The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-20
THE A., ?. AND L. ROAD.
IT'S EASTERN EXTENSION FROM
AMERICU5.

barbecue - An Inland Fleet Of
STEAMERS - Abbeville - The Visit OF
left Davis-Cordele--Al About the
place-Joe Browns Log CastIe-The
Long Collard Story-The Old Planta-
ton Bell-The Estate of Dolly"
Having completed the tour of the west,
arm portion of the Americas, Preston and
Iompkin railroad, from Americas tc
rnmpk1n, at an early hour on July 5,
mined at the former city an immense ex.
cnrsion from all along the line of road
hound for the Ocmulgee terminus near
Abbevile. The object of the expedition
was to witness the launch of new steamer
from the wharf of the company and par
take of a sumptuous barbecue provided by
the hospitable citizens of Wilcox county
The train, embracing all the available
rolling stock of the road, including plat
form cars, was well filed with tie elite of
Stewart Webster and Sumter counties AS
il moved onward numerous accessions at
each station soon occupied every vacant
seat. and it was difficult for the crowd to
fndeven standing room. The greatest good
humor and hilauty prevailed. All seemed
iubilant over the success of the road, the
ueoples own bantling, and boosted not O
little of its future prospects.
Inotice a decided change in the character
Of the country traversed from Americas to
Abbeville, as compared with the western,
or Lumpkin division. After leaving Amer
icus the route is through gently undu-
lating, fertile section, until the level plains
and rich bottoms Of Flint river appear
Here, stretching away on both sides of the
road almost as far as the eye can reach ex-
tends the famous Hugenin plantation, pre-
senting one broad expanse of corn and
cotton Then, after the river and long
trestle have been crossed, we come to one of
the finest lumber districts i'll the state, with
hardly "a stick amss" No better lllustra-
ton Of this can be given than the statement
OF a railroad director, that where the right
Of way had been acquired, frequently the
standing timber within the limits proved
more than sufficient to furnish all the
crossties for the prescribed distance. A
few saw mills and an occasional turpen-
tine farm have been planted, but
in the main, as yet the forest
treasures of this magnificent domain re
main intact. But the best part of the story
is still to be told Almost every acre of
this territory possesses a generous soil, with
the clay cropping to the surface oak run
ners" intersperaed among the pines, and
having perfect drainage. 1t is just such
land enough not really rich as with proper
cultivation and judiciOusly fortified will
return the best results to the agriculturist
in the production of field crops, fruits or
vegetables. The proof of this was mani
fest i'll the luxuriant fields of corn and cot
ton, the latter laden already with blooms
and hollis and soon to be yielding its leecy
harvest. Indeed, have never seen i'll any
section less of what is usually termed
waste land"
a WORD IN SEASON
And now, en- PEASANT, would earnestly
deprecate the custom of selling the noble
pine forests to turpentine manufacturers,
who, after exhausting them of their resin
Gus properties, move elsewhere and leave
the gigantic growth Of centuries to become
the speedy prey of fire and tempest In
every instance where the turpentine
privilege is sold ought to be coupled pro
viso that the exhausted stocks should be I'M
mediately converted into merchantable
lumber, to be paid for at a fair valuation.
Otherwise the proprietor, if unable TO cut
and market it himself. will lose the best
part Of his patrimOnial Inheritance. But
to resume. 1t was on a bright, typical
July morn, with the mercury soaring near
the summit of the 'nineties," that the long
tram descending the steep grade from the
Abbevllle station paused at length on the
aver bank in the midst of a dense swamp
Here hundreds of the people of Wilcox
and adjoining counties had assembled to
greet their brethren from the interior, and
the appeuzing fumes of roasting meat from
The barbecue pits scented the air. After a
short interval the speaking began. The
hrst orator was
HON. R. F. WATTS,
OF Stewart county. Never was any man
more enthused with his theme, which was
The history and glorification of the Ameri-
Gus Preston and Lumpkin railroad. And,
albeit rather bitter in his animadversiOns
upon the Georgia Central, yet the effort
contained much that was instructive and
mghy Interesting to his auditors. He
claimed that the road, already doing large
ana paving business, was monument to
the pluck and enterprise and industry of
the people. 1t had been continued ten miles
osyond Lumpkin to point within hail of
tue Chattahoochee, and, when they get
ready, 1t would also be pushed forward east
Gther to Savannah or elsewhere, as best
comported with their interests. The road
was wholly Independent of all outside syn
ucateS and combinations, and intended to
remain So The counties on the line, or
tributary to the enterprise, with the same
number as Massachusetts to the square mile,
would support population of 1000 600
souls
Mr.. w. Dodson of Sumter then followed
IN brief and happy effort illustrated by a
Iellng anecdote. He is a fine speaker His
remarks, which were of congratulatory
nature, were well received and cheered to
'ue echo The last speaker was
HON. D. B. HARRELL,
VI webster commonly styled the watch
aOg u the Georgia treasury" Declaring
.uat me pleasant odors from the barbecued
.Aeat were far moro potential upon the
auulehce than any utterances of his could
oe' ne sand the virtue of brevty at least
Su'GId be accorded to him. But the Judge
na1e capital speech, and showed how from
uoOllhg few years since when the South
Western road was the sole connecting link
Nun civilization and the markets Of the
"o'id this whole region was now honey
ohoed with railroads already built, or in
process Of construction, TO say nothing of
numerous projected enterprises He, too,
vas rather caustic in his illusions TO the
oeutftI railroad, but his remarks evinced
m'c1 thought and the deepest devotion TO the
pe'pIe VI his section. The steamboat launch
,"@' next IN order upon the programme, and
NJ" was most successfully carried out.
uooFed to tho banks lay the City of Ameri-
sl' Just receiving the finishing touches and
'q'ly 20 take her place IN the steam marine
INC lAe commonwealth Hard by like a
''0eIed horse stood her consort the
ABBEvILLE
'o9l upon the shore. out buoyed up by