Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-25


for both white and colored. Things are
moving forward rapidly in this direction
at the South and before many years you
will hear of wonderful results accom-
plished. One cannot live here long and
not be an enthusiast for this Southern
country and, especially, for the magnif-
cent state of Alabama. Judge Buckley,
our postmaster, has just returned from a
long visit to some of the interior counties
of the state. He tells me that he found,
everywhere a most striking display of
minerals. In many places the road beds
are literally strata of coal These coun-
ties are, for the present, almost destitute
of railroads. But the knowledge of their
great mineral wealth is interesting capl-
talists and soon, like the rest of the state,
they will be alive with railroads. The
people give themselves almost wholly to
agriculture and are willing to sell at a
moderate price, mineral or underground
rights, retaining the surface for them
selves. Judge Buckley, representing a
company recently formed in this city,
bought about 10000 acres of such miner
al privileges. Old prejudices, that once
were such hindrance to the progress of
this country, are fast dying out, under
the influence of education and a return
ing prosperity, and soon they will exist
only in tradition. Even now they are
confined almost wholly to country places
where there is not much contact with the
outside world and where changes are al
ways made, with difficulty, and very
slowly Travel between the North and
the South is now the great thing needed.
Our friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Martin, tell us
already that their ideas in regard to the
South and Southern people are complete
ly revolutionized. Almost every letter
of inquiry have received from the North
has asked me as to whether there WAS any
danger likely to result to a northern
man, coming south, from the revolver or
bowie knife. | presume there are places
in the south where one might be troubled,
but such places, if they exist at all, are
in the backwoods where the news of the
new era has not yet come. Here the
only danger likely to befall a northern
man, if he has any money, is that he
may be spoiled by being made too much
Of
On the 1St of next August an EXPOSE
ton will be opened in Louisville, Ken
lucky. 1t will continue four mon tbs and
will be devoted, mainly to display of the
resources and peculiarities of the South.
1t will surpass, in size and outlay Of
money, anything ever attempted before
in the United states, except the Centen-
NAL of '76. Louisville is only IL hours
ride from Chicago, and, during the Expo
sition, by means of an excursion ticket,
one can make the round trip for about
$40. | shall expect to attend for few
days, at least, and while there hope 10
meet many OF our Wisconsin farmers and
business men and prevail upon them to
extend their journey still further south.
should judge by reports from the
North that your picnic season was not yet
at its height This is just the time for
southern picnics. Sunday School pic
MICS, annual parades, Decoration Day
and all out-ofdoor performances are in
season here, just now. We went on
our first picnic last Tuesday. We
secured large spring wagon and ten of
us, all told, started for the Conley tract
to spend the day. | have before written
you much of this piece of ground. It
never looked so we'll as last Tuesday.
The colored man in charge of the planta-
ton told us to take full possession and
make free use of everything that might
be of any service to us. We first sat
down in the cool shade of the cedars and
took in a general view of the place
Then we wandered through the old plan
tation house and among the slave
quarters. The coming of spring has
wrought wonderful transformation since
[ was there before. Now everything is
heavy with foliage and with blossoms.
I thought the brooks were beautiful in
the cool days Of winter, but on Tuesday
in the warm, summer-like sun they were
much more attractive. Cotton, corn and
oats are looking we'll, but the woods are
most beautiful of ALL We found de-
lightful spot near little cold water brook
and among the great trees, the very place
where, long before the war, when Mr..
Conley was living, parties used to come
from Montgomery and hold their picnics
or as they used, generally to call them,
barbecues. We found the old pit now,
nearly filled up and grown over with