The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-04-06
INTERESTING LETTER
FROM GIDEON, MU.
A Description Of Southeast Missouri,
Its Railroads and Its Principal
Industries.
Gideon. Mo. Mar. 25. 1905.

| will now give you a description Of
Southeast Missouri as ! see il.
This. New Madrid county, is in what
is called the swamp lands or sunk
lands which went down in the great
shake Of lsll-l2. The land is about
level, a fall Of almost four inches TO
the mile. Hence the reason for so
much water through this county in the
winter season. The country is too level
10 run of very fast The enterprising
citizens Of Southeast Missouri got 10
thinking about how TO get rid Of the
water. so they decided to cut canals.
lditches we call them.l
This county when completed. will
have nine bitches just one mile apart.
twenty feet vide by ten feet deep.
There are four or FIVE completed and
boats are digging on tine rest. and will
say right here that they are doing a
wonderful sight Of good. There Is not
50 much water o. when ! came here
last spring. Eight Of these bitches
empty in the ninth which is larger
every way than the small ones.
After heavy rains they run swift like
the Kentucky creeks. Now, you may
want to know how these bitches
are dug. Men that get the contract TO
dig them. build boats about thirty feet
long and between fifteen and twenty
feet wide. This boat Is run 10y steam.
They have what they call the Crane. -
just like the old horse power thrcshing
machine 1.-THE cog wheel. you know. the
driver stands.l and this turns both
ways.
You have seen a Derrick. have you
not7 Well. this rest on the Crane wire
ropes runs to the top. Al the top the
dippcr Is adjusted which Is dropped
down In the earth and which closes as
Il Is raised up with perhaps two tons.
Now they can swing this 10 either sid,
and drop u seven or eight feet from
the hank. They dix one mile a month
and the county paws Tor the work ant
taxes the people To pay for them.
| think this will In the course " tcr
or fifteen years be fine farming cuun
try. The land is very rich and hcayil,
timbrrcd, a fine saw mill county foi
ten years. We have plenty of watcl
this time of the year and We have {,
wear gum boots In the woods but u
the summer and fall months L Is III
l-y as can be-.
There are plenty Of hsh. turkeys,
few deer. some wolves and plenty o
mink and raccoous.
The principal crops here are corn
cotton. hay and wa,cmclons, Il
Dunkln county the farmers raise then
by the hundred Of acres. wholetrain
n watcrmelons pass by here Tor N,
northern markets
We have three railroad systems her
'in Southeast Missouri. the CottoI
BELT. Iron Mountain. and Frisco. tn
/ Frisco has three divisions running ou
II ST. Louis. one 10 New Madrid. th
county scat of this county, and one b
here 60 Caruihcnyillc, one by Popla
Blun. through Campbell and on int
Arkansas TO lcachyillc.
Iron Mountain and Cotton Belt ar
north Of here. both running out fror
Cairo.
There Is a wonderful sight Of wor
IN this county Of any kind, and plcnt
Of money but we have to work for II
Of course. You can get 2OO a day 70
pulling a cross cut saw. but you vii
have To get you a pair Of gum boot
the first thing until the water runs oil
n anyone who reads this wants an
further information. enclose stamp an
will write TO you.
With good wishes to all my friend
close. Very truly.
II ]. N. JOHNSON.
rostofIicc box rs. Gideon. Mo.