Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-18
BEST COTTON.
Who Actually Drew the SLIGO
Premium at Atlanta.

lar sweepstakes bale of cotton at the
Atlanta Exposition. Other people
have been charged with the feat, by
various papers in different parts of the
country, but Mr.. Compton has the
cash in hand, awarded for the best
upland bale of last years crop, $1,000,
also 800 for the best bale from Miss
issippi, thereby adding $l1OO to his
account.
The news came definitely
for the first time to-day,
through Messrs. j. r. Goodwin & Co.,
the Memphis correspondents of Wat
kins & Houston, Of Batesville, the
latter being Mr.. Comptou's merchants,
and the premium money of $ll00 is
now to the credit Of Mr.. Compton on
the books of Watkins & Houston; also
to the credit of the latter at J.R
Goodwin & Cos, having come through
from Atlanta with a bill of exchange
on New York, dated the 14th inst, for
the amount as aforesaid, $110O.
Efforts to ascertain the details of
this prize transaction, and of the
methods practiced by MIR. Compton
In producing his prize cotton, have
been meagre in their results. 1t is
only known that Mr.. Comp.
ton resides few miles from
Batesville, and near Pope's
Station, sixty miles south of
this city. The acres he oultivates.
the hands he works, the seed he
planted, the land of his birth, the
number Of his wives and children. are
all mysteries as yet. II Mr.. Compton
will write and let us into the bottom
facts regarding his processes, etc.. it
will be very pleasant to ventilate the
news for the benefit of the world at
large through the columns of this
journal.
1t has been ascertained that MIR.
Compton is in moderate circumstan.
ces, that he purchased a small farm
near Pope's Station few years ago
and that he is still considerably in
debt for the same, also that he took
nine hundred dollars in cotton pre-
miums here is 1880, which added to
the present grand sweepstakes prize
amounts to $4,000, and ought to pay
him nearly out of debt. 1t is further
related that Mr. Compton devotes
much thought and care to the selection
of seed for cotton, as we'll as
the greatest possible care, attention.
labor, skill and experience to growing,
gathering aud ginning the cotton he
sends to market. A cotton grower SO
careful deserves the success which
has rewarded him and he will doubt
less be encouraged to further efforts
in the future.
In this connection it may be men
toned that the region Of country, w.
ing between the forks Of the Yallo.
busha and Tallahatchie rivers, in
North Mississippi, including Pamela
county, produces the finest upland
cotton on the globe. Where proper at
tention is given it, nothing superior
goes toany market on earth than is ship
ped out of the area alluded to. Cotton
forwarded from that vicinity out of
the crop now going into market has
taken Sl7OO the past season, $500 and
500 at our Fair last fall, and $ll00 at
Atlanta. The peculiar nature of the
soil, and climate, seems to be admira-
bly, adapted for the production of cot
ton in its most perfect form, including
staple, texture and body. The grower
must do his part, however, in, using
the right kind of seed, then in nursing
its growth and afterwards in picking,
ginning and baling.
The whole country adjacent to the
Memphis market including North
Mississippi, West Tennessee and there
yiOn west of the Mississippi river ap-
pears to be better suited for the growth
Of premium cotton than elsewhere in
Ihe Southern States, except the Sea
Islands Of the South Atlantic, where
.he total production is barely suffi-
,ient to make spool thread. This is
evidenced by the fact that Memphis
Dales rarely miss taking first prizes
whenever they enter for it. Away |
back in 1871 a twenty bale lot Of cot.
.On raised on the Pope, now the Poor
house, farm and sent to the Worlds
Fair at London took the first prize,
Ind Memphis cotton has been taking
irst prizes ever since. If a list of the |
prize bales were at hand they would be
printed here, but time will not allow |
h To he done TODAY