The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1888-11-16
THREE DEAD GEORGIA
TOWNS,
Crops Cultivated Now Where
Brick BLOCKS Used to stand.
Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
At tho confluence of the Broad and
Savannah rivers, in Ebert county, in
the latter part of the Eighteenth
century, stood city that threatened
to rival Augusta as a trading point.
This city was named Petersburg, and
before its decay was as we'll known
as even Atlanta to-day, Across Broad
river, in Lincoln county, at the same
time Petersburg was in the zenith Of
its glory, was located rival town
named Lisbon; while on the Caroline
side was third city, Vienna. Peters
burg was by far the largest town and
best business point. Then came
Vienna, and next Lisbon, "
These three towns were built at
what was then thought to be the head
of navigation on the Savannah river,
and promised to be places of CON
siderable Importance. They were
located long before the days Of cotton
and steamboats,, whom tobacco was
the great staple of this section of the
country, and navigation of the
Savannah was by keelboats. cannot
learn in what year these old towns
were first laid out, but 1t must have
been shortly after the close of the
revolutionary war, for in the old
graveyard are seen monuments dating
back a century,
These three dead towns have
always been an interesting study to
me, and during a recent visit to that
locality tried to learn something
about their early history. One gentle
man told me that sixty odd years ago
an old lady friend of his said she at
tended a grand ball in Petersburg.
Then there were thIrtYthree stores in
the place, and it was then on the de-
cline, But l found it very difficult
matter to CLEAN authentic information
in regard to the early history of the
town, for the oldest citizens can only
remember tue place after its desertion,
and when only a few scattered
families inhabited it,
The town was built on a broad
strip of alIuyial bottom land, sur
rounded by an ampitheatre of hills,
All the business was transacted on a
single street that passed through the
center of the place, The surrounding
heights were chosen the sites for
residences, and l was shown an old
red knoll that once sold for $4,000
in gold. Lisbon outlived both Peters
burg and Vienna, doubtless, owing ia
the fact that it was built on a more
elevated and healthy site. Vienna
boasted several very handsome blocks
of brick buildings, but was the first oi
the three to decay.
The desertion of Petersburg is at
tributed to two causes. One that the
introduction of cotton completely
reVolutioniEed the trade of this
country, and it could not compete
with Augusta. The principal bust
ness Of Petersburg had been tobacco
which was packed in stout hogsheads
a set of shafts attached thereto, anC
the same pulled to market by pony
or steer. With the introduction o.
cotton, the bales were easier trans
ported, and hence more distant mar
kets sought. Another reason for th'
abandonment of the town, and fol
which there is doubtless some ground
is that the places were very siCkly, anr
waited every summer by an epidemic
Of malarial diseases,
To-day there is no sign left Of wha
were once three fourishing towns, OK
cept the half.filled cellars and we'll
surrounded by a thiOket Of China apt
mulberry trees. What was once th
fourishing city of Petersburg Is nov
occupied by Capt, Cade as coLtoI
field and stock farm. Lands that oncr
sold by the foot, and streets that werO
thronged with busy tradesmen, ar
now given over to the more peacefu
and quiet pursuits of agriculture
Had the curse of God fallen upon thi
town, its obliteration from the face 0
the earth could not have been NOR
complete. Literally, not one ston
is left upon another, or a single yes
tige OF the old habltation remains