The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-10-13
Our Centennial Letter.
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 1st, Is

| arrived here on Thursday eve
ming and soon found myself com
fortably quartered at 500 Rae,
street. ] made several halts OF
the road. First, | stopped at Bris
tol, and ! confess that although
Bristol is in the border of ouI
own East Tennessee, knew, com
paratively, nothing about the
place. 1t has about $500 inhabi
tants, and when compared tc
Cleveland, is nothing like as
handsome a sight-being rough
and hilly. Neither is it up with
Cleveland in the way of fine resi-
dences; and as TO mud-there is
scarcely respectable side walk
in Bristol. But when this is said
all the bad is told; for in business
and general enterprise it certain.
ly far outstrips Cleveland. Bris-
tol has two fine wooden mills and
several other mills and factories,
including two or three tobacco
factories. One Of the latter,
learned, pays a revenue to the
government Of $3.50 daily.
There WAS a grand rally of the
Democracy Of Virginia and Ten
nessee on Monday and a large au-
dience was addressed in the after
noon by speakers from both
States, including Mckinney, of
Knoxville, and Maj. Daniel, of
Lynchburg. The latter created
quite a sensation by his spendid
oratory. The exercises ended
with a torch-light procession, and
here | would remark to the credit
of the people of Bristol that al
though the streets were thronged
with thousands of people, and
considerable excitement prevail
ed, | did not hear an oath or pro
fame word spoken while | was
there, which speaks well for their
moral standing. Our friend Chas.
5. Bates seems to be doing fine.
He is manufacturing nearly all
his boots and shoes in Bristol, for
which he has a number of work
men employed, and SAYS that al
though he don't like Bristol poll
tics very well, he thinks he is
located and has no
idea Of ever seeing Cleveland
again.
| spent about three hours in
Lynchburg and found in that
beautiful Mountain City of '6l
but little appearance Of prosperi-
ty. There are improvements GO
ing on in the western suberbs in
the way of residences, but the
business portion of the city is evi.
iently on the wane.
Owing to a bad break in the O.
e A. r. r. at Bull Run, near Ma
nassas (the Did battle ground),
we were till eleven o'clock Tues
lay night getting to Washington.
The passengers were transferred
1t the break, and as | looked
back at the long column Of men,
women and children winding
heir way through a narrow caus-
way through Bull Runs nsSwamp,
guided by the conductors Ian
.ern, was forcibly remined of a
,ime when a column containing
perhaps less beauty, but greater in
lumber and more uniform, and
With less light on the subject, and
If which | counted one, might
lave been seen winding their way |
,ver the identical same ground
;ay in January, '62. On reaching |
he city found accommodations
It the Centennial Hotel, and the |
lext MOI ming after breakfast set
in hand-to view the
wonders Of our Nations Capital;
md now imagine my great JOY
when | had scarcely advanced
hree rods before | met our three
ellow-townsmen, Messrs. Steed,
Newell, and Harle-looking as
and city-like as you ever
aw them. Of course / joined
hem, and we proceeded to visit
he different places Of interest.
v Washington is a grand city. with
Ter broad streets, public bull
Iings, parks, lakes, gardens, foun-
aims and magnificent architect
Ire. but it would be unnecessary
or me to go into details, as you
ave been there yourself, and a
nan Of your observing qualities
would not fail to take in every OBJ.
ect that came in your way. We
listed the Smithsonian Institute,
gricultural Department, Wash
ngton Monument, Department
f State and the White House,
nd our two elder friends pro
ounced everything as moving
II properly, which Joe and ac-
epted as authority.
We next visited the Patent Of
ce, and as we spent a full half
our in the model rooms Of this
apartment we think the people
+ Cleveland and especially the
Japtain can be greatly benefited
" our visit, for when he invents
machine he need not be at the
Expense Of n trip to Washington
D find out whether or not any one
, ahead of him, We can give him
ny necessary information. II
,as in this department that ! met
nth calamity calculated to
~; mn tnnre oven to--vnur avas