The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-04

lsauirrels. that are continually frisklnG
around, or climbing on visitors shoulders
and going through their pockets for nuts. On
the avenues and streets leading from the
river toward the open country, there are
many lovely residences, surrounded by COO
land inviting lawns. The churches and school
buildings are handsome and numerous, ano
there is an air Of activity and thrift in tht
city which | was not prepared to see IN thcs'
dull times, and after the severe experiences
through which the city has passed
Those who fanced Memphis dead after
the yellow levers CHASTITY visitation wer,
wrong; business of all kinds has increased
while the number of doctors has dwindled
down to almost "A cOrporals guard. But, OF
course, in the midst of calamites, such As
swept over the city in rs il was not strange
that many of her citizens despaired of the
future But the smallpox. cholera and yell
low fever infections or contagious may never
again visit the city, and there is no reason
why another year like that of 10 should ever
again sweep life and hope aud wealth into
one great CharDcl-bOuse of uncxampled mis-.
fortunes. Memphis is very near the centre of
the cotton belt, and has an enormous
trade with Arkansas, Mississippi, Western
Tennessee and Northern Alabama. The area
of cotton production is extend Il 'oward the
Northwest, and Memphis, on the grc. river, is
always accessible by water from The sea, and
below the ice gorges of winter; where cotton
Iplanters canconirOl their crops and have
lacccss to the markets for lis sale, and To
sources Of supplies Such city, with such
resources, cannot fail to prosper, The cot
ton trade alone amounts 10 between $4,000 =
1000 and S50,0OOo00, AID If we AID to This the
|other business of the CITY, we can safely Cal,
culate on at least Il business of $3.50 5000 an
nualy.
The rivers of this valley sweeping on ard
to the sea, at the base of the height on which
Memphis stands, are about twenty five thou.
sand miles in length, and navigablc more than
twelve thousand miles. This vast network
loverspreads twothirds of the area of the
United States and drains two and quarter
million square miles. Along these rivers are
rapidly gathered the enterprise and energy
and wealth of two continents. This Will not
remain hcapcd in the northern portions of the
valley, OF which no lortion equals this in
natural advantages, begotcn by soil and cli-
mate"
When ephemeral evils are swept away, and
decency and intelligence reign, capital and
labor will find here in this section the most
attractive homes and richest rewards.
AT Memphis, one hears "a great deal of the
miseries and vcXations of both laborers ADD
planters in the cotton country, for the mcr.
chants of Memphis have thus far kept in food
as well as courage, very large portion ofthe
half discouraged planters Of the North. So
lchanged are all the conditions under which
planters labor and so evident is 1t that the
character OF planting or farming must chan &c
la good DEAL that the merchants themselves
are beginning to doubt the real Dcnefcnce Of
the supply system
The truth of the matter is, am told, that
the planters, up to the present, have not been
willing to become farmers. These people"
remarked a gentleman to me one day, "will
never grow their own supplies until they are
cOmpelled to-" They are willing to depend
upon the west for the coarse TODD supplied to
NEGRO labnrers, and seem totally unconscious
OF the tact that they can never secure white
immigration, so much desired. until they
raise the status OF the laboring man" White
labor has proved a failure IN great many
sections Of the south, because the laborers
who come to make tiiai are not properly
treated
The negro along the Mississippi works better
than before freedom came to him, because he
is Obliged to toll, steal or sturve, and because,
beng the main stay of the planters, they nc.
cord to him very favorable conditions. Self.
interest is teaching the planters good deal,
and diversity OF crops will be compelled by
the necessity. 1t Is noticed that the cotton
belt Is gradually moving from the Atlantic
westward, to new aud more productive lands
and it Is the belief Of many acute observers,
living at important points along the Mississ-
ippi river, that the ultimate home of the black
man is to be west of that stream, on the rich
bottom lands where the white man has never
been known To labor, and where it would be
pcrilous to his health to settle. In the fall
and winter of each year the migration to Ar.
kansas and Louisiana is alarming to the
white planters left behind.
There must be a radical change in the ris.
ing generation of planters. The young men
are convinced that il is u mistake to depend
on Western and Northern markets for the
articles of daily consumption and for every.
thing which goes to make life tolerable. But
the elders, grounded by lifetime habit in
the methods which served them we'll under
Islavery, but which are ruinous now days,
will never correct themselves They will
continue to bewaii the unfortunate fate to-
which they think themselves condemned, or
will rest assured that they can do very we'll