The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-14
Musical Echoes IRON . " Drummcr's
H Note Book.

ATLANTA, Ga, Jan. /, 1879.
Dear Denlocrdt-Who was the genius
who dubbed US 1--WE commercial tourists)
Drummers - Were we so named be-
cause we make noise In the world?
Certainly not that we ever beat any.
body. Nevertheless, the name sticks
to us, and our ".sheepskin is indeli-
bly, inscribed with the musical cogno-
men. FlAt 80
In our scale are many sharps," but
few FLATS" and we have many notes.
+ The leader Of the orchestra In which
your correspondent Is aperformer, In.
Dictated as Christmas token q series OF
engagements In tho States OF Alabama
Accordingly. Sunday afternoon finds
us on the Mobile train, under the guild
ance OF the gentlemanly DIR. Yard, the
prince OF conductors.
The Crescent City Is rapidly left, and
plunging through the swamps over the
find ourselves In Mobile. The railroad,
even though conceived In sin and con.
structed In iniquity, d a good one.-the
best In the South. The motto OF this
Company, "Fide Pdrta, tide nuctd.' Is
by no means appropriate. One OF Its
victims suggested as nearer the truth,
mon vogo,. scd cnpid"-"I do not ask,
but take"
The Battle House Is well kept The
proprietor, Mr.. L. l.. McGowan, had n
long experiences In similar capacity on
one OF Jim Fisk's steamcrs. He u a
thorough gentleman, and ''knows how
to keep hotel.'' Mobile is quiet,
home-like place, but does not do the
amount Of business IL should. Mobil-
ians complain OF the unjust discrlmina-
ton Of the railroads. They say freight
can be shipped from New Orleans
through Mobile TO points they claim as
tributary, for less than from their own
city. After interviewing her merchants
TO our own satisfaction, and probably
more than to their desires-for a drum
mer is not the most welcome visitor
when trade IL dull I've take the night
train for Montgomery. A snug berth In
u luxurious sleeper, with fine road be-
fore us, we are soon dreaming OF the
loved ones left behind and Of that Para
disc where drummers cease to trouble,
etc. Montgomery, sirl'' cuts short our
pleasant dreams, aud the fifteenth
amendment, with "0pen hand, " stands
ready to assist US TO the omnibus. ;"
OF course, we go to the Exchange"
where good breakfast awaits us, u
well kept house and credit to tho
South. A novelty here Is q billiard
The fair ones take their cue' readily
and gracefully, and play with the ivo-
ries as they do with the hearts OF their
admirers. They show an ease In hand
ling the QUO which II applied to the
proper end OF the broomstick is quite
commendable. @ .'e 92 arFaj
The Legislature Is In session and the
hotel il crowded. Alabama is very
proud Of her Legislature and OF her
noble Governor Gov. Houston we'll
merits the appreciation given him. Last
year the Legislature appropriated
Bis, 900 for his contingent fund. He
spent little over $4,000, and hands back
70 the treasury nearly $4,000 surplus
ianians You, whose usurper gave
$1,000 OF tho peoples money. to the
Shreveport sufferers, and published IL
us his own private charity.
The Alabama constitution Is claimed
to be the best In the nation. and framed
In only twenty eight days. It provides
for the Legislature to meet only once In
two years, and that Its sessions shall
continue only fifty days. The per diem
Of the members Is only four dollars and
mileage, ten cents per mile for tho
shortest distance to be travelled. What
Alabama has accomplished we. too,
will by earnest effort. Our day Of de-
liverance Is near ut hand, and we will
be ruled by men Of our own choice.
Montgomery'is q beautiful city and
quite prosperous. Her merchants are
sagacious. enterprising and honest.
The centre Of the city Is the g Artesian
Basin" from which the streets radiate
In all directions. At the head OF long,
handsome avenue, and upon q high hill,
stands the Capitol n very imposing
building, and famous as the tirst Capitol
Of the Inflated Coufederacy.
One great feature OF Montgomery is
It's cheap hack fare. You can be con
veyed to any part Of the city for twenty
i've cents. Result--that although 10 has
a population Of only ten OF fifteen
thousand. 1t supports large number Of
Jehus. Would chat some Of our hack
men would como here and learn wis
dom. 1t Is wonder some enterprising
fellow has not inaugurated that cheap
system with us. 1t would certainly pay
we'll sae'
Our engagement" filed ut Mont.
gomery, we take the train for the next
place, whore we are billed ITO appear
FOR short season only We miss the
sleeping car, for the train we take has
none, and we wear away the night try
ing TO WOO the drowsy goddess, who
won't WOO worth cent. Daylight
comes, and with IL Atlanta, the famed
city Of the Southeast Right here, like
the great Duluth of J. Proctor Knott,
IL "the centre Of the universe, for the
sky comes down at exactly the same
distance all the way round.
Atlanta 10 q great place, and her peo-
pie have good grounds for their appre-
citation Of 1t. It Is beautiful city and
all life and activity, A.4 44
Her wholesale business is large, and
she stretches out her commercial arms
Briareus-like In hundred directions.
Her tobacco trade Is second only to
Richmond. A large rolling mill Is In
active operation, turning out superior
work; cotton and other factories she
has, with many others in process Of erec-
ton. "A grain elevator 10 much needed,
this being an important distributing
point; over million bushels OF grain
were carried last year by the Georgia
Railroad alone. The erection OF one Is
contemplated, and doubtless ere long
will be accomplished. The city is nearly
all new, 1t having been destroyed by
the vandal Sherman. Although new
Atlanta Is scarcely ten years old 1t has a
population of about $1,000 and growing
rapidly. Buildings are going up In all
directions. Those already completed
in the business portion Of the city are
handsome, large and commodious.
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