Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-06-16
GFor the Keowee Courier.
"A Visit to Franklin County,
Georgia.
TUaALou HOME, juno 10th, 1881.


If there is one item n oil of my news
paper reading TINT strikes my fancy more
than another, it is editorial correspondence
or whom the editor leaves his sanctum for u
county or railroad jaunt, because we main.
tain that everybody ought to be at his trade,
and therefore expect something rare racy
and spicy, hence the admiring Of the GULL
ing and condensing Of interest observed on
these jaunts, is my excuse for Offering my
flighty rhapsodics on similar. occasions, and
then | think the favorable notice Of pro-
gression, wherever tho home of improves
lnent is observed, is both instructive and
encouraging in the great dcsidcratum of our
ccuntrys need, material progression.
Early one day last week found me in the
saddle destined in the ncighborhood of
Crump's Mills, in franklin County, Ga.
We fordcd tho bright, laughing, musical
waters of the Tugaloo and travelled imme-
diately up the valley to Mr.. Il. E's, near
Shelor's Ferry, and transacted little bu-
siness and then struck across tho country
crossing the Narrow. Gauge r. r. at Mar
tins, but before we reached tho railroad VIC
observed what we alwaya hote on approach.
ing railroad, general improvement in
farms, houses, roads, 30 Tho railroad tra.
verses ridge country and the lnnd is poor,
but it is the surroundings that makes the
country, and wherever railroad is built
Improvement is destined to be made.
After travelling few miles We camo to
Clark's Greek and found the land more fer~
tile, both bottom and upland. A few
miles further on brought us to Tom 8
Creek, containing large bodies Of bottom
land with better system of farming, and
short distance further on brought Us to
North Broad RIVER. Here the eye is
greeted with broad cxpanse of rich low
a'luvinl formed bottom land, ncwly ditchcd
and thoroughly drained and in fine state
of cultivation, while in tho distance on
some emincnce, amid clumps of spreading
trees, fine residence, with blue streams Of
smoke ascending from the briok ohimneys,
showed thrift, happiness and contontment.
A few years ago much of this fno bottom
land was covered with donso growth of
reeds, briars and in many places quag-
miro. 10 solve the mystery of this great
changeis to reflect that some eight miles
North runs tho great Air Line Railroad and
its tributaries on either side, and you see
what railroads do for all localities. say
on either side, for Gainesville is soon to
havo hor narrow gauge from BoworsviIe,
on the Elberton and Air Limo Railroad,
and then this fno body of land will have
railroad on three sides of it.
Hon. VIM. F. Bowers, who did much in
building the Elberton Air Line branch and
who 10 most efficient railroad man, and
other prominent mon arc engaged in getting
up subscription, right Of way, Sc, ,and expect
to "break dirt" on this road thut will bind
Gainesville with an iron link to the outside
world, at an carly day.
The world moves. let US move with il.
I reached Crump's Mills, the destination
Of 10, trip. Here is fno merchant mill,
saw mill, cotton gin, dry goods store and q
farm connected on an improved system of
culture at this place. spent fow hours
With my friend, Wm. Nj. who shared his
hospitaIiiies with mo very kindly and
my sssy was made pleasant. He owns
frss rate Estey Organ and his wife can
touch tho ivory keys with tasgio agility: