The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-09
FROM THE SOUTH.
wheeling 10 New Orleans splendid crop
Prospeets-SIgnsa OF ImproVem Along
the MissIssippl-IIeaIthy but Dull In
New Orleans.

i NV oRtEASs, JulyO, 1879.
Editors lntsllisenecr.
In compliance with your desire for some
notes by tie way send you a few OF MY
observations in regard to business and
crop prospects as seen by mo since leaving
Wheeling on the 9th OF June last.
In regard to the Nail trade, there seems
to be a decided Armncss In prices at all
points where have been. But few pur.
chases, however, are being made, as mer-
chants want TO see the summer through
frst, andare all holding OF until septem.
Der and October. All signs point to a
large demand this fall, Us there Is spirit
Of Improvement abroad in this country
more so than for years. a large amount
Of lumber is being shipped from vicks-
burg and here to the plantations, 10 be
used in building and repairs. This is owing
to the excellent crop prospects all through
this country, which have seldom been bet.
ter, aud certainly not 80 good for the last
six or eight years.
| have never had better opportunity
TO sec the crops OF the country than since
l left Wheeling, went first TO Cincin-
natl, thence to Sharon, Pa, by the Atlantic
and Great Western railroad, and took in
the crop prospect as iourneyed through
Ohio. Wheat looked splendid; could
hardly look better; and corn, while still
young and short, had astrong and healthy
look. From Sharon, Pa, / came on 10
Nashville; thence TO Decatur, Ala. and ON
down the Memphis and Charleston rail.
road to Memphis. The whole route seem.
ed to TEEN with splendid crops. The cot
ton in North Alabama is better than for
years, and besides cotton and corn they
have an.excellent wheat crop. At Tuscum.
bia, Ala, saw field OF one hundred
acres that would compare favorably with
the best Ohio wheat. They were propar-
ing to thresh and many thought the tields
would average % bushels to the acre.
After spending four days in Memphis /
came down to Helena, Ark, where spent
a aday. Crops around Helena were clean
and in fine condition. No complaint from
white or black. Every Saturday the
negroes for miles around congregate in
Helena to trade, and judging from the
number in town the day was there you
would not suppose the Kansas fever had
much effect on that part OF Arkansas.
/ left Helena this day two weeks ago on
the City Of Greenyille, one of the largest
aud finest Of the st. Louis and Nicks6urg
Anchor Line steamers. She had on
board Q, 500 packages, consisting OF corn,
oats, pork, lard, bagging, cotton ties, &C.,
aud made ninety landings from Helena to
Vickburg, so that had fine opportunity
to see the crops at all points and hear all
about the negro exodus, &c.
All the way down to Vicksburg the crops
are as good US could be desired. Cotton
looks healthy and vigorous no worms or
rust or other ills that cotton is heir to-
At Vicksburg everybody seemed to be in
good spirits over the prospects for better
times, and the merchants have high hopes
Of tho fall trade, From there / came
down to st. Joseph, La, on the steamer
"Whisper," and spent few hours pleas.
Anty with some OF my old army friends.
In the evening rode fifteen miles in
buggy through the finest cotton lands in
Louisiana, down to Waterproof and thence
out eight miles to Tensas river. That sec.
Lluu ID tHu kuIucH bpOb VI .buuIalhud bO
far as cotton is concerned. have seen
twenty.six crops in Louisiana In my life,
and aln pretty well posted on appearances
at this season OF tho year, and while l
have seen larger cotton and more regular
stands, yet have never seen crop so
well conditioned from the ground UP.
There has not been bloom or boil lost
up to this time. Usually cotton sheds
good deal in wet seasons, but this season
has been so exceptionally good that It has
held on to all that nature gave 1t.
Irode through cornield OF 200 acres
at o'clock in the morning, OF as good
corn as you will see in illinois. The stalks
were all dry and the corn made. All ear
ly planted corn is good, but the late plant
ing has suffered for lack Of rain.
1left Waterproof on the steamer Min
ME at II a. N. OF the 24th for NatChez,
where | stayed for two days. Found
the same story in regard to crops on
both sides OF the river-all excellent.
[ don't like to tell big stories about
Louisiana, for you know the reputa-
tion the State has acquired for veracity
through Mrs, jerks, Kellogg and other
Republican nota6les, but will venture
to tell you OF some tall corn that met
with (not heard about) in a field adjacent
TO yidalia. ] picked up stalk that meas.
Hred II feet inches in height, that had
on it three large ears Of corn, the first be-
ing six feet from the ground and the SEQ
ond feet inches. carried the stalk to
a public place in the town on tho 26th OF
June and left 1t to beseen by all passers.by.
rode through thousands Of acres OF
cotton In ConCorlia Parish and over in
Adams county, Miss, and never before
saw such blooms and bollS. Tho sugar
crop from Red River down looks luxuriant,
though some planters say that stubble
cane is not as good as last year. Fruit
crop Is abundant. Peaches, hgS, melons,
and all tropical fruits seem to be without
end at the fruit stands.
The health OF the city Is good. II don't
feel like It did this time last year. Many
people, however, have gone North, and
the city was rather quiet on the 4th OF
July. 1t is very hot here-too hot to
write, and as our old friend, Lee McNeely,
formerly OF Wheeling, has just come In
for me to go to dinner with him l will
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