Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-01-28
The Sunny South.
LETTER FROM DR.. D. W. AvERILL.

FRIEND WREGeLEswoRTH. have often
heard of the sunny south" but never be-
fore realized the delightful change Of the
climate, and the wonderful difference, as
have during this trip. Leaving the cold
and frigid climate of Wisconsin only three
weeks ago. and coming direc, to this ex-
IRENE south, the change is truly wonder
full. Since wrote you from Vicksburg,
| have visited New Orleans, ia kson,
Miss; Huntsville, Ala; Atlanta, Ga. and
many other places, and am now at Mobile.
The weather is mild and pleasant, about
such weather as you would be likely to
have in June; there is no snow, and no
signs of 1t. | have several times seen
particles of hoar frost in the moi ning>,
out aside from that it appears TO be per-
prtual summer, and to use common
phrase, | am quite taken with the south
and this State 10 particular. shall pro-
baby locate somewhere in this state. or In
Georgia. between which there is not much
difference.
Business is good here, that is consider
| ing the prostration caused by the war,
from which they are recovering as rapidly
as possible. This state has many natural
advantages, and lacks nothing but capital
aud enterprise TO make it one OF the rich
est states in the union. On entering the
state was most favorably impressed with
its great timber resources. In the south
crn part the whole country is covered with
forests of long-lcafcd yellow pine; it grows
to an enormous size, and affords excellent
and durable timber for all purposes, be-
side, yielding tar, pitch, and turpentine
IN great abundance. The timber region
extends northward from the guilt OF
Mexico, distance Of ninety miles, and
Tor the entire breadth of the state and cor
tains, am told, IL, 900 square miles. In
the low grounds and along the creeks
there Is an abundance of oak, ash, hickory,
poplar, cypress, various gums, magnolia,
red cedar, and other varieties. The
Alabama and Tombigbee rivers ar" quite
large, and are said 10 be navigabie for
steamboats,; they flow into the bay Of Mo-
bile and afford with their tributaries an
easy outlet to the great timber region.
The only railroads of any prominence are
the Mobile T. Ohio, extending from the
city of Mobile in a north-westerly direction
and connecting with the railroad systems
Of the southwest, and the Mobile and
Great Northern Railroad, which runs in a
north easterly direction from here.
The state is said to be healthy; people
think they live as long here as they would
if they were frozen to death once year;
may be they do, but l hardly think they
look as fresh and healthy as our robus.
north wcsterner's.
The cotton interests of the state are
looking " some; the people claim they
have as good soil for cotton and as good
cotton plantations as any state south.
The people here appear very proud OF
| their State, and think there is no such
climate and advantages of timber, water,
soil, &C., in the world. The claim tina;
| their mineral resources are not whit
behind thrir sister states, and as | have
been taking notes | will at some future
time give you the benefit Of them. There
are many advantages here which you
northerners can never enjoy; man does
not have to toll two thirds Of the year to
keep himself the other third, but he CAN
keep steadily at it, and make his whole
years labor count. Provisions are cheap,
the climate is agreeable, and raw material
plentiful, but skilled laborers are scarce,
and command good wages. Farm hands
can be had very reasonable, the free labor
system appearing to work well, and
planters and others employing hands
already have larger profits than under the
slave system. The people here tell the
that the. operations of the last two years
have shown that the coored laGorers VIII
do better work as free men than they did
as slaves, and don't doubt it, nor do |
blame them for it.
Although l like the south much better
than | anticipated, | often think of you
way up north, and as have not had a
word from any one since leaving. | am
doubly anxious to see the Chronicle and
hear the news from home.
l am, Yours truly,
d. w. AvERILL.
1 Mobile, Ala, Jan. 18th. 1870.