Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-01

counties at this day, as the people, hav-
ing nothing to lose through the "phH-
anthrCpic proclamation" were not ina
poverished, and being accustomed to
work, titled their lands themselves, and
as there is a good portion OF fine land
there, the "free State OF Calhoun" is to-
dsy one Of the best counties in Missis-
sippj, being, also, for the reasons given
above. thoroughly Democratic. So far,
there is no railroad anywhere within the
county: but the Grenada and Nicksburg
road, which lie partly graded and has some
little iron already laid, will, whenever
il is completed. run through small por-
ton Of it within some seven miles from
Pittsboro, the county site. The little
place is an ancient village, which seems to
have been guiltless OF any improvement
since its first conception, with the eX-
ceptiou of the brick courthouse, which
is being repaired now, and when COM
Melted will compare favorably with most
structures OF the same kind in the state.
The town contains some eight or nine
business houses, all doing a prosperous
business, and nowhere in the State can
be found a more clever and hospitable
people. Traversing this county its en-
tire breadth, the signs for prosperous
crous were no less flattering than the
sections heretofore mentioned; and ere
long l crossed the line into famous old
Pontotoc. Then everything Looked
bright, and the Toads-which are wretch
cd havond description all through Cal
boun-becoming suddenly better, we
went Swimming along through lanes
formed on either hand by alternate fields
of wheat, already cut and in shocks,
70 in niQRpG fQ1-
selling, and cotton quite high. A gen.
tie ACCOMPLISHMENT to the aforementioned
Pegasus who "snuffed the feed-trOugh
from affair."" brought me into the good
old town of Pont0toc, which from the
importance it held once deserves some
special mention. This is one Of the old
est towns in the State, and it is said that
in early days the entire wealth almost
of the State was concentrated here. The
old land-offices were also situated in this
town, which has furnished to the State
many Of her most talented and gifted
men, not least among whom was
our late felIow-toWnsman, Colonel r. 3.
Pinson, than whom no place can pro-
duce a more gallant soldier or genial
gentleman, and whose memory is still
held in high esteem by all his friends.
Too much cannot be said in praise Of the
genuine, ojd-fsshioned hospitality and
frankness Of the people of POntOtoc who
vie with each other in their courtesies
toward strangers visiting their town,
and make them feel 10th to leave there.
The Mace has s number of substantial
business houses, q fine brick courthouse,
and many very pretty private residen-
ces. several of which are surrounded by
handsomely laid out grounds that would
do credit to any city. There are two
female institutes in operation here; and
it was my good fortune to be present
during the commencement exercises of
the BAPTIST female college, under the
presidency OF that hale old gentleman,
DIR. William l.. Slack. The eXamins-
ton Of the pupils, Of whom there was a
large number, was very thorough, and
evinced g proficiency in the several
branches. OF study which stamps the
principal at oncea deeply learned schol-
ar and efficient teacher. The concert
given by the young ladies of the school,
at the closing OF the exercises, was q
very interesting affair, and the specta-
tor, looking upon such an array OF pref
ty girls felt intuitively that the specta-
Gle was na thing OF beauty" and ''a joy
forever The people of POntOtOc want
to trade with Memphis, but lick the
opportunity for want Of commu-
nication. The nearest railroad depot is
TupeIo, on the Memphis and Char g. ton
railroad, and that is distant twenty
miles. The universal cry of every man
and woman (Of whom there is large
number Of unusually handsome and re-
fined ones here is for a direct railroad
communication with Memphis. AT one
time there were high hopes OF attaining
their object in the projected" Memphis
and Selma road, and the county voted
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for that line. The bonds were issued and
delivered, snd yet, as there is no libeli-
hood Of the road ever being completed,
the people do not wish to pay the tax.
The matter is before the courts, and will
prove both interesting and important.
They would be well pleased to have the
narrow gauge road from Middleton, Ten
nessee, extended to their county and
town, and our people should give them
all possible assistance, as it would give
us direct communication, and conse-
uuent remunerative trade, with rich
and fertile section Of country which now,
from sheer necessity, goes to Mobile.
The copious rains which recently fell
thrODpnouG LDlS 6ullTe pOrtIOu Vi COun-
try have vastly enhanced the already
magnificent prospects FOR fine crops, and
unless some very dire and unprecedented
calamity befalls the farmers, there can
be no doubt that the coming fall will be
a season of prosperity and plenty, such
az has not visited the south in many q
year. But one thing there yet remains
lacking to render this country what ma
ture has originally intended it to be-the
richest and most prosperous in the land
and that one thing is encouragement OF
immigration. There are vast tracts of
the finest lands lying idle for want OF
labor to cultivate. With climate and
soil scarcely surpassed in the civilized
world, an abundance Of fine timber and
splendid water power in every direction,
il requires only a sufficient amount Of
energy and perseverance, on the part OF
the citizens to induce skilled foreign
labor to win the immense amount OF
wealth hidden in the soil, and Mississip-
pi will occupy front rank among the
wealthiest States in the Union. Let us
hope that the day is not far distant.