The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-09-01

rain on the 18th of July, but none for
two or thee prior to that time, and
! bat one small rain since, which fell
last Saturday. This. however, was so
light Us TO do but little good. Bit
notwithstanding the long drought, our
corn crops al look green, from the
/ ground to their tops, except those
wh:eh are so far nlatured as 20 natu-
rally dry up. The latter was early
planted, has long since matured, and
has in all cases good, large, ripe ears
on them. \ large portion of cur farm
ers are confident that we Will average
ten barrels of corn to the acre, while
all agree that it is better crop than
we had last year, There is no doubt
but we will make from six to ten bar
rels of corn per acre, and an average
Of eight Throughout the country. In
some portions the corn is very fine, bat
in others it is not so good, but general
ly the crop is good and on the whole
better than last year. There viii much
more made than viii be required for
home use and q good surplus for she
market. 1t is thus evident that Obion
county will stand a drought much bet
ter than the higher counties in West
Tennessee and much better than any
county in Middle Tennessee. The
drought is meyer So severe as TO pre-
vent us from making a good crop. In
1874, when it failed to rain from the
time corn was planted Until long after
it was in the roasting years, we made
an average crop of SIX barrels to the
acre. 1t is thought by many farmers
that good crop of corn can be made
here with no rain after planting, and
the crop of 1874 demonstrates that
fact. Our soil has a capacity for re-
tanning moisture that 10 Middle Ten
nessee county has, and it is this capac-
ity which carries us through a severe
drought. There are many people
here who think We are in a much bet
ter condition than last year Mt this
time. The corn crop is better; our
people are not in debt much; a good
wheat crop was made; the grasses were
fine, and clover not excelIed, while to-
bacco IS good. These crops will bring
in surplus Of money. There is more
Of each Of them than is necessary for
home consumption, and of course, there
will be surplus to sell. This sur
plus will bring better prices than it din
last year, and hence will pat our peo-
pie in good financial condition.
Our county is financially easy and
is paying its warrants in full as fast
as presented. We have just completed |
a fine ire-prOof brick Jail at a cost of
$4,000 at Troy, and will before the
end of the year pay for it. We built
one Jail last year at a cost of $3,5O0I
and had paid for it when it caught fire
and burned up. The one just compile
ted makes the second new jail we have
built within the last twelve msnths.
The County Court levies tax of 20
cents on the 800 for school purposes:
80 cents for general purpose; % for
Jail purposes, and 10 cents for road
purpose. The County Trustee tells
me that the collections for 1891 have
been better than for any time during
the last five OF eight years. lie tells
me the people are paying up promptly
without any grumbling and do not de-
sire postponement Of the collections.
The public schools arc kept running in
each school district in the county for
six or seven months each year, and
generally gives satisfaction to the pat
r0ns. Our people would oyerwhelm-
ingly vote the school tax any time the
County Court might submit the ques-
ton to them.
Lands in this county are cheap when
you consider their real worth. Al
most any crop will grow and do well
here. There is hardly an exception.
There is no emigration from this
county that amounts to anything. All
are contented to remain, and almost
universally believe it the best farming
county IN the state and for all purpo-
ses offarmingi is not excelled anywhere.
The timber business in this county is a
fortune to great many men. Our
wealthiest business men in this place
have grown rich by handling the tim
Der of this and Lake county. We will
soon have the Paducah & Memphis
railroad at this place, and when that
is fact Obiop will be the garden spot
of the South and Union City the most
enterprising and prosperous city any
! where. Uncle Toby.