Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-25
IN THE YAzOO VALLEY
Probably the Richest Soil in
the United States.
WILL RAISE ANY CROP
AVERAGE YIELD OF $17.54 AN
ACRE DECLARED.
Organization of the Territory Of Mis-
sissippi-Where the President Hunt
ed for Bears-Large Plantations.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the chicago
Record Herald.

ROSEDALE, Miss, April III, 1870
What Is known as 1.-THE Yazoo valley" or
the Mississippi delta, is a tract of river
bottom 100000 acres in extent, beginning
twelve miles below Memphis and running
about 200 miles southwark, nearly to VickS-
burg. 1t is about sixty-five miles wide at
its widest part; is bounded on the west by
the Mississippi river and on the east by the
Yazoo. The natural yield of this 'gumbo
soip is not surpassed anywhere in the
world; no fertilizers are ever needed; 1t will
produce every crop known to the temperate
zone; and a greater profit in proportion to
the labor expended than any other section
in the United States.
fernando De Soto discovered the Mis-
sissippi river in the northern part of the
delta somewhere near Helena, Ark. He
built a fortress and fought bloody battle
with the Chickasaws near Tupelo Lee
county. and died at the village of Guachoca.
twenty miles south of the mouth of the Red
river, where his body was dropped into the
Mississippi May q. 1912.
Settlement of Mississippi.
The Yazoo country was explored by La
Sale. D1berville. Bienville. and other early
voyagers, and was colonized in 1875, after
what was called 1.-The Yazoo frauds" The
organization of the territory of Mississippi
In IDS was a casus belli to Spain, but that
government was powerless to interfere; and
II was the result of the YaZoo frauds"
In 1875 the legislature of Georgia chartered
what was called the Georgia Company,
composed of a lot of Adventures and spec
uiators, and granted to it a vast tract of
land belonging to Spain and lying along the
east bank of the Mississippi river. The
company sold this land to innocent in
vestors and colonists in New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut and other parts of New
England, in tracts of from 10000 to so 900
acres. Spain could do nothing. She erected
forts at Walnut Hills now Vicksburg)
Baton Rouge and other strategic points:
but she had very few soldiers, and If they
had attempted to resist the invasion of the
settlers the sturdy Yankees would have
driven them into the sea. When the swim
die became known, when ii was discovered
that the legislature of Georgia had no juris-
diction over the territory, that the grant
was worthless, and that the Georgia Com
pany' could not therefore give a title, there
was was tremendous commotion Several Of
the leaders of the conspiracy were hanged,
others fed the country and a territorial
government for Mississippi was organised
as rapidly as possible, and promptly con-
frmed the titles to the land.
Some Of the land still belongs to the
families of the original purchasers.
10. Where the President Hunted.
This is the country where the President
came hunting bears three years ago. and
round none. His host was Mr.. John M.
Parker. who has one Of the largest cotton
plantations IN the United States. The
PRESIDENTS cook on that occasion has been
the judge OF this county for many years-a
very Intelligent, honest colored man, with
OUT much education. but great natural
ability and keen sense of Justice. 1t is
said that none of his opinions has ever
Deen reversed, and he has the confidence
ana respect of the entire community, white
as Wen as black Before he was elevated to
the Dench he was famous as the best cook
In all this country, and on rare occas jons
mas laid off the judicial ermine in order tn
prepare dinners for distinguished peonle
W hen he heard the President was coming
ne volunteered his services to Mr. Parker
and adjourned court in order to cook for
the President of the United States.
various explanations are offered to ac-
count Tor the Presidents failure to get a
bear. but none of them are quite satisfa r.
tory. He had the best guide in all this re-
gion; the preparations for the expedition
were made by the most competent and ex-
perlenced men; and every condition was
favorable, but no bears were to be found
The only rational explanation is that thev
neard ne was coming and took to the tall
timber. That there are plenty of bears in the
4azoo sWamps Is beyond question A Mr.
Bobo. who is known as 1.-The bear-huntinp
planter, killed not less than five hundred
IN the very woods where the President went
with his gun. There is a station on the I'LL
noiS Central Railroad between Alligator
lake ana Hushpuckene named In his honor
for he was famous character throughout
the country. And accurate sketch of
MS habits and characteristics can be found
In. Emerson Hough's recent novel Mr.
Bobo's greatest accomplishments were the
mixing of mint juleps and rifle shooting
1t IS declared that the simple odor of one
of his juleps would cause the corpse Of an
old time southern gentleman to turn over
in It's tomb, and that he could put a bullet
through the bung-hole of a barrel rolling
down hill without chipping the edges This
remarkable man died about a year ago.
The claim agent in the above-named story
is free-hand sketch of Tom Devine an
other Well-known character In Madison
county, who was connected with the Yazoo
and Mississippi Valley road for several
years, investigating and settling claims for
horses, cattle. hogs and other live stoc (
that were run over by the trains. 1t was
very exciting occupation during the first
five or six years after the railroad was
built through this country In 1884 and Mr.
Devine's experiences if truthfully related
would make more interesting book than
the novel referred to. He Is still living
According to local authority, the love part
of the story is pure fiction. Nobody down
here ever saw heard of the beautiful
damsel for whom the planter and the claim
agent took SO much trouble.
Average Yield Of the Land.
At one time the delta was covered with
great forest of hard wood timber, and up
to the year 1884, when the railroad was
built through it, there were not more than
10000 acres under cultivation; plantations
on the banks of the Mississippi and other
navigable streams. Since then the cult
waited area has increased nearly 300 per