The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-06-19
rn,roR Opr1.orsAs JeuREA1:

sketch Of 4 recent visit to Mississippi
On Sunday, May i7Eh, we left Wash
ingtOn for New Orleans on the steamer
Bradish johnson, she had q very
good freight, composed principally OF
cotton, cattle, hides, with a large num-
Der of coops filled with fowls, and five
thousand dozen of eggs. Our steamer
reached the city about o'clock Monday
night. KID =.
Tuesday morning at 8 O'Clock found
us /" all aboard on the N. O. g. M. 4. r.
train scudding away for Mobile, which
| place we reached at 2 O'clock r. N. Tar
rying of necessity in that city till G
o'clock, we took advantage OF tile stay,
and saw some acquaintances residing
there. They represented business gem
orally suspended, money matters rather
stringent, country needing rain, but
farmers in good spirits. We found the
merchants there had much more conf
denee in their country friends than the
New Orleans merchants have in theirs.
At 6 o'clock exactly we commenced
rolling away for Meridian on the Mobile
and Ohio Rail Road, which place we
reached Wednesday morning. This trip
being in the night, we had no OppOrtu-
nifty OF observing the crops. We, how
ever, learned the crops, on the route,
were generally small but as promising
as usual. i+-f.7S to! - js.'t =.
In the spring the country was visited
by excessive rains OVERLOOKING most of
their lew lands and "dfowning out
their first planting. On reaching Meri4
dian we found the country dry and need
ing rain. In this immediate locality the
upland is generally thirstyand requires
frequent rains. Meridian, thougha4city
OF considerable Importance, FROM the
fact Of it's being at the crossing OF two
railroads and the terminus of a third,
is not doing the business of its former
palnly days. Several business houses
remain closed for want0f tenants. The
business doing there at-pFesent is only
moderate. They have the dull season
fOrIbusiness there as we'll as here. Their
city claims a population of over four
thousand inhabitants. 1t was laid off
for a large prospective business; but as
yet it seems not to have reached the ex-
peetation of its friends. City property
there will not command more than one
half the amount it did few yearssince.
The citizens there, like ourselves, look
for a material improvement when the
growing crop is gathered. The. city is
not sustained from the soil of itsim1ne-
date locality; but. from the business Of
the railroads, and the large interior
country Farming is principally done
by the whites, and on a small and safe
scale o' 81 ~##". s@.4sAI &U-Esns * J
This is strictly white mans country.
We saw but few blacks compared to the
large white population. The Changers.
here are strong, well organized and in
full operation. Though their two .fa-
Yoritemercantile houses event by the
board" yet they soon found others ready
and willing to Cooperate with them.
The most experienced planters here say.
that farming on a large scale is unsafe,
andsa sure road to bankruptcy. 1 =
This country can raise most every
thing to a limited extent TheHcorn
crop is never very heavy; the soil is
generally thin and better adapted to.
cotton, fruits and cereals. They have o.
ready market, with fullpriees, for every
thing they raise. While there we. no.
ticed n thing strikingly in contrast
with our own country, and that was in
the observance of the Sabbath.
The stores and business houses were
all closed on thatday, the cityduiet and
the people generally attended church.
The Sunday schools and churches were
in a healthy condition. There are sew
eraI Protestant churches there and the
people generallya attend them. We sup
pose, there, as elsewhere, the Ministers
work cheaper than any other class.
Leaving this 8pRaceiof our parental
home on Saturday, Mayf23d, we took the
cars OF hesAlabamla and Chattanooga
Railroad for Livingston, 4SumDter Coun-
ty, Alabama. This place is tine county
town OF the county, being about thirty
five miles east of Meridian. ron the
route from Meridian to this place we
found the land some better, butthe crops
small and needing rain. The business
OF the town lis pretty fair Business.
wasa little dropping on account Of the
stoppage of the Railroad beyond this
point fthepartieala1s of this u will not
trespass upon Your time to explain.9
The citizens OF the place were 6Omplain-
ing OF hard times. They said their taxes
were three per cent. and might be higher
very soon!E The crops generally were
in the county and, like other
places, needing rain. WBfWere inform
ed by some of I'LL friends living there
that the Bigbee, Marion and Alabama
had beenthigher than ever known
Warehouses anddwellings.tllat
had resisted the foods for a life time
had been swept away. We heard but
little of politics during our few DAYS
at this place. We, however, noticed
several names suggested for office in the
" Livingston Journal,p and most of these
names w~ereasubie6t to the ratification
OF convention. We have ever had lo-l
cal attachments for Livingston, havingl
been brought up there.n The place Is
llalloWed by thousands of associations !
of early days We spent several very
pleasant days in visiting and3
relatiV yes. & On Wednesday. Mhy27th. vel
r6traced our steps as far as Meridian.
After leaving IFingston we heard theI
place was visited with afine rain, Rel
naming a feWdaysat MelidiantwitEa our
father's family, Wel enioyede oupself to
hearts content, feeling sad only when
reflected that we must soon ,partI
our dear friends; and PERHAPS To
no more inItlfis life.
In our visit we found the State eov-
sfflnaent giving but little more satisfao-
lion than our WA Thessame state of
affairs seems to exist there ais here. Al
scarcity Oftmoneyland hard times are
prevailing generally as far as we couldf
earn Some We're dissatisfied and Del
slfed q change, but had no country in
view cutters q Oh mOylf1g butt
:ould notsen. Some pictured the COM
liti0n ut their luehlftya q little worse
elsewhere. Anything for Biehahge
IF condition seemed To- snitasthem. TO-
nakesOur own citizens geli1tore con-
ented with their present condition it is
Oaly necessary to- yisits other places and
,ompale.on 5sitlatiolI with theirs. j In
mr. opinion the same energy and per
severance put forth there Co secure d
IeaHt living would if property expended
secure D llalidsome competence.
He same efforts and exeftiOns4 We SaM