The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-23
GheGatelligsrrer:
A journey Through the South.

A Journey Through the South.
AS announced in our columns several
days ago, Mr. E. P. RHODES, Of Bridge
port, together with his wife and daughter,
nave recently returned home from an ex.
lensiye trip Of several weeks duration
through The South. They went to New
Orleans from Cincinnati on the steamer
Thompson Dean, along with q number oI
tNCuFsionists from that city who had set
out to visit the Mardi Gras festivities that
ae so famously got up every year in the
Crescent City. The steamer stopped al
several prominent points going down the
Mississippi river long enough to give her
passengers time to reconnoiter their prin.
cipal places ofinterest, and finally landed
them at their point Of destination in time
tor the festivities.
After remaining in New Orleans lor
several days, Mr.. RHODES and his family
proceeded on their journey through the
South by going over to Mobile, spending
day or two at that point, and thence
going to Montgomery, the Capital Of
Alabama, and spending a day or two
more there; thence TO Columbus, Ga,
and from there down to Euiaula, and so on.
across the States Of Georgia and Florida
to Jacksonville and St. Augustine. In
this long journey, by various railroad
lines, across the vast stretch Of country
that intervenes between the Missis-
sippi river and the Atlantic ocean,
Mr. RHODES tells US that he trav.
eled as much as hundred miles
At one time without meeting q single pas.
senger or freight tram. Their own train
was the solitary occupant OF the road
From this statement the reader can form
sn idea OF how meagre must be the bust.
uess doing over at least one east and west
line in the very heart OF the Southern
country. 1t does not argue very high
degree OF prosperity most assuredly for
that region. On the contrary, it denotes
what Mr. RHODES says everywhere met
his observation throughout his journey,
that the South is, pecuniarily, in a condi.
ton almost deplorable.
The evidences ol her dilapidation and
absolute poverty are 80 manifest that he
who runs, or even rides on railroad
train, may read, The cotton crop, which
IS OF course the great crop of the South,
aud her main dependence, was practically
failure last year. That Is to say, the
expenses ol raising the crop were so'great
as compared with present prices in New
Orleans and other Southern markets, that
it is estimated that it will, in at least one or
TWO Of the Southern States, net loss of
two cents per pound to the planters Then,
too, the sugar crop, in the State OF Louisi.
sna, which amounted 10 only 75 900 hogs
heads this last year, instead Of three hun.
dred thousand, as in the days before the
war, has been sold al a loss, having
brought, in some instances, only z cents
per pound for gwell-known brands, as
against Of cents Last year.
Under these circumstances 1t was not
surprising that Mr.. RHoDRs found money
exceedingly scarce in the regions he vls-
tied, and the people good deal demor.
allied and disheartened in consequence
AS showing how values have shrunk on
account Of this stAgnation of business and
scarcity Of money, he told US that al one
point he visited, Enfaula perhaps, hotel
that would sell in Bridgeport for $4,000,
and that was bought as bargain some
time ego $4,000. could be bought now
for $500 And this is specimen Of the
way property Is deprecated at many
points along the line OF his journey.
Lands would not perhaps bring one.half
their price before the war. He told US Of
one gentleman who had two sugar planta.
tions, one Of which had netted him loss
Ol $l0, 0,O0O-last year, and the other $l5,.
900. Naturally q man, whose purse was
not plethoric, would feel inclined to sell
ont cheap after such an experience as that.
In New Orleans the labels "fo. rent" on
thehouses are not few by any means, and
tell tale Of unsuccessful business, high
taxation and general retrogradation, that
indicate that times have strangely altered
in the great mart Of the South. The
taxes in New Orleans at this time are up
10 six and half per cent, and the valu-
stion Of property Is correspondingly
enormous. For instance, house that
would probably sell for four thousand
dollars Is valued, tor taxation, at twelve
thousand, and on this valuation the levy
is six and . half per cent. Mr.. RHopRs
congratulated himself that he Ia not the
owner OF any real estate in that city. He
prefers to own property in smaller place,
like Bridgeport. And what is true of
New Orleans, is equally, and perhaps
even more strikingly true Of Charleston,
South Carolina. That city has never yet
rebuilt its burnt district, and there Is but
little encouragement in the way OF busi-
ness prospects to do so. 1t shows the evi.
dence Of decadence in the shape Of rotten
and iorsaken wharves.
In Florida, Mr.. RuoDRs and his family
met great many Northern people, who
are there in search OF health or pleasure;
among them Mr.. f. L, PRcK, oi Cleve.
land, heavy ireighter Of Lake Superior