The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-17
The Gains on Grounds Recently Given
to the State for Educational Pur-
poses -Ihe Valley Railroad.
IooRpRsPoNpENCE OF THE ApprAL..

lew eXCeptlOnS, frame structures, ana
but few make auy show of magnif-
cence. The town is bountifully en-
bellished with shade trees, which give
1t an sir GOODNESS and a relief from
the scorching summer sun. The peo-
pie who reside and belong to this ati-
tude are reserved, and appear 10 the
stranger to be i,olettd from close com
muuion; in short they are unap-
proAChsble on all mgtters that do not
directly inter st their welfare.
The condition of the sidewalks or
bsnquettes IS wret ,hed to the utmost
degrs e, and the p4destr an who at
temp to POD his steps over them at
night time will have occasion to use
laugh GO Mi her cbasts or becoming
They are ali composed of brick Of
very ancient make, that m got have
been shipped tere fir IN Pompeii
There is not decent sidewalk in the
CT y, and the people seem to be obliv,-
Gus If their coDd tlon. There are very
few deeminS ia ures of the place.
Tbs cspp oil buldil G is a very impos.
ing struc ure, situated upon promi-
hence about $50 yards from the magnlh.
cent Mississippi nver, all presents a
fne show fro m steamer On its p acid
waters. The grounds surrounding ave
kept in god repair, and are profusely
decorated with mag oias and flower
pats, The bulldog itself is strange
looking and unique, and presen's the
appearance, from the river front, OF
some al cient castle.
The most attractive spot about
Ba'on Rouge is the extensive grounds
OF the Unlt.d States Barracks. 1t is a
lovely location, situated on the eastern
bank of the Missi sippi, right in the
heart of the city. Inc works were
completed about 1926, and were occu-
pied almost continue usly until Janu-
airy 10, l86l, when the post was sur
rendered to Lou sians, the Union
fOics evacusling it January 12th.
After the capture of New Orleans the
United STATS gunbost Iroquois ap-
pear d befo Baton Rouge, on the Oh
of May, 1852, t king possession of the
post WI hont II stance. The dscon.
tnuance of h pest was directed May
81, 1879, and June 9th Of that year the
garIi'o was withdrawn, and for the
fl st me in it's history Of more than
$50 years Baton Rouge ceased to be q
mi itary port On the 22d of August,
1884, by Pres dent's proClamat on,
pursusnt to &C; Of Congress, the build
ings aud grounds we're tuned over to
the Interior Der artment for disposll.
The great New Orleans and Mis- s ssippi
Valley railroad is built across the
barracks prop rty, al d it is claimed
to be OF great advantage to it, running
along the river font, its construc'
ton affording q protection TO the
property as well as facility for con-
venient Communication herewith.
Owing 10 the cons ant caving CT the
river bank, it seems reason aOly GER
tain that more eastsry line fer some
distance than the present one will
have to be adopted by the railway
company for the protection OF the road.
Congress passed bill dona ing these
beautiful grounds, of 300 acres, and
buildings to the state Ct Louisiana for
educational purposes, the same TO re-.
vert hack to the United States when
ceased to be us d for that, and the
Governor, in his message to the rec 9nt
General Assembly, recommended tn At
its acceptance on those conditions be
Re jec ed, on &C cunt OF the enormous
sum it would require to put il in thor.
ough reear; but / understand that at
the closing hours of the session the
Legislature concluded to accept the
offer. The grounds are a great resort
for ths imneDee crowds that eX-
curt from New Orleans here on Sun
days over The L uisville, New Ofleans
and Texas railI Dad, whose enterpr,sing
and public spirited officers, whose
chief general manager is Maj. James
EdwsrGs Of your C ty, have con-
ttructed substantial platform fer
dancing and furnishes q fine string
baud for the pleasure Of the numer-
GUS excursionists who take advan age
of the cheap rates offere d each Sun
day from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.
+ the vast end incalCnlsble benefit
ut this d tho ougbtdre from Mem
puis to New Orleans has been and is
still TO this section, he people of tde
S a should be uId3r lasting and IN
casing 90 igst'ous, 1t is the only
road that Baton Rouge can boast, and
she is justly proud of its great adj
| yantages.
Toe immense china trees that once
surrounded the residence of ex.Presi
del Zach Taylor still stand in group
on the bank OF the Mississippi, in the
Enclosure Of the grounds, but the
house was torn down in l849.
The towering walls OF the peniten.
tiary stand grand, gloomy and pecu'
ii r in the very heat of the city, with
but few inmates on the sick list, the
main army OF 900 convicts being
scattered around through the State on
the cas- system. Ire notorious Judge
Ford, Of New Orleans, who was impli.
ca ed In the Murphy murder case in
that city, is en- innate OF toe building,
bur your correspond ent did not see
him duri & a brief visit to The institu-
tior. There is 10 manufacturing Of
any kind done within the wAlls, and
those con gicts who ara kept confined
there are detected and miserable
10 >Birg Sc.
The Site University for Military
Education is situated here, and lis de.
sclibed b your correspondent as Q
most live Y place, be not having an
opportuni y TO visit 1t.
There a 3 no street railways here
and the ST. ching RAYS Of Old Sol have
a pe,su ave method of ket ping one
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