Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-19
LITTER FROM MEMPHIS.

LII EaAe n AAO1A AAASe
A Flying Trip TO the Bluff City bya New
ROute-ImpressiOns by the Way-Fhe
Crops - Politics - improvements i'm
Memphis The City Government -
street Railways, etc.
Special Correspondence Union and Americana
MEMPHIS, August 10, 1S66.-Purchasing
the first through ticket from Nashville to
Memphis bv the new short route over
the Edgefield and Kentucky, Memphis,
Clarksville and Louisville, and Memphis
and Ohio railroads, l left Nashville at 10
O'clock. P. NJ, on Tuesday night, arriving at
the State Line junction of the Edgeheld
and Kentucky and Memphis, Clarksville and
Louisville roads, at 1:l5 A. NJ, where close
connection was made with the through train
from Louisville to Memphis. Stepping
aboard one of the luxurious sleeping coaches
of nv old friend, Z. H. PAINE, the ener-
getic and enterprising Superintendent the
Rip Van Winkle line of sleeping cars,
slept soundly until morning, awakening at
the pleasant town Of Paris, in Henry county,
the terminus of the Memphis, Clarksville
and Louisville road. Here an excellent
breakfast awaited the hungry passengers, to
which ample justice was done.
A few minutes conversation with intelll-
gent citizens of Paris, put us in possession
of a few items of interest, relating to crops,
politics. etc. The corn and grain crops gen
erally in that section, though nothing to
compare with the harvests of former years,
will Weld a suficiency for the support OF
the population, and, perhaps, surplus for
market. Cotton will be short, not only IN
| Henry. but in all the counties through
which this route runs. The estimate Is
| half crop, and from the appearance OF the
| fields lying along the road, we are OF opin-
| ion that the yield will not be greater, II so
much. OF tobacco not a great deal was
| pIanted so far South, but what few fields we
saw, promise well. -, -.
The majority of the people are hopeful Of
| the future, and are working with VIII to
retrieve the losses of the war; and, aided by
the finest of soils, healthful climate, abun-
dance ofland and convenience to, and choice
of the best market in the country for their
| products, will succeed, and new ana
brighter day of prosperity dawn upon them'
The political situation is gloomy. Owing
to the fact that no elections scarcely were
held in this part of the Western District
previous to the close of the war, but few OF
the citizens can register without taking the
iron-clad oath prescribed in that monstrous
legislative iniquity known as the new Fran
! chise Law. In Henry county for instance,
we we're informed that only fourteen voters
had been able to procure certificates, and
this out of population OF rearly two thous-
| and. In the counties surrounding, state OF
things very little better exists.
Along the whole route from Paris to Mem
nbis n distance of one hundred and thirty
five miles. the cotton is small and not of a
healthy. vigorous growth. With late fall
and favorable weather, full half crop Will
be gathered. The corn, though suffering
somewhat from drouth, is much better, and
will yield well.
The villages along the line of the road are
all thriving. New houses are being built
and the spirit of progress seems to be at WORK
among the people. Especially Is this the
case at Humboldt, Bells, Stanton and Union
Depot Brownsville, which was partially
DESTROYED during the war, is rising from 1T
ashes. and is likely to become one Of the
most hourishing towns in that section. Here
we learned that a very sad disaster occur
red in the village the night before our ar
rival. The residence of Mr.. K. II. TAY
TOR. a prominent citizen, was set OF
fire about midnight, and burned to the
ground with everything, 1t contained.
was with the utmost difficulty that the taml
" were saved from destruction, and a son o.
Mr.. TAYLOR, promising lad of fifteen, per
ished in the flames. Suspicion attaches t
some white laborers, in the employment o
Mr.. TAYLOR, as the incendiaries. Their
: was much excitement in the town in regarC
to the affair. At Brownsville passenger
down take dinner and those coming thi
wav take supper. The Nelson House, KEEP
, bv Messrs. BRINToN and PLATT, furnishe
excellent meals. The house is only few
steps from the station. The proprietors arr
deserving gentlemen and worthy of public
patronage.
/ During the morning a legal friend, ;
worthy Young member of the Memphis bar
who had been courting IN that region, Jolne'
us, and among other things OF interest," re
[ lated that while in Carroll county he had at
tended the preliminary trial of a maj
before a counrtv magistrate, charged will
stealing corn from a neighbor's crib. Tn
| evidence went to show that the defendan
had been found with his hand in an apertur
in the crib safely fastened in a steel trap
which the owner Of the crib had set 70
! the purpose of catching the thief who ha'
been proving upon his grain. IL was ais
in evidence that two empty corn sacks wer
found living at the feet Of the entrapped IN
dividual. The decision of the magistrat
! was that there was no proof that the prs
/, oner had stolen any corn, and as to bein
caught in steel trap, any gentleman had
/, perfect right TO stick his hand IN one II h
felt inclined to do so.
, Not having visited Memphis for severa
. months we were somewhat astonished )
\ the progress Of improvement during %u
absence. In every portion OF the city "
!, visited, new buildings, some ofthem exceed
: inrlv handsome and costly edihces, hay
! been erected. or are under way.
= Street railways here, as in your city, hav
r proved 4 great success. The hrst groun
r was broken in April last, and now road
i have been built, and cars are running o
F. several Of the principal streets. A doubl
n track extends along Main street for nearl
4 three miles. while many miles are success
r f1IIv operated in the other principal street
= The fare is only six cents 20 any portion
! The citv. and all the cars are constantly lille
h with passengers
a The city, am sorry to say, Is not so We
"a ,,orerne5 as il might be. The Metropolita
= PoTca system is said to work well, but it
y 1,ors adapted to this locality than any oth'
. 7 tnow of. The necessity for IT here h'
, ,,rown ont Of a long series Of inefficient
= 1ss no barsher term-munieipal administr'
: ,ions The Mayor Of the city short tin
= since npbliclv denounced the Board Of Aide