The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-30
THE PROGRESSIVE SOUTH.
Many Ways in Which That Section Is Reap
ing the Benefit of the New Conditions.

III. S. Morse. of Macon. Ca. vice-preei-
dent and general manager of the Macon s.
Dublin railroad. is stopping at the New
Denison House, where he has been called
upon by number of old friends. Mr..
Morse, ten years ago. was general superin-
tendent of the l., ID. a. S., and left here to
go to New Orleans. Il have been railroad
building and specializing in the South ever
since" said he, in answer to the inquiry of
the reporter. Il have noted great i'm prove
ments in the railroads in that part of the
country in that period. When first went
South there was hardly a line on which it
was thought safe to run faster than twenty
miles an hour. Now nearly all the
roads are in good condition, though
they do not run trains as rapidly as
on Northern roads. The Cincinnati South
ern. however. running from Cincinnati to
Chattanooga and thence to New Orleans,
makes thirty miles an hour, and the Coast
line, from New York to Jacksonville, Fla,
makes thirty miles. Twenty-Five miles an
hour is the speed of most of the lines.
There have been many miles of road built,
and well constructed. The Southern farm
knowledge is making them prosperous.
They are now endeavoringtO raise corn and
other grains for home consumption, and
those who are doing that are prospecting.
They formerly raised nothing but cotton,
and bought all their food supplies. The
crop of peaches this year amazes the old.
est lnhabltant. In many places they rot
on the ground. as the markets are filled and
there is no sale for them.
us there any advancement in other
waysi"
Southern hotels. Nearly all of them of the
first class have fallen into the hands of
Northern men, experienced hotel men, The
fact that the hotels are so much improved
takes away the chief terror of Southern
travel. When first went South, especially
in Texas, l could not get a meal fit to eat
or room fit to sleep in. Now one can hnd
in the larger cities. even in Texas, as good
hotels as anywhere. and the hotels In the
smaller places compare favorably Win
those in like places in the North"
do the people of the South adjust them
selves readily to new conditions
"Yes. The South is prospecting even
more than the North. and is certainly
the country to live in when winter comes.
There are still few who live in the past
and don't like the present progress. but they
are passing away, and 1t is well that they
are. have seen but one person IN the
South in all my travels who wanted slavery
To FctuTu. w llu Cuo cACtptlOH VI Iulo cOll~
tary Director all are better satisfied with
the new order of things. There is no OBJ
lection to Northern men and Northern CAPT
tai. Both are welcomed. They have been
praying for new blood and new money, and
their prayers have been answered. North
ern Alabama. and you may say nearly the
entire State of Georgia, are the most
prosperous parts of the South. They
have had nothing to check them
since they started on the upward course.
Wherever you go in this part of the South
you find people from Indiana, Ohio, New
York and other Northern States. The PEG.
pie down there take kindly to President
Harrison, and are pleased rather than 9TH
erwise with his election. There was large Z
the members of it don't say much, they
look gratitied. The great fear of the South
is negro supremacy. 1 believe half the
Democratic party IN the South. the better
element in it. would be Republican if they
were not afraid of having negro county Of
ticers elected over them. They don't like
the idea of negro sheriff serving sub
pena on them. The negroes are a quiet.
orderly class, and make excellent labOrers.
We find them good railroad-buaders."