The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-05-01


from 60 to $50. November, December
and January are the coldest months; the
average winter temperature is not below
45o, seldom falls to 25O. The Yazoo Delta
lies between the Mississippi river on the
west and the Yazoo Iriver and its tribu-
taries on the east, and from the line sepa-
rating Mississippi and Tennessee on the
north to Vicksburg on the south. II CON-
prises about $3.50 square miles or 4,OOOOOC
acres of the most productive soil in the
world; abou, 100000 acres are improved
the remainder being covered with vast
forests Of valuable timber, such as gum,
oax, ash, white oak, hickory, black wal
nut and large cypress brakes. The long
leaf pine region lies south of the Vicks-
burg Il Meridien Ry. Upon the best pine
lands from 20 to 70trees haye been counted
on an acre. The trees will average on an
acre 90 inches in diameter from 40 to 90
feet high without knot OF blemish, and to
a heigh,h OF rs TO 100 feet Both North
ern and Southern men Of energy and en-
terprise are turning their attention to and
developing the wealth of the vast timber
tracts. The report Of the state superin-
tendent says: "The state expends on pub
lic schools annually $4,000 and $4,000
on her colleges" Nearly every town OF
1000 inhabitants has system OF graded
schools free Of tuition. The colored peo-
pie ere provided with free school five
months per year.
What is termed truck farming is prof
table industry. Truck farmers can raise
cabbage, beans, peas, onions, tomatoes,
melons, cucumbers, Irish and sweet pota.
toes (some Of these two and even three
crops each year on the same ground, 3,
strawberries, blackJerries, dew berries,
pluns, apples, pears, peaches and have
them placed in the markets Of Northern
cities from one 10 two months earlier than
they can be furnished by any Northern
state. Strawberries ripen about the Goth
OF March and continue for about two
months. The soil is entirely free from
sand and grit and the berries raised. on 1t
do not require washing.
Jackson, the capital Of the state, on the
west bank OF the Pearl river, having a
population Of about 1000, beautiful To-
cation for city aud almost Unlimited op
portunities for improvement, i found
trees in full leaf, sea Of roses and bios
soming trees; the very air was ladened
with sweet fragrance from the garden Of
nature, butthe slovenly condition of side
walks and untidyness made me think If
h ,me. Here II was that ] formed many
pleasant acquaintances and cleaned most
Of my information as stated above, and l
am telling the story to you as it was told
70 me. You will ask how about society As
TO ,hepeople, l would say about 3 negroes
TO one white man at Jackson. The negroes
are quie, and very civil; the whites as l
met them were intelligent, social and lib
eral, ready and anxious to welcome North.
ern men amongst them. l spent several
days interviewing the representative men
Of Jackson and looking over the country
within radius of three or four miles Of
the city All told substantially the same
story, about like this: THE war is over !;
we thought we were right and fought
brayely and got whipped and suffered ter.
ribly financially. Slavery is gone and we
accept the situation. Come and invest
your money in our cheap lands and help
us build up the waste places and teach US
your system Of farming upon the basis Of
free labor, energy and frugal industry
help Us to solve the great problem Of the
social and moral status OF the colored
race" Why are lands so cheap in the
South' Certainly not because 1t is worn
ont and worthless. The system Of agri-
culture ITior TO the emancipation Of the
slaves was an era Of large estates devoted
almost exclusively to single product
co,ton-with no idea Of obtaining the
greatest results from given area Of land.
After the war the farmers OF Mississippi
found themselves without capital with
which 70 cultivate their lands, about the
only species Of property left them. Nil
lions Of dollars worth Of their property had
been swept away. They were compelled
TO invoke the yoke Of debt, backed by
mortgages on real estate. The free labor
system left them all at sea. They at first
tried the system Of large planting on bor-
rowed capital. Exorbitant profits Of mid
die men and high rates Of interest lett them
unable 10 meet their obligations; fore
closures Of trust deeds followed, until
realty was refused as security on loans Of
money. Lands were almost abandoned b,
many, and now lands that before the wal
were worth from $50 TO 800 per acre ar,
being offered at from SO to 500 per act,
according 10 location. Large plantations
are being divided up into smaller farm'
and the tendency Of prices are upwsrc
until they will again reach the old price:
before the war. lean see no reason why
there Is not good chance for North rner'
70 make money in Mississippi.
New Orleans is wonderful city