The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-09
THE MISSISSIPPI.
The View from the Deck of River steam.
er-Unstable Real estate.

Life on Mississippi steamboat is
monotonous. Winding in sinuous curves
the mighty river flows through scene of Oh
most absolute desolation There are thickets
OF cottonwood trees on both the low shores
OF the river Newly formed bars are cover
ed WITH dense growth of Young trees not
more than six or eight feet high, the growth
OF the previous summer As seen from the
pilot house, the young forests standing on
newly formed land present distinct terraced
lines, rising one above the other far back to
the main land. The terraces mark the an.
nual growth of the bar aud of the trees with
which nature seeks to protect the baul, the
river has created in obedience to her laws.
At long intervals, plantations nre seen on
the river shores. At longer intervals, ill
built, foul-smelling, aud dirty towns are
seen. At short intervals, on either bank
are the shabby buildings that are erected nj
most Of the steamboat landings. These
consist, generally, of a store aud dwelling
house, occasionally there is small freight
house, in which any goods received for the
planters that could presumably be injured
by lying in the mud or being rained on are
stored. These landings usually belong to
some neighboring plantation, and il not
kept by the owners, are rented to other
parties, who keep little stocks of cheap goods
and provisions and few barrels of mean
whisky to trade to the negroes. Another
source of revenue is toll of 25 cents per
bale Of cotton or heavy package, and 10
cents per hand package charged for every
package shipped or received. Many of the
landings, whose building would not sell for
$500, rent for from $1,000 to $4,000 per
year.
Back from the river, behind the levee.
and beyond the forest line bordering the
banks, are the houses and cotton fields of
the planters. Many, indeed most of these
houses are far superior to the farm houses
of the North. They resemble the summer
houses built in the country by rich North
ern men. The grounds around these resitl-
ences are generally well kept. Scattered
broadcast over the land are the negro cabins.
These are no longer built in long rows, as
was the case in the days of slavery. The
new order of renting land to the negroes
has necessitated the breaking up of the
plantation village
The stories tho pilots and boat officials re-
late as to the swinging to and fro of tho
river through the alluvial soil, here deyonr.
Ing land by the acre and cabins by the score,
and there building up land and adding to
the acreage of plantations, are appalling to
men who have firm belief in the stability
of real estate. At any point on the river an
old Captain or pilot can tell, and trnthfully
tell, of great cotton fields once cultivated
directly over where the boat is then moving,
IA stood on the deck of the steamer watch.
ing flock of wild ducks feeding on Il bar.
planter with whom / had been talking
touched my arm to attract my attention, and
when turned to him, he said: "When
WIS ~ years old killed my first bear ON q
new plantation my father was then cutting
out of forest that grew directly over the
waters of this bend,n indicating with sweep.
ing arm the waters we were steaming over
After short pause he added: "That was
mighty good plantation, and there were
right smart of bears there, too" I looked
around mo in bewildered amazemsnt. There
vas cottonwood covered bar on one side
If the river, and high bank surmounted
With large oak-trees on the other cou ID
see no sign of plantation. Looking for
the plantation 7" my acquaintance inquired
T sftat-
cotton land went into the Mississippi River
years ago. House, cabins, everything except
ing the personal property slid into the river
and disappeared forever. Those oaks"
pointing to the trees on the bank" were two
miles from the river when / was boy" he
explained. In reply to my question as to
the value of the land he said: "When we
owned the nggers it was worth 800 per
acre" The loss of property caused by the
cratic swinging to..and fro of the Mississippi
foots up an enormous sunny. r. San