USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 11
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
great importance, and its growing popularity is becom- ing widespread and will continue to do so. The chem- ist tells us, and we cannot doubt this wonderful science, that the meal in a ton of green cotton seed, after hav- ing the oil and hulls taken ont, is better than the whole amount as a fertilizer. That the oil is not pos- sessed of productive qualities, and by taking it away there are other properties in the mass that are freed and go to make one of our most useful fertilizers known to man, and by supplementing some of the necessary elements found in other sources, it becomes far more useful and less trouble to distribute than the seed. There is no doubt that there is a growing inter- est now evinced in the use of cotton seed meal. It is evident to every corn grower who has used it, that the amount of meal taken from a ton will go farther and be more evenly distributed and do more good than the ton of green seed. In the same ratio it applies to the fertilizing of cotton by mixing it with acid phosphate, a less amount will answer and be easier applied.
The farmer should bear in mind that certain pro- portions of ammonia with phosphoric acid and pot- ash, form a perfect fertilizer. and if he can get them in proper proportions, and will apply intelligently, and work well, he will be sure of a crop. Many are the sources of these essential elements; like electricity. they are found in much material of the world's con- struction. It does not matter where they come from so they are available plant-food and soluble in water. Sources of ammonia are castor bean, fish scraps, cot- ton-seed meal, blood and tankage from slaughter-pens. Potash is from German kanit wood, also cotton seed hull ashes and other sources.
Phosphoric acid, raw bone, charcoal, South Carolina and Florida rock, and many other sources are known to
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148
.HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
the skilled manufacturer and chemist. It matters not, as has been said, where they come from so they are in quantity great enough and soluable in water. The rock has the advantage over the raw-bone, that it has been treated with sulphuric acid-while bone is prob- ably as good, but wants a little longer for the natural action of the ground to appropriate these magical qualities of fertilization.
Mississippi has an excellent law as regards fertili- zers. It requires each manufacturer, whether in the State or out of it, to submit samples of the manufac- tured goods to the State Chemist of this State, of such goods as he expects to sell in our State. The chemist makes an analysis of the goods, and each merchant handling these goods has to post this analysis in his office so that all customers wishing can see what they are using. If the purchaser wishes he can take out of any sack of goods which he has bought and have an analysis made by the State chemist, and if it is not a satisfactory comparison he has his recourse upon his merchant, and the merchant upon the manufac- turer; or the farmer buying the goods can reserve a portion out of several sacks, and if the results on his farm products are not satisfactory, he can have the samples reserved and examined, if they have been well preserved, and if that analysis does not prove satis -. factory the same recourse can be had as above stated. Under this law manufacturers in this State have pre- pared and are selling a very fine class of commercial fertilizers, and are meeting with good success. The factory at Meridian, and the two at Jackson, are both doing a fine business. When these fertilizers are hon- estly made and the essential elements are placed in a good base so that they may be equally distributed, there is no reason of there being a failure.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
It is not expected that the use of home-made fertil- izers will be given up under any circumstances, but to increase them rather, would be urged upon the farmer. Use every particle of waste matter, every pound of animal excrement, and vegetable mold, and all accu- mulations around the place, and carefully husband it and so protect as the best results may be had from it. There is very little value as a fertilizer in forest leaves · and pine straw. They will serve as a mulching for fruit trees or beds where you do not expect the grass to grow. They are excellent to put in stables and stalls where they serve as a filter or sponge after they have been well tramped, and in a great measure mould- ed and well rotted, so as to absorb the properties of the compost, and keep it from evaporating and wast- ing. They also serve when placed in the ground as something that will open and keep the soil from be- coming packed. Yet in the decomposition of leaves and straw the merit is so small as scarcely to be ob- served. In gathering them up from the woods, there is a top soil and some vegetable mould that proves beneficial. To secure an amount of forest leaves and pine straw and top earth to go over an acre of poor land would require more work and cost more than would buy commercial fertilizer to enrich two acres.
