The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-20
FROM THE HILLS.
Rise and Fall OF Home and Carthage
Sorry Crops-AnOther Sprishfly
Letter from q max"
CARTHAGE, Tenn, Aug. 10, IA.

LctaSf from - MaX.
CARTHAGE, Tenn, Aug. 10, IA.
l find this ancient town but little,
if at all, improved since last 1 wa:
here. At one time Carthage was g
place Of enterprise second to no coun.
/ ty town in Tennessee. Situated as il
is on the Cumberland, surrounded by
lofty hills, whose crags almost hang
over the town, it presents beautiful
and imposing scene to the traveller
whose way leads him to her limits. Al
this place once was transacted q heavy
retail business of every kind, it being
the shipping point for all this country.
Tobacco was raised in large quantities;
corn grew in great abundance, and
the land was lis fertile as the Nile.
The Supreme Court of Tennessee
met at Carthage once, and the
people were proud of th>ir beautiful
town. Rome was then her rival-as
was ancient Rome to Carthage;-her
rival without the punic faith of All
cient Rome toward her unfortunate
enemy. Alas! chow have the mighty
fallen" To-day Carthage is but the
ghost Of her former self No enter.
prise, no energy, no money and but
little industry, is the cry. l find ev-
erything paralyzed and men looking
sleepy and devoid of energy. The
great curse of this country is too many
idle, shiftless, thriftless men here,
doing no work and keeping town
and country noisy with the cry of hard
times. They need little of Gibson
county "get-up" infused into them.
What say Of Smith county is true
Of Middle Tennessee generally at
least of all over which have travel
ed out of the reach of railroads. Since
leaving Milan | have found no place
to compare with it in pluck and en-
terprise. | find more business doing
in Milan in a day than in Lebanon,
Carthage, Rome and other places all
together in FIVE days. | fear the Mi
Ian people do not fully understand
and appreciate the town. Milan is a
synonym for enterprise, industry and
pluck. Our people should come up
acre and stay a few days to fully APP
preciate our town. l return to Milan
proud Of her enterprise and energy.
This country has never yet recov-
cred from the war. Evidences of its
effects are to be seen on all hands.
Anyone riding through the country
ees much to illustrate the warfare
waged here by relentless and half
savage enemy. Chimneys are yet
standing where the houses were burn
ed by the torch of the Federal soldier.
Battery HIP looks down, grim and
,ullen, at Carthage resting in the sun
light Oh the banks Of the Cumberland,
and many grave, kept green by
woman's care, still greets us at almost
every turn. q But few Of the people
n Gibson county can conceive Of the
method in the madness of these re-
lengcful and relentless enemies In
ibis country thinker Dave" and his
ut-throats, Bill Stokes, 'the hero of
rhc calfkiller," ard his rufians, and
numberless lesser bands roamed free
from danger.
Speaking of the war reminds me
that | saw to-day OIL the streets Capt.
John Allen, of the "Tow-heads," C1.
John A. Fife, j. A. Cofler, the old
utler, now Sheriff of the county and
recently reelected by a great MAORI
ty, and fir number of the privates
Of ''Co. B." l also meet daily with
members of eco. K" the old Blues,
commanded by Bob IIattOn, such as
Bob Anderson, Bill Cato and others.
| also occasionally stumble upon one
# the host known in our regiment lis
"Co. O." | honor man in an hum
be position who in those days Of war
nd strife did his utmost. | find some
of those same humble individuals who
conspired to make go. q" immortal.
they were humble, not minding get
ting in the dust or mud, and ever
ready, in their humility, to give all
the "pomp and circumstance Of glo-
rious war" for one nights rest with
the wagon train, far in the rear.
They were 10 Pharisees, and | find
them no more so to-day than then. |
met one Yesterday, and he was sec
ond edition of Uriah Hep for humiI-
ity.
1 find crops as bad as they can be.
Only saw one good crop Of corn that
could be spoken of as good between
this place and Rome.
The county election passed off qui-
city. Only one hotly contested office
and that the County Court Clerks.
For Sheriff, J. II. Corder is re-elect-
ed; for County Clerk, Sam Allison,
heating Pickering only "a votes. ?.
is a radical brother and hoped to slip
in by a multiplicity of candidates.
For Tax Collector, 10. Cato is elected;
for Register, Dolph Williams; for
Trustee, West, and for Circuit Clerk,
Petty. In Wilson county the race
was warm for County Clerk, the race
being between Rufe McClain and Jesse
a. Il l., D|0