La Junta tribune., 1915-07-24
N THE SOUTHLAND.
slnry of Journey Through the
p.osth-NaatanAl Cesset@sy q
vieksbasv-The Crescest City.
BY Saiss Mildred Field.

templated trip to Cuba and through
the south. We reached Kansas City
early the next morning and left in
the evening. arriving the second
mornins in Memphis. . beautiful
busting city located on the banks Of
the Mississippi. Memphis reminded
Us Of Denver with It's broad streets.
sky-scrapers. well built business
blocks. beautiful homes. lawns and
parks. Memphis was our gateway
TO Dixie" and we were reminded Of
the fact ,by the southern accent. mig
gers" and bales OF cotton. II was .
common sight to see big mule
hitched To = numbering two-wheeled
cart loaded with bales Of cotton
ready for shipment and driven by q
niger Il say 'nigger" because that
is what they are called throughout
the south. After spending two de-
lightful days In Memphis we left
there early In the morning and ar
rived At vicksburg about dusk. All
day we travelled through the cotton
fields OF Mississippi. the cotton just
being planted. II was very interest
ing to see the immense plantations
with the many. many cabins strewn
all over them. The general foremen
OF these plantations are white men.
All the work In the fields is done by
the negro. A certain number OF
acres is let to q negro. depending
upon the size OF his family-the
larger the family. the larger the acre
age. When the crops are harvested
the tillers Of the soil are paid for
their labor by 80 many bales OF cot
places. cotton Was hauled to market
on numbering wagons drawn by or
en-. Al the stations II seemed that
the whole colored population had.
come down 10 the station TO see the
train come In. there being about fif-
~ coiored people to one white per-
son. Most OF the land In the Sec
tion we passed through has been
cleared and Ia under cultivation.
vicksburg IN located on the Va.
roo and Mississippi rivers. about
half way between Memphis and New
Orleans. II has . population Of RI
goo. The city occupies the sides.
summit Aad VALLEY Of > raass -
hills. hence Il II extremely pictuS-
esque. II IL one Of the largetst cot
ton markets In the country. and has
= considerable manufacturing In
dustry. The principal business Sec
tion Is alonE the levee. the residence
portion being on the higher parts. In
the latter are architectural features
OF more than ordinary interest. The
modern city hall and the ancient
court house. are each handsome types
OF their respective day and genera
tion. The court house being built
before the war by the slaves. They
had no plans. but built II after their
own ideas and by pictures. The
court house Is still In use and IL a
very dinEy. dirty place. yet the peo.
pie look upon II with a great deal OF
pride.
The greatest attraction Of all IL the
National Military Park. First Of all
IL It's picturesqueness. situated as u
IL In n rolling country Of beautiful
valleys and hills overlooking the
Mississippi river. II contains I.3:3
acres. and practically includes the
battle lines Of the two opposed arm
les during the siege Of May 18th 70
July 4. 1859. Every part Of the
battlefield IL made accessible By the
park roadways. There are sixtsen
bridges In the park. There has bssa
placed in the park BY the Uaitsd
States ss7 tablets In appropriate To-
cations. on which are told briefly The
detail stories Of the siege anA g.
fenss. TIE avenues. circles. ana
public roads II the pask assrseatias
about thirsy.swo miles Of park roa1.
way. ere marked b. is3 guide boards.
The Uaitsd ststss hes mounted
iAl field suas % hight carriages, asd
fosrtssa heavy suns asd thsls sasgs
carriages. Iiks the onss used dusiAs
The siege asA dsfeass. 0akias 13o
mounted guns IN The Doek oDd q eho
old bastssy sltse--sizty.sls % The
UaIoa sad slxty.two a. Ne Coated.
ssaes linss. Tsa seate ns0esials ars
ftslshs1-lllisols. Iowa. MassasseAu-
sssts. Missseota. n1lssissappi. Nsv
Hanpshirs. Nsv Yosh. Psansvlvan-
y. Rhode 1slaad.. aal Wlscoasla-
aa1 - we're teld that appropriation
have beea made fe1 thres nore-Al.
ataoa. Msehisan sal Mlsseuri. Each
os ~ ue0oela1s now u The pash %