualified to
speak of the sentiments and needs
of its people. Mr.. Stephen Collins
was a resident of Shelby county for
many years until six years ago,
when he removed to Nashville,
Tenn. Here he engaged in farm
ing, and became so impressed with
the advantages afforded by that To-
cality that he addressed a series of
letters to the Gazette under the sigma
ture of Northern Farmer in Ten
nessee," in which he described the
country and urged emigration from
the North. These letters led to
correspondence with all parts of the
country on the subject, and Mr.. Col
Inns soon found himself in the posi-
tion of sort of an amateur emigra
ton agent. In this capacity he has
disseminated much valuable infor-
nation concerning the South, and
induced hundreds of Northerners
to settle there. On business con-
nected with this matter he has tray
eled through most of the South, and
is particularly familiar with the
state of affairs in Tennessee, Geor-
gia, Alabama and Mississippi. Mr..
Collins is most at home in speaking
Of the agricultural and labor inter
ests Of the South and Of it
AS a FIELD FOR EMIGRATION.
Upon this point he wakes enthusi-
astic, declaring it an agricultural
! Eldorado for small farmers with
limited capital The great need of
the section is Northern enterprise
and capital to develop the agricul-
tural wealth that is there. There is
plenty OF land and plenty Of labor
and both are cheap. Labor can be
had at from SO to $15 per month
boarding themselves, and improved
land can be bought for $24 to $50
per acre in Tennessee, and for S.
to $50 in Alabama and Georgia
= The yield of crops from this cheaT
, land is as great or greater than il
the North, and prices are higher
The natives devote their whole at
tention to the raising of cotton, anC
their consumption creates a HON,
demand for all the grain, hay, DC.
that Northern emigrants can raise
> The growing of early vegetables 70
the Northern market is also ex
tremely profitable. Stock raising
is another lucrative pursuit, tn
mild climate allowing pasturage th
whole year, thus reducing expense
: to isminimum, while prices ar
higher than in the North. In an
swer to an inquiry, Mr. Collins ad
mitted that some of the soils ha
been exhausted by constant cult
= vation, but said that judiciou
u Northern management soon restore
them. Much Of the land still re
tains its original fertility, and
. wonderfully productive. A matte
D of interest to those who contemplat
Il emigration is
THE LABOR QUESTION.
&c Mr.. Collins did full justice to th
o proverbial shiftlessness of the n,
:, gro race. He says the low wag,
d they work for are, after all, all the
is are worth. They are idle, improv
e, dent, and without the ambition 1
better their condition. This il
duces a feeling of independer
y which is embarrassing to the farm'
n who may have a large crop ruine
ID on bis hands through the whim OF
,e lot of Iaborers, who leave him at
critical moment AIr. Collins seen