A comparative view of the use of fertilizers between the years 1880 and 1890, and the great increase of all agricultural productions, with not a corresponding increase of the population, may serve to convince any one that the large use of commercial fertilizers has had much to do with it. The subjoined reports are from the United States census of the products of Newton county for 1880 and 1890 :
"The agricultural products of Newton county for the year 1880 were: bales of cotton, 6,341 ; bushels of corn,
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
261,207 ; estimated value of products sold and on hand in the county, $634,264. The product of the county for the year 1890 was 13,097 bales cotton ; 392,619 bushels of. corn; estimated value of products sold and on hand, $919,330. These are the crops of 1879 and 1889, as the census was taken in the summers of 1880 and 1890, and the crops of preceding years had to be taken. If the product of the county could be shown for 1892, it would probably amount to 15,000 bales of cotton and a corresponding amount of corn and other products, and the aggregate estimate of all the products of the county would go largely over one million dollars. The report of the census on the amount of fertilizers used in the year 1889 is not reported, but is largely in excess of the amount used in 1879. The census shows fer- tilizers used in the county in that year to be $8,905 ; the population in 1880 was 13,336 ; in 1890, 16,600.
It will be seen that the production in the county of everything available for the farmer to plant has largely increased; also the amount of money value, as the estimate of the crop of 1889 over that of 1879 shows.
The most reasonable conclusion for this improvement in crops is the increased use of fertilizers. There is no doubt but that every acre of upland, and much of the swamp land and reed brakes, where they have been long used, should have fertilizers applied to them. They are now cheap, more so than they have been. The sale of these goods commenced in 1871, at $50.00 per ton on time, with about ten per cent. less for cash or if paid for early in the season. This price con- tinued for about ten years, and from that time con- tinued to decline until in the beginning of the year 1894 a good fertilizer is sold for $20.00 cash, and from $25.00 to $26.00 on time. Cotton seed meal has main tained its position on first prices better than other com-
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
mercial goods, owing, no doubt, to a larger demand for it. The ruling price is about $20.00 cash, and $22.00 and upwards on time. Taking the price of cotton and fertilizers, on an average, the latter may be purchased for as little money as it ever has been-in fact for-less money, but with the same number of pounds of cotton.
Every farmer should use these helps to make his crops, not alone on cotton-for of all the products this should be the one most neglected - but on corn, oats, rye, barley, potatoes, and on gardens and fruit trees. This should be done intelligently and with economy. What is meant by economy is not to restrict ourselves to one, two, or even three hundred pounds to the acre. But prepare the ground well, lessen the number of acres in cultivation ; use freely home-made and com- post manures, thoroughly incorporate into the soil ; feed the young plants early and not allow the grass to absorb anything given to the crop; but work less land, plant prudently, cultivate fast, allowing the plants to appropriate every pound of the various feeders given them. Rotate the crops, stop the stock from running all winter on the fields to be cultivated. Occasionally allow the land to rest and grow up in grass undisturbed by stock. With this kind of labor and economy, New- ton county will stand higher in the scale as the banner county, than she has ever done before.
Subjoined will be found some information to the farmers and purchasers of fertilizers as to the manner of making the analysis-some facts taken from Bul- letin No. 3 of W. L. Hutchinson, State Chemist, at the A. & M. College, at Starkville, for the years 1893 and 1894. He says :
" How far the samples sent by manufacturers may be relied on in the purchase of fertilizers, judging from the results of the inspector last season, the sam-
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
ples fairly indicate the character of the goods which are to be sold. There were one or two marked excep- tions last year, but otherwise we found the goods very much of the same composition as the official samples. We note with pleasure the fact that this season a number of manufacturers have been at great pains to have these analyses to indicate the average composi- tion of their goods."
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The prices used in calculating the relative values of different brands of fertilizers: A unit is twenty pounds, or one per cent. of a ton; nitrogen, commer- cial value, is quoted at $3.00 per unit; potash at $1.00 per unit ; water soluble phosphoric acid at $1.20 per unit ; citrate, soluble, $1.00 per unit. The following prices, commercial value, show what a ton would be worth :
2.03 per cent. water soluble Phos. Acid, at $1.20. $ 2 44
5.34 per cent. citrate soluble Phos. Acid, at $1. 5 34
3.55 per cent. Nitrogen, at $3 IO 65
5.26 per cent. Potash, at $1 5 26
Would make a ton worth. $ 23 69 Commercial value, $23.69.
A list of values guaranteed by the manufacturers is appended to show what the cost of each is to the man- ufacturers at the price of the elements composing them :
MERIDIAN FERTILIZER CO., MERIDIAN, MISS.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
Soluble.
cent.
