National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-13
THROUGH GEORGIA.
ATLANTA THE CITY OF THE SOUTH.
The Enterprise and Energy Exhibited ThsrsITho
Surrounding Country-BemlnIscenoe OF
the War-RepublIcans and Anti
Progressive Bourbons.

fest spirit of enterprise and exhibit energy in
dealing with affairs 80 foreign to tho ordinarily
conceived characteristics of the Southern people
that one Is apt TO at first conclude that he Is in
Northern city. But such is not the case. Atlanta
Is essentially Southern. Her business community
is chiefly made up from the native element, and
represents, when taken as q whole, that progress
sive policy which is eventually to result in the
complete overthrow Of Bourbonism. Liberal SON.
timcnts follow in the footsteps Of commercial
prosperity II they do not preccdo 1t, as surely os
the night follows the day.
ATLANTA NOW CLAIMS,
and believe justly, a population Of over 10000,
and is bulltupon number Of small bills. which
give variety to its appearance, and add to the
beauty Of the city, which contains many fine busi
ness places and beautiful residences. There are
two large cotton mills here one In operation and
the other to be started soon besides vnrons manu-
featuring establishments, all In hourishing con.
dition. The streets, during working hours are re-
markably free from loafers, which Is good indi-
cation and there is general mir OF thrift pervnd
Ing every section where business tx carried on that
inspires hope Of even better things I'm store.
The surrounding country Is excellent for ngri-
cultural purposes and tho vast acreage in grain
promises an abundant harvest. Less cotton than
usual seems to have boen put In this season. but
yet, unlcs, some serious drawback intervcncs,
the crop will be good ono. Historically consid-
cred, Atlanta Is place of more than ordinary in-
forest Within the radius of few miles, so near
that the vision can search them out from any
commanding cminence within the city limits, are
battle. fields, where somo OF the hardest fighting
of tho late war was done. About four miles cast
ward from the cityis the spot where the gallant
shaft, consisting of 32-pounder siege gun, stund
ing ercctsupOn granite base. / regret to see that
some ynndal hands have mutila,ed and partially
carried away the neat iron railing, composed Of
barrels, forming .pn inclosuro about the
monument. Whether. taken as relics or from
purely malicious motives, the action of those
guilty of thus desecrating such n memorial is
equally reprehensible. IN its present neglected
condition This simple tlibutc to the memory Of q
of this sectlon-those who fought with. as well as
those who fought against him whom II honors.
FURTHER TO THE NORTH
is Peachtree Geek, where severe engagement
was fought in 1854, when sherman was on his
march to the sea. All around for miles the lines
of ehrthworks can be easily distinguished, Ill
though, as matter OF course, the appearance OF
pressed by the trnmping feet ofcOnicnding armies.
Politically Atlanta, like other portions Of Georgia
and of the South, Is, so far as Ropublicailisln is
concerned in an unsatisfactory situation. Here,
as elsewhere, thero arc schisms and differences of
opinion which II permitted to continue can only
be productive of evil. There is not that unity Of
purpose and action on the part ofleading Ropubli-
cans that ought to exist, and SEQ no present pros
pcct of any proper understanding being arrived
at The opposing factions are doubtless composed
of good, earnest men, but they need policy in
which all can and will unite.
SUCH POLICY
has not as yet been decided upon nor can Il be- in
my opinion until II shall have been definitely de-
termined to maintain the party organization in
tact and to not engage in any movement which
will call for the sacrifice of Republican principles.
There may be successful cooperation here be-
tween the Republican marty and LIBERAL Demo-
cratic party against the Bourbons, buta attempt
have talked freely with leading men representing
the various views entertained by these opposed to
Bourbon rule, and give the above rs my settled
conviction. II Is TO be hoped that wise counsels
may prevail and bring about unanimity of
thought and action with which, and persistent
cndeavor, success may be attained. One hundred
and forty miles north from Atlanta Is Chattanooga,
Tenn, a thriving city Of some twenty thousand
inhabitants. The Western and Atlantic Railway,
connecting tho two points, is in magnificent con-
dltiou, making the fastest time of any Southern
road. The actual running time for the whole dis
tauce is only little more than five hours, includ-
ing stoppages and yet the cars glide along more
smoothly than do those traversng the street tram
ways of Washington.
