HURRY 40 POINT QUESTION This agreement, made and entered into this 18th day of January, 1879, between Solid South, of
the first part, and John Dawson, of the second part.
Witnesseth: that said party of the first part for and in consideration of eighty-eight pounds of
lint cotton to be paid to the said Solid South, as hereinafter expressed, hereby leases to said
Dawson, for the year A. D. 1879, a certain tract of land, the boundaries of which are well
understood by the parties hereto, and the area of which the said parties hereby agree to be
fifteen acres, being a portion of the Waterford Plantation, in Madison Parish, Louisiana.
The said Dawson is to cultivate said land in a proper manner, under the general
superintendence of the said Solid South, or his agent or manager, and is to surrender to said
lessor peaceable possession of said leased premises at the expiration of this lease without
notice to quit. All ditches, turn-rows, bridges, fences, etc. on said land shall be kept in proper
condition by said Dawson, or at his expense. All cotton-seed raised on said land shall be held
for the exclusive use of said plantation, and no goods of any kind shall be kept for sale on any
said land unless by consent of said lessor.
If said Solid South shall furnish to said lessee money or necessary supplies, or stock, or
material, or either or all of them during this lease, to enable him to make a crop, the amount
of said advances, not to exceed $475 (of which $315 has been furnished in two mules, plows,
etc.), the said Dawson agrees to pay for the supplies and advances so furnished, out of the
first cotton picked and saved on said land from the crop of said year, and to deliver said cotton
of the first picking to the said Solid South, in the gin on said plantation, to be by him brought
or shipped at his option, the proceeds to be applied to payment of said supply bill, which is to
be fully paid on or before the 1st day of January, 1880.
After payment of said supply bill, the said lessee is to pay to said lessor, in the gin of said
plantation, the rent cotton herein before stipulated, said rent to be fully paid on or before the
1st day of January, 1880. All cotton raised on said land is to be ginned on the gin of said lessor,
on said plantation, and said lessee is to pay $4 per bale for ginning same.
To secure payment of said rent and supply bill, the said Dawson grants unto said Solid South a
special privilege and right of pledge on all the products raised on said land, and on all his stock,
farming implements, and personal property, and hereby waives in favor of said Solid South the
benefit of any and all homestead laws and exemption laws now in force, or which may be in
force, in Louisiana, and agrees that all his property shall be seized and sold to pay said rent and
supply bill in default of payment thereof as herein agreed. Any violation of this contract shall
render the lease void.
[signed]
Solid South
John Dawson
X (his mark)

Questions:
According to the contract, what is Dawson responsible for?
What powers does Solid South have over Dawson?
What does the contract stipulate regarding how long Dawson can use and live on the land?
What arrangement is made regarding supplies?
What arrangement is made regarding Solid South’s cotton gin? Does this seem like a fair deal?
How does Solid South secure his payment of rent and supplies? What might this mean for Dawson?
Based on your critique of this contract, is it fair? Why or why not?
Why might Dawson agree to sign this contract?