The Missouri herald., 1922-12-08
PLANTATION NEGROES $.
LEAVING OLD HOMES
New Cotton Land Lures-Hany
Families Going Into PelAiScSt Gx6
Dunklin Counties, No., to Get
Away From Boil Weevil Territory

Commercial Appeal:
Lufed from their homes by prom
Use OF better living sometimes social
equality in northern cities, hundreds
Of negroes are leaving old friends
and homes in Mississippi for the
great manufacturing districts of the
north. 1t is estimated that $500
have left the delta in the past go
days.
other negroes who ventured to
Detroit or Chicago and other points
during the World War, have written
great tales back to relatives. some
times to an aged, white-haired father
or mother, sometimes to an ambi-
tious brother or other. relatives, that
money can be made by the pocket
full in the manufacturing plants of
those cities.
Numerous presents have been
scattered among their friends back
home as proof of the money flowing
into their pockets. Letters have
come into Mississippi towns and
plantation settlements OF the life of
the negroes in the north, of their
living, pleasures, their quarters and
the fact that there are no "Jim
Grow" laws. to prevent mixing with
whites in public or in places of
| amusements.
The delta sections, where more
cotton is grown per acre than in
any place in the world, has been
flooded with these letters during the
past six months. They started COM
ing through the mails last winter.
Negroes who have grown up on plan
tations have been induced to pack
up ann leave after this years cotton
crop was picked.
Again come honest inducements
from landowners in Pemiscot and
Dunklin counties, Missouri. In
those counties great cotton crops
| were made last summer. 1t is re-
ported that in those two counties
approximately $10,OO0,00O has been
left from sale of cotton this fall. The
soil is deep and rich. With suitable
| weather. conditions next summer
| wonderful change will be seen in
that territory, according to reports
Cotton will be planted next summer
as far north as Oran. Mo-, a town in
| the foothills of the Ozarks. This Is
about 20 miles this side of Cape Cir.
| ardeau, Mo. 1t is the farthest north
cotton has been grown, but farmers
in that territory say they can make
| it and next year will bring about the
| change.
Negroes from Mississippi are go
ing into that newly promised land.
They are the class of negroes who
believe in growing cotton, those
who know nothing else, and have no
inclination to try out any of the So
called northern generosity"
For more than three weeks the
| Frisco railroad has been carrying
carloads of negroes away from East
Mississippi and others from the del
ia sections. Most all Of them are
moving their families. Some have
| already contracted for cotton grow
ing on shares; others are going In to
make crop on their own hook. All
| these negroes are said to be reliable
and experienced cotton growing peo-
pie.
On the other hand, the Illinois
Central has been for more than a
month hauling negroes out of the
delta territory and from points in
mid Mississippi to Chicago and De-
I troit.
Under ruling agreed to by rail-
roads two years ago no tickets are
sent prepaid. Therefore no passen-
ger man is in position to tell II
any direct communication exists be-
tween the negroes and any agent Of
manufacturing interests.
So far as known there have been
no labor agents sent into the south
to recruit these negroes. They seem
to be acting on their own behalf.
However, two carloads went out last
night over the Illinois Central for
Chicago and Detroit. The travel
has been at that average for the
past two months, heavier Saturday
and Sunday nights than any other
days of the week.
The negroes come to Memphis
during the day, remain about the
depot until northbound Illinois train
No. 4 Is due,then they get their be-
longings together and line up at the
train shed entrance gate. Official
reports made to the passenger de-
partments show destinations of tick