St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-31
SOUTHERN GROWTH AND ENTER.
PRISE.
Letter from George M. Williams.

Letter from George NJ. Williams.
TALLAPoOsA, GA, May 16, '09.
SO many of the people at and near
st. Johnsbury have expressed wish
to hear from me while on this trip to
the "Sunny South" that | find it would
be quite task to write to each one,
and SO have concluded to write the
Caledonian, that it may be read by
all.
This city is in Western Georgia on
the Georgia Pacific r. R., CD miles
from Atlanta, and four miles from the
Alabama state line. It's altitude is
1900 feet above sea level, the highest
point on the above named railroad, in
surfing a good climate, and the water is
as good as can be found anywhere.
There are great numbers of pure, free
stone water springs, also several min
eral springs. Good climate and good
water are two things seldom found to-
gether in the South and West. They
are both found here. From the North
this place is reached by three routes.
The one taken by the writer was the
Shenandoah valley from New York
city. The scenery by this route is
much more picturesque than by either
of the others, and the rate of fare less.
OF all the growing places in the
South the following are the ones of
most note, viz: Birmingham, Decatur,
AmistOn, Bessemer and Gadsden, Ala,
Chattanooga, Tenn, Rome, Atlanta,
Moscow, Gainesville, just starting, and
TallapOOsa, Ga. [ think this place
steps over them all in point of climate
and water. During the three weeks L
have been here the weather has been
fine. The highest point reached by
the mercury last summer was 920
above in the shade, and the lowest dur
ing the winter 40 above. The warm
est this season is $50 above it reaches
800 nearly every day, but the days are
not uncomfortable, as there is a good
breeze nearly all of the time. The
nights are cool, and the same bed
clothing is needed as in winter. The
surface is very rolling in this section
giving natural drainage. There are no
pools of stagnant water found around
here.
The soil is titled in a very primitive
style, aud but little is raised except
corn, wheat and cotton, and not more
than half a crop of these. The land is
not ploughed, only scratched over with
a light pillow with an iron or wooden
point. The subsOil is good, and if the
land was cultivated as in Vermont,
think large crops could be grown and
farming made profitable. All kinds of
fruit trees grow and bear very freely
without any care. The most remark
able growth have heard of or seen is
at a garden in "Old Town." a little
over half mile out. There are three
peach trees that came up from the
seed in April, 1887; this year they
were full of blossoms and would have
had fruit had not frost caused them
to blight. At the present time the
trees are from ten to fifteen feet tall,
and have trunks three inches in diam
eter. Wells are dug 40 and 50 feet
deep and require no curling except at
the bottom, and many none at all.
Since the Land company was organ
lied last July they have cut out, Gt
was nearly all forest here,) over 30
miles of streets, and many of them are
graded. At that time the population
was about 700 and to-day over 1000.
Houses are going up in all directions.
Although this dull season of the
year here, there are 40 or more houses
being erected now, and none for rent.
Thus far no brick buildings have been
built, as brick at reasonable prices
could not be obtained. Now there are
three brick yards in operation, one
making from 1000 to 10000 machine,
dry pressed brick per day. 1t is hoped
soon to have plenty for building pur
poses.
The plant for blast furnace is pur-
chased, and the work is being pushed
so as to "blow in" next October or
November. A sash, door and blind
shop is we'll underway and will soon
be in working trim. On the 9th in
slant a meeting was held to see about
establishing gas and glass works at a
second meeting OIL the 18th it was de-
cided to organize a stock company of
$4,000 capital, works to employ about
rs hands on the 18th the stock was all
taken and company organized; on the
18th ground was broken and the works
will be ready for operation Aug. 10.
The Land company have received a
letter from large glass company in
Philadelphia, asking what induce
ments would be offered to them to To-
cate here, and SO it goes. A stock
company is being organized in New
York to erect a large hotel to cost
SI50,OOO. Steps are being taken to
start several other industries, among
them the erection of a cotton mill.
think the place is sure to grow, and |
will be n fine city in a few years. Iron
and coal is plenty within short dis
lance, and it is a section rich with min
erals. GEO. III. WILLIAMS.