Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-22

} were generally paid by check on some
one OF the numerous banks or banking
houses of New Orleans. It was de-
cldeG innovation and a great saving of
time and labor to the collectors. who
in the past had been obliged to present
each check at the particular bank upon
which it was drawn.
In this way, as was foreseen by Mr..
Cammack, the steamboat men became
OF great service to the bank, as he
major part of the sum of their collec-
tons was carried out of the city TO be
dlsbursed throughout the Mississippi
valley in payment for fuel, wharf boat
dues, stores, wages, port charges, etc.
Thousands upon thousands of dollars
were taken out Of the city every week
by. packets bound for points on he
Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers
and their tributaries, the Wabash,
tennessee, Arkansas and Red. In
this manner, throughout the wide ter
ritory, from Pittsburg, st. Paul and
st. Louis to the gulf, these notes were
| kept in constant circulation, until they
] W
| bank in the south, or in the union. and,
the circulation Of the bank amounted
up to four or five millions OF dollars.
then an unprecedented sum.
The bank was known as the CitT-
zens' bank of Louisiana and La
BanQue des Citoyens de la Louisiana.
The denominations were also printed
in French and English; five, cinol:.
ten, dix; twenty, vingt; fifty, cinQante:.
one hundred, cent; one thousand.
mile. 1t will be readily seen that the
French names of any denomination
but ten were unpronounceable. and 10
one attempted it, but the ten, dix
seemed to attract the eye and to meet
public demand, always existing for
something unique, unusual. AS a re-
suit, the $40 notes of the Citizens yera
seldom, If ever, referred to in any
other way than as 'dixes And, Pc
sides, it was the most natural way in
the world to identify this particular
note. The denomination, too, was a
convenient size for the steamboat men
to meet their obligations with, not too
large or too small, and of the many
thousands of dollars taken out OF the
city every week by the river boats a
very large proportion of it was ID
'dlXes.' In consequence these notes
had much larger circulation than.
any other notes issued by the bank.
and ere long the expression "A dixie
note, or note from the Dixie bank
was very common among the larger
number of people who were familiar
with the currency. This was the most
natural thing in the world, for the
word Dix is prominent on the front OF
the note, and so much so on the back
that the observer, in a hasty glance.
would see nothing else. A common,
almost universal, expression used by
the steamboat men, when leaving from
the up river country for New Orleans,
in answer to inquiries as to their des-
was: We're going south aft
er Dixies, or going to Dixie land"
Gradually the southern country began
to be known along the river ports as
Dixie land, because SO much moneg
came from it. From this beginning
the word has grown to general usage.
and today it is synonymous with the
south everywhere"
l wish I was in the land OBJ cotton.
'Cimmon seed and sandy bottom,
Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
In Dixie Land whar | was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin'
Look away Look away! Dixie Land.
Chorus.
Den | wish l was in Dixie, hoo-rays
hooray!
In Dixie Land we'll take our stand.
To lib and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in
Away, away, away down south in
Dixie.
Old Missus marry Will de weaber,.
William was a gay deceaber.
Look away: etc.
But when he put his arm around er,
He look as fierce as a forty FOUNDER.
Look away! etc.
His face was sharp like a butchers
cleaber.
But dat didn't seem to greab her.
Look away. etc.
Will run away; Missus took a decline,
Her face was de color OF bacon rine>
Look away! etc.
While Missus libbed, she libbed IN
clover,
When she died, she died all ober.
Look away! etc.
How could she act such a foolish part,
And marry a man to break her heart,
Look away! etc.
Buckwheat cakes and stony batter,
Makes you fat or little fatter.
Look away! etc.
Here's health to the next old Missus,
An all de gals dat want to kiss us.
Look away! etc.
Now if you want to drive way sorrow,
Come an hear dis song tomorrow.
Look away! etc.
Den hoe it down an scratch yer grab
BILE,
To Dixie land I'm bound to trabble.
Look away! etc.
But there is little left of Dixie COW