National Republican., 1883-09-14
THE INLAND SOUTH.
What Railways Have Done for Mountain
Locked Region,
Profitable Markets for Products OF Farm
and Gardop-Tho "OId Slave Days"
Special Letter.


TATEs SPRINGS, Tenn, Sept. 9.--Tho in
land south has always produced good sup
ply and surprising variety of farm products,
but marketing facilities have been inadequate
Heretofore when the yield was above the
homo demand there was not much grain, for
there were no railways to convey the surplus
to market In ante -bellum days this surplus
found an exit in the droves of fat cattle, hogs,
and mules and horses which were in request
among the slaveowners. But this opportu-
nifty to sell disappeared with slavery, and
for nearly twenty years these people have
stood still, waiting for a market. It has
come with these new Allegheny rail-
roads, such as the Chesapeake and Ohio,
Shenandoah Valley, Louisville and Kuox-
vile, Clncinpati Southern, and others. These
roads have filled the south with men from
the north, who arc looking for homes in
healthful climes and prosperous business COM
munities. They are here as capitalists to
purchase and operate coal and iron mines;
TO buy valuable varieties OF timber
and cut the same into lumber; open
marble quarrios, build cotton and woolen
factories and car factories, wooden ware fac
tories, iron foundries, wagon and buggy fac
tories, agricultural implement factories fruit
canning and drying establishments, plant
vineyards and orchards.
Wo see gardens and fruit farms coming into
notice in Tennessee and Georgia, where this
industry can be made exceedingly profitable
for the reason that the seasons are far ahead
of those north of the mountains in the states
of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, aud
yet Louisville, Cincinnati, or Chicago
markets can be reached in few hours.
This mountainous section Of the south can
grow the finest fruits, berries and melons
and market them with fine margins for
profit. All along the lines of railways we
see stacks of walnut lumber hickory timber
for ax helves and buggy spokes; white oak
barrel slaves poplar cuts for nail kegs whito
oak lumber for cars and stacks of pine lum-
ber for building purposes. Country merchants
handle q great deal of this material and
among these thrifty business men tho drum
mers for nothern, eastern and southern
wholesale houses find good customers. Grad
ually this country is filling with factories
that support large numbers Of working peo-
pie To these, the farmers sell products of
the farm.
Speaking Of this part Of the SOUTH the
mountainous section, it is the most comfort
able county TO live in imaginable The eli
mate is perfectly healthful aud the water the
very best. The country has remarkable
list of products, and the most humble table
can have its kingly bill of fair. BY long
practice these industrious and staid old
country families have learned to be the best
of cooks. Here we meet many ex-slaves, who
yet remain about in the same communities
where live their old masters. Some cases
exist where they still live with tho old mas
ters and mistrcssos, just as If there had never
been an emancipation proclamation. In such
cases is found the best farm and household
labor in the country. / have everywhere
else heard ladies complain of tho unreliable
character of servants, but the south has an
advantage in this particular.
II is interesting to hear the oS-slaveowners
talk of the colorcd people in slavery days
Much of the poetry of this "lifc of slavery -
is disappearing. The old darky songs arc
dying out Once tho colored people were all
quartered together on large plantations and
when the days work was done they would
all join in singing the old plantation songs
Now this has all changed and tho old songs
are gone A planter sat telling q, good joke
on himself and one of his slaves to-day
Old Uncle Ned was q trusted old slave. One
day he came up complaining of being
awful sick. The master was solicitous fol
Old Neds health, but thought rest was all
sufficient. Old Ned insisted on some medi.
cine. Finally couple of pills were givon
and the next day Old Ned was well.
When he came out of his quarters the mas,
ter inquired after his health. Ho replied
80 Massy, dem pills done cured me up"
"Nod. was only fooliug you; those were
only bread pills"
"Is dat so, Massey? den we boat quits even
cause is only foolin' bout bein sick my
self"
The old slave only wanted to rest n day o.
two. Roy