The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-09-17

Itwas mornings beautiful morning,
before us stands beautiful grove of no
bic old forest kings, whose uewy leaves
sparkle and glistcn i'll the misty siiniignt,
and whose massive brai ches ring with
sweet echoes TO the songs vi morning
birds.
This grove is situated in the midst Of
country SO ieyel, that every direction
seems up hill, and Is surrounded by
network of farms and roads. On every
side the tinkling or bells, the Lowing Of
| herds; the stroke of hammer, AK. aud an
| vii greet the ear With all the sounds
peculiar to busy, and prosperous civiiika-
ton. Twenty-Five years ago this coun-
| try was, but hftle more than Il swamp
tnnglcn wildwood, whose grounds, sell
dom or never saw the light, being cover
Gu in summer with the growth peculiar
to swamps, and In winter with water from
q INCHES to feet deep.
| a few farms, scattered along the nign-
est ridges, surrounded by almost impas-
sible sloughs, were cultivated by pale
men, called, in derisIon, ''our swamp an
gel,'' but whose sallow faces more resem-
bIed the pale nations Of the tomb.
Our little town-Siheston-co OF
n single store house and dwelling. The
nearest shipping point was Madrid, on
the Mississippi, some 20 miles away, ana
the roads were impassable III winter.
In this condition the railroad found us
in 1861. Financially q dead county,
with one of the most unhealthy climates
in the United States; anu with many
physical difficulties To meet. Surely no
country could nave been much worse.
Now, here, if any place, where the least
change for better will be so plainly visi-
Bile, Is the place to observe the real ben-
efits of railroad.
At the first Shrek of the ''iron horse
the sleeping energies of u great country
spranS into vigorous life; forests were
fclled, buildings reared, swalEps drained,
and land rose from the pitfful sum OF IL
I cents, to SO cents, 81, and even 500 to
$50 per acre. Poor inen in i few years
became immensely rich, and to-day,
count their wealth by the hundred thou
sand. Sikeston, from Il single store, auo
dwelling, became one of the most bean
tiful little towns in south east missouri,
containing many fine stores, two cnurcn-
e.. a iine school, employing three teach
ers, eteam mills, livery stables, oarDei
and shoe shops, warehouses, anu SO cn,
fhrouuhout Il list too numerous TO men-
fion: also 4 fine little country paper. pup
lished by Il youth of 20 summers. who II
\ fayorife with the people. because OF his
tireles, energy. Tne warehouses s,iii
a6a .lpa, bushels OF corn, and 200 ,0oO bush
els Of wheat, annually. Our county |.
now one of the richest, and most infiuen-
tial in south east Missouri. and is crossed
bv two branches of the Iron Mountain
aud Southern: and almost every station
has become town or village.
!. No further proof that this is the resui
of our railroad. Ii is only necessary u
state that this country had been partial
~ settled for over 60 yerrs, with little o
n,. Improvement, when the railroad wa
9 hnilt. The era of improvement, ant
progress is SO plainly marked from tina
time that no one here thinks, for q mo
ment, Of disputing the great and iastini
/, benefits of a railroad, not considering th
greatly improved facilities Uf persona
] travel. which with your correspondent,
AN important item, as that is about tn
ouly important goods he has to snip.
, We. also remember that the boats wan
ted to take us from Montgomery. Graz
p parish. TO Shreveport, which the railros
did for s3 SO, difference Of over $500
aud monopoly, aud why prefer it to
railroad monopoly? The arguineot base
d on railroad discrimination IS weak. In
4 proper remedy for this evil is in apprt
priare legislation, aud not in gener'
opposition to railroads. A strouy EMO
4 to.nnenrc laws regulating the railroa
prj are being made in the North ~
|, EdSs.F Grant aud Winn parishes are rit
:. in resources. Let the railroad como au
u il will develop them, bringing inimigran
for uuoccupied lands, 2 market for tho
n vast pine forests, theapcr grocerae
cheaper corn, cheaper transportation.
Let's work for tne railrood nov, II
c. f;rht uonopolies Some other time.
e w. h. WOOD.
Is sikestor, No, Sept. 9Th, 1885,