Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-09-02
our Agents.
A LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.

a Ao41h LII 4IbOm
CovINGTON, TENN, Aug. 81, '82.
EDITOR lNTELLIaENcER - YO,
should thank God daily for the priv
lege Of living in old Lafayette coun
ty. A week since l left Lafayette
county and passed through Illinois
Kentucky aud Tennessee, and l thint
that old Lafayette is the finest look
ing county ; the finest farming conn
try the best improved country, anc
the best looking people in the UmiteC
States. There is hardly any stock il
this county, a few poor horses, the
mules almost as large as a six-montl
old calf in Missouri, but they have
good cows; many Jerseys. This entire
county is mostly all woods; the fields
are full Of siumps. It is 40 miles
from Paducah, Kentucky. to Coving.
ing, Tennessee. aud l think | counted
nearly 200 saw mills the day | came
down the railroad great piles Of lum.
Der at every mill. The negroes about
control this county; do nearly all
the farming. talking, drinking and
stealing !; they take possession Of the
stores and streets, and act and do just
as they please ; do mot give the side
walk to man or woman. You would
think they owned the county. and the
white people belonged to them. But
the whites do not say anything. Ii
you are a merchant your trade de-
ponds upon them, as they buy the
bulk of all goods sold; if farmer,
they are the only hands to work the
farms and pick the cotton. In Fayette
county there are seven negro justices
of the peace. Mr.. Editor, this is the
hardest, poorest looking country in
the world; they raise nothing but cot:
ton, aud OIL account of that the own
ers Of the land arc growing poorer
daily. l said this was the poorest
looking country in the world, OH 'ac-
count of the soil being white and
looking like sand; but it is undoubted.
ly arich soil rs Is iu the world, and they
can raise almost anything that grows;
but they know nothing but cotton.
This year they raised the largest crops
of wheat, corn and t every raised
here. The cotton will be half crop,
aud this may lead them 10 raise less
cotton aud more grain. The country
is very rude looking; very poor log
houses generally settled by negroes
and "poor whites" (between "a negro
and a-). The best people live in
the towns. The society is very elegant
in this place fine schools, the princi-
pal of the high school. is Mr.. r. A.
Fisher, formerly Of Auiiville, Mo-;
separate high school for girls and
boys; also u college for young men.
Six or sever very fine churches /; good
preachers aud big congregations. All
Of the residences have yards of one
to two acres. The houses are almost
in trees. shrubbory and flowers.
A stranger coming here would think
he was in the country, not in a town
Of $500 people. There is u fine steam
Touring mill which cost 500 900; a
fine steam cotton GIN; two papers.
Simonton, an elegant southern
congressman from tins !
district. lives here, (neighbor to Bob.
understand he will be re-
THE fall. 1t is generally COLI
coded that General Bates, regular
nominee for governor, will
be elected. Good prospect of a DEM
gain of one or two congress
men.
But l have said enough of this
county, and sometime soon, after l
seen more of it, will write you
more about it; but must say, that l
I'm highly impressed with the south
Urn kindness aud courtesy extended
o me by the ladies and gentlemen
AVE 30 far met. They arc a sociablc,
refined and cultured people.
Mise Fannie Ridgeway, of Aull-
lille, Mo-, is here at her SISTERS, Mrs.
Bob. Fishers.
Now a short account of my trip and
will say good-bye. arrived in St.
Aouis about GAO II. M, and proceeded
o the wharf at once; met our old
riend, Hunter Ben Jenkins, thead OF
agency of Jenkins IL SASSY
DOT of Vine street, and after shak-
ng hands he told me to hurry on
lOwn to the wharE-boat, AS the Mon
ana would leave III a few moments
Or Lexington, and | would see some
l went down and had time
o say a few words and shake hands
nth Capt. Keith and Hans Chadwick,
9th old Lexingtoniams | noticed the ,
teamer was loaded down with freight,
MI l was glad to see it, as the two
.eXingtOnians, jenkins and Keith,
one-third of the boat, and they :
ay she is doing an Immense business,
always like to hear of any one from
doing well. returned to
Jenkins office and met Capt. :.
ASS and also Capt. David S!lvers, all
Id Lexingtonian l had not seen
apt. Silvers tor 10 or Is years. lie
the owner of the big Bright Light.
nd you people should sustain the
iontana and Bright Light. When 4.
GU 20 to st. Louis call at Jenkins e ,
ASS Office, and you will ENJOY an ,
our or two looking at the steam
oats, brid ge,and East st. Louis, hear I,
lg steamboat news, Git is the steam
ost headquarters) their Office is {
with q hundred or more :
of celebrated boats. l told I