The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-03-08
Madison Countu, Mississippi,
and its Advantages.


The county is situated in the centra
western portion of the State, between
the sad and 33d degrees of latitude
Its southern extremity reaches to
within about ten miles Of Jackson, the
capital of the State. 1t lies in a north
easterly and southwesterly direction
between the rivers Big Black on the
north and Pearl on the south, and is
about $50 miles north of the Gulf of
Mexico, the southern boundary of our
State, and to its center about 60 miles
east from the Mississippi river.
Topography.
Near the rivers for about half mile,
with the exception of few bluff
banks, the lands are level and in prim-
tive forests. Near the swamp there
is what is called second bottoms,
above overflow and very level. In the
middle and southern portion the land
is gently undulating and capable of be-
ing well preserved and is mostly
cleared and in large tracts. The
northern section is more hilly, but not
too much so for safe and profitable
culture, and has smaller farms and
more timbered land. Creeks inter-
sperce all these sections, with level
bottom lands, very fertile, and in the
northern part they run the year round
and are capable of operating light
machinery.
Timbers
The river aud creek bottoms are full
of the finest kinds of timber, consist
ing of cypress, :red, white and pin
or water oaks, poplar, beech, hickory,
holly and gum, as we'll as many kinds
of minor Importance, and on .the
Pearl pine. In the higher inlands are
found in addition to the above, post
oak and black jack; and in all the
northern portion, pine interpreted
with the other kinds.
Fish and came
The rivers and lakes contiguous to
them abound in Dream, white perch,
trout. buffalo and cat fish. The creeks
contain small fish of mixed varities of
perch and cat, and often during high
waters are stocked with all kinds.
The large swamps contain few deer
and wild turkeys, squirrels, raccoons,
oppossums and occasionally bear, and a
limited amount of ducks and geese in
severe winters. The high lands have
quail in liberal abundance. Doves. a
few snipe in winter, and migratory
robins, foxes and hares in abundance.
Climate and Health.
The climate is mild and free from in
tense heat and sun stroke, being with
in about $50 miles of the Gulf of
Mexico and within reach of the sea
breeze. The thermometer never
reaches 100 degrees in summer or zero
in winter, our summer temperature is
from 60 to 20. 1t is remarkable for
Pneumonia and all
pulmonary diseases are rare, and dip
liberia, the scourge of Northern coun-
tries and cities, is almost unknown.
Some malaria prevails, but not more
so than in many northern ATTITUDES,
and is generally of a mild type. The
writer is 81 years of age, born and
reared in this county only ~ miles
from Big Black river, and has not had
a chill or fever since 10 years of age.
Seasons.
Our winters with rare exceptions are
mild, and work can be performed
in the open air except at
short intervals. Stock can run at
large for the greater part of the time
in open fields. Spring weather begins
in March and often in February, when
planting can be done. Our summers
are long and fall weather dry and
mild, frost rarely occurring before the
middle OF October and often late as
hence crops have ample
time to mature, and If one crop fails
another can be planted, and often OF
some kinds two crops can be grown on
the same land in the same season.
Soils.
Range from the deep, rich, alluvisl.
along the swamp sand creeks to the
yellow and red subsoils in the southern
and central portion, over-topped by hui
mus, and occasional spots of white or
saline alkaline with no clay foundar
tion. The northeastern portion in the