The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-16

A travelling correspondent OF the New Y0rk
Times is giving some very pleasant sketches OF
the condition Of various localities in the interior
of Georgia. Writing from Amcrcus, under date
OF March %, lie says:
The town from which this letter Is dated is the
centre OF the richest portIen OF the best cotton
region in the State OF Georgia. 1t contains from
FIVE to six thousand Inhabitants, is beautifully
situated, contains many handsome residences,
several fine churches, wellbuilt and commodi-
Gus courthouse. and number Of excellent stores,
warehouses, &c, with brisk, sound and steady
trade. In enterprise, business activity, and sub
stantial comfort, 1t eXcels many larger and more
pretcntIous cities, and II 1t continues to improve
Us 1t has improved during the past year, IL will
IN sns Of e m
Macon at A. M., the traveller reaches
Americas at noon, and finds himself in
the mldst Of rich lands where twenty bushels Of
corn and bale OF cotton to the acre are the ordi-
nary production. He sees in every direction,
after he enters Sumter County, large fields OF
level land Of black, loamy sol to great extent
free from unsightly stumps, well enclosed and
carefully cultivated, in which the corn has been
for the most part already planted, and in some
favored spots just showing Itself above the sur
face, and In which the preparations have been
made or nearly 80, to plant the cotton seed. All
the appliances on the plantations exhibit the pres
ence or ease and comfort and, better STILL OF i'm:
provement. The mules look fat and well-cared
lor, the wagons substantial and In good order,
the fences well built and Ia good repair the dwell
lings and outhouses commodious and tidy, the
negro laborers cheerful well.behaved Industrious,
welfed, well-cad and well.l0dged, and every
thing indicating prosperity thrift, intelligence,
good order and solid wealth.
TIE SPRING WORK.
Although upward Of two thousand tons OF cem-
mercIal fertilizers have been distributed from the
AmerIcus depot during the present season, the
storehouse and platform are still filled with sacks
aad barrels OF these compounds, whose presence
can be easily confessed long before they are SEEN
Notwithstanding the natural fertility OF the land,
these powerful stimuIants to increased produc-
tion have been employed this year to a greater ex-
tent than In any previous year, and though,
owing to the heavy rains and rem. TemarKaOie cOia
backward / found, as Ihave already stated, most
or tile corn planted, and everything ready to
commence planting cotton when the weather
will permit.
EXTENT OF COTTON PLANTING.
I wish could report that the area OF the pro-
vision crops had been largely increased. and That
to be devoted to cotton Proporton2lly diminished;
but believe that the relative proportion OF 1862
will not be materially changed, and that going
practice. Indeed, from all ] can see and learn,
this is not only true-of this section, hut Will be
found to be so throughout the agricultural por-
tons Of the State. Last year the planters In this
section acted more wisely than those OF other
places. They planted to produce 'enough TO DO
them,'' and generally succeeded; but few raised
any surplus, While many have been obliged to buy
to feed their hands and stock until another crop Is
gathered. do not see that the lesson OF '6s has
produced any salutsry effect In other portions OF
tile State, where the "all.cotton and no-corn ma
nian was more prevalent than IL was ID tnls
neighborhood, Ii still RACES, and while every ln-
diyldual farmer declares most eloquently that IL
is supreme fslly not to plant "a plenty Of corn
first and then plant as much cotton as you can
send,n find that these very men who preach
such sound doctrine are going to repeat their
F1lt,v F1aot hnnk
one will follow their good advice while they plant
"all cstton," and that thus they will have Dig
crop, and ''get big price," Cotton planting tlis
year will be fully three weeks behind lle ordi-
nary time The weather has been unprecedented
ly inclement. On Friday and Saturday OF the
last week there were heavy continuous rains. and
though yesterday and to-day have been dry, the
are that the "wet spelr' is not yet past. Ordl-
narlly In this region, every one Is now planting
cotton. Now 1t would be worse than Idle TO plant
for the next fortnight.
SCARCITY OF LABOR.
There Is very general scarcity OF labor In this
part OF the State. Some few large planters have
q force equal to that they had last year. These
are men who continue TO employ their former
slaves whose home attachment has induced TO
stay where they "wes born and raised,' ana
and strict Justice have convinced that they can.
not "better themselves There are many, now
ever, who have O much smaller force than in 'e0
anu Llley IlAFc uOL pteu uulC ny duy cuolb w Az
crease It. There are several too, who have almost
no laborers at all, and who are compelled to asan-
don the Idea OF making q crop. The railroads
under construction, the promise OF higher wages
In Louisiana aud Mississippi, and the allure.
ments OF town life, are the principal causes OF
this dlminution Of the available laboring force.
CONTENT OF THE HANDS.
Those who have remained and are at work seem
as happy, contented and thriving set ofpeople as
ever saw anywhere. They work well. and in
many places have induced their wives and daugh-
ters TO aid them, In order that their share OF
christmas mny be larger. This Industry among
the "colored ladles' Is confined to this region.
Elsewhere the dolcr jar ntente Is the prevalent
taste OF the negro women. The prospect gene
rally about here is very cheering. The relations
between the two races are ordered BY Kindness,
justice and goodwill. Plenty and eontentment
are found everywhere. Intelligent Improvement
Is making bene0cent marks all around. Culttra-
tlon, refinement and the luxurles OF life follow
progress as effect follows cause and II were
asked to exhibit to q stranger the best and most
attractive views OF the planting portion OF Geor-
gla, should certainly conduct him to Americus,
let lin see the plantations In tile nelghborhood,
Introduce him to the Inhabitants. and give him
an opportunity to enjoy their elegant and un-
ostentatious hospitality.
Although the population OF New York City is