Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-17
pmyRsDAY MORNING. MARum no 1885,
From the Ala6amian.

HUNTSVILLE, North Alabama, a
town situated in lat. "a deg. so min. in
that valley, which borders the Tennes-
see River, & which DR.. Morse calls the
.Garden of North America" was a
few years since wilderness, and tenant
ed only by the SONS of the forest. In
the year 1909, Col. LIE Roy Pope; from
Georgia, selected the site, and in the
year following, purchased and laid out
the town. The subsequent demand
for American Cotton, making it an ar
ticle of the greatest agricultural and
commercial importance, induced many
enterprizing Planters from Virginia
and Georgia, to seek in the wilderness
of this territory,a soil adapted to its
culture & climate congenial with its
growth. The Tennessee valley was
favorable in both ;and the fertility OF
its soil soon spread throughout the
slave holding states and the herald OF
its fame was borne back with a tide
of emigration, which soon rolled over
the western forest turning the wilder.
ness into fruitful fields, and those fruit
full fields into paradise. Huntsville,
being located upon an eminence, 10
miles from Tennessee River, in the
midst of vast body of the NEST fertile
land, possessing all those natural al
vantages, which unite healthiness OF
situation with the facilities Of trade,
could not fail to be selected, as desi-
rable residence, to all emigrants enter
ing upon estate ofuntried being" in
the country, reputed to be unhealthy.
Its rise was astonishing and few villa
ges have probably had a more rapid,
and at the same time more substan-
tial growth. 1t is now one OF the most
fiourishing commercial towns in the
south western country, containing,
withinits corporate limits, about 1000
inhabitants. Till 1919 the territorial
Government was administered here.
Alabama at that time was erected into
state Government, and admitted into
the union when it became expedient
to locate her capitol nearer the centre
of the state. During the campaigns
of Gen. Jackson in the Creek Indian
wars, this was the place ofgeneral rem.
devious, and deposit for military
stores. The annual imports to Hunts
vile amount to S25o,ooo; the exports,
from the county, exceed annually $780,
900, leavinga large balance OF trade in
its favor. Public Improvements are
literally encouraged. A Masonic Hall
has lately been, and new theatre is a.
bout to be added to the public buildings
The town is supplied by remarkable
spring of water, discharging 700 cubic
feet per minute, which by means OF hy-
draulic machinery is forced into a re-
scrvoir upon the public square, from
where it is conducted in pipes to every
part of the town.
The traveller, as he approaches, is
astonished at the appearance OF min
iature city, embosomed in forest, pos
sessing all the advantages and enjoying
most of the pleasures Of places centu-
ry head oft in Improvements. lie
views the public buildings, land wonders
that individuals, from every corner Of
the globe, thrown together by the vari-
Gus freaks offortune, could act in con-
cert for the promotion of any object.
Should the projects ofinternal improve
ment now under consideration, be car
ried into effect, water communication
will be opened, to our very doors, with
the whole commercial world. A COM
pany has been chartered to cuta canal to
intersect with the Tennessee River, and
survey made with favorable report
of its practicability. A survey OF a
route around the Muscle Shoals is also
authorised With these artificial adj
yantages, Huntsville must still contin-
ne to increase in trade and wealth, and
still remain the emporium ofthe Val
lev, which now contains population
of more than $4,000, and the value of
animal exports from which, amount
in cotton alone, to t,co millions and q
hayofdO!lars.