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Home Mixture.
6.00
3.00
2.00
1.65
2.06|$17 45
Southern Soluble
6.00
3.00
2.00
1.75
2.00
17 45
B. B. B.
6.00
3.00
4.00
1.75
2.00
17 45
C. C. & C. .
6.00
3.00
2.00
1.75
2.00
17 45
Southern Acid Phosphate.
11.50
2.00
2.00
..
15 80
-
Nitrogen, per
1. 1
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
STANDARD. GUANO AND CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, . OF NEW ORLEANS, LA.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
cent.
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Stern's Ammoniated Raw Bone Phosphate.
4.00
4.00
1.00
1.65
1.50 $15 25
Champion Farmer's Choice
4.00
4.00
1.00
1.65
1.50
15 25
Standard Soluble
4.00
4.00
1.00
1.65
1.50
15 25
Acid Phosphate.
10.00
2.00
1.00
14 00
MOBILE PHOSPHATE AND CHEMICAL WORKS, MOBILE, ALA.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Mobile Standard.
7.00
2.00
1.00
1.86
1.00 $16 98
Eclipse Soluble Guano.
4.00
5.00
1.00
1.65
1.00
15 75
K. K. K
8.00
1.00
1.00
.85
1.00
14 15
I. X. L. Acid.
10.00
2.00
1.00
.
14 00
JACKSON FERTILIZER COMPANY, JACKSON, MISS.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble,
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
Potash, K. O.
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Royal G
6.50
.50
1.00
1.25
1.50 $13 50
C C. Brand
6.00
.50
1.00
1 00
1.50
12 20
Gulf States Guano
6.00
.50
1.00
1.25
1.50|
12 05
Complete Vegetable
3.00
3.00
1.00
3.00
4.00
19 60
German Kanit.
12.00
12 00
Acid Phosphate.
12.50
2.00
1.00
..
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17 00
..
Ammoniated Guano Kanit.
12.00
12 00
cent.
cent.
In-
Nitrogen, per
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
CAPITAL CITY FERTILIZER COMPANY, JACKSON, MIISS.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
cent.
Potash, K. O,
20 per cent.
Relative value
per ton. .
Nonpareil.
6.00
1.50
.50
1.50
1.50|$14 70
Red Star
6.00
1.50
.50
1.50
1.50
14 70
Acid Phosphate
12.50
1.50
2.00
16 50
Kanit
1.20
12 00
NATIONAL. ACID PHOSPHATE, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Acid Phosphate.
11.00
2.00
1.00
$15 20
G. W. SCOTT & CO., MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ATLANTA, GA.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
cent.
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Gossymer Phospho
7.00
2.00
1.00
2.00
1.50 $14 70
Scott's Animal, Ammoniated ..
7.00
2.90
1.00
1.50
1.00
14 70
Scott's High Grade Acid Phos- pho
10.00
2.00
1.00
16 50
Scott's Potasso Phospho
10.00
2.00
1.80
2.00
12 00
cent.
Nitrogen, per
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
NORTHWESTERN FERTILIZING CO., CHICAGO, ILL.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
cent.
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Pelican Cotton and Corn.
2.00
6.00
2.00
1.65
. 54 $13 89
National Bone Dust
2.00
6.00
2.00
1.65
. 54 13 89
A. D. Bone
2.00
6.00
2.00
1.65
. 54 13 89
MISSISSIPPI COTTON OIL CO., COLUMBUS, MISS.
Phosphoric Acid.
Water
Soluble.
Citrate
Soluble.
In-
soluble.
Nitrogen, per
Potash, K. O.,
20 per cent.
Relative value per ton.
Standard.
7.09
3.67
1.42
2.45
3.03 $22.56
Acid Phosphate
11.95
3.57
.83
17.91
cent.
