River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-03-29
FROM THE SOUTH.

DEAR JOURNAL: Since my letter of
the 10th | have seen many things. to
me very interesting. Though rain has
been falling continually and prevented
me from taking in the sights complete
ly, still have found much enjoyment
in my associations with numerous
gentlemen whose acquaintance | have
been permitted to make through the
p0liteness of Col. Kolb, Alabama's ef-
ticient Commissioner of Agriculture,
whereby have learned much of Ala
bama's condition and resources both
in mineral and agriculture, and some
thing of her political situation and
the hopes and desires of her people for
the future. Montgomery is beau
tifully situated city, on the east bank
of the Alabama river, contains be-
tween 25000 and 10000 inhabitants,
has excellent water works supplied
from artesian wells which yield an
abundant flow of cold, clear, soft
water, street cars which are propelled
by electricity. and the streets are
lighted by electric light. All these
are permanent. and new, and are an
indication that her people are on the
wave of progress, and bringing to
their use the latest Improvements in
these things which contribute to pub
lie advancement and enjoyment. The
site of the city is good, rising grad
ually from the river eastward to high
grounds, where the beautiful homes
of the wealthy are situ"fed. surrounded
by an afiluence of shade and lawn, and
extending ON to lovely parks which
contribute to the enhancement of
suburban beauty and attractiveness.
The streets of Montgomery are not
paved, but their width, ample drain
age, broad walks and abundant shade
are atoning features, and the nature
OF the soil is such as to prevent an
accumulation of mud except in the
most rainy seasons.
Schools and churches abound and
seem to be in flOurishing condition.;
two iirst-class hotels (WindsOr and
Exchange and others of less preten-
tions, large wholesale houses of var
ious kinds, wealthy banks, and the
usual variety of retail establishments
seen in every city.
The most interesting feature of
business with which we have yet
come in contact and had the good for
tune to examine is the cotton trade.
There are a number os cotton ware
houses here handling in the aggregate
10000 bales of the dOwny staple
annually, the most extensive of which,
we have just had the good fortune to
look through. does one.third of the
entire business. This house (Leehman
and Durr) have been in the business
here quarter of a century, and are
experts in the trade in all its bearings
and take great pleasure in giving to
strangers all the information desired
and in showing them the practical
workings of wholesale cotton merchan
diZing.
Their warehouses cover two squares
and are crossed, and recrossed by dead
walls las security i'm case of fire.
through which are openings for the
passage of teams, made secure by am
pie iron doors. Within the walls of
this great establishment were large
numbers of cotton bales piled in tiers
ready for movement when deman ded,
yet the propIietors assure us that their
stock at present is small. The cotton
delivered at this point for the year
1887 caused a distribution among the
farmers of about $l0,000,000 probably,
and as this represents but portion
and probably small portion of the en-
tire crop, it is easily seen that the
state as whole commands a large
sum of money annually through this
one branch of agricultural industry.
1t was our good fortune also to
visit yesterday, "a cotton press in Oper-
alton, where a bale four fit. deep was
pinchel up to six inches and secu red
there in few seconds, which operation
is necessary TO prepare it for transport
alton in the least possible space. The
firm Whose card l have lost owns two
presses with a capacity Of 1900 bales
daily. All this handling of cotton is
done to prepare it for shipment to the
far off mills of New England and Old
England, TO be woven into various
fabrics, and returned in the course Of
trade to supply the wants of the South
ern planter and merchant, who pay
the whole expense of double trans
portation, simply because no grand
movement has yet been made to do
the manufacturing here where the
staple is raised. These great cotton
centeTs of the south should be the
great manufacturing centers of cotton
goods, and especially should MOntgom-
cry, so near to endless coal beds be-
come famous for her cotton mills; and
we cannot avoid the conviction that i'm
the near future she will assert herself
and secure what seems so appropriately
. n N CI
under southern skies with the peach,
and plum, and pear trees in bloom
making the air delightful with odors
of spling, knowing that friends and
dear ones at home are gazing on fields
of snow and ice. and shivering in The
grip of old winter, but so it is, and
though it rains and makes the air
seem chilly to the southerner, it is
delightful to me, and reminds me OF
Wisconsin's lovely showers in early
May when the fields look green and
the flowers begin to bloom.
l hardly know what part of Wis
consin spring to campare present Ala
bama with, as the foliage and flowers
of trees and blooming plants are more
in advance of the growth of grass than
is usual in the north, but it is sufficient
to say, that, to me it is spring time.
and when. in a few days am again in
the midst of deep, cold snow banks,
the scenes now surrounding me will
haunt me as delightful spring in the
midst of winter. and return to me in
my meditations as green and bloom
ing oasis surrounded by icy fields and
chilling blasts. For fear of trespass-
ing too much on your space, we will
conclude with the promise to further
consider our visit to Montgomery in a