River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-02-23
FROM DIXIE LAND.
MoNTaonERY, ALA, Feb. 10, 1888.

] AdhN bAAC ~ u an III NctoAlNAtAGs hDAAh
city was reached Friday morning.
Nothing worthy of note met our obser-
walton enroute except that soon after
leaving Chicago very little snow could
be seen. the fields being bare and ev-
erything giving evidence that old win
ter had been more kind than in Wis
cOnsin. At Nashville we parted with
Gov. Rusk, whose company we had
the pleasure of enjoying thus far, he
taking train for Thomasville, Ca, via
Atlanta, while we remained in Tenn.
esee's capital for few days to see the
sights and Tecuperate after our ride of
over 900 miles. Nashville has i'm
proved wonderfully since last | ate
hash there Is years ago; and / think
the hash has improved with the town;
more of it for the money, and more
money for the hash. 1t is becoming a
fine city, with many evidences of
wealth and enterprise, with little to
note as different from northern city
except the prevalence of colored peo-
Pile. | was assured here that the
Presidents message had lost him
many friends and might loose him the
state in case of his denomination, as
free trade notions were unpopular in
Tennessee except with the old liners.
We left Nashville Saturday morn
ing and were soon flying along through
a beautiful country, diversified with
hill, valley and woodland, and laugh
ing streams along whose margins
herds were cropping the early grass,
while on the hills, among the trees
were the beautiful homes of opulence,
around which are remaining the little
homes of former slaves, still occupied
in many cases by dusky denizens.
On flies the train, passing dilapidat-
ed villages, and grain fields, green as
moss, to reach at $50 the city of
Franklin where Thomas and Hood
fought the memorable battle. A sleepy
looking place is Franklin, but the
suns warm rays which forces men in
TO linen coats cOnduces to sleepiness
at this season of the year. By way
of parenthesis let me say, | walked
the streets of Nashville Friday night
and was uncomfortably warm with
out an overcoat.) But on We drive
for an hour through a beautiful val
ley where the grass is green and farm
ers are turning up the soil, preparing
for spring planting, reach Columbia,
the home of James X. Polk, at 1925,
and see the first evidence of opening
buds on the trees by the margin of
stream. From Columbia to Pulaski at
1850, seeing enrOute many planters
houses on the high grounds, buzzards
in the air and meadOwlarks singing in
the valleys. We dash along to Attn
ems, Ala, a dilapidated burg in fine
country, which, like much through
which we have passed, evidently suf-
fers from poor farming. We tarry not
for the train is an hour behind time,
lhaving to wait for the removal of
wreck but hasten to Decatur the
new iron city whichis wearing "a large
sized boom, of which we will speak in
future letter. Here we halt at l A.
NJ. 20 minutes for dinner at 3 = cents
per minute cash down whether you
get anything to eat or not; but there
were car loads of sharp passengers
and no one got left, neither did the
dinner.
Soon after leaving Decatur we are
among the iron and coal ranges and
the road is cut through hills and rocks,
and great lodges all scanned and split,
rise high in the air, frowning, dark.
grim, and terrible in grandure. Here
| heard confab in the seat behind
me which | must relate for benefit of
coming generations. A young man and
an old man occupied the seat and
were viewing the great rocks, when
the younger of the two propOunded
the following conundrum and an
swered it himself, tO-wit: "What
split up them rocks that wayl" His
companion very wisely gave it up as
too big for him, but the young man
took the bit like scared colt and
evolved the following: Christ said
the rocks should be rent, and no doubt
it was done then, must have been done
| then" / knew at once that he was a
theologian from away back and was
SO rejoiced to see him that gave him
my paternal smile. / expected to hear
him say that the mountain before us
was Mount Calvary, but he didn't; still
he had that kind of look about him.
He got Off at Huntsville, and | missed
him.
At 2:l5 we are passing through for
ests of hard wood, reaching heavy
grade up which the engine climbs
with its great burden. around the
points OF hills, in deep cuts where ore
is visible, along dug-ways where wind
ing stream sparkles away below in the
chasm. Still climbing the hill at 2:45
the iron horse gets stalled and has
hard tug to start on his course again,
but conquers at last, and passing the
great cut at the top turns the summit,
and away we go down grade a mile a
minute, through forests of young pines
which stretch away as far as the hills
will indulge the vision. We have
passed the first great mineral range of
Alabama and are on the high plateau
of pine lands, rich in minerals but
barren indeed.
At 3:45 we reach Blount Springs,
among the rocks and hills, 1870 miles
short of our destination. Here are
big hotels, plain cottages, darkie shan.
ties, and rocks; mostly rocks. 1t is
said to be a resort and l guess it is,
for it certainly looks as if humanity
could be miserable there if anywhere.
/ At 4:l5 we are again in the gulches,
passing over great chasms on bridges
4