Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-30
TO THE CAPITAL OF Upton.
p.,,roaa excursion 90 Covington-
Lsfe IN the Old Land Yet

The Paducah and Memphis railroad
being completed in good running order
to Coyington, the ancient county seat Oh
linton thirty.seven miles from this city
an excursion trip was made to that point
last Saturday, the 2sth inst. The party
on hoard numbered about one hundred
and forty, which filed the two cars that
followed the tender and put slight pre-
mimi on standing room. The following
.ra the names of few OF the CROWD
Mavor John johnson, Captain A. i.
Lacey T. c. Bleckley, Esq, John
Toagne P. M. Winters, Ed Shaw, Jos.
CIonston. General Patterson, A. D.
white Paul Cicalla, E. c. Mcclure
Major John Rosser, Mr.. Clarke 5. NJ
lobe Harry Tomlinson, c. A. Beehn'
R A Parker, o. F. Prescott, E. +. Risk
IA Signaigo, George Shields, Andrew
Davis B. F. White, B. F. Duncan, A.
d. Langstaff, H. G. Dent, F. W. Irvine
A. NJ Ferguson, j. 81. Smith, Z. "
yo0el and Messrs. Dupre, Jones, Pope
Thomas and Mathes, of the press; also
r,orv others not now remembered.
The train moved off at eleven o'clock
from a point in the Navy Yard at the
foot of Washington street, and after
clearing the suburban saw-milIs ana
crossing Wolf river on good solid
bridge entered wild looking, heavily
timbered country, which up to the be-
ginning of the war abounded with
deer turkey and smaller game. These
lands when drained and cultivated Will
be highly productive, as the soil is rleh
and black and the vegetation luxuriant.
Occasionally the excursionlsts were
greeted with the sight Of highly cult-
vated farm with tasteful improvements,
evidently the abodes Of intelligence and
refinement but oftener they saw little
claarings as il in some wild western
country. Not a single well worked
field of corn or cotton was seen on either
side of the road. This may be owing IN
a great measure to the wet season, but
from the number Of able-bodied colored
folks of both sexes and various ages seen
fishing in the ponds and bayous when
they might have been pulling weeds IN
their fields and patches, it is inferred
that the labor system is sadly out OF
gear. Nature has done much Tor this
country, but man has not done hall MS
dutv Nearer Covington, in the up
lands. the crops, although smaller and
shorter, have been better worked, ana
we should say that an average Of half a
crop will be made all along the line.
It was after one o'clock when the
train was received by shouting happy
crowd at Covington. The Mayor of the
city. Mr.. Shelton, formerly worthy
typo. as he is now an influential and
leading citizen of his town and county,
came forward and welcomed Mayor
Johnson and Colonel Lacey, at the head
of the Memphis delegation. The entire
assemblage moved across to the shade
of some noble trees near by, when the
Hon. Holmes Cummins. member of the
Legislature from Upton county, APP
peared on behalf of Mayor Shelton and
the citizens of the county and delivered
an admirable address of welcome, which
has already appeared in our city cotem-
poraries. Mayor Johnson and Mr..
Lacey responded in BETTING terms.
After some further introductions and
hand shaking the excursionists were in
vited by Mayor Shelton to repair to the
hotel, where an excellent dinner was
served and washed down with foam
ing goblets Of piper Heidsick. There
. we're no toasts, no further speech-making.
The crowd was mostly made up Of prac-
teal men who never made speech in
their lives and never intend to. The
enjoyment Of the occasion, however,
seemed complete, and the air Of fatigue
aud hunger which may have marked
some soon charged 10 an expression Of
relief and entire satisfaction. The din
ner was over at three o'clock, and an
hour was spent in a social and converse
tional way, and a kindly interchange Of
congratulations between the Memphians
and the Tipioniaus. All parties were
mutually pleased-the Memphians at the
idea Of direct trade with this rich sec
ton. and the people up there at the
thought Of reading the LEDGER every
day il Is printed, ani doing their shop
ping 10 the city without having to stay
away from home over night Mutual
satisfaction beamed on every counte-
nance. Yet We doubt whether more than
half dozen in all the crowd reflected
upon the importance Of this great rail-
road enterprise beyond lie local utility
and convenience. Many Of them are
not vet aware that TINS i 10 be one Of the
longest lines running north aud south
under one management in the country
thar il viii a. an early day become q part
ofa Grand trunk line Tor passengers and
f-.;rLt from Louisville 70 ssOrleaus. Il
v;l also afford access from The South to
CHICAGO on an air line. and Is destined
- b one Of the vast ihorogbiarsa Ink
ing The North and the SootA. L,iiis a.
a. been said or thouehi about ~ Ais