Smyrna times., 1878-05-01
A Letter from the South.

"A AcCISE 1EOA INC OOuLns
Rev. T. C. Pershing, President of the Pittsburgh Qa)
Female College has been making a tour of the |
Southern States and We are permitted to publish |
the following interesting extract from private letter
from him. written at Montgomery. Ala. under date |
April 22nd, to our town>man Col II. G. Douglass.
came by way Of Cincinnati Louisville Nashville, |
Chattanooga and Dalton. Nearly the whole ground, |
from Louisville IS historic Nearly every mile Of the
ground from Chattanooga 20 Atlanta was fought over
by the Federal and Confederate forces
You will come by way of Baltimore. Take the Coast
line down and the Kcmc.aw route home. Both
routes are good and full Of Interesting points.
Atlanta is the Chicago Of the south Itis 300 miles
from the sea. and connected with every point East
West North and South by rail. 1hcair is pure and
balmy the city being nearly loI feet above the level
Of the sea. Previous to the war there were nearly
1900 inhabitants At the close Of the war but few
remained ana The buildings were nearly all in ruins
The population is nearly iDWp Everything
looks fresh and cleau the far greater part of the
city has been built during the last L. years Many Of
the buildings would grace larger city Many Of the
private residences, and several Of the churches are
above the average. The stores are large and do a
good business Coal is found some sixty miles awav
and ought 10 be sold at reasonable rate but railroad
frci.hts through much Of the south are high and
fuel is dear This rctarIs manufactures Families
need comparatively little as the weather is very mild
Flowers bloom every month in the year save one
Garden vegetables Of some kind, can be grown every
month in the year Five Of the last winters have
been wholly free from snow At the present time
the leaves on trees AMI plants fully developed
and the flowers are blooming in great abundance.
Farmers arc giving corn its first powing Cotton can
be seen in this State Cia coming up in every drcc-
| ton. The summers very long but scarcely any
| hotter than with us during the heated term The
nights are not damp, but sufficiently cool for refresh
! ing sleep.
one thing greatly in favor Of Atlanta-the people
enthusiastic about it and its prospective future.
| The new Capitol buildings will be located here.
! Temporary quarters are occupied by the state
officials The gubcrnaoral mansion is already built,
Gov. A. H. Colquitt a Methodist, and the President
| Of our International :. :. Convention occupies it,
Nearly all the private residences stand back from
the sidewalk and are surrounded by more or less Of
lawn. The streets are lined with trees, and the gene
raj effect is charming.
Among the drawbacks arc these: The farmers are
fifty years behind the times. one small mule, or
smaller horse, does the pOughing, and the furrowS
are rarely more than two or three inches deep They
scratch the ground and have greatly impoverished il.
There IS strong prejudice against deep ploughn%.
| saw good many women and halt grown girls hold
| ing the plow to-day as we came from Atlanta to
| Montgomery.
Added to this farmers pIrchase CyerfhiDq -four,
bacon, feed for horses and cattle. DC They grow
cOttpA. Dr. Fuller informed me that ten years ago
| there was scarcely lawn in Atlanta covered with
grass The earth has red brickduSt appearance due
in part TO the presence OF IRON, and lawn and street
were exactly alike. The war did good in regard
1t Taught the people that clorr rU Grow here. seed
fell from the hay brought by the federal troops, and
white clover is Spreading in every direction about
Atlanta More or less of it is seen in every lawn.
barns are rarely seen Manure is known of in name
only. FarmCIsrcly on guanO. Twenty good Northern
farmers with their large horses cattle and powS il
each community, would be an inestinablc blessing
10 the south. They would soon revOlutionize it, The
soil could be brought up, and great many persons
oflimicd means would do well 10 come here
The negroes are numerous and the mass Of them
ltriF chm T1rglaf Moth lf.
them than all other forces combined
You will be surprised to learn how business is don,
. here Merchants take Il mortgage on a mans farm
crop implements. DC, &c. He Is then supplied will
what he wants and if the cotton crop is good all end
we'll he can square accounts at The end Of the year
gentleman whose acquaintance made, trades a
follows: He first takes the mortgage, and then give
the farmer bacon at 10 cts. per pound that cost 6: ou
at SO per barrel that cost S.. and 50 on The profit
about G6 per cent. The credit runs months Ihi
gentleman did not lose a single account last year.
The citizens of Atlanta are ChuTch-gOiug people
and the sabbath is well observed. ! would prefer
10 any point have seen south of Louisville. II ha
pure ar Is elevated iuil OF life Tor southern city
must grow rs the state dcveOpcs, and wiz be goo
. point for business.
The high price of fuel and the surrounding counr
, are the greatest drawbacks. These things Will in
prove Just now real estate and rents are lower tha
for years. They feeling the panic than the
! did at first 4 man with capital could make invest
+ mgnts which would pay well in the he future
Atlanta 1dr0cdt0. lie is member of our Church. ha
q Mr. J. W Iysle No Il Broad st. a most excellent an
G reliable man Also the editor OF the constitution.
e lave mentioned your name to each. They will civ
a you hearty welcome AMI fun information. Kui
IS and vii! pray for you, if you come that YOU ma
p have safe journey, good time and pr0Udbte Il
. roNimcm. As you were 50 kind and prompt i
e answering my request. may permit hl'r to visit yo
Il this Summer. know you and your wife would
II glad TO see her and JeiHit But have such goo
n girls that people often try to keep them. and am
Y little particular as to where they make visits.
r Land is held at various prices, from s. away fro
the city to $50, $50 SO $50 and 5000 per acre dcpen
=. ing upon locality. BY having judcious man. lii
DIR. Fuller to watch for opportunities, good invcS
ments can be made. \ good many men need mOnt
just now, and l would not fear 10 invest, had l Il
IL means. Atlanta must grow.
r 100 .----