Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-04
IN THE WOODS.
IN THE WOODS.
Down at Camp Marks, a Paradise
for the Poor.
Where, When and How it Was Loca.
ted---Shelter and Food Free
Of Charge.
The City People All invited, ETC., Etc.

On a dry, winding ridge, in a lovely oak
forest. where fresh breezes untainted by
miasmatic odors rifle the leafy boughs,
six miles down the Mississippi and Ten
nessee railroad, Camp Marks is situated.
1t is a charming and inviting spot-its
timber and underground never having
been touched by the woodlands axe, ex-
cept where an avenue was years ago
carved out for the railway which passes
directly by its western side, until u week
ago to-day, when the refugee camp was
located there. Since then, much Of the
brush and small growth has been cleared
away, the trunks of the standing trees
have been whitewashed, and its primitive
aspect has been much beautifed and
changed for the better. Several hundred
tents, pitched in regular order at suitable
intervals, now dot the landscape and add
to the pleasing picture.
L. is SURPRISING
how much work can be done in a single
short week by a score of industrious men.
Between Tuesday last and yesterday, long
rows of clean white tents have been
pitched, and those occupied by the camp.
ers are fitted up cozily, many presenting
a real home-like appearance-eemfortable
beds within, a chair or two and little
tables without, and numerous articles of
necessity or convenience scattered around.
A commissary building, with a wooden
platform, directly up to the side of the
railway is almost completed, and has been
in use for several days. 1t has capacity
for 5000 r%ations, and, from the stores
now there, those in charge issue food to
nearly 500 people every day. The num-
Der of inhabitants is increased each
evening upon the arrival of the refugee
train from the city, and it is expected, or
at least hoped, that two or three thousand
persons will emigrate there within the
next ten days.
H AVENUES
Of the camp already named are Marks
avenue, about $50 feet wide, which leads
directly up the sloping ridge from the
railway. The officers, including Colonel
Cameron, DR.. Abercrombie, the resident
camp surgeon, and the young gentlemen
who serve out rations and perform other
official duties have their tents pitched
near the railroad and not far from the
commissary structure, at the head of
Marks avenue. Beyond this highway
and along the irregular crown of adjoin-
ing ridges are Handsome avenue and
Paupers' row, with HappyIHollow close at
hand also other passages not yet named.
ATTRACTIONS OF CAMP LIFE.
As far as they have gone, those in
charge of Camp Marks have acquitted
themselves with credit. 1t is a quiet and
pleasant tarrying place, where residents
get their food free of charge, unless they
choose to expend a little for luxuries. The
people in the country near, daily visit the
camp with farm products and sell fresh
butter at 10 cents per pound, chickens at
a nickel each, buttermilk for a triae and
nelens the same way. A barber named
VIM. Baker, runs two chairs for the ben
,it of the unshorn. An agent of Sol
Coleman has a stock of cigars and tobacco,
and other nick-nacks can be had Mt
reasonable prices. Persons not utterly
ihiftless can render themselves COM
at Camp Marks, There are
now five thousand poor people living
in humble shanties in and about this UNI
city where the c~onveniences and
comforts are no better. During the hot
season, which will continue through this
and next month, the residents at the camp
can pass their time without expanding
other energy than the little that may be
necessary to prepare their daily food, clean
immediate tenting ground and in
crease its comforts by erecting arbors or
other adornments and conveniences in
accordance with their respective tastes
When the cool nights of the early fall
and the sharp winds of the frost season
upon us wood will be plentiful for
fuel, and with the least care on the part of
those who may go there, no evil will befall
them. 1t is perhaps folly to attempt to
with those disinclined to go,regard-
ing the advantages they may enjoy, but it
does seem truly strange that persons out
Of employment and likely to suffer from
the pangs Of poverty between now and
the business revival period do not at once
arrange to take up their residence at
Camp Marks, where without exertion or
unreasonable restraint, shelter and rations
are to be had without charge.
WHO ARE NOW THERE2
Among the present residents Of Ca mp
Marks are nearly 100 colored people,
men, women and children. They occupy
a row of tents on one of the ridges to
themselves, and they appear perfectly
contented. On yesterday, during the visit
of several persons from the city, who went
there on a tour of inspection and observa-
ton, the colored people, big and little,
we're lolling about under the shade of the
trees. They appeared to be as happy as
calves in tall grass, and perfectly indiffer-
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