The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-12-16

MORE ANON.

was in November last visited by
some one hundred and fifty minis
ters of the North Mississippi con-
ference. The session lasted some
sixteen days. The town seemed
quite lively, stores were supplied
with full stocks, cotton seemed to
be abundant, everybody appeared
in good spirits and hopeful of the
future.
Durant aud Lexington are to be
linked by iron bands in the near
future. The branch road from Du-
rant to Kosciusko is to be extended
towards Aberdeen. These east
aud west feeders or branches of the
New Orleans, st. Louis and Chica-
go railroad will develop the coun-
ties through which they pass and
materially add to the business of
the county.
l found the vicksburg and Meri.
dian railroad In splendid condition
something new for that road.
Our train passed over without the
slightest mishap or loss of time.
Meridian has the promise of a
bright future. There is scarcely
an hour of the day or night but in
which your ears are greeted with
the escape of steam from compress
oil mills or locomotives. The COM
pressing ofcotton allows of its ship
ment direct to England by North
ern seaports.
The completing of the Cincinnati
Great Southern from Meridian to
New Orleans promises great things
for the "Cow Counties of Missis.
sippi. Already the work of gra-
ding has been let ,out and q date
fixed for the road to be finished.
The Alabama Central railroad is
now in first-class condition. Road.
bed, rails and cars, all are in splen.
did order. Reclining car seats ob.
vlate the the need of a sleeping
birth, This road runs through the
farmers "Black beltn of land; but
alas for the crop of 1881, IL has
been almost a failure.
Alabama has lime rock sufficient
to supply the United States with
lime. You can see the rock crop
ping out on every side. The towns
along the route look desolate
buildings and fences are in poor
repair, unpainted, and lacking even
in whitewash. The Bigbee river is
crossed on a substantial iron bridge,
the same may be said of the Ala
bama river east of Selma.
Selma, Ala, is a charming little
city on the west bank of the Alaba
ma river, and stretching out Will
her iron hands in verIous direc
tions. The streets are wide and
quite level. The soil is very sandy
reminding one of the seaside. Ar
tesian wells abound, that force al
unlimited supply of water to tht
second story of dwelliug-houses
Some of the wells terminate peal
the surface and give a bountifu
supply tor man and beast. Steam
boats ply regularly between there
and Mobile. Coal is used for fuel
at cheap rates. Cotton factories
are springing up. Prosperity
thrift and enterprise greet you ii
every turn. The recent invest
ment of capitalists in the coal ant
iron regions close by, have quick
ened the business pulse of all Ala
bama.
The Alabama conference of the
Southern Methodist church, closed
a session at Selma on the 9th.
A fearful railroad accident oc
Cured on the evening Of the 5tf
on the Selma and New Orleans
railroad, by which three men wer'
killed.
] Tuesday at - m. / took passage
upon the steamboat Lucy A. Gas
trell, commanded by Capt. Lyons
bound for Mobile.
The Alabama river is flanked OF
both sides with cliffs of limestone
rock--solid rock, looming upwart
in some places for fifty, sixty and
one hundred feet from the water'
edge. The cotton bales come sli
ding down an incline plane, almos
perpendicular, with terrific speed
and force, to the boats below. Clai
| borne's bluff il said to be largely
composed Of mari, in which ar
! found many extinct monster bonel