The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-05-27
ITEMS FROM THE HILLS.

rY, Dut u lew ltenlS may Dc ftilSheu by
our readers.
Having been reared in the hills, and
knowing we'll every impulse of those
people, and understanding even the
smile, the frown, the groan, the sigh,
and the amen! il may well be received
that what we say is true.
The idea OF going back I" oar 1,eopie
was the great JOY of our trip, and one
months mixing with them proved to
us more than we ever anticipated. TO
say that they received us kindly, would
give no conception Of the warm EN-
braces, joltings in the side, and square
out love licks in the back that we have
felt in the last four weeks.
To give you an idea of that people,
we simply state that when we arrived
in Homer we concealed Ourself in
MaXey's store, that we might moi be
led into the paths of temptation. In Il
moment we We're discovered, and from
that time till dark no pen can describe
the affectionate row we had among
friends. We were invited ninety times,
and never refused!
After this we attended u picnic, at
which, to our notion, everybody was
happy and joyful and for days after,
even to the time of our departure, tur-
keys, chickens and vegetable dinners
were the order of the day. At one time
we saw the Dutch joyful, the Radicals
mellow, and the Democrats happy.
But enough of this; solid facts now
claim the attention of reading men.
About the 18th of April the corn crol,
looked we'll, but the heavy rains set in
and continued, and on the 18th Of May
the crop was very little larger and not
looking near 50 we'll. We never saw
the crop so back ward, and it is now be-
lieved that II full crop is impossible
but our notion is that, if the seasons are
good, these people will make thousands
to Use and to sell.
We never saw the little towns so
scarce Of negroes. They are really APP
preciating the crisis. With no money
nor credit, they have no inducement to
} visit town; and, having become
alarmed, have gone to work in good
earnest, and will he proud if they come
out with a living.
We never saw the hill country in II
better state of cultivation. The houses
are repaired, the fences in good order,
hogs scattered here and there, with n
thousand cattle grazing upon the hill
side. An abundance of corn has been
planted, and we have no doubt but that
an abundant crop will he the result.
The first thought of moment to Mon
roe is the idea prevailing in the country
that Monroe is good grocery market,
and that they would like to trade ut
the place, but for the trouble ofcrossing
the river. This presents to the com
mercial men of Monroe the question of
a bridge. Will you build it, or not:
Citizens of Monroe! it is alone for
you to say whether you will build up
the city, extend the chain, or be- con-
tent with Il dull, dead existence This
is a question for you to think about, and
not the hill people.
Our hill friends are much concerned
about Railroads, and it would he Il hap
Ply task if we could only give them one
word of encouragement. We have no
tidings that the road from Monroe to
Shreveport will be- built now. That it
will finally be completed, we have no
doubt, hut mhel ? is II question not to
be answered by this generation. 1t is
believed by some that if this link is not
built ut once it will never he, because,
when the roads from Shreveport to New
Orleans and st. Louis are complete, the
road from Shreveport to Nickshurg
will bel 'iettd letter. This is the opinion
of some fnr-sccing commercial men. 1t
is thought by others again, that this
road will be purchased by Roberts Il
Co., who will finally buy the road, but
who are now playing the bluff game to
get the road cheap. We give these rs
simple opinions and for the benefit of
our hill friends, who will bc looking
for Il line from us.
AS to the road from Alexandria to
Fulton, W" hav" only to say it is Il H,uH
Mi,,g and never was anything else.
There never was anything feasible,
practicable or sensible in it.
The hill country, between the Red
and Ouachita rivers, has Il good pros
pcct of having no road for years To come.