The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-24
MOULTON, ALA,
A QUIET LITTLE TOWN. TIRE CEN.
TER
OF q Inc Agricultural and Mineral
RegtOn-Lands That Have Been
Turned out.


iooRREsPoEDEKoK OF THE APPEAL.l
MoubroN, LAWRENCE COUNTY, ALA,
November 2l.-Somethipg less Than
100 years ago the last wigwam dissp-
pesred IN this section, and imme-
iiately thereafter the pale face put in
his appearances with his ak, pillow,
hoe and ether implements OF hus-
bandry TO till the soil, and through
successive decades mother earth has
yielded subsistence for man and beast.
The large number OF acres in this
county now abandoned or unculti-
waited attests the effects OF the labor
system as 1t existed prior to the new
aispenEation. Lawrence county EN-.
braces nearly 900 square miles, and
contains within its bordeis a great
variety OF soil. The red clay and
sand is conspicuous, as is also the
black prairie aud dark colored, similar
to the alluvial Mississippi river bot
tom. The northern boundary is the
Tennessee river, aud the 1uthern ex.
tends across the mountain range,
where there is considerable coal dc.
post. Courtland Is the oldest town
In the county, ranking Moulton, the
county seat, but little. MoultOn
took its name from one Of the earliest
settlers, and is quiet, unass uming
place Of, perhaps, 900 population.
The boyhood days OF one OF the AP.
PRAL's editors we're spent in Moulton
Here is where he learned the buslnefs
Of which he is an ornament. The old
log school house is gone in which he
learned reading, writing, arithmetic
and geography. The Moulton Aduer-
tiser, vol. So, No. 40, still lives, on
which he firet did editorial work.
Col. GalIaway's footprints on the
sands Of Lawrence county have dis
appeared, but his other "prinis" are
visible, and long may they continue.
Mr.. Dewitt Clinton White, the oldest
editor in The state land not colonel"
either, but plain "Mr.", conducts the
Advertiser, having filed the position
for thirty ak years continuously, aud
he is vet vigorous aud gay as a lark"
Weekly the Advertiser has gone forth
q chronicler of the local news. The
marriages and deaths OF many decades
have been reported in It's columns,
and the gray haired editor has been
identified 80 long with the community
che knows it like q book " Mr.. Michael
Vert ia 40 other venerable citizen. He
merchandised here forty-five years,
and only retired in 1884. He raised
family Of six sons and six daughters,
and Ave OF his SONS are identified in a
professional and business way with
Chattanooga and ono at Decatur. Mr..
Vert is a hale aud robust man, and
bids fair to live many years yet.
The Methodist, Christian and Bap.
tist denominations have prosperous
churches. Each one have bad sue
cessIul revival meetings, an made I'd
ditions to their membership. The
people OF Mou'to would rejoice to
have railway facilities in this .'apid
age, but they are denied somehow,
aud their nearest point to any road Ia
the Memphis and Charleston, via
Hillsboro, fourteen miles distant, to
which daily mail and hack line con
meets. They have hopes that at no
very distant day there will be rail-
road from Aberdeen to Decatur,
which will come TO their door.
The Greenbsckers once held sway
in this county, but, since having con
solidated with the Republicans, the
latter upon full vote can cary the
county. The Demo Crats, thoup h, gen
orally get their candidates in all the
offices.
Mountain Home" half way be,
tween Moulton and Oourlland
is a resot for pcnics, and
for number OF years many
of the citizens Of the county
spent the heated term there. Two
large springs pour forth at the head o.
a canyon or ravine, where it abruptly
terminates at depth Of ninety feet
exhibiting on either side a rocky preci
pice, grand and picturesque. Tht
springs pour from the rocks under
meath half way down the sides on op
posite sides OF the canyon. There II
also surface drainage which runs from
above, and during severe freezing
weather have seen the water from
the surface become stalagmite OF 10,
several feet In diameter from the tol
to the bottom, while the water from
the springs pouring from their Cavern
never froEs. The picture presented
was one OF peculiar grandeur, and wa
worth trip Of many miles TO see.
The present year has not been ia
Vol able one generally for abundan
crops. Too much rain in the working
season prevented cultivation, ant
alterward long drouth did the othe
damage. Nearly all this farmers feI
tilize and use Ruano, believing strong
ly in its eflicscy in making a larg
turnout In their crops, The farmer
sell their cotton at Moulion, Hills
boro, CORTLAND, Townbuck an,
Leighton, and, TO my surprise, man
of them ship direct to Memphis col
ton commission merchants, as was tn
case in years gone by. Discussing III
question with many farmers in Mis-
sissippi and West Tennessee, as we
as elsewhere, there is a disposition
among the more wealthy OF them (
quit selling at the depot and ship I
headquarters, as was the custom \
slave times. II the farmers shol'd r.
turn TO this system OF doing bushes
il will save the depot buyers many
loss on cotton, which has been tn
cause OF 'busting" thousands OF Their
within the last few years, II. L.P.
BostOn'H Labor Candidate for Mayo