New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20
Our Hot Springs Correspondence
Hot SPRINGS, Ark, June IA, 1875

this place would not be unacceptable, will
give short sketch Of my journey hither.
Leaving New Orleans at six o'clock in the
evening, the first object of interest that
attracts attention is the immense space Of
country flooded by the waters from the
Bonnet Care crevasse. Beginning short
distance above the town of Kenner, it ex.
tends some thirty miles up the road. The
sight of such sketch of country covered and
houses entirely surrounded by water, with
people living in them, is melancholy one.
yet the Inhabitants seemed cheerful and
happy. though their gardens have all been
destroyed by the foods. The action of the
railroad company in raising their tracks
and building sluices at distance Of about
every 1902 yards. is one that has proved of
much convenience to the city. as well as a
source of profit to themselves.
After passing this flooded district all was
for sometime lost in tho oblivion of night.
During the following day little of interest
I was to be seen on the road. except the
crops. From appearances along the road,
| one is lead 10 believe that there is much
larger acreage than usual plant ted thi. sea.
| son. and people seem to think that the
prospec: is good for fine crop. Cotton
nearly all looks fine and stands well. Corn
is only fair, the stand is not as good &C.
| cordingly as the cotton. l saw but few
oats along the road; the fields / did see
were mostly advanced. but not stout. The
wheat crop was nearly all harvested. and,
Judging from the scattering shocks, is light.
The crops in Northern Mississippi and the
small portion of Tennessee. which passed
through, looked better than those further
! South. A: Memphis. a ride from the depo.
| to the Peabody Hotel. disclosed the fact
| that New Orleans is not the only city that
| is blessed with fine Nicholson pavement.
While Main street il not as bad az St.
Charles avenue, it is sufficiently bad to
tempt one to inward profanity.
| After the long. hot, dusty and tiresome
ride to this city good app!icat ion of Mis-.
slssippi water and soap, judicious laying
| ON of .onsorial hands and the finishing
| up By the artistic perambu!atio Of the
knights OF the white apron, make
one feel like new man. ready and
| willing to undertake almost anything
not worse than the resuming of a journey.
At this pon. we have to cross the river by
| ferry. The cars are put on long boat
| and carried to the opposite side Of the
| river, where. ~ a powerful engine. they
| are hauled up :he bank and are ready for
continuance Of the journey. The first forty.
one miles from Memphis to Little Rock the
rlu oil
embankmen:. 1t is a very dangerous road
to travel. as the rails ars warped so that it
seems almost impossible tor the cars 10 re.
main on the track: but when comfortably
seated in :. magnificent Pullman. sleeper. if
one can keep from looking GU: Of the win.
dow, the dangerous road may be passed
without any fear of being ditched. The
management appreciate the danger, and
run very slowly over this portion of their
road. The time for the forty-one miles is
nearly three and a half hours, but after the
danger is past. then is the time that the
iron horse flies over !he track they just
scOot.
After passing this dangerous road. the
remainder Of the journey to Malvern was
during the night. arriving at Malvern at
four o'clock in the morning. From there
We take stage to the springs. The
accommodations On the road are very
good except at sixty-two mile siding. where
we had to pay dollar for as poor break.
fast as ever ate, even at railroad station.
At Hammond. the first night out. we had
fine supper. and at little station between
Memphis and the 'Rock" we found nice
and wholesome supper, much better than
was expected. The only delays from New
Orleans TO Malvern were two hours and
half at Memphis, the half being occupied
in getting the train across the river and
making up for a start, and about one hour
at Little Rock. where We connect with the
Iron Mountain road.
They are now running the Pullman
sleepers from Louisville to Little Rock. We
had an elegant car the day came over.
To persons coming so Hot Springs all
have to say is don't let the railroad men in
New Orleans humbug you. as they did me,
into the belief that you have only twelve
miles to stage it. 1t is twenty-five of the
longest miles that ever were driven from
Malvern to the sprin &c, and over road
rough enough TO shake the hair off your
heads. particularly if it is ioose-the hair,
mean. came over in one of the old fash |
Toned Concord stages. aud | never had SO |
thorough a shaking up for the money in my |
life as got in that twenty-five mile ride. |
II is almost equal to riding over corduroy |
road in an army wagon. Twelve miles out |
We stopped and were RECALLED with an Ar.
kansas breakfast; poor as it was, it was
relished. The long ride we had taken with
out anything TO eat since supper gave US
a ravenous appetite. A railroad is being
constructed from Malvern to the springs.
and is expected to be completed in Octo.
Der next. Whom that is running. it will be
a very easy matter to &c: to the springs.
My stay here has been too short to give
much of an idea of the place, but can give
a little advice to any who may be antic;.
pating coming here. For articles that you
are obliged to have, they charge exorbi'
tant prices. Every person coming here
with the intention Of being regularly treated,
should bring with him two pairs OF red
flannel drawers and undershirts. pair OF
good heavy blankets. three or four towels,
rough and soft. also graduated medicine
glasses. or spoons. large and small, which.
aver may be preferred. An overcoas is not
\ bad article of clothing for this locality.
Persons coming here in the summer, need
% bring with them the lightest clothes
,hay have though white is of yery