San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-06-19


Troy Ala, june l, 1ssO.-EplroR
FREE Pass AS some OF your read
er are former Alsbamians, l thought
Il not amiss to give you q few dots
from here. On Monday the 10Th ulf',
I left San Marcos for the purpose Of
paying a visit to my old home, after
an absence Of more than thirty years.
After spending week at Hot Springs
I proceeded on my way and arrived at
Montgomery the capital city. at il
D. m. of the 22ud ult,. A description
of this beautiful southern city. would
doubtless prove interesting. but space
forbids, All are familiar with the
history Of the times when young ma
ton was horn, and from the steps OF
the grand old capitol, in Montgomery,
Jefferson Davis made his inaugural
address and assumed the presidency
of the Southern Confederacy. This
same capitol still looks down upon
the beauty, cbivalry and intelligence
Of Montgomery and the placid bosom
Of the beautiful Alabama river, wind.
ing like a silver thread amid forest and
field, while far away to the north and
Northwest the mountains of North
Alabama raise their giant heads in
matcble.s grandeur, to the west. south
and southwest the dense forests Of
South Alabama are seen, while to the
east the prairie region of Central Ala
bama stretches away to be lost 10 the
misty distance.
Early Sunday morning took the
train on the Montgomery Il Eufaula
Railroad for Fi,zpa,rick,s station, dis.
taut 20 miles, where l stopped to pay
q visit to relatives. On Tuesday morn
ing was met here by another relative
who conducted me to this place. (Troy)
which is situated in Pike county, at
the terminus of the Mobile & Girard
railroad. About "a years ago visited
Troy my last time. Then an old wood
en- courthouse stood in square around
which stood some half dozen small
wooden stores. with here and there
dwelling, and all within radius Of a
quarter of mile, Now what change
Elegant brick stores hotels of the
same material, capable Of accommo-
dating scores of guests; handsome
residences both of brick and
wood ; q courthouse in the course Of
construction to cost SIS, 900; som six
ty five business houses, selling from
$25, 900 to $500, 900 year each, while
the sound of the hammer and trowel
is heard on every hand. $4,000 bales Of
cotton were shipped from here the past
season. Had l been dropped down
here l should have never known this
as the Troy of thirty years ago. l
have met some of those whom l knew
here long ago; but by far the greater
number have moved away or else gone
: TO that bourne whence no traveller re-
turns" ....
This section was once known as the
poorest of poor sections of the south.
But by the judicious use of fertilizers
it has become one OF the most pros
porous. Lands that before the war
would produce not more than than
300 lbs Of seed cotton, now produce
from half to three quarters of bale
to the acre. Everything is prosperous
and everybody seems to have an
9 abiding faith III the greatness of their
. city and section in the near future.
They are all in love with their homes
and firesides, and we'll they may be,
for here they have all the advantages
=, of health, coupled with lands capable
. of being brought to high degree Of
productivness by fertilization and a
certainty of seasons.
When the war closed, lands here
' could be bought at from so cts to 81
per acre, while in the vicinity of Troy,
not more than 50 80 per acre could be
. gotten for the best improved places
, Now. S. for unimproved and $40 TO Sl2
for improved is no inducement, while
in the vicinity of the city offers of SIS
to $50 per acre for improved lands will
be secuted by the owners. Tue pres.
r ent crop prospect is the best for mum
Der Of extr. good crop years. Que cit
izrn informs me that be will gather
30 bushels OF corn per acre from land
y which, am told is the poorest in this
: section. 1t has to be manfred liber
e ally, but the investment pays an hun
8 dred fold.
From here l shall 60 to Union Springs
, my old home, thence to Columbus GA,