The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-09-02
\ sou THERN TRIP.
PROHIBITiON HAS NOT INJURED
ATLANTA.
Our CORES e>pondent Gives an Interesting
Account OF an Extended Trip Through
the South.
Special Cor STATE CHEosIcLEl

L0L@GEtl tAFe STATE AL8&aAiE.4
From Nj Airy by way Of Dobsou. Fl
Kin. and Wilkesboro TO Caldwell county.
one travels through section Of country
that Is at no distant day 10 be unsurpassed
by scarcely any part Of North Carolina.
Elkin is fourishing little town on the
ladkin, and gains It's Importance from tie
EIhln Valley WOODEN Mills operated by the
Mesars- Gwyn and Chatham. From Eikin
10 Wilkesboro the highway passes along
the edge OF the famous Yadkin VALLEY
The soil here IS very fertile On either
side Of the river Is n wide stretch of bot
tom land which compares not unfavorabiy Y
with the lands III the Mississ ppi Valley
Wilkesboro is in the midst OF this valley
sui farther up the river is Patterson.
which isIalso noted for its cotton or wooden
mills 1t IS also ;he terminus of that
branch Of the c. f. Il y Y Railroad
which goes up the river. The people along
this 'ich valley are awaiting vi no little
interest the completion Of the road to Mt
AIRY, when they hope to see the work
commenced in this direction. Ii seems a
great pity that this great country should
rema 50 long cut off from the outside
world
The compile ION Of the narrow gauge
road to Ieuoir is doing a great deal for
Caldwell. Before many years it will have
wrought a very great change in the agri-
cultural interests of the country in the
way Of improved methods of farming and
the introduction of labor saving machines.
The crops throughout this entire section
have suffered in common with the whole
country from the excessive rains, but with
a good season from now on they viii he
fair
Passing through South Carolina over
Cfap rpt ,f
this grand Old state. In passing Spartan
burg you Will hardly fail to think of Wcf
ford College. This is one of the great
Colleges of the Soathern Methodist church
and has welded potent influence in the
education of the sons of the South. Its
faculty has recently furnished timber for
one Of the newly elected Bishops in the
person Of W. W. Duncan. South Carolina
is laboring under the same burden which
oppresses most cotton sectiOns-thc mort
gage system. We hope the time is not far
distant when some practical philosopher
will offer solution of this perpleXing
question, and that the farmers will be
able to declare themselves free from that
oppressive system whicl is making them
poorer every year. After crossing the
Georgia line there is no town of very
great Importance until you strike Atlanta.
Ones greater familiarity with this place
only increases his wonder at its remarka-
bic thrift. We first knew the place lit
tie more than two years ago. Since that
time the development of its resources and
the extension of the limits of business
have been such as almost to surpass our
credulity.
1t is all a mistake to say that Prohibit
ton has in jured Atlanta. This is u howl
set up by the Arts and rarely ever finds
Io ;,I
classes Of citizens. In a recent issue of
the Daily Constitution appeared a very
strong editorial in reference to the effects
of Prohibition on business 1t embodied
the result of critical investigation of the
business and improvements going on III
the city It showed that the work of i'm
provement had not abated; that as many
new houses had been built during the past
six months as had been vacated; that in
cases where houses had been vacated it
had been to occupy more desirable quar-
ters.
In reference to politics, Of course every
thing now centres on the illustrious Jno.
b. Gordon. The people of Georgia idolze
him almost like North Carolina does her
boasted statesman, ZebulOn B. Vance.
Ills career as Southern General won for
him great triumph in the recent Demo
name the heart of the people from the
mountains to the seaboard was made to
pulsate. 1t could hardly be said that he
is superior in the elements necessary to
make a great statesman to Mai. Bacon,
perhaps not equal
Macon is a city which impresseS you not
only with its commercial prosperity but
bv the intelligence and refinement of its
citizens. Here We find Mercer University,
one Of the great seats of learning of the
Southern Baptist church. Here also is
Wesleyan Female College, a great foun-
tain of light to the Methodist church. 1t
is said to be the first chartered female col
lege i'll the world. We find the same ''eye
sore among the farmers of this section
that prevails in South Carolina and Eas-
tern North Carolina-they are oppressed
with debt
From Atlanta to Chattanooga, by the
Western and Atlantic route, you pass Car
tersville, the home of the great evangelist
Sam Jones. Chattanooga is a live town.
1t is improving very rapidly, having locat-
ed in its midst large number of founde
rieS, machine shops, factories, &c. As is
the case in all of those towns which have
enjoyed such q marvellous growth, society
is not what one would wish by great
deal. We happened at Nashville the day
the Democratic State Convention conven-
ed. You may know the city was boiling
over with excitement. Bob TayIor's un-
ique record had captured FOR him such a
large number of the delegates, that it was
matter of no great astonishment that he
got the nomination for Governor of Ten
nessee As a wit he is very much after
the order of ''our Zeb, : and the future has
bright things in store for him in the great
field of politics. Nashville has great edu-
cational facilities Vanderbilt University
while it may not be rated fully up to what it
is, yet it Is doing a great deal for the edu-
catonal interests of the South. The cul-
minating point of interest is the State
capitol. 1t stands upon an elevation over
looking the whole city. The reputation
which Tennessees capitol bears is not
greater than it should be. 1t is a thing
of beauty As soon as you make the as
cent into the grounds surrounding it you
are enchanted with the beautiful prospect
The winding walks so systematic in their
location; and between each a terraced
mound rising just enough to relieve the
monotony. and to complete a great system
of curves which is remarkable for its sym
metry To complete the whole the walks
are made of beautiful Tennessee marble
Here is a scene rare and bewitchng: where
the poet and the artist delight to muse.
The building itself is I, great triumph OF
architectural skill. From the dome you
get as good view of the city as you could
desire.
In Knoxville We find nothing specially
TO ha pe.