Let farmers study these formulas of the most re- spectable of standard goods offered to the people of this county, but made at different parts of the South. Wherever we can find to our advantage we should patronize our home companies, but a healthy and hon- orable competition is always helpful to trade and also to the consumer. Let the farmer think of and practice the advanced modes of farming. Cultivate less land ; do it more thoroughly ; enrich to some extent every acre. Plant peas, clover and such things on the ground that have a natural element of improvement in them. Pay special attention to hill-side ditching and terrac- ing the land; bring all the ground upon a level as far as possible. Sub-soil when it is necessary, not using - plows that turn the sandy soil over too much. Con-
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156
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
stantly rotate and rest, and by all means use commer- cial fertilizers, and good results may be expected. There are thousands of acres of old land in the county of Newton that owe their redemption to the use of fer- tilizers. There is no doubt but for its use this county would be deprived of some of the best citizens and farmers, and but for its use the census of 1890, which showed a population largely in excess of the preceding decade, would in all probability have been one-third less. Let our people feel that they are settled for life in Newton county, where they have good society, schools, church privileges, good laws, and a civil, well- governed population ; where they have good water, good health, good markets, a county abounding in fine timber for use and export. With all these ad- vantages, and with cheap lands, why not stay at home in our own county ?
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CHAPTER XVII.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD -- GREAT EXCITEMENT IN POLITICS-INTRODUCTION OF CARPET-BAGGERS, SCAL- . AWAGS AND NEGRO SCHOOL TEACHERS.
THE years of 1866 and 1867 passed comparatively quiet with the people of the State ; also a part of the year 1868. Gen. E. O. C. Ord was commanding the portion of the district to which Mississippi was as- signed.
On the 4th of January, 1868, Gen. Ord was super- seded by Gen. McDowell, who, on assuming command soon issued orders removing from office Gov. Huni- phreys and Attorney-General C. E. Hooker, and ap- pointing Adelbert Ames, Military Governor of the State. With this removal of the Governor and Attor- ney-General, who were elected by the people, began much trouble and dissatisfaction in the State. In many instances appointments to the important and lucrative positions were given to carpet- baggers from other States, who were merely adventurers coming among us for the spoils of office ; also the scalawags, usually men who were objectionable to the Southern people. They were living among us and had gone over to the Republicans, not from a sense of duty and conviction of right, but to be promoted by appoint- ment, as there would be no chance to be elected by the people. There were also some negroes appointed to office, which at that early date was very distasteful
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
to the Southern people. Newton county was rather more fortunate than most of the counties, as a majority . of the appointments to fill vacancies made by removal. were given to good citizens and Democrats. Notable exceptions were in the appointment of one Harvey, as Justice of the Peace, and C. S. Swann, as Chancery Clerk. These men did us great harm. Harvey was a foreigner-that is, from some Northern State-and one of the worst class of dangerous and pliant tools in the hands of any who wished to use him. He came to the county as a negro school teacher ; married one of the Newton county colored women with whom he lived a short time and then deserted her. He did more to estrange the black man from the white citizen, than any man in the county. He came near precipitating a riot between the races, which if it had started, would have resulted in great loss of life to the negroes. He was finally arrested and guarded for several days in the town of Newton, and no doubt but all arrange- ments were made to have him lynched, but wise coun- sel prevailed and he was allowed to escape, no more to trouble Newton county.
C. S. Swann was a Northern man, but had lived in the South for years previous to the war and had mar- ried a Southern woman. But he saw his opportunity to get office. He was postmaster for a time after the war at Newton, and then appointed chancery clerk, which he held until the people of the county had an opportunity to vote in 1872, when they elected a Dem- ocrat to every office in the county. Swann left Newton and went to Jackson, where he engaged in counterfeit- ing money; was arrested, tried and sentenced to the penitentiary, but by some means escaped, and the peo- ple have not been troubled with him since.
There was a notable exception to Swann and Har-
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
vey, in the person of Miss Lynch, a mulatto woman, who came to Newton county early after the war as a teacher of the colored people. She was a relative of James Lynch, the famous colored orator who went over the State and attracted so much attention from the public. He was a candidate on the State ticket for Secretary of State, when Gov. Alcorn was elected. This woman behaved herself and reflected credit on her race, and likely did a good work among her peo- ple while she remained a teacher in Newton county.
