Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-11
TIE ALABAMA COUNTRY.

TIRE ALABAMA COUNTRY.
Extract Of letter. dated Taskaloosa. Feb.
ruary 10, 1891, from gentleman 10 that
place, to his friend in Washington, Cul.
pepper county. Virginia.
Communicated for he Wincheste'lRepa6l'ed".
SR-This place contains about 700 in
habitants. all whom are squters, government
not having as yet sold the land. The people
complain heavily of..Uuele Sans neglect, =
charge Mr.. Secretary Crawford with using
an undue influence with the old gentleman
in the business, in order to promote the
grouh of Cahauba; uhich 1t seem, was
particular favorite Of Mr. See-etary's late
friend Of gous-ner Blob.
This policy in the end may turn out eansi.
derabIy toUncle Sans disadvantages ELY,
the Yankee agent forl the deaf$ dumb asy-
lum ofNew.York (who had the privilege OF
selecting a township of public land to sell
for the benefit of that institution selected
the fraction Immediately adjoining the one
on which this town stands. and sold it to a
company who have laid it of in 4 regular
manner for town, and are making every
exertion to further its advancement, and il
possible defeat the views of government
The old site certainly possesses some advan-
tages; but they will be found insufficient to
; detain people whose patience is already
worn threadbare by the interested procras-
tination Of designing politicians.
The town is situated on butiful bluff, on
the eastern bank OF lbe Tuscaloosa or Black
Warrior river, Immediately below the falls,
and at the head ofnavisation, in about north
latitude $50: the river is very narrow, not
being over $50 yards wide at high water,
! but IS very deep; the banks are high. and
are seldom known to overflow; the water has
lately been upwards of SO feet above low
water mark, and yet the country was no
where overnown 10 any extent Steam boats
can come up this high during the winter and
barges nearly all the year.
The appearance Of the town reminds me
forcibly Of some extensive negro quarter in
Virginia;the house. are all one story eObin'.
put up in the toughest manner conceivable;
indeed it Is acomplete s,nge cat. for not with
standing the Inhabitants are all squatter,-
the neglect ofgovernmeni, and the obstacles
occssioned by ,nte-esfed men--it does an i'm.
mense business; nproof Of which need on.
ly inform you that there several houses tina.
pay 6 or 700 dollars annually for freight a.
lone. You here see but few Of the tallos-
feeedgentiy-tbe country being perfectly
healthy, Astounding with fine and never-fai.
ling free tone springs, and 10 as undulating
almost as with US. Within few miles Of
this place, and Immediately on tine river,
they have stone coal in great abundance. and
OF excellent quality, and more iron ore than
many generations can use. You cannot con-
ceive any thing more charming than the cli-
mate at this season Of the year; il is not un-
like our April. I have for several days ex-
amined the Thermometer, placed in an open
entry forty feet from fire, which has mi.
formly about noon stood at upwards Of 700;
in summer the average temperature may be
said TO be equal TO our warmest with nights
sufficiently cool to make blanket lot I'm.
pleasant. A week ago saw wild violets in
great plenty, together with many Of those
early yellow flowers we see with US in April;
and yesterday I saw peach tree in tull
bloom. Cabbages, turnips, salad, mustard,
&c. keep green and fine all the year; and
there is no day but one may have hog jol:
and farnip greene during The winter. Socie.
ty, however, as yon may we'll suppose, re-
quires considerable pruing; which nothing
SO efectuaIy aceomplishes as sale of pub.
lie lands, and Una towR) vigilan, T. ener
getic police. can say with truth never
witnessed before as many rough roll s'tumbl.
fights, as have during the few days have
sojouned here; they have, however, been
principally among the half horse and hal al
i,gator boatmen, who believe every where
take Infinite delight in that rough amuse-
ment. II want OF shame argues perfect in.
nocence (which we are taughtby Moses tobt-
lieve surely does many Of The females Of
this country may with proprlety contend for
the palm with old grandmother Eve, The
u.ual custom al the taverns on the road is for
men, women and Children TO lodge in the
same room and it is not uncommon to see
dsmsel with The most snsa6sra6Le inso-
ceneeview young fellow whilst he is. divest-