The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-06-16
THE SUBJECT OF WRITE eOlOSIsrS.

A very main consideration in the
question of colOnizing the Delta with
thrifty white farmers, is that Of accli-
NATION. In truth it is the only essen
TALLY doubtful feature of the PROPOSE
tion. Heretofore the land owning
class was, if not averse to the change
which would ensue upon the subdivi-
sion OF the large plantations, wholly
indifferent or disinclined to .ts promo
ton. So long as eot,ou did not fan
below 10 cents pound, there we're
no small holdings of improved land
for sale. This feeling was sufficiently
rooted to constitute barrier against
white settlements in ;he Delta.
But this condition no longer pre-
walls, and the question is TO be consid-
cred now from nearer and. a more
directly practical point. The land, of
comparatively superior fertility and
accessibility, is to be obtained on rea-
sonaole terms. Holders are in fact
anxious to dispose Of lands and only
need purchasers to make sales. Aud
chief among the considerations in the
way of attaining the eud desired. is
that of the health Of the country for
white people who would work ia the
field. There having been no thorough
test Of the question on tho point
named, opinions differ. AS evidence
of the affirmative, the following ex-
tract from a letter from Mr.. J. S. Rich.
ardson Is submitted:
"What our Delta country wants is
Germans or Russians. had nine
families of Germans on Dahomcy some
years ago. They worked with me on
the half system until they were able
to buy land. | could not sell them
the land they wanted. When they
left | paid them from 81, 800 to $4,000
I, per family. A party got bold OF them
and sold them some hillside gulies
/. near Memphis. Fruits and berries
and vegetables come in too late where
] they are and they are all broke and
want to come back to Dahomey, bui
they are all in debt and will not com,
back unless | will take their lands and
: pay their debts. This | do not wan
!. to do"
Convinced by his experience tina
/ The Delta is adapted to white settlers
: Mr.. Richardson believes that the nex
1 matter in importance, is proof that th'
country Is suited to the cultivation o
4 some staple crop with which they ar
n familiar. This undoubtedly woul'
+ greatly facilitate the object. And h
u (Mr. R,) has been satisfied by the larg
= est producers Of sugar beets in tn
. country, that this proof can be had i
II the case of that article. On this poin
d he writes:
It al am satisfied that il we can rails
10 sugar beets in the Delta we can I'LL u
% with the best German and Russia
70 farmers In five or SIX years. In NJ
Q, braska the ordinary German and Rul
70 sian day hands get from $1.25 to S2.5
per day. Still the beet farmers e
a. rich raising beets aud paying ths'
al wages. The crop is harvested ln Jul
d, and August. The cultivation slmpl
III Not as expensive as cotton. About I'd
+ only difference between cultivatin
G. beets and cotton is that bects requiI
n very deep fonr horse blowing in pr,
g. pairing the land. The Oxnord Bros
OF who are the largest sugar makers
IN the United States except the Amer
ne can Sugpr Trust, have strongly az
~ vised me to make the experiment wit
n a few beet patches. They tell me the
In have been investigating and they flu
es that southern Tennessee aud mort
I'd Mississippi is as well adapted 10 be-
a. culture as any other part of the Uu
ted States. They also tell me that
he these experiments are successful tho
he are ready to put up central sugar r
ho flnery and take all the beets the plan
:, crs can raise for one hundred mill
Nv each way on the railroad. They q
Is enthusiastic over the experiments a
to making, They will send their &c
d. man Agrlculturalst out from Califo
!, mia to look at these beet patches
VI soon as the beets are growing off we
'c- Wilhelm Band, who is with the o
pg nords, tells me if we can establish th
as we can raise the proper tonnage al
~ the beets contain the proper per col
" of sugar, that the German and Russii
IT. farmers will pour into that country.
on We have got to wake up and pla
no something else besides cotton or {
IA planters can't make expenses
on Washington Co. Lands Too II igh.