The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-03-11
the frst thirty miles we passed over some

the 1rBC thirty miles we passed over some
of the finest sugar plantations in Louisiana
Many of than are deserted however anG
have not been worked since the war. The
ground is now being plowed and prepared
for the crops Every third year it has to be
re9lanted. This is done by covering ur
in the sell single Joint of the sugar cane.
We counted fifteen to twenty teams of q
single mule blowing on single plantation.
Not far of would be seen ten to fifteen men
and women (colored) at work with spade
and picks. Others in squads would be dig
gine bitches. The lewest lands were being
plewed while the water would follow the
furrow. These are rice fields. The overseer
on each plal tation was seen riding round
horseback directing the labor.
There Is great want of labor in tho Gulf
States. The best of the negroes take hold
OF work and receive good wages. Most
generally they work the land on shares.
But there are great many negroes who Will
not work In this fields. They live ia elites
ana villages and pick up a precarious sub
sistance. The transition from servile labor
to perfect state of freedom was to much for
this class. They cannot comprehend that a
State Of liberty requires them to work for q
livelihood. 1t is remarkable fact too that
the percentage of deaths among the negroes
since the war has far exceeded that Of the
rUhitno ;xov 4r
future Status OF the black man 10 in his own
hands and he musJ work or die He cannot
claim q greater privilege than his white
brothers.
For the last thirty or forty mil4s the road
passes through country only fit for reptiles
to inhabit. 1t is entirely through glades
and low marshes with occasionally few
miles Of timber. Disease and fever, the
breath of croeodiles and vampires perYsde
the air. Oyer many places, on account of
the recent raine, we had to move slow.
that Inhabited these dreary places. Alliga-
tors from four to six feet long lay summing
themselves on the logs aid we're not disturb
ed in the least by the passing trains One
old fellow was so large that ne could not
get on-so be laid about three feet of his
head On large log and with his dull sleepy
eyes looked 81 us as we passed. We saw
large black snakes too laying in coil on
stumps and low rotten logs. They were of
the moccasin kind end said to be very pois-
onous.
At last we came to Brashear-a low town
in every respect that lies at the head Of one
of the bayous that put In shore from the
Gulf. 1t Ia composed of all the scum OF the
half breeds, Mexicans and
the dregs of all nations. Almost every
building is a rum shop and next to it is a
gambling den. Here stayed over night aud
was lucky to find myself alive the next
Every Mexican and Indian own
three or four dogs each and with the how
ling and fighting of the dogs, the quarrels
and 6ghtng of their masters mixed up with
horrid oaths the night wore away. 1 had
unhung Williams q warm reception, but the
night al last wore away-the crowds disap-
peared in their Gens and / walked forth
free. The morning was beautiful and the
fresh breezes which came from the coast de-
lightful.
st twelve O'Clock we left on the fine steam
boat Josephine and In thirty miles came 10
the open sea. The next morning at little
after daylight we saw the city of Galveston
looming up out of the water like Venice on
the Adrlatic sea. It is very pleasant town
of about thirty thousand inhabitants, situa-
ted Cd an island some thirty miles long east
and est by an average of a mile and one
half In breadth. It is settled by the Span
iards and many of the old buildings remain,
built after the Moorish style of architecture.
But since the Mexican war the los gankos
have come and built up the city and it's
business. 1t is now one Of the greatest cot
ton markets in the southwest. Many trees
are now in tropical bloom. The peaches
too are in bloom. Near the city there is a
beautiful drive on the beach. Here the
pleasant cranes make music for the children
and their nurses as well as many pleasure
seekers and invalids who come here to pass
time or TO recruit. Tie stores on the front
streets are large and the retail shops well
filed with cheap goods. Both French and
Spanish are spoken IN the stores and on the
streets Street cars run in every direction
and as they are very cheap it is very good
way to see town. In every city south of
Louisville street cars are drawn by enc mule.
In TACT there are few horses at the south
compared with the north. All the work in
Che field aud on the roads is done by the
mule. In large cities horses are only used
for buggies, carriages and hacks. The mule
is the moss abused and yet the most trusty,
faithful and useful animal man uses, partic-
ulerly at the south. VI