The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-01-17
Notes Of Travel,
Ep. Sourn KrSrUcKrAx:

Leaving home just before thc
Christmas holidays, came directly
TO north Alabama. In my boyhood
days ! was frequently in this section,
buying cotton, selling spun thread,
aud comrting. haying good time
among the young people. There has
been such change since then (tilirty
years hgo) that you would scarcely
suppose II to be tho same c0Hnir,
Mort OF the towns were burned dur.
ing the war, and II is difficult 10 even
re, o snizc many OF lllen. Ono Of the
1ourirhing towns then (BeiiOiite). the
couIty seat OF jackson county, IL
now heap Of brick dust aud holes
In thc ground, where callers we've
once under spicndId brick stores and
mansions. The destruction was so
complete that the good people since
the war hayc moved the county seat
ON the railroad TO Scotisboro. some
sovcn miles distant, You SOC signs
of devastation, destruction and war
In many places. But the greatest
change scc Is among the large aud
once rich plantations. noticed this
more especially around Florence,
Courtland, Tu.cninbia, and llunts-
vile. In ante 6eliuns days I know OF
no country more prosperous, the land
was rich--the houses were we'll filed
with everything that added pleasure
aud happiiions 10 man. But new es-
pecislly between Fl0rencc and De-
ca,ur | saw large bodies Of once rich
land, thrown out, and sometimes
three TO five thousand acres OF land
under one fence.
Timber too scacre, land too poor
and labor too tri1ing 10 fence II.
This Is Nil mainly due 10 the fact that
before tho war tlfis lsi,d was mainly
owned by largo and weslthy planters
who had not been farming them
selves, but have been cropping on the
shares with 4 set OF worthless, lazy
negroes who have just raised enough
live on and worn out the land. not
leo however fcw noble exceptions
10 this method Of farming. Had the
pleasure Of visiling the farms OF Gen.
Wheeler aud Col. Swopc, both OF
calvary potsriiy during the wnr.
Spent u pleasant day with Mr.. J. j.
Barclay aud his interesting family.
lila wife, (Mirs Jessie) was the
Youngest daughter OF Alexander
whom many Of our read. |
FRA remember well, while at Bethany.
Mr.. b spent most Of his early life al
Terusslein with his father, and has
'lnco been counsnl to Syria for sever
Il years. lie Is man OF culture, and
His farm though large
IA In \ huc siHte OF cultivation, rotat-
ng his crops he is making his land
bcttor eyerv year.
Cotton is king In this section or at
east has bscn, but from the small |
ricId of many once rich fields, his
,cign ID becoming weakened, The
,xtensive use OF commercial fcrtiliz-
,rs IL giving him a new lease OF life,
Judgment Is shown IN its
lac, Il IL only aqucstion Of time az
o his burial. A few enterprising,
houghtiul farmers are using icrtiliz.
,rs 10 make large green crops, turn
ny them under, thereby permanently |
improve thoir lands. The uso offerl-
lizcrs IN this section is truly aston. |
slling to those who hare mover been |
In cotton country. You will sci.
lom pass q small town or depot that
d not packed full, many Of them cal.
ing from so 10 100 car loads every |
Ieason. All ofthis paya the farmer
,r he would not continue 10 buy Il.
Yet I au sorry to sec that In moat
.ases they depend entirely OH the
uano Gas the negroes call it) instead
,f turning under green crops.
At Guntersvillc, and many placoa
IN Tennessce river, | saw and heard
much that might DO Of interest TO
FOUR readers. While at one ofihe
andings OH the river in Marshall
| was shown curiosly
,hapcd stonc, which was said to have
,ecn dug out OF the ground by some
iegroos aud q white man in that |
Who said they saw and
heard It fall from heaven. Whether
/ Ia meteore stone or q stelactmete
rom some cave. | leave tho curious
,ea,lera to judge. l sent It to my |
iona for exposition. 1t can bc seen
II their siore. Wishing you and all
my friends In old ChristiAn happy
new /, ear, l am yourA tr,ily,