The Brookhaven leader., 1886-11-18
Gresnwood---Notes of Our Recent
VISIT.

miles from the "fnot- hills" which
fringe the eartern boundary of the
great Valley. At present Green.
wood is practically the Northern
terminus of the Yazoo Valley Rail
road, though trains make occasion
al trips tn Parsons, an unimportant
station Is miles hey ond. Here, as
ut Yazoo City, the Railroad has
constructed an incline down to the
rivers edge To facilitate the transfer
Of freight, and has its own boats
PLYING the waters Of the YaZ1o,
1 Yallobusha and Tallahatchie recclv-
ing cotton and delivering freight.
In fact, the enterprise Of the Rail
road in this respect is breaking up
the monopoly formerly enjoyed by
the regular steamboat lines, and has
greatly reduced the rate of freight
charges all along these streams.
Greenwood is one of the oldest
towns in the State, and has history
too long and full Of interesting
events to be more than barely limited
at in single newspaper article.
1t was settled about 1880, and was
formerly know as Williams Land
ing, taking this name from q west
rrn river. man who landed here
about that time and blazed out
q trail from the river 10 the hills.
Soon this trail was followed by n
wagon road, and then the trade be-
gan. Until the completion of the
Mississippi Central Railroad in 1853,
this was the trading point Of all
the country as far east as Chicka-
saw county. Before that time a
plank road lad been built out from
Greenwood TO the hills Ivy the town
authorities and a fine pike from
Point Lefnrc, three miles above, BY
the famous Choctaw Indian Chief,
Greenwood Lcf0re, from whom the
town and county received their
names, and the streets Of the town
literally swarmed with cotton wagons
and traders. Those were its pros
porous days. The building Of the
Railroad diverted its best trade
away, and "Icabod' was for time
written above the doors Of its flour
;shing stores and ware houses,
However. as Railroads first worked
her decline, so now Railroads are
about TO work her redemption. In
addition to the building Of the Va
zoo Valley Railroad lately completed,
it is expected at no distant day that
Greenwood will be the crossing
point of the Georgia Pacific Rail
road. 1t has been determined to
complete the two gaps now existing
in that road, between Greenville,
Miss, and Atlanta, Ga, one 10
miles in length between Johnsonvile
and Columbus, Miss, and from
Days Gap 80 miles TO Birmingham
About As miles Of narrow guage
road from Greenville TO Johnsonvilc
ha, been built and is now in opera
ton. This will be widened to
standard guage and work on it will
be commenced at once.
A Large fnrce Of men is now en-
ployed on the road between Days
Gap and Birmingham, which work
will 'on be com pleled, when the en-
tire force will be put TO work build
ing the road west from Columbus
where a junction will be made with
the Mobile and Ohio system. The
building of this road will open up
fine country and afford a long
needed thoroughf;.re din ectly across
the State, and Greenwood will be
one Of the most favored points on
the line.
The town now handles $4,000
bales of cotton annually and has
many stores that carry large stocks,
hut its second boom hasn't fairly
set in yet, there being but few evil
dcnces SO fur of recent improve
ment. There are only three brick
buildings in the place-the Court
house, the Jail, and q large ware
house. The town has three church
es, Methodist, Presbyterian and
Episcopal, and a good school, and
the health of the place is said to be
excellent. Also q well esta blished
newspaper, the Valley Flag, publish
ed by MIR 5. r Coleman, formerly
of Lincoln county, and Mr. w. l..
Davidson, a friend Of our boyhood
days in the good old county of
Kinds.
Lcflore is one of The richest coun-