The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-08-13
For the anderson MtslHgcncer.
From Anderson to North Georgia.
DALTON, Ga, Aug. 5, 18

DALTON, Ga, Aug. 8, 1874.
3fr. Editor It has long been my privilege
and onor to be friend and advocate of the
A,teMgaecsr, and I have also long felt deep
interest In it's many readers In upper South
Carolina. 1t, therefore, gives me pleasure to
place before them, through the medium of
your paper, few thoughts and observations.
left Anderson some time since on the Blue
Ridge road, and was soon engaged in watching
from the car window the many beautiful and
Aourishing farms along this road between An
derson and Seneca City. 1t WAS with great
degree of pleasure, and hopeful feeling for
the future prosperity of South Carolina, that
I noted the arrangement of the farms this year.
On every plantation noticed numerous stub
le-felds, where wheat and other small grain
had been harvested, and extensive corn-fields
in very fine condition, while at the same
time I noticed but few cotton fields. This is
certainly promising feature in the farming
interests of the country-that of raising the
necessaries Of life at home, and not depending
upon the people of other sections. Would
that the plan was more general.
| Arriving at Seneca City, I found that
would have to remain over night, and there
fore had ample time to stroll over the city.
Building is going on rapidly here, and if kept
up at the same rate for few years it will be a
city indeed The miserable connections made
at this point by the trains on the two roads are
calculated to impress upon travellers an unfa-
vorable opinion of the place. 1t is good for
the hotels, but hard on travellers.
Taking the train next day, l arrived at At
lanta in due time Atlanta is a bustling, bust
ness place, but not tastefully laid out and built
up. 1t has some fine and beautiful buildings,
but they are hidden from view by the narrow
crooked streets. The various railroads having
their terminus here all meet in the heart of the
city, creating q noise and confusion that is
very annoying to a stranger from the country.
However, the people of Georgia are very proud
of having the "Gate City" in their State. I
met several prominent Carolinans in Atlanta.
I take the train again, and am soon speeding
along in the direction of fertile healthy, beau
tiful Northeast Georgia. Having arrived at
Dalton, stop for time. Dalton is a pictu-
rescue little city, situated as it is in beautiful
valley, surrounded on all sides by romantic
looking hills and mountains. 1t has popula-
ton of about $500, who are divided off into
the various denominations of Baptists, Metho-
dist, Presbyterians, Cumberland Prcsbyterians,
Episcopalians and Catholics, all having their
neat and substantial churches. They have
two first class institutions of learning here,
besides various schools of minor importance
The Dalton Female College, although COM
paratively new institution, holds high position
among the schools of the State. The Crawford
High School, branch of Mercer University
is also in very prosperous condition, not
withstanding it is but one year old. Dalton is
certainly an attractive summer resort for pco-
pie residing in the low country. The sur
rounding scenery is grand and beautiful the
health of the location is unsurpassed; the
educational and religious facilities are as COM
plete as could be desired, while the society is
second to none in the country.
When we look at Dalton and the surround
ing country, enjoying the blessings of a good
government, and note the prosperity and hap
piness reigning here, we cannot help admiring
the patriotism, courage and perseverance of
the noble people of this section of the Sunny
South. AS many of your readers know, Dalton
is situated Immediately in the track over which
Shernan's army, like monster dragon, drew
its slow and destructive course. Yes, this
beautiful land has been robbed, pllagcd, de-
stroycd and polluted by the hordes of demons
that overran it for plunder and not for the love
of country. Nevertheless, when the struggle
was over and might was declared triumphant,
the people of this country rose up like the
phoenix from the ashes, turned the sword into
the plowshare, and went to work with
"a hoart within and God oerhead.''
They did not look back and repine over the
past, but went forward, inspired with Il hope
for the future, and their efforts have been
crowned with a glorious success.
After looking around me over this broad,
beautiful and prosperous country-thinking of
what it has gone through, what it is now and
what awaits it in the future-witll Il sad heart
my mind reverts to poor South Carolina, faun-
dcring in the depths of poverty and degrada-
ton, bleeding and dying! Why is calamity
and oppression brought upon her, the once
prond leader in the cause of liberty? The soil
of Carolina is as rich and fertile MS that Of
Georgia, then wherefore is her poverty? Can
it be the fault of her people? "Heavcn helps
those that help themselves Have they given
up in despair, because of the dreadful past, of
the dark cloud that now overhangs them, or of
the gloomy future7 God forbid ! What, then,
is the cause, and what the remedy? Certain
Il is that nothing can be ACCOMPLISHED without