La Junta tribune., 1910-05-14

the crimson clover, that is thrifty
and hardy, has TO be planted every
year, but produces large quantities OF
seed. These clovers are both good
for hay, pasture and as fertilizer.
| simply must say that the farm is
not well titled and reminds one that
this station is not much of an i'm
provement on the careless, haphazard
methods in vogue among the farmers.
| rode from Baton Rouge. on the
Illinois Central railroad. distance
OF eighty miles along the banks of
the Mississippi, traversing one OF
the richest valleys in the world. This
valley Is protected by high levee,
which confines the mighty river. the
Father of Waters" to its channel
when the great floods from the north.
from the Rocky Mountains on the
west, from the Allegheny on the east
and from the great lakes In mid-con-
tinent are sweeping and rolling. with
whirlpool waves and foam onward
10 the sea. This is a mighty. a won
derful river. Its tribute to the sea
is almost all the water that falls upon
one-fourth OF continent. Its water
Is murky, laden with the soil robbed
from the gardens. the farms the wood
lands, the prairies and the mountains
Of the most fertile lands in the
world and this fertility 1t once spread
over these great valleys, building
them up. year by year. into king
dom OF wealth and richness that
equals the most favored spots on
earth, but. now. since levees have
been built. this fertile burden Is de-
posted into the gulf, lost to the use
OF man. at least for many generations
to come. The banks OF the river and
the lands next to the river are high.
er than the rest OF the valley and
slope away from the river into the
swamps. covered with great cypress
trees and dense forest. As rode
southwark | entered the great sugar
and rice plantations. There was now
and then field OF corn. but rarely
any cotton. Some OF these plantations
are the most beautiful In the world.
The land is rich and dark and level.
sweeping In It's beauty from the
river to the swamp. into which all
these plantations extend. forming the
inland border OF all cultivated land
In the valley. From the river to the
swamp the distance varies. say from
one TO three or four miles The
swamps extend TO the uplands, In
most cases. many miles In extent and
are generally covered with water
Here grow great cypress forests. i'm.
mense trees from one to three feet
ful as a mast. The lower part OF the
tree is swellcd almost like cone.
the tree ten 10 fifteen feet above.
There are many sawmills along the
river. from which railroads run into
the swamps. which are cutting into
lumber these great cypress forests.
Trcstlcd trains run into the swamps
and. by use OF great machinery and
a long wire cable. the logs are hauled
from the stump. many feet on each
side OF the tre~tle. and loaded on the
lox trains and then hauicd to tho
sawmill. These trees are cut down
BY the saw. Just over the swell OF
the stump. the men working In tho
water In the swamp. The cypress Is
= valuable lumber. These swamps
were bought up. largely by lumber
men from tho north. At from twenty.
five cents To two dollass and onc-hsif
per acre. hence large fortunes aro
being made out OF these great forest
swamps. These swamps win all be
drained. but not for many Year,. and
In some cases. not for . great many
years. for all this land. or almost all
Of It, is below the Mississippi river
and much Ia At the level Of the gulf.
or but few scct>hixhcr.
When the river y high tho great
steamboats, and river craft may bc
seen sailing high above the valley.
They look. from the disAnt fields, as
though they were sailing In tho air
or upon = great highway. a beautiful
and strange sight to behold. The
lcvees are from fifteen to thirty feet
In height and at flood tlmc the water
Is within four TO six feet Of che top
OF the levcc. 70 that almost tho whole
Of tho great vessels stands boldly out
before you. On . much smaller scale