The year 1869 was one memorable in the history of the State. The objectionable features of the Constitu- tion were voted upon and defeated. Gen. James L. Alcorn, one of the most powerful debaters and fearless antagonist on the stump, in the State, was a candidate for Governor against Lewis Dent, a brother-in-law of General Grant. In this great canvass Gen. Robert Lowry, afterwards Governor for eight years of this State, canvassed the State with Gen. Alcorn, contest- ing every inch of ground ; claiming the rights of the South and Southern people; standing up against great odds, of both State and Federal opposition, and although he did not succeed in carrying the State for Dent, a lasting 'debt of gratitude is, and always will be due this distinguished Mississippian for the fearless man- ner in which he defended their rights and sacrificed himself for their interests.
Gen. Alcorn was elected and the 10th day of the next March, he was inducted into the office of Gover- nor, being the first man to hold the position under the Constitution of 1868, and the first since the admission of the State, and under his administration fairly com- menced the reconstruction period.
During the reconstruction period of the State, while it was under military government, Freedmen's Bureaus
160
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
had been established both at Jackson and Meridian, . and the newly enfranchised had become the "wards of the nation." These bureaus became great sources of annoyance and much trouble ensued in this country from their patronage, of which more will be said in an- other chapter. The negroes of this county, in some parts, became very insolent and did much to exasper- ate the white men; were insulting in the extreme ; backed as they were by the military, they knew no bound to their rage and hatred and sometimes abuse to the white man, who was intimidated by knowing that a word from one of them would cause him to fill a felon's cell.
It is a noticeable fact that in all the trouble with the Radical and Military party, the appointment of bad men to hold office over regular citizens and tax-payers, and with all the provocations to bloodshed, that no man has ever been killed for his political opinions or his influence in political matters, in Newton county. That the people of the county bore a great deal, and that they were provokingly imposed upon, and that it was a severe trial of their high metal and test of their true courage, which they had ever evinced, that they had listened to more dispassionate counsel and bore what, under ordinary circumstances, would have fierce- ly resented and condign punishment visited upon the offender. No doubt the people feel better now that they bore so much. No doubt it was better for all concerned, as a persistent and peaceful effort on the part of the Democrats of the county, even at an early day, to throw off this yoke of oppression and assume the reins of government of the county, which they did in 1852, and much sooner than did many other counties of the State.
During the Radical rule in the county, from 1868 to
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
1872, the taxes had become very high ; a very large issue of warrants had been made to defray the expenses of the county ; there was no money in the treasury. The consequence was that they were depreciated to an extremly low rate, and those who did work for the county and took warrants for pay, had, in most in- stances, to sacrifice them to those who had money and could wait until they would be good. A great many school teachers lost largely by the disposal of their warrants. The time came, however, after return to home rule, that these warrants were all paid in full, which brought a large profit to those who had invested in them.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
RACE TROUBLES - CONFLICTS BETWEEN WHITES AND BLACKS - RESULTING IN THE KILLING OF BOTH RACES-SECRET AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS - ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT OF OUR WHITE CIT- IZENS.
In order to bring prominently before the reader the . events discussed in this chapter, it will be necessary to take a retrospective view of some things already mentioned. The great change in the relations of mas- ter and servant, brought about by the sudden disas. trous termination of the war, did not for a time bring any conflict between the races. The negroes in the years 1866 and 1867, generally were peaceable, and very good relations were maintained between the races. In the year 1868 Freedmen's Bureaus were well established in the State, and a military government thoroughly engrafted upon it. This new state of things begat an · idleness among the negroes heretofore unknown. They also became more insolent to the white people and harder to govern, and thus began trouble that ended in very tragic events in the county of Newton. When a negro felt himself aggrieved or insulted, he had ready recourse to the military headquarters, and if it were thought proper the white man was brought up and tried by military court, especially if an altercation had occurred between the parties. Negroes, in this state of strife and unrest, would not work, and in many
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
instances resorted to taking things that did not belong to them. This was sharply resented by the owners of the property, and hence the conflict it brought about. The most lamentable occurrence took place in the southeastern part of the county, in which two men were killed and another wounded, the particulars of which are about as follows : The two Denis brothers, living about six or eight miles south-east of Hickory, missed some hogs and went in search of them among negro neighbors living near them, whom they suspected of being the thieves, and made such close search that they found a portion of the pork buried in the yard of one of the negroes whom they suspected of being the guilty parties. After an unsuccessful attempt to settle the matter by compromise, one of the Denises went to Hickory and sued out a warrant to have the guilty parties arrested.
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