The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-04
The Heart and Head Of The YaZOO Delta.
IFS origin, Its VlGksiiIdGS, Its Struggles to Overcome
Obstacles, E7- 81
IFS Prosperous Present and Triumphant Future.


,,,yeIer passes fer whole day through
,.rel ser Of cotton land, Monotonous
:, he picture is, II is fascinating In its
.,a,e character. and is full of interest,
pnetber viewed in early Spring, with
y. apparently intermlnable burrows
,nrping on the Nat earth Ike spokes OF
Giant wheel in the rapid moving of
he train: in full summer, when the
r,st sweeps of the cotton fields nre n
,ortinuous garden of white and crimson
b,ossoms. or IN the Autumn, when a
mantle of white covers the face OF the
esrth making 1t wintry picture under
be blue skies and balmy air of eli
mate as delicious as that of any land
that sits smiling on the shores OF the
Mediterranean sea. But all this greatex-
nerse of country is singularly def cient
in human interest. The traveller feels
az If he had left the life of cities far be-
hind. The trim landscapes of northern
states, with their many villages, towns
and the constant presence of throngs OF
people. seem far away from this still
and peaceful scene. Here and there a
group oflaborers may be seen at work
in the cotton fields, or far away an old
time mansion house stands EMPOWERED
in trees: but for hundred and fifty
miles the impression produced is that
Of splendidly cultivated country in
which the scarcity of human habitation
Is it's strangest feature. AT last, how
ever, all is changed. The plantation
cabins become more numerous. Sinai!
cottages in the midst of flourishing
market gardens take their place. A
cloud of factory smoke hangs over the
spires and chimneys which begin to APP
near in the istance. The country
roads turn into streets. The train blows
long whistle, and while its bell
cangs continually it moves slowly past
huge mills and great business ware
houses, while many converging railway
tracks mark the approach to city, II
II be night the long avenues. broad and
level, lined with modern residences
churches, and stores, and lighted from
end to end with electricity, are present
ed one after another as the train slowly
encircles the city, and when 1t stops at
last the familiar dim and uproar of city
station sounds again in the travellers
ears, and he realizes that he has reached
the heart OF the strange rich country ut
whose deserted stiffness he has marveled
all day long. Such is Greenville, and
the sensation which strikes its visitor
most forcloly is surprise at finding HIM
self suddenly in town thoroughly
modern, full of vigor. activity and life,
and existing in the front of the world
progress, vet sirnated in the centre OF q
vast region devoted entirely to the
quiet pursuits ofagriculture.
The life of Greenville is the cotton
CROP, On it dpends mainly the pros
perity OF all interests that have grown
nm around it, and which languish OF
nrosper in accGdance with Its measure
Of success. Che wonderfully rapid
growth OF the 6ty from river landing
in ls65to ci,v4 1000 OF more inhab.
itants and s lat industrial enter
nr;see in dany w.
rroof tbadess than thirty years is "
misnls, its reliance on cotton is nor
nav keu: ard that, however many
tbe n1the vicissitudes attendant upon
-, huction of the staple, its value II
'"'u MT to compensate for all the dis
s5no, ments and uncertainties Il
which, tbs liable.
IA probably true that no other "itl
has I'D such variety of experiences II
tho line time~Ns Greenville has know
in iYshort life. In 1875, before eithe
rslRay or telegraph had penetrated Tn
st UNEMPLOYED Delta country, an
the business of the little tow
wXtransacted exclusively by means
nebnboats, disastrous fire entlrel
dekroyed its business portion In
orkin of this conf1agration was neve
Ahwh' pu' !. le eupPose" we bee
we po ,.4. - A ISM, prompted
rug and racial bitterness
growing out of the reconstruction tro
bes and the war then waged again
the combined forces of carpet bagls
and negro rule, The fire almost sWe
the town from the face OF the earth, D
in an incredibly short time its wood
store-houses were replaced by sol
brick structures, and its people,
lieyed from the dark political shad'
which had overhung them, looked II
ward with renewed hope and energy
the future. Scarcely was the town
built, and its future success apparen
assured, when the most terrible GAIA
lty it has ever known befell 1.-THE a
full epidemic of yellow fever in i
The experiences of that time are
terrible TO dwell upon. When
dazed and disheartened survivors
turned to their homes they found d
olate village containing little more Il
athousand souls, its women wearin
universal uniform Of crepe, and its bl
ness life apparently as dead as the h
dreds Of its best people whose gra
crowded its cen eteries.
But the wonderful residence so ef
aeteristic of place and people s.
brought about a return of hope
prompted to new effort.
The construction of great railr
through the then undeveloped ID
from North to South. the establishm
nf 19Ha1 - A. he AID