The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-11-29
NO. 10


uary to the last of May it affords good water depth
for small steamers as high up as Arcola
The next in the parallel of water courses in Wash
ingtOn county is Steeles Bayou. With Black Bayou,
of which it is continuation it flows through the en-
tire length of the county, midway between Deer
Greek and the River 1t Is navigable as far as Swan
Lake. though no boats regularly ply in its water as
high mp as where il runs through this county; on ac
count of distractions of fallen timber An appropri.
alton was made by the government for the first
tme at the last session of Congress for the removal
of these distractions. When the improvements
contemplated are carried out the Washington county
plantations along this steam will derive very great
convenience therefr0m.
Between Steele's Bayou and the River, in the
Southern portion of the county, lies Lake Washing
ton. This Lake is an old bed of the River though Of
very old formation, entirely divorced from the River;
aud surrounded completely with high bank and an
unbroken continuation of cultivated fields This
body of water. about twelve miles long, is beyond
question the most beautiful and attractive of the sue
cessiOn of lakes all "cut OFFS in the Mississippi
Valley The country around attracted the earliest
pioneers in the Yazoo Delta especially from its be-
ing high above overflow.
This Lake is connected with Steee's Bayou by a
narrow but deep stream, called lake Washington
Bayou. Through this it is nayigable for several
months in the year.
North of Lake Washington is Lake Lee another
"cut off," bordered on the Mississippi side by
fine planting country. This Lake is accessible to
boats from the main River during the high water
season aud cotton and seed is then shipped imme-
diately from the plantation fronts
The foregoing completes the enumeration of
navigable waters of Washington county; aggrega
ting 100 miles of water transportation besides
the Mississippi River, which covers the entire West
ern boundary of the county. There are also other
streams, the chief of which are Bogue Falaya and
Bear Greek the former flowing into the Sunfower
the latter into the iazoo; which afford sufficient
water, If timber distractions were removed, for sev
eral months navigation each in the year.
We have thus particularly set forth adyan.
tages pertaining to Washington county, tho fitness OF
which will never be appreciated until the population
and the of cultivated lands have increased far
beyond their present limits. When four instead of
one.ffth Of the county is under cultivation, as its
face and fertility will admit the full value of these
streams as produce bearing avenues will be held at
its proper estimate.
These streams running through the county and
all the lakes adjacent furnish variety of the finest
fresh water fish on the Continent.
There is no other portion Of the alluval land
constituting the Mississippi Valley, so perfectly
drained as is tho Yazoo Delta. Its whole surface is
traverscd by network OF streams aording literally,
perfect drainage Indeed had the intelligence and
hand of man fashioned tho Yazoo Delta with par.
pose of afordngit drainage perfectly adapted to its
agricultural destiny, there would have been no
change to effect from the face of this alluyal plain
as civilization foundh Every stream and all streams
are perfectly prOportioned to each and all; ; aud
when it is efectuay leveed no ordinary, Or even
extraordinary RAINFALL will overtay the drainage
pacity of any. All land will If properly ditched
quickly and naturally shed its rain water before
damage ensues to whatever is planted thereon.
These assertions of course prcsuppose thorough
ditching. But every planter will corroborate their
essential truth. Every plantation is bordered by a
natural drain except perhaps, aud very rarely, where
this natural drain has become oberated by cultiya
ton or been eveed across.
RAILROADS.
In 1871 the subject of railroads in Washington
county began TO be actively considered aud dis
cussed. And in 1872 or 1873 bonds were voted in
aid of road contemplated to extend from
Greenville East to the railroad system through
the centre of the State. The other coun.
ties along the line of said route also voted
bonds, and but for the financial crash of 1873 aud
decision of the Supreme Court adverse to the valid
ity Of said bonds, the railroad contemplated would
doubtless then have been built. little grading
only was done and the enterprise died away.
In lS7S under the chief direction of Mr.. Chas. r
Huntington, the narrow guage road to Deer Creek
was begun, Mrs. II. b. Theobold, the oldest citizen
of Greonvle, driving the first spike. The road was
completed ten miles, to Stonevillc on Deer Greek
in the spring of that year. This was the beginning
of railroad building in Washington county and the
Yazoo Delta
4 In 1880 the road was completed into Sunhowei
county, and far as the Sunii0wer River, thirty
miles due east of Greenyillc. And down Deer Greek
to the Sharkey county line, thirty miles south o.
Greenve.
In 1881 this road was sold TO the Georgia Pacific
Railway Company, by which it Is now operated. II
is the design of that company to extend their mail
line from Columbus, Mississippi, to the present ter
minus of the road at the SunAower River.
In 1882 the charter and franchises OF the Vicks
burg & Memphis railroad were purchased by Mr. r.
Wilson, a wealthy and extensive railroad builder OF
New York through whom II was designed as a con
tinuation of the Huntington system of railroads
from Memphis to New Orleans And during the past
1S months the construction of this road has been
pushed forward with remarkable rapidty notwth
standing unusual obacles. 1t is now in full opera
ton, link in one of the most important and far
reaching railway corporations of the nation. II en-
ters Washington county from the South, where Deer
Greek enters larkey county. 1t follows along the
course of this stream, its Western bank, parable
with the Georgia Pacific narrow guage, for twenty
miles. II then the Creek and continues In
North Eastery direction to Bogue Faaya, and
that stream and continues on to Memphis. From LIE
land Station. however. at the Creek crossing branch
diverges; which runs entirely across the Northern
portion of the county, into Bolivar, and terminates on
the Mississippi River at point opposite Arkansas
City. From this branch at point five miles North
of Greenve, another road is being built to Green
vile and thence South, entirely through the cOun
ty via Lakes Lee and Washington, back to the main
line on Deer Creek, near Rolling Fork, in Sharkey
i county, The earthwork of these branch roads are
about completed; aud both are under contract to be
a H.. nr1a hV Inn Lot