The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-31
ALABAMA
AND HER MAGIC CITY.

EDITOR DEMOCRAT :-Perlaps II
might interest some OF the many
readers Of TIE DEMOCRAT to know
something Of the habits and customs
OF the people in and around the coal
fields OF Alabama, also her mineral
and farming resources.
AS yet, white immigration to Ala
bama has been confined to the miner
al regions and to the pineywoods
farming sect,on.A great many people
have come fromGeorgts, ,theCaroIinas,
and Nirginis. and have taken up the
virain land,a begun business from
the Jump on large scale. But the
vast majority Of the big plantations
are the results Of patch work. Peo
pie from the above Statee, took ap
the land in fortjes, eighties and
hundreds, Gle lred their felds, built
their houses, and started TO work to
get rich.
Some prospered faster than others,
and their slaves multiplied more
rapidly, and these bought out their
poorer neighbors. thus the more
successful remained behind to be-
come large planters, while the others
moved farther West to try it again
iu virgin country.
Perhaps some day this process
will reverse itself, for already there
are signs that the poorer people who
have been for years passing through
from the States of the Atlantic sea
board to Texas, Mississippi ard
Arkansas can be prevailed upon to
stop OF the rich, fertile and healthy
lands OF Southern Alabama.
Down in Sumpter the experiment
is being tried on q systematic plan.
An agent is paid by the planters SO
much for every white immigrant he
induces to come and rent or bay Q
| portion Of their plantations. The
first installment consists of fifteen
families from North Carolina. If it
works well as it doubtless will, there
is no reason why it should not be
come q steady evolution that small
| farmers from the older States will
come in and again divide up the
great plantations from which then
kinfolks were frozen out In the
quarter Of century that precee leo
the war, and with these facts il is
quite certain that Alabama will yet
become one Of the greatest farming
states in the Union.
No land upon which the sun SHINE:
possesses greater natural advantage
in mineral resources than that o
middle Alabama, but around he
coal and iron mines the disposition
Of the miners are as rula kept TN
der tie bonds of law, but often a
Critical times they exhibit their vacil
lating, sert like animal instincts,
gluttOnOus mot, dirt eating, liel
spitism or TO use common senst
language sucking around the official!
of the company, one trying to cut dC
the other in trying to stick thel
noses into some one else's business
| thiUk this tendancy is to he de
pICred in this the 10th century whel
Gods image should stand up in tn
light Of day and act as man shoult
and be an honor to his country
How can be when he tramples OF
the best gift his Creator has confer
ed on hin, or trades it Off for a kel
Of beer.
Ifthe Mississippi river ran throusl
here, this element would walk in ant
be drowned in it. 1t would be q bless
ing. Communicating Influences woult
: thus be brought to an end.
Most all the miners are foreigners
and depend on one days work 70
their support on the next, and still
they will spend the last cent the,
have on earth for 4 glass Ct beer
when they 60 not have 8 crust c
, bread to eat.
I am GLAD they are not Americans
for this stamp of people could hav
, never gained our conntry's indepeuG
ence. Let them call ttemselve
Union men, | Can not or by any otte
J name, suffice it to say their action
condemn then, and will do so unt
they form q determination to b
men.
AIabama's iron and coal fields ar
rich, and as new manufacturing
= establishments are being put {
; every day through out the Who'll
state there is ready sale aDd d,
, mand for her iron, and the million