THE FIRST STOPPING PLACE
north of Atlanta any note Is Marietta, town of
nearly 1000 inhabitants, already beginning to
show signs of an awakening to business: Then
come Kenesaw, Acworth, and Allatoona, small
places noted chiefly for the series of engagemcnts
fought in their vicinity by shermnn's army. and
next Gainesville, on the Etowah River Kingston,
Ringgold towns Of larger growth, all familiar
| names to those who have read the history of the
great rebellion. Graysville, small station short
distance below Chattanooga, is the nearest point
on the railroad to the battlefield of Chickamauga
about six miles west. BY the by Chiekamausa
In the Indian tongue, means the River ofDcath;
and so Ii proved to thousands not many years ago.
Chickamauga Creek, from which the field took Its
entity of considerable depth, along which the
Western and Atlantic Road runs for some distance
before reaching Chattanooga, crossing 1t, think,
| twelve times In the course of that many miles,
My first impressions of Chattanooga were those
| of disappointment The city, like Atlanta, IS
built upon and among q succession OF hills, some
the business portion lies In sort of valley, The
whole has a struggling appearance, the buildings
nj alone on gentle eminence quarter of mile
at least from what might be termed the city y
but MS an offset TO this isolation has fine pros
| peCt over the surrounding country.
| CHATTANOOGA, LIKE THE OTHER PLACES
have mentioned, is an historic town. Along tho
eastern and southern outskirts Of the city yet re-
main worn down by time, many Of the entreneh- ,
| army. Forts Wood and Negey, the star fort, and
numerous other earthworks, are easily located.
Facing south, and upon the right hand, Lookout,
around and mp the rugged sides Of which Hook.
| ers victorious leGions swept like q whirlwind,
towers heavenward ns of old, but the frowning
wrinkles OF wars grim ylsage have long since been
| smoothed away from its majestic 'front.' and in
stead of the light, heecy smoke from bursting
shells and CannOns mouth, there now slowly drifts
along It's wooded slopes from base to summit the
| dark, grimy, vnporous clouds from factories and
furnaces less tenntiul, perhaps, 20 tho sight, but
moro grateful to the heart of the observer.
| Uron the left hand aad extending TO nearly in
front lies Missionary Ridge, and closer by still,
| upon the left, Fort Wood, from whence Grant
| hurled his men forward against the enemy who
met them only to be driven back broken, defeated.
and dismayed, As stood in tho Old red redoutt
| ana lOOkeu away
OVER ORCHARD ES9u
| to the house OH the crest occupic by the confed.
| crate commander MS his headquarters, could Ill
| most imagine how sublime the sp, ctacle when the
long lines ofbluc spreading out like fan ~ they
| went, swept forward TO the charge crossed the
plain, reached tho base Of the ridge and climbed
their way through fire and smoke and deaths
driving iron.slcct to victory beneath the eyes OF
their commander. II must have been grand aud
inspiring sight to those who witnessed it-it were
well worth some suffering to have been there then
As l stood gazing out overthe broad fields green
| with growing grain, and upon the heavy forests
clothing the mountain side with yerdure, my
eyes wandered away 10 the right where, but 9
short distance nom me, upon q pleasant wooded
height tall staff nom which oated the stars ant
| stripes marks the spot where l30OOOf "Our boys
lie buried. They hold the field they fought 81
well to win, aud about them all is peace. Th'
earth is no moro plowed by the cngineery 0
war. hut the husbandman turns the furrow, anC
the harvest that follows Is golden-one of rejoic
lug, not one of pain and sorrow and death, whicl
spring wherever the iron and leaden seeds o
battle are sown. Thank God that II Is 80.
COMING BACK TO CHATTANOOGA
as business center, must say that II II is some
what dingy and dirty and dilapidated in appear
far rs regards some of the chief industries tha
help to accumulate wealth and build up cities
1t has the largest tannery In the United States
tanning 100000 hides annually, TO do which 20
men are employed. The owners, J. Is. Hoyt * Co
are from the North. Then there are two cottoi
factories, two rolng.mills works for maxim
nails and bar iron, and several blast furnaces
one Of these, belonging to the Chattanooga lroi
Company, turns out forty tons per day; the Other
owned by the Ronne Iron Company, employs II
their city works 700 men, in their mines and bias
furnaces 500 more, and turns cut 40 tons OF irol
rails daily besides forty tons per diem OF sieman'
ment of Mr.. H. Clay Evans who is also vice pres
| ldent-a Slalwart Republican who fought through
the war In Wisconsin regiment and who now
mayor of Chattanooga Surely, with such maj
and few more like him. the "PltIsburg of III
West" as tho natives here style II, must grow an