The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-08-04
WAY DOWN In DIXIE.
A Travellers Views of Indian
Village Plantations -Cleve-
land as First Choice for
President.

"INDIAN VILLAGE PLANTATION"
ALLIGATOR LAKE, P. U. Miss.
July 80, 1891. }
l have spent the last few days IN
looking over the "Walnut Grove"
and "Indiau Village" plantations.
"Walnut Grove" as stated in my
last, is the property of Col. james
Richardson, of New Orleans, WHO owns
nine plantations in Mississippi, Ar.
kansas and Louisiana. and is also a
member of the we'll known firm of
Richardson & May. New Orleans,
the largest cotton factors in the world,
"Walnut Grove" is one of Col. Jim's
small places, although it comprises
some 5000 acres and is managed by
one general manager, assisted by ten
"-ubs." The store business is managed
by two book-keepers and four clerks,
like all the Richardson plantations, it
is in the high state Of cultivation, and
the improvements are of the highest
class, it is very similar to screen
Grove" and has no SUPERIOR over
that plantation. "Indian Village is
the property of Col. Sam
Ham, and comprises five thousand
acres, it is ably presided over By Mr..
G. c. Ham assisted BY two "subs" and
four clerks. This Is what is called "a
run down plantation" although the
soil ia highly productive and never
tails to make good crop. The cabins
are old and dilapidated. Mr.. Ham is
a favorite with the negroes and never
fails to have the best Of labor. Negroes
even leaving good substantial cabins
On other plantations and occupying
the d4cayed cabins on this place 90 as
to be able to work for "Msrse" Ham.
Col. Ham came down from his enc
Mahon place" last week to look over
the prospects Of this place and I took
occasion to interview him as to the
condition Of the southern planters in
general.
s'Col. Ham I have been informed
that the raising of cotton has becsme
Improbable. and desire further en-
lightenment on the subject?"
''Well, last year my 'McMshon
place lost me something over three
thousand dollars, while this place just
about held its own"
Colonel, how do you account for
that two plantations controlled by
you within thirty miles of each other
one loses nothing while the other falls
short to a very large amount"
"That is very easily accounted for.
The crop on this place was put in
early, and they had an abundance of
labor to properly cultivate it, while
on my other place the crop was put
In late-caused by overflow, and We
were short of hands during the entire
season. The price Of cotton has fallen
below the est of production, caused
by overproduction, but what can We
do; we have the land-st0ck and
negroes, and must use them-and oul
land is ct for no other purpose thar
the growing Of cotton. Texas has
lately come to the front as a cotton
producing state and has easily taken
the lead, raising some two million bales
last year. The effect of this large
crop was to lower prices and II
severely affected the planters in the
Mississippi bottom. There is now an
immense quantity of last years croI
stored in Farmer Alliance ware
houses which will be thrown on hi
market at about the time the presen
crop will be marketable and I pre-
dict lower prices than we're eve
known before. But l think tina
there is q better day coming although
it may be afar of l am patiently
awaiting it."
What are your views on the pc
li,ical question:"
81 am in favor of Cleveland a
6rst choice With Hill as my second.
"How about free trader
at is the only thing that vii
place the southern planter on hi
feet again. 1t will give US an opel
market for our cotton, and will re
lease US from the grasp of the commits
sion and supply men, who at presen
have firm hold upon us.
Alligator Lake is named after an
Located beside a lake OF that name
ard at one time was infested by larg
hordes of Alligators. 1t is the prin
cipal trading point for thousands @
negroes from the surrounding plants
tions who troop into town every Sa
urday to see the "kyars" 60 by an
to obtain jug of their favorite liqui
refreshment-gin. Bobo is situate
four miles above Alligator on tb