The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-01-19
Letter from Mr.. r. Fl. Allen.

along the v, S. & p Railroad, leay-
( ing familiar scenes in rapid succession |
to vanish from view. One old friend
at Haughton, and another at Doyline,
bid us good bye with wave of the
hand. At 1:30P. NJ, the grand old
river Mississippi was reached, and
as we slowly left the western shore
Paul repeated a verse from Childe
Harold's adieu to England, which
caused tear to steal its way down
our cheek-a thing we had hoped to
resist-but there is time in our
lives, the memory of which will force
affection to make it's presence known.
After leaving Vicksburg, the speed
of our train was increased to 35 miles
an hour. Passing through Jackson,
Miss, with only halt of 10 minutes,
gave US no opportunity of seeing the
place to any advantage, Arriving at
Meridian in the night, still afforded
us no chance Of observation. Here
we were transferred to the original
Queen and Crescent road, which is
furnished with the most magnificent
coaches in America. From here on
to Fort Payne, Ala, was an all night
ride, hence we only saw what trans
pired in the train. Paul slept and l
nodded At Fort Payne the noun
tains broke upon our view in all their
stupendous glory clad in the robe of
winters frost, with their everlasting
peaks reared heavenward in silent
majesty. The scene to our little boy
was so enchanting that for miles he
would stand and gaze in silence at
those lofty peaks. But when the foot
of Lookout Mountain was reached
he gave vent to BIS feelings with the
cry, "ohl papa look what grand
scene" And indeed it might be call
ed one by those who have a steady
head, but as for us, it was anything
but pleasing. One look was all we
wanted, for on one side a mountain
rose perpendicular hundreds Of feet
above us, while on the other side the
river rolled hundred feet below,
with Just room for car to pass. 1t
o'clock A. NJ. Chattanooga came in
sight, and here we halted only thirty
minutes to be transferred to the East
Tennessee and Georgia road, and l
must say the best road of all, and the
fastest time. At 2 o'clock P. NJ. At
lanta was reached, where we lay over
until 7. This city is one when once
visited retains its memory upon the
visitor for some time. 1t is manu-
featuring city, with some very costly
bull lings. The State House is a
magnificent structure, and the "Con-
stitution" building has few equals
and I dare say no superior in the
South. ATTIC the bell tapped for all
aboard to Macon, where halt was
made just long enough for us to have
our trunks rechecked to Cochran, and
: at y o'clock at night the porter sang
ont the long wished for call, "Coch-
ran!" when we stepped from the train
into a cab, and was whirled away to
, the Ingram hotel, where, after good
bath, we were soon in the arms of
Morpheus, enjoying the long wished
for slumber so much needed.
At daylight we were on the streets
taking in the Georgia town of the
,, Wiregrass country. This might well
; be called farming town, for miles
, in every direction farms lie in splen-
did array The country lies level and
the farms are well improved. Thirty,
! forty and fifty bushels of corn are the
products per acre, and from three
fourths to one bale of cotton. Farm
ers are alive to their interest. They
fertilize with compost, which is made
by hauling in straw to their lots and
stables, and then combining that
manure with cotton seed. This they
spread on the land broadcast and
plow in. Their lands are broke and
rebroke before planting, then zoe
pounds of guano drilled in the run.
, and the work is done, except the cal,
, tivation, which is very easy done,
> Tho best farmers plant their corn
rows seven feet apart, with q row
, of groundpeas between. By this
method they make 20 bushels corr
per acre and fatten their hogs on the
groundpeas. Also cornfeld peas are
, raised in abundance, of which variety
, the unknown pea is considered the
greatest yielder and fertilizer. Every
thing that it requires to run farm
9 IS raised upon it. The farmer make
/ his farm self-