Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-07
GREENSBORO.
The Negro Labor Discussed-Buying Mules
 Right and Left


 Right and Left.
 Greensboro, Jan. 6.-(Special 1.-The farmers have commenced preparations for another crop in better condition than for several years past. They have plen- ty of corn and hay, and many of them a good supply of meat. We find no dispo- sition on their part to increase the cotton acreage at the expense of good crops Many negroes have changed homes this year, but as a general rule they have set tied down and gone to work. The negro is nomadic in his habits and disposition, and the time will probably never come when he will be a fixture in any place and have permanent home. All the inn provements made by negro tenants are rude and simple and only temporary. When asked why he don't put up better Improvements, ditch and manure his land the almost invariable reply it, Boss, dontt know how long am gwine to stay here and can't fix up for some other nig- ger" This disposition on the part of the negro to move from place to place is a great drawback to the prosperity of the black belt section of our country. As a tenant the negro Is @ failure; as laborer under the control of an intelligent white man he is a success. As an illustration of the correctness of this statement there are farms in this county worked by ne- groes under the management of intell1- gent white men where a failure in the crop is seldom made, where the improve ments are kept in good condition, where the lands are ditched and worked as well as they were in the days of slavery. The farm of Mai Ben Evans, near Akron, is an instance of the kind mentioned. He hires the majority of bis laborers for wages, but whether hired for wages or a part of the crop they are worked under his immediate supervision. The result is he makes every year good crops, has his l,Ix worked and his improvements kept In good condition. Hiseplantation reminds one of the conditions of this country in ante bellum days, when the lands were worked like gardens and the crops flour jshed like the green bay tree. When the owners of the land will live on their land, abolish the tenant system and superin- tend the negro laborer this section will start upon an era of prosperity unparal- leled in the history of the country since the war.
 A great many mules and horses have been sold in this market, the majority of them old broken down stock brought from northern and western cities, where they have been used on street car lines. They sell at auction from $25 to $50 per head and are gobbled up by the reed men as rapidly as they are offered for sale. Young mules bring from $75 to S100 apiece, but they are not as much sought after as the old and cheap mules that have been fattened for the market There is nothing the average freedman delights in yoora than to buy a fat mule and then to begin the slow process of starvation, which generally lasts from six to twelve months.
 Our markets are supplied with the very finest beef-as fine as can be had In Chi cago or Kansas City. Beef cattle are selling very cheap, and a good pair of work oxen can be bought for $25 or $35. Good milk cows from $10 to $15.
 The wheel craze has struck our town, principally the female portion of the town Boomers are expected In due time. There are probably not less than 900 wheels in Greensboro, male and fe- male. .. -
 Dr F. M. Peterson Is still very i'll.