New-York tribune., 1878-11-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

PREVENTING PLAQUES In THE SOUTH.
THE NEED OF MEN FROM THE NORTH TO BUILD
LEvEEs, CLEAR AWAY FORESTS AND CLEAN THE
CITIEs-PICTUREs OF THE PAST AND THE PRES
ENT.
To TIE EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR The generous words recently spoken by
The TRIBUNE III regard to the herOsm Southern
IN dark days OF hOrrOr-morc appalling.
present caamies than the dread ordeal
Of battle from which we have lately emergedencour-
age believe you will listen to few words on the
subject of one. at least. Of the many sure means by
which may he assisted TO the utiOn OF the problem
engrOsslng the mind of the entire country How Is
this plague TO be prevented
You are well that the material prosperity
the Gulf Mississippi States has been de-
stroyed-snce the levees the Mississippi River have
broken thus letting in the tremendous food Of the
river upon millions OF acres that before were blooming
gardens cultivated plantation, and magnificent forests,
we have now instead OF these fostering agOons, inpen
etrabe swamps and wdernesses OF Jungle 10 one un-
acquainted with soil and climate, 1t may seem
fable yet where eighteen years there were elds OF
cotton comprising two thousand acres under The highest
Improvement there s to-day wood Of trees fifty feet
in height to restore which would cost a sum equal
10 that originally expended redeeming it from Its
primcyal state Here, the shore OF Mobile,
there twenty years ago. an estate AS beautiful as
the BorromeO Islands; waterppes, fed by the springs
OF living found every where IN this enchanting
giOn. their sal tide mile underground to
the gardens parks around the palatial mansion;
fountains sent their feathery jets in the oweiy par
adse; the swift streams rushing from the Appa-
lachian watershed, and finding their way to
the sea, turned into mniaturs lakes an0
waterfalls. Every land WAS rfed OF Its floral treas
ur,s 10 adOrn this Eden its master fitted ship
pressy to bring hther from Spain the delicious Valencia
orange aud from Algeria the dainty mandarine There
orange grove the Mediterranean beautiful,
prolific and the Campbell estate was the synonym
for all that charming tase, luxurious in appoint
ments princely In hospitality.
To-day the house and garden desOlate. The
glorious csamIne hedges broken and ruined; the
fountain BASIN into which only the rains from heaven fall
nOw holds it's pathetic bosom the petals that fall
from the few remaining crepe myrtes the
and magnOla-, without trace even OF the European
trees planted long ago The swift clear streams still
sh and gurglc IN the deep shadows o. the Forest but
their music Is requiem for the inmates OF that once
happy home are dead or scattered the ends or the
eaIth
This is only one example Our late slaves free and
made citizens AT the time, hOcked to the cities,
where they still remain innocent and friendly as they
always toward u.s. but idle and shlitess for the
most part, grandilOqurntly talking politics, in which
they deli ,ht and through their Nth and ignorance,
SOWING seeds of diseases from which they themselves
exempt Never in tne history OF this any Otner
con try has anything be,n known comparable with the
cpdclcs that have dcsOated the South since he close
OF the lrtc war The great plague London moth
ing IN comparison vita tue ever plague which has de-
stroycd once-Deauti u hapless CITY ~ Memphis.
And how this OF things to be remedicdl There
to he only one answer, namely to repeOpe
the country is distinguished from the town. with la
boring, intelligent population We can have no more the
Intelligence one maser-hand controlling and guiding
the hundreds Of thoughtless careless. chIIdmen and
women under him; but can have the intelligence
Of white men, laboring each for himself and
bi ground, and In
"A thousand places whore fever, chOlera-I may almost
Lanory's Parish, louisiana aud the lovely La Fourche
a'iu , PIoi amongs m, hills around sonrry'le and
Lagrange, Teun.; here, the eastern shore OF
ever penetrated, and where lands mile
from the shore can he hid for dollar an
as an5 GSyTGe9 i oi %tn m tmS PTS Tpe
peaches. pears. ounces ana figs with strawherrlts,
dowberIic and vegetables OF all sorts ~ tne greatest
perfection and prOfusion In every locality nave men
onrd there IL best society; remnants OF the old
families. reduced 10 utter poverty bu retaining the
grace refinement aud hospitality that ara innate III peo-
pie Of gentle birth.
Give us once the material wealth we had twenty
years ago We willing to divide our lands into
small farms and gardens; we wish people TO come
amongst us 10 remain all the year round. II Is mis-
take to suppose our Summers and uncOmfort-
abc there Is nothing anywhere IN the world more de
hcious than summer night IN southern country
hou e. Population with wealth VIII soon give us the
means To build leyees, and open drains and ditches
about our cities for you kno" t"' is te me' Win M
idle people thus driven To be clean by municipal or
duuuce Will have more ysltatlODS Ike TINS one
wnch l. breaking hearts with sorrow and curdllng
our blood with dread.
Come TO u.s. then, with your wealth and your mte-
gence. You nave given US literally OF yOur charity
In our need: but stil your proud brethren
and charity even gentle aud delicate and true rs
yours, ia bitter food for the proud and high-mindeG
Como and buy lands and help restore them to
their GLORIOUS old beauty. You say We are showing
hcrosm grander than that or the warrior In our present
calamity. An you could know the ttae OF
what we have suffered and borne. both IN
battle aud defeat! We fought you earnestly,
honoraby surrendered hOnorably soldier 20 soldier,
IN the open field have proven our fealy sine" you
know there none amongst your conn nttymcn whom
you can than the rsked their all for
what believed 10 be principle. Hep 10 rchH-
bItae the south IN so doing you Will help yourselves,
also aud IN on-fOd ratio for cancer like this IN the
body polite will not take long to poison every yeia OF
economic prosperity Ia this country
ANNIE CHAMBERS KETCHUM
Grand Hotel, Point Cledr A Ia. sept. %, 1873
A SURPRISING CURE.
, GENEROUS OFFER TO CONSERVATIVES FROM