The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-17
Mai. E. G. Wall

MAJ. E. G. Wall:
In the management of your Bureau of
Agriculture and hmm igration for the State,
| am aware that all matters of interest
looking to these important elements OF ma
terial good to our State and people will re-
ceive your favorable aud prompt cOnsidera
ton, and be used by you to the best advan-
tage in the diffusion of Information and
knowledge to the world on these points,
hence take this occasion to lay before you
Il brief statement in reference to the fact of
the settlement of q small colony of North
ern farmerS.in the vicinity Of Water Valley,
YalObusha county, Miss, during the first
part of this year, and also, to inform you,
as to how they are now getting along, and
what are their prospects at this date.
On the 18th of February last, small col
Ony, consisting of ten or twelve families,
and about twenty five persons in all, arriv-
ed at this place, in charge of Mr.. l.. z. Nc
Cormack, of Indianapolis, Indiana, the gem
tleman who had previously brought two or
three similar colonies to Marshall county in
this State, and who, we are pleased to say,
has acted in all respects, so far as we can
learn, in the best possible good faith, bath to
the immigrants and our people. Notice of
the arrival of these farmers having been
given, our people came out in numbers, to
meet them and offer them homes, and to se-
cure their services, for farm labor. In a
few hours all had secured homes, and four
or five times the number could have found
places at once. Subseq uently, some eight
or ten labOrers more have been sent here by
Mr.. Mccormack, and readily found employ
ment.
Up to this time. two of those who came
down with the first installment, have re-
turned to Indiana, one young man, went
back for the purpose OF completing trade
he had commenced learning. the other a
good faithful man who had left his wife and
children behind, and felt it to be his duty to
return to them.
or these farmers, some of them are
working by the month for wages. but most
of them are farming on shares-everything
being furnished them, they doing the work
and are to receive one-half the crops they
raise. Their houses, gardens, and truck
patches free. Up to this date and we have
ia ken good deal OF pains to keep pos ed
in this matter. these men have labored
faithfully, and with scarcely an exception,
have given general satisfaction to those tor
whom they are laboring or farming. Some
of them are farming near town, and many
of our citizens will bear testimony of the
fact, that they have been most industrious
and faithful in the management of their
crops thus far. From almost all OF these
n Orthern farmers. we have the most en-
cOuraging report to make, that they are all
doing well, and that their prospects at this
time are very encouraging indeed. And
one thing, dear Major, permit me to record,
with peculiar emphasis in this connection.
and that is, there is not man in our COM
munity but what wish these people success.
Every body expresses and feels an interest
in them, and wishes most earnestly that
they may succeed and prosper in our midst.
might aid, by way of general informa-
ton, that some of these people have show q
| an energy and tack for getting along, that's
especially encouraging as an element Of
success and prosperity much needed here,
and goes far TO prove what we have so often
said, that Mississippi is the best country in
| the world for the laboring man. One fam
was making and selling the incest Kind OF
| butter in the market-butter that would
compare fav0rably with the Western ssgilt-
edged" or New Jersey "g0ld laced" This
good l2dyss butter commands allthe time in
this market ten and fifteen cents more per
pound, than almost any body else To these
people nothing seemed to interest or en-
courage them more than the fact, that in so
short time after their arrival here, they
could supply their own tables and wants
with vegetables, berries and fruits of theiI
own raising and gathering.
As . nucleus for other farmers from thC
North. East and West, our people regard
i the settlement OF these families in our
midst as exceedingly fortunate and en-.
c0ufaging, and we all sincerely trust that
many others just ike them. as faithful, IN
duStri0ns and good citizens, will soon fol
low those now here, TO aid in the cultiEa.
ton and improvement Of our now vacant
and waste fields. And most nssuredly al
good and tFne men. with their families, or
and win be welcome 70 y alobusha county
Truly and respee nlly -
Fasr KsHsg liGn:, Lms Is 1878