Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-01

Albany jCa) Cor. Atlanta Constitution.
What do you think Of a negro farmer
clearing $1,000 on one years crop?
Yet that man is here, and told his
simple story to-day in the presence Of
Colonel Henry Mcintosh, Of the Al
bany Herald-a story without flourish
or ornament-simply the record OF one
hard years work after another, and
the results attested by deeds Of record
with the county clerk, and banks of
Albany-but perhaps / should not say
enc Of the best, as they are all first
class
Barlow Powell was born a negro, in
cambridge, this State, under all the
weight which must ever depress
black race living in the midst Of the
dominant and all-conquering white.
Worse than that, there was added 10
the natural sQualifcations Of skin
the stigma of recent slavery, with the
Jealousy. as yet ulabated, OF those VINO
had been deprived Of their ownership.
4 more uuprOpitiOus beginning IS be-
ycnd conception, and, before the record
which this man has achieved, is there
white man in Georgia, who VIII idly
fold hands and say that there is no
room for him on the band wagon OF
progress?
Born in cambridge, thirty-tTo years
ago. Barlow +. Powell ran the gaunt-
let through which all boys Of his race
have to 90, but he had one quality
not common to all-and that was thai
dime once reaching his pocket, stald
there. This qualification, and the
thcrouehness of his service, secured FOR
him constant employment. Drifting
from stOrs about tOWnintO the dr1dge-
boats clearing out the Flint river, ms
resources increased, and, with the In
terest savings on money always ac-
ouired. he found himself, at the age OF
twenty. the owner OF $2OOC-SlVO ior
each year Of his life. That as stated
was twelve years ago, and the event
was celebrated by trip TO Albany
where a white land owner was commit
ting the usual mistake Of parting with
500 acres OF Baker county pine land.
The white man got the $1,000, which
hos most likely taken wings long ago,
whilst the negro got the 800 acres,
which are to-day worth three times
the money.
u hired ten men," describing his
first years work, for the year round,
paving them IS a month and board
and nut eight mules to work. 1t was
during Christmas week that | bought
the land. so I started i'm with my force
ON the first day OF January, because
they say whatever you do that day
Won viii do the year round. 1t proved
IN he so in my case, for it was not
until Christmas week of the next year
that I saw a day oil. We started
clearing and tearing up in January
and reached planting by March, Whlch
took up two months. We then culu-
waited the crop regularly till August
first. after which, gathering and GIN
ming and marketing took up our
time o.
How did your first year come OUT
when / had sold my cotton, corn
and sugar cane, / had $500. Besides
that I had raised hogs and made pro-
yender. potatoes and peas sufficient to
offset the running expenses Of the farm.
T found that the best way to succeed
IS 10 hire men by the month, paying
them regular wages, and planning
ahead fer the work which they must
do the year round. You can command
their work better.
We'll. / just kept on the next three
wears moi doing so well the second
wear The fifth year ! bought a second
farm of 500 acres in the Caky woods,
for which | paid $1,000 spot, and the
next wear | added a 56o-acre place, in
the Ninth district of Baker for $500
spot. ] ran along two years more TINS
way. when l had some more money 10
spare. when ! took in another oaky
woods farm, Of 44O acres Tor $@'-oo
spot
Colonel Mcintosh. He always uses
these terms
NV next investment" said Powell.
was in city property. paying $500 for
a house and lot. and this last week past
! bought SO acres more Tor Sl'5O0
spot ~.
ell?"
oh. 7 would't know how to reckon
it. have never counted it up.
Suppose l was 10 oHer you 9Z''VV
spot. as you say?
81 couldn't make as good use Of that
as / can of my land. You see you are
always getting principal, as well as n
terest. back from your land, ana, alter
YOU get it all back the land still re-
mains more valuable than it was at
first. In money You can only gel the
interest and the principal IS always
likely to disappear. Every other kind
Of propertv wears away. but constant
use improves land. There is no such
thing as wearing ont land-it must be
Kept at work. but rested by different
crops. 1t is like resting from walking
by running little. but never sit down,
because. if you do, you VIII get SUN
and can't pick up your speed.
"IIow much did YOU clear last year:
well. | would haze to say; people
might not believe me. Il had ascer-
tanned before that he had made $4,000.
Nv land. for which | gave $40 an acre.
has paid me fully % per cent in cotton
returns. NOT to speak Of my gains from
other sources. While | have been saw
ing all this money and buy:>;s land,
I have freely stocked all my places
out of the proceeds. which 1 90 not /
couat I have now 200 acres Of land.
a town house and lot. Al head on horses
and mules. 100 Jersey and scrub COWS.
$50 head of improved hogs, besld5s
wagons. buggies. plows and all kinds
of machines used on big farm. ] now
run a public Gin on my home place
as we'll as q grisJmlll