The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-04
SEEING THE SOUTH.
NEW ORLEANS, March /, 1892.

ring the crowded condition of their
sleeper, which is an old one, and the poor
car service. We have passed over thous-
ands of acres of water, and yet have
been without that necessary ingredient
of an excursion about half the time. Mr..
| Pullman takes his $3.50 for the trip and
leaves the rest to take care of itself.
We have been to Memphis, Birming-
ham, Atlanta, Macon, Savannah, Mobile
and now to New Orleans. We have
| heard much of seaboard facilities for our
products. The south seems to be awake
to the Importance of this matter. At
Birmingham there is live, northern
appearing city. The citizens brag on
their great business and take you to their
rolling mills, smelters and large natural
park. At Atlanta you hear much of the
wonderful city. The people seem to be
struck on the town. You go to McPher-
son barracks on one side, where the gov
eminent has expended good
deal of money i'll buildings,
and where regiment of soldiers is
stationed, and on the other side is Nc
Pherson monument, erected on the spot
where the noble defender Of the Union
fell while leading his men in battle. The
tree against which he rested while
breathing his last is still standing and
has been much disfigured by relic
fiends. 1t struck us as very singular
how few people knew the way to Nc
Pherson monument. Most of them
seemed not to know there was such a
memorial to one of the best of Union
! No
barracks are located. The latter are
some six miles out and are reached by
rapid running electric car. Two of us
who wanted to pay our respects to the
noble Mcpherson were disappointed by
being sent to the barracks instead, and
this by ''nigger."
The state house at Atlanta is a fine
structure of white stone with marble
trimmings. 1t seems as large, if not
larger, than the Kansas building, and
was built and furnished for a little less
than $1,000,0 900. The legislative halls
are not as handsomely finished as ours,
but are good enough. There is little left
to tell the story of the military struggle
here. Some of the old earth-works are
still standing, and the house where Gen
eral Sherman had his headquarters is
pointed out to visitors. In a business
point of view, Atlanta beats all the
southern cities seen by our associa-
ton. The streets are crowded by rush.
ing and busy throngs. The city claims
100000 people. 1t has blocks of build
ings which are a credit to the enterprise
of the people.
At Savannah we,were treated to ride
down the river of the same name, and
out into the ocean. This was much en-
joyed by our people. An elegant lunch
was served by S. II. Hardwick, assistant
general passenger agent Of the Richmond
and Danville railroad company. We
had an informal reception at the mayors
Office, and were treated royalty during
our stay. The principal objects of inter
esq were the Academy of Arts and Sci
ences, a large building; the church
where John Wesley was rector, and the
Bonaventure cemetery, one of
the handsomest cemeteries on the
continent. This is situated on the bank
of the Warsaw river about four miles
from the city, and is visited by all who
go to Savannah. Its lending object of
interest is the very large shaggy old
postoak trees, the limbs of which are
hung with heavy festoons Of gray moss.
The scene presented in this silent city is
one of wild grandeur, unequalled by
ANYTHING of the kind | ever saw.
At Mobile we found several Kansans,
some of whom have located there. A.
NJ. Blair, we'll known citizen Of Ottawa,
formerly q state senator, and collector
of internal revenue for our state, has
INVESTED IN 1000 acres Of land i'll the
vicinity. Mr.. Meacham, of Ottawa. has
also made extensive investments. Frank
Blair, a son Of the above named, is i'll
the wholesale hardware business.
John Wilson, a son of we'll known cit
izen OF Leavenworth, is located here, and
is working for a franchise to furnish the
city with electric lights and cars and is |
about to succeed. All these towns need |
a generous infusion of western enterprise |
and grit, and the people realize this and !
are anxious to have the westerners come. |
There are some relics of the old slavery |
days both here and at Savannah, but |
they are giving way to modern notions. |
The old buildings 100 to $50 years of age |
are pointed out. They have the narrow !
two-stoIy porches with heavy columns |
and clapbOard roofs. The aristocratic |
people can trace their blood back seve- |
al generations, and take great !
pride in this; but if western |
enterprise gets good foothold !
it will impel a new concern in knowing
how to keep from being run over. The
great interest at Mobile is lumber. We /
visited ships being loaded for English
ports, Norwegian ports and-sO-forth. We
had delightful excursion up the Mobile
river and down to the bay rendered by
the commercial club, accompanied by our
Kansas friends. Mr.. Blair, whose judg
ment is good, believes investments here
are very promising. of good results.
We have not vet seen much of New
Orleans. Our car is located Gt the corner
Of Elysian Fields and Good Children
streets 1t is in the French market. The
dust is very deep, and the surroundings
very squalid. 1t is wide thorougfare
with several tracks. Ours was the first
sleeper on the track, but many others
have come III since. There Is rush to
the city TO witness the Mardi Gras festiv-
ties. We take car and ride into the
heart of the city, on Canal street. which
IS about 200 feet wide and the rendez-
7ous OF everybody. 1t used to be said
hat all roads led TO Rome, so all street
ar lines here lead to Canal street. There
S said to be 10000 strangers here for
dardi Gras The principal streets are
estooned with flags, while tiers of seats
are being arranged in front Of the bust
ness houses from which TO witness the
great paradeS during the festivities.
the town. especially in tie French
quarter. is filthy. About our car are
iozeus of children, offering their ser
vices for errands, begging pennies. etc,
while their mothers ask for washing.