The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-07

tty " Particularly bAAE4s4EdNG AAC Wpn-
! derful forest and soil capabilities of the
Delta region that lies to the northeast
ward, between the fazoo and Mississip-
pi rivers. Stopping. of at Jackson TO
tlke train for Eieksburg, fortunately
! found myself in the midst Of commu-
nifty of gentlemen Of high position, who
own large areas of land in the Delta,
several of them having plantations
under cultivation. 1t seems asif All the
members of the State government had
become enamored of Gods country,
as they sanguinely term the Delta.
: Governor Lowry has a plantation IN
Sunflower county. Col. Henry G.
Myers. Secretary of State, owns an es-
tate of 1900 acres in Coahoma county,
and Auditor Gwin one in Washington
county. Other gentleman Of promi-
nence here have investments in the rich
bottom lands of the Delta. Without
an exception they all seem satisfied that
they possess portions of the most yalu-
able land in the world in point of agri-
lc1ltural capabiiity, as well as wealth
of timber In regard TO the latter fea-
ture, while they claim that the Delta Is
mostly covered with the finest timber in
the South, not having had their atten-
ton very much called to its utilization
| as a market commodity, not being lum-
bermen, they are, as yet, less inclined to
diIate on the forest worth of the region
than on its agricultural value. But
readers of the Lumberman will fully APP
| preciate what may be stated in this and
i subsequent numbers in regard TO the
woods of the Delta, and what can be
done with them.
The gentlemen here owning lands, as
| mentioned above, one and all claim that
| for cotton they cannot be beaten by an
other section of the cotton growing States,
producing from one to one and a hall
| bales of cotton per acre with fair culti-
yation, two-thirds of bale with inferior
culture, while they have large faith that
| the average crops now realized can be
! exceeded by really good cultivation.
Corn, with the usual style OF negro
| farming. Yields from 40 to go bushels
an acre. and as high as l04 bushels an
acre has been grown on the land of one
of the gentlemen. Secretary Myers and
Auditor Gwin are especially enthusiastic
| in regard to their success IN stock rais-
i1g and for that purpose the lands of
! the Delta cannot be excelled. bermuda
grass. rich tropical growth, thrlVes ~
great luxurianee, and cattle tatten on IL
| quickly. Besides, there Is an abundance
/ Of cane in the brakes, that cattle ear
with g:eIt relish, and lay on flesh even
more readily there than they do when
| Bermuda grass is their food. When We
consider that there is no winter here to
prevent cattle from obtaining their tor,
| ace in the fields, we can easily see that
| iudieious pursuit of live stock grow
ing on Delta lands would be very profit
able. and especially so when the near,
| ness of market is taken into account
Secretary Myers further speaks IN glow
ing terms of the Delta as a SWINE grow
| ing region. Hogs seem to thrive on the
very air, and need not that any darkey
| cali them to "cohn" or buttermllk
They run in the woods and live Oh
s'mass. or nuts, and fatten with aston
ishino ouickness. Mr. Myers had one
IN his plantation in Coahoma county
. tbat became a monstrosity, simply on
mass. and finally laid down aud died OF
fat. His section of the country Is the
paradise of the negro, because a few plgS
turned loose in the woods, and patch
of corn and "watermillions," with the
thxuries of game, fish, nuts, and wild
, fruits thrown in, are enough to make
the colored citizen happy the year
round. Then if he can scratch together
a bale or two of cotton to buy calico and
whisky, his cup of JOY swims over the
brim. 80,
sources of the country, which alone
: provided there were improved mills anc
6 Transportation facilities handy, woule
he inducement enough for capitalists t(
invest in the land Combining the two
distinct resources, it would seem that nt
better field of enterprise could be found
a To Iumbermen it offers an opportunity
; IN obtain lands on which there IS
Y heavy growth of cypress, oak-white
red and "overcup," and perhaps othe'
4 varieties-red and black gum, white
s wood, ash, walnut, hickory, ana otne
| kinds of timber-all merchantaOp
!. woods, and certain to increase IN Saiug
and concerning which | shall sPe:a,l
more fully in future letters. Ana Wnil
Is the Delta offers them this opportunity
n the purchaser is obtaining the most lei
tile agricultural lands In the country
that, after they are denuded OF umDei
are worth much more than when th
timber was standing. That Is TO sa!
lands that can be bought wild from :
] to $40 an acre, are worth from $50 {
,r $50 after they are fit for a crop OF Co
= TON In fact. cotton lands rent at 80 a
N acre. so it will be seen that one year
le rant will pay the original cost OF IN
8. land. Any good lumberman woula III
Is dertake to make some clear money
m his original investment in running
r mill and selling the lumber. But ait'
te he had denuded a tract he would mn
i himself with handsome piece OF lmm
,e diately available property in cultlyab
% land which he could sell or lease.
ts The question of transportation aI
n occessibiiity comes in here. How is tl
n. Delta situated in reference to these ma
" tarsf A glance at the map will show Il
Il | ragion in question as an elliptlcai- i-shap'
,eetion of Northwestern MISSISSIPPI
:. hounded on one side by the hlghlan
~ - the eastward of Yazoo river, and
,I ne The west by the Mississippi. The sout
...s a-1 mint Of the Delta is at Nlcksbul
~ ND the northern at the State line |
treen Mississippi and Tennessee. II
" sho,,t seventy miles across at Its Wias
-. mart and $50 miles long from END
- md It Is all alluvial bottom land, .
Va sa~ssd hv numerous rivers and bayo
y rrono north to south, several OF th'
10 :, asy;oahle like the Yazoo and Sunnow
> a,,d can be made available for luml
70 and log transportation. besides,
mas as great Mississippi skirts the entire co'
tel trv 10 the westward. The water cour
my c,,id he made more or less useful
md numbering operations, and will be Inc
ual tshly At any rate q beginning can
maje by this method of transporsatl,
Pnt * Is to the railroads, built and
-. as-,act that the investor and opera
nnst iook for his greatest help .out
a - IL ,v;ldarness. The number OF +
aen sosa. -, now seeking to penetrate and
,,rv 49, r.oion through and through, I
-; - ~ ssed ;5d;eation 81 how important i
yer Considered by each company snAs =
the : for 4 share of the tralilc.to 2 pe aefl
,n rom the development OF the lleits g : :
.hev sanrces. The Louisville, New Ori'
he;r Te4as Railroad Company has
Ihey ;a.t.d . line TO run from Memphis
|and jSsv~ Orleans. by way Of NlcKsD
: the rs;.h win traverse the Delta from
! the - and A part Of this road e compi
that s-aT, Memphis south, and q few 81 2
lpor- e,,, tre,,, vscksburg north, and from q
that hnrp southwark to q point oeloW = ].
mall Gibson. This line Is 9 paTs q 49, ~ )
law. inuton system, and g Weh pasHSu
yer is Sntended IS q part OF tne tL1n- l...l-
The from New Orleans 70 kansas =. Sltts
that : hound to be put through ne ;
sit as ern end Of the hne IS nnlsne9
snder Raton Rouge to New Orleans. -