Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-08

UcOU Sts Ousy sSs ~@
vessel Of two thousand tons, drawing
twenty-five feet 0: water, and laden
with over million pouncs Of cot
ton from Georgia aud South Carcii-
ma, and other freights, sailed majes-
tically out to the great Atlantic
without let or hindrance.
| II was once thought that no rail-
road could ever be built Of perma-
renee across these sen island sands
and tide water streams; bat skillful
Engineering and northern capital
have proven that it can be done, and
already shipmasters are learning the
advantage of this over the ports OF
Charleston and Savanna, and all
lother ports on the coast OF North
/ Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida, and even Alabama and
Mississippi. A glance at the map
will show any one the advantages to
heavy shippers by this new route to
the sea. From Vicksburg, Miss,
due east to Port Royal, is 853 miles.
To New York In straight line 10
1879 miles.
While railroad freights are 80
high, 1t is great object for planters
to get their cumbrous cotton bales to
the seaboard at the nearest possible
points, especially all destined for
Few England or Europe. Hence 1T
is argued by the wise ones that this
same island of Port Royal is to be
one Of the great marts OF the SOUTH
ern world at some not far distant
time.
Immense tracts of land on the
Island and along the railroad are
held by the northern bond-holders
Of the road, and every few days cap
italists are here investigating facili-
ties for establishing mills, buildings,
docks, opening hotels for the south
ern pleasure-seekers, and examining
the cotton planting business.
The great phosphate deposits,
commencing near Charleston and
bordering the coast all the way to
this island, are attracting much at
tention and employing considerable
labor and capital. Crushing mills
are erected, and vessels take in the
phosphate at the landing, and pro-
coed TO foreign ports direct from the
mines.
The people are preparing their
lands for their cotton. They pillow
the sands which In one season are
overrun with blackberry vines, tufts
o. grass, and other interloping roots.
Then the cotton hill of last season is
turned into last years furrow, and
the fresh soil is thrown up six, eight
or twelve inches high in even ridg-
es, on the top Of which the seed is
deposited i'm handfnls. 1t sprouts
and comes above ground in twelve
or thirteen days, and after few days
growth II is all pulled out but one or
two thrifty plants, and the seed be-
comes a fertilizer for the growing
stalk, and from the planting to the
ingathering of the crop cotton de.
mands laborious attention. Cotton
seed is an article quite in demand,
and a large ship laden entirely with
cotton seed left the dock few days
ago for Europe where it is to be con-
verified to oil for lubricating pur-
poses.
Peaches, wild plums, jassamine
vines and blackberries are going out
of bloom, and all trees that dropped
their summer leaves In autumn are
coming out again in full foliage.
Gardens are like June In the North.
The "live oaks" which are a
prominent feature In this country
are just shedding their winter robes,
which they always do In March, and
in three weeks will be all In high
feather again for the whole year.
have been interested In watching
o case of natural selection or fiirta-
ton in the next yard for four or Ave
weeks. An old rooster and black
and white cat seem greatly enamor-
ed of each other: walk and talk and
make love at all hours Of the day.
He calls her when he scratches up a
worm, and she draws him to her
side and permits him to enjoy tit
bits from her plate whenever it is
placed for her. He neglects the nu-
merous pullets In the yard, and
dIops his wing only beside Miss
Pussy. II Is a singular fancy.
There is party of northmen here
representing millions of northern
capital. They seem delighted with
the prospect Of things and appear to