Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16
THE SOUTH.
The Planting SeasOn-Evidences OF
Progress i'm sseorgia-The Hah-
rOads-A Look at Atlanta

IL
Progress i'm sseorgfa-The Rail-
rOads-A Lock at Atlanta.
Correspondence of the Union and American
ATLANTA. Ga, April i came up
rom Augusta Yesterday by the Georgia
Railroad All along the line of the road
,lantine is the order of the day, and
,oiiced pretty extensive preparations are
,ejng made for the coming crop. Large /
h;pments of fertilizers have been made
q every county along the road, and for |
counties adjoining these, but as compared
With last year there is a great falling off
n the amount taken by the planters. The
impression of gentlemen whom | met on
he train and at stations along the road,
Is that there viii be large decrease 10
The amount of land planted in cotton as
with last year. The indica-
TORS alorg the line Ct the road are that a
amount of land devoted to
cotton last year will be idle this season.
l have heard it predicted that the cotton
crop of Georgia this year, even with a
favorable season, will not be as large by
at least one-third as that of last year,
but / think this is too large an estimate
of the decrease in planting. Nearly all
the planting ! noticed yesterday in ru1
of one hundred and seycnty-one miles,
was of cotton, and presume that what
is to be seen along the railroad may be
taken as a pretty fair criterion of the
country living back on both sides. The
low price which the staple now com
mands will very likely deter many from
planting as largely as they otherwise
would. But fear other crops are not
taking the place of cotton TO the extCnt
thew should. The sect IN between Au-
gusts and this place is well adapted to
the growing of wheat, but there has
been comparatively small amount Of
that q real sown. So Georgia viii coniin-
ne 10 furnish market for alarge amount
of breadstuffs as well as provisions, for
the absence of cattle and hogs is q notice
able feature in all that portion of the
State through which have passed.
PROGRESS OF GEORGIA.
1t is very correct Indication of thrift
among planters 10 find them repairing
their fences, renovsiing their barns and
stables, and improving and identifying
their residences or building new ones.
This is q very noticeable feature all along
the Georgia road, az it was on the Macon
route. There is scarcely doubt that the
planters in Georgia are in a much better
condition than those of South Caroline.
More life and activity is to be met with
every where in this State, and it is main
", if not wholly attributable 10 the fac
that bad as has been the administration of
public affairs in Georgia, it has been eco
nomical and respectable as compared
with that of South Carolina. Before the
war Georgia was regarded as the Empire
6tate OF the South; and she is asserting
her title 10 that distinction now. In al
most every portion of the State manufac.
tories have sprung up, with the prospects
that they will be largely increased during
the present decade. presume that GeOr,
gia contains to-day as many cotton factO
RES as all the other States in the cotton
belt, and they are all doing prosperous
business. noticed to-day at the rooms
of the State Agricultural Society some
specimens of cassimeTes manufactured by
the Concord Woollen Mills, in Cobb courty,
near Marietta. They were really fine and
will compare fayoFably with such good.
manufactured st the East. The Christ
ian Lpde1 of this city says: "The Com.
pany was incorporated in 1867, and man
ufactured their first goods in the latter
part of 1868. The styles and quality OF
the goods have been SO superior, that they
have met ready sales TO the present time
being success from theirs The Mills
have sixteen looms, three hundred and
twelve spindles. and turn out 2, 900 yards
of goods per month; are run by water
power, which is sufficient to increase the
capacity about three-fold; they work
from % TO so hands. This Company
manufacture spring, summer and heavy
cessimeres, and fine and heavy jeans and
eashmeTettes. When the people of The
mountain region of Georgia and Tennes-
see derote that attention to sheep raising
they should, the manufacture of woollen
goods will become profitable branch of
the produtive industry of these States
SOUTHERN RAILROADS.
have found the railroads IN South
Carolina and Georgia in much better con-
dition than / had anticipated. Consider.
ing the great disadvantages under which
the companies have laboIed, they de-
serve much credit for what they have &C
eemplished in giving the public safe and
pleasant means OF conveyance. The
equipments are really unexceptionable,
indeed may say they are as neat and
comfortable IS is required for the present
at least, while the roadway is smooth and
steady. The trains are under the charge
of clever and experienced men, and poo
ole who travel over them feel that they
can do so with entire safety. This is
one of the luxuries of travel man does
not always enjoy. The only objection |
have heard seriously urged against these
roads is that they do not make az fast
time as they ought. They average but
about fifteen miles to the hour, when
they might make double that with entire
safety.
THE STATE ROAD LEASE.
The lease of the Western and Atlantic
Railrosd Owned by the State Of Georgia.
to combination or ''ringn of wealthy and
influential gentlemen at the low price of
&25, 900 per month, is still an exciting
topic of conversation among citizens of
all classes, and of sharp and rather angry
comment in the newspapers, The road
has always been bone of contention be-
tween the political parties in the State,
and has been used by whatever party Oh
tanned power to advance its interests and
perpetuate its lease Of sntbOIity. L has
been so used, or rather abused, in the
most unscrupulous manner by tho RAD
calls since the war, and so profligate has
that party become in its management,
that the road not only ceased 10 be a
source of revenue TO the State, but was
becoming heavy tax upon the treasury.
Last fall before the election, when it was
regarded as exceedingly doubtful wheth-
er the Democrats could carry the State, a
bill was introduced in the Legislature by
a Democratic member to lease the road to
the highest bidder-but for not less than
$25, 900 pr mOnth-in order 10 get it
from under the control of the Radical
authorities, who were using it to keep up
an army of retainers. For many months
It had not paid dollar into the treasury
of the State, nOtwithst standing it was doing
as large business as when it turned over
to the treasury from $25, 600 TO 500, 900
per month. The fact that the road was
not only not doing this under the Bullock
Blodgett management, but was mourning
heavy expenses which the State would
have to pay, caused the proposition TO
tease the road to be received with popu-