Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1888 — THE SOUTHERN STATES. [ARTICLE]

THE SOUTHERN STATES.

Considerable interest has been aroused in tho South by some statistics which have been collected, showing that Southern and Western lands are fast passing into the hands of foreign and Eastern money-lenders. An Atlanta (Ga.) special says: In Georgia these companies have placed many millions of dollars, holding mortgages on the finest farm lands in the State, The interest paid by the farmer amounts to 12 per cent, Capital of this kind is still being poured into the South, notwithstanding the fact that Judge Speer, of the United States Court, has decided such interest usurious and the loans accordingly forfeited. The syndicates are principally formed of English and Scotch capitalists, and they have such a hold in the South that they hope to reverse Judge Speer's decision. The borrowers have allowed their interest payments to lapse, hoping that Judge Sp< er's decision will bo sustained and that they will not be f orced to pay either principal or interest. In the Southwest there is, perhaps, not less than £2e0,000,0t0 invested in this way. In Kansas alone over $20,000,000 has been placed. A Knoxville (Tenn.) special reports the death in that city of Aunt Mary Young, colored, at the age of 115. Records of the family to which she belonged show that she was born at Fairfax Court House, Va., in 1773. She retained her mental faculties up to a few days before her death. The war of ixtermination goes bravely on between the McCoys of Pike County, Kentucky, and the Hatfields of Logan County, West Virginia. A telegram from Catlettsburg, Ky., says: As soon as the last sad rites of the late butchery were over the McCoys organized a posse and visited the Hatfield settlement in West Virginia for the purpose of annihilating the gang. The posse visited the Hatfield house, and finding no one at home they repaired to the woods to meditate a few moments. Their secrecy was of short duration, for the Hatfield gang was soon upon them, and a egular battle ensued. After the smoke had cleared away it was found that the Hatfield party were badly worsted, and three of their number were killed, while none of tho McCoy posse were hurt. Those known to be killed were Johnson Hatfield, Thomas Chambers, and John Vance. The authorities are powerless, and the war will doubtless be waged until one side or the other is completely exterminated, as no one in authority seems to care.