The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-09-24

a
demand by the Railroad COMPANY
for wood in two-foot lengths a
$I.75 cents per cord and for rail
road ties at 80 cents each.
Perhaps two-thirds of the county
has at one time been cleared up anc
under cultivation, but many ole
fields especially in the hitler pol+
tiOns, have been thrown out and al.
lowed to grow up to brush and tim
Der, until not more than half the
entire is fenced In and utilized.
The soil is clay loan with more
or less admixture of sand. 1t is
open and porous and peculiarly sub
ject to washout, the hillsides and
abandoned fields presenting many
unsightly gullies and gulches. In
deed, this lack of firmness in the
soil constitutes one of the greatest
drawbacks to the country. Wher-
ever there is my slope in the fields
the farmers have to guard against
washouts by running the rows at
right angles to the slope, and in
some instances by throwing up little
ridges or dikes every few rods.
The soil is not as strong as that
of our part of Illinois, but it is
very kindly and responds generous
ly to proper treatment with ma
nures and manurial crops such as
clover and peas. The climate is
such that great variety of crops
may be grown, and had a proper
/ system of rotation been employed
those lands might all today be very
productive, but the tenant system
which calls for immediate cash re-
turns, has led to the cultivation of
cotton and corn almost exclusively,
with now and then crop of peas
either stolen in among the corn for
fall and winter feed or sowed alone
for hay. IS a result of so much
taking off and so little return, the
land is impoverished and needs to
be taken through a course of deep
er cultivation with clover and peas
plowed under to add vegetable
matter. Judging from the expert
cDce of the better farmers there
along this line, beneficial results
would be sure to follow in every
case.
1t is a great country for fruits
and a stranger wonders why more
has not been done in a systematic
way towards the growing of fruits
for market. The people are begin
ming to waken up, however, to the
possibilities of their country along
this line and few large orchards
have been planted out. These are
doing well.
The lands are held for the most
part in plantations of from few
hundred up to several thousand
acres and are cultivated by tenants,
many Of whom are negroes. The
proprietors in many instances, live
in the towns or cities and take little
active interest in the management
of their lands. Those owners who
live upon their plantations and per-
sonally oversee them and perform
part of the labor themselves, have
their lands in better condition and
realize larger returns from them. 1t
is this class of land. holders, to-
gether with the merchants and bust
ness men of the towns, who wish
to see the country developed and
are endeavorinr to encourage north
ern emigration Lands are offered
at very low figure, the prices
ranging from two to twenty dollars
per acre, according to location and
improvements, fair average being
from eight to fifteen dollars.
1 was very fayorably impressed
with the people whom l met in Har-
deman county. Without exception
they are intelligent, courteous and
obliging. They are disposed to
welcome northern men and accord
to them all the privileges of opinion
and speech that are enjoyed at the
north. They acquiesce in the re-
suits of the war and desire to take
their place and do their part in
building up a common country.
am satisfied that this portion of
the South offers special advantages
for hard working people of small
means who wish to secure homes of
their own ana who find it difficult to
do so here on account of the high
price Of lands. Such persons, if
they can lie contented and adapt
themselves to the conditions that
prevail there, can certainly make
for themselves comfortable and
happy homes. There are also fine
opportunities as it seems to me for
capitalists to invest in the larger
plantations and either parcel them
out to small purchasers or have
them conducted and improved under
an overseer. There are also fine
opportunities along the line Of the
! lumber interests. a large saw mill
on the Hatchie river should prove
good investment.
l am sure that any of our citizens
| who can find the time will greatly
enjoy trip to Hardeman county,
Tenn, where they can see for
themselves what opportunities are
offered.