Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-02-18
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 12, 1856.


Leaving Wheeling Friday morning,
January 29th, on B u o r r for Clncin-
natl, to meet the steamer Charles Nor
gan, which was advertised to leave for
this port on Saturday evening, on which
we had previously engaged state rooms,
by communicating with the agent, Mr..
Mossett, by telegram and by letter; we
arrived at p N. The boat not being
yet in, transferred baggage for boat, and
ourselves to st James hotel. where We
remained till after breakfast next morn
ing. The boat having arrived during
the night, We went aboard in the fore
noon, and settled ourselves in our roOms
ready for another southern sail. Our
party consisted of Miss Lou Armstrong.
our little niece Miss Bessie JepsOn, Mrs.
Welday and myself. The officers of the
Charles Morgan, Capt w Thompson
and Mr. Church, the clerk, are very clever
and obliging gentlemen. The captain Is
one of the most genial, social, courteous
and kiHG hearted master of steam boat,
with whom it has ever been nay privl>
lege to travel. He is always looking
after the comfort, pleasure and safety OF
his passengers. The steamer is one of
the largest and finest of the line. 1t is
the same one on which we went to New
Orleans our first trip south. in 1879. 1t
has been rettted since then at cost of
$4,000. I can cheerfully recommend
the boat aud its officers TO those who
may desire to travel by river to this city.
We arrived here ON yesterday morn
ing, having been twelve days on board.
The intense cold at Cincinnati and for
some distance below Cairo, formed new
made ice on the river, to the thickness of
two or three inches, and as it floated
along would accumulate into large flakes,
attaining an area of an acre or two. The
boat in striking these would split them
in various directions, clear across and
then fresh through. and in the meantime,
the wheels striking the ice on either
side, would pound the ice up fine, and
thus it plowed through; but this process
impeded its progress very much, hence
the unusual length of time In making
the trip. This, however, made but little
difference to US as We were comfortable,
and she weather getting warmer, or rath-
er less cold each day, until we got below
the snow line, on the Mississippi State
border, then from there we had mild
weather, so that we could with comfort
go ashore and take aastroll at plantation
landings, where often the boat remained
for some time taking on or putting off
freight. On one of these occasions,
Bessie and !, together with several other
ladies and gentlemen, walked out about
a mile TO planters mansion owned by
Mr. Heath, very courteous gentleman
of the characteristic southern planter
type-long, gray beard, broad brim hat,
who rides over his plantation on fine
horse of rather small size, going almost
invariably in a lope. He conducted us
around, showing US through his house,
of which he seemed to take pride; point
ed out the rare pictures on the wall;
chatting all the while, giving US their
history; took US to and seated US on his
front gallery, facing on the river, where
q very fine view of fifteen miles, he said,
of river could be seen. On inquiry, be
told US he planted 1,400 acres in cotton,
yielding about 400 pounds per acre; sold
the last years crop at cents per pound,
which was very low-too low-but said
be could make some money even at that,
by economy and good management, and
that he was satisfied at that, because
other things which he had to buy were
also low. But thought that he, perhaps,
was the only one in that nejghborhood
who was, or who was making money.
He paid his hands one dollar day, and
said that it took on an average one hand
to every five acres now, but that before
the war one hand would work about thir-
teen acres. How that came he did not
explain, nor did press him on that sub
ject.
All along the coast, as it is called from
Natchez Down, they are now cleaning
up their cotton fields and blowing, pre-
paratery to planting for the new crop.
They are also engaged in planting sugar
cane, which they do by laying the canes
in row lengthwise, and covering them
by running a furrow close by. The cane
or stalk will then sprout at each JOINT,
and send up a shoot.
Travel by boat as we'll as by rail is very
slim now, boatmen and railroad men say
Our boat was by no means crowded
with cabin passengers; indeed it could
be said we had very moderate number
for boat the size of ours. Among them
were some very fine social people, with
whom we became very we'll acquainted,
which assisted US greatly in passing the
time pleasantly.
We were pleased to meet in Lafayette
park on yesterday, Mr. and Mrs J NJ
Lewis, of GAINESVILLE. They had taken
a trip south, stopping at Chattanooga a
few days, and then passing into Florida
where they had been few weeks, ar
irving here few days ago. Expected
to start for home last evening or this
morning.
AS 10 the Exposition, l am not able to
say yet how it compares with last year,
not having visited it yet, l notice, how
ever, correspondent to the Cincinnati
Commercial said III that paper a week or
so ago that he was there, and that he
found it An awful failure, especially in
point of attendance, saying that the day
he was there, there was not enough
people on the ground TO make a respect
able Wednesday evening prayer meet
ing" He also said be was at that stu
pendous humGag, the French market"
Well, if he went there to see some grand
thing that is not to be seen there why
he would of course be disappointed; but
it would not necessarily be humbug
for all that. The French market is Just
the French market and nothing else.
Not exactly like anything else in "heav>
en- above or in the earth beneath" And
this is why the people visit it so much. |
AS to his seeing 80 few at the Exposition,
| suspect he did not go where they could |
be seen. l recollect on one of the days |
| was there last year, gentleman who !