New-York daily tribune., 1843-06-01
Travel at the south-AIabama, sc.


Travel at the South-AIabama, &c.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Ok BOARD STEAMER FoRMoss, }
Alabama River, May lG, 1913.
'Tis but few years since the traveller from the
North to the South was quite a hon among ms
friends, and the journey from New York to New
Orleans no small undertaking. Then the Traveller
required some time to prepare for the Journey
visited all his friends before starting, to say fare
well, and, if he chanced TO be resident OF a
country village, some pious friend would request
the PRAYERS Of the Church for his safe return.
Now-thanks to the Improvements of the age
we can pay flying visit TO our friends IN New
Orleans, and even take look at Texas, and re-
turn home before we are missed. Now, the trip
from New York TO New-Oreans, distance of
about l,S00 miles by the Travelled route, can be
made in eight days and, for some months past,
for the small sum of Ss75,-thc distance between
Madison, Ga. and Mobile, about 620 miles, cost
ing only SIS for all expenses. From Ncw-Or
leans to New York, VIA the Mississippi and Ohio,
the actual expenses still less. Is 1t not mat
ter of astonishmcnt that more of our countrymcn
who cross the Atlantic on tour of pleasure do
not first see something of their own country when
it can be accomplished in short time and at
so small an expense Can it be that they fear
the blowing up and snagging, OF winch they hear
so much on the Southern and Western Rivers
Ifso, let me assure them that one trip will do
away with their fears. When 1t is taken into
consideration that upwards of 40 steamers are
running on the Western waters, the proportion OF
chances will be found small on the side of danger.
l think am not in error in believing that the loss
0f ia h,-f fhn b,r pf hC
Lexington or Erie than it has been on all the
Western and Southern Rivers by snagging, burst
ing Of boilers or burning since the explosion of the
Mosellc at Cincinnati. As regards comfort in
travelling, the best boats on the Mississippi far
pass any IN the Union. The mode of construction
of the high pressure boats is such as to render
inferior boat more comfortable To the traveller
than good boat at the North The boats on this
River that run us regular packcts-and during the
navigable season u boat leaves Mobile and Mont
gomery daily-are very comfortable, although Their
tables arc not kept quite good as formerly, OWING
presume, to the fare being only So and found,
from Mobile TO Montgomery, and vice versa, 4
distance OF 40 miles still, they far better
than one finds roughng ii through the country IN
stages. must, however do the boat on which
the Justice 10 say that the table Is well
kept up and the living on her very good; and
| may safely add, that travellers will always
find good table where Capt. Burrill commands.
OF the Alabama River | cannot say much,
the scenery of it beng rather monotonous, It's
thickly-woodcd banks being continually III view,
except at distant intervals, when the open planta-
tions are seen. The traveller, however, is fre-
auently relieved hv the stopping of the boat to
wooa and 10 take in Cotton from landings along
the River, in addition to the customary sloppageS
at the larger towns. These, however, are bat few
IN number, and the largest would be small al the
North, although the smallest would perhaps, do
more business IN amount than Northern tow,
OF FIVE times It's size. The first after leaving
Montgomery, is Washington, which is the county
town of Autauga County, and is but q small town
1t lies about mile and half from the landing
The next, Vernon, 81 miles from Montgomery. Is
down on the Map, and suppose must be town
although one store, one confectionery, so canec
In tins country, which means = groggcrv, anC
some two or three houses vii! have to make It.
unless there be blacksmIth's shop which have
never seen, but will no, say there is none Ben
ton, the next town, is about 20 miles from Mont
goinery, This place, although small, has been
place OF considerable trade. When Mr. Van BIZ
ren passed down this river, while at the landing
at Benton he is said TO have asked one OF the
citizens why the place looked So dull "Wt
AUoW no., iSi'.lSU NAN4+tAl II Nsts
lively town, but ever Since It's name has beor
changed to that of Benton, il has dropped, anc
eyerv thing has been Stagnan.." The next place
VIC come to is Selma, a very pleasant and pretty
town. located on 4 bluff. This is a place OF some
Importance, as considerable Cotton is shipped
from it; it is also an important landing for pas
sengers, owing TO the country back beng ,hickl,
settled and it is point al which many land tt
take stage for Tuscaloosa, which passes through
Marion and Greensboro. Although there ar,
some farther up, yet this is about The frs, plac,
travellers are apt 10 notice the slide and railroad
so necessary for all bluffs. The slide is for ,hc
purpose of lowering or sliding Cotton down upor
the boat and the railroad for the purpose o; hoist
ing and lowering freight, which is raised by rn'le-
power on the top OF the bluff BY the turning OF :
wheel, which winds up the rope attached to ih'
car. Cahawba, the former capital OF Alabama
Is 20 miles below Selma. and is the county seat
of Dallas County. Ii is bat q StnaN town. Il
ships. however, considerable Cotton, OWING 10 It's
having very fertile and ,h;ckly-set,led country
back of it. Several spots bearing names are to
be seen bet siSty-siS mules intervene tthe dis
tances name are all river distanccs,-bv land
the towns are much nearer before we come TO
another town, which We are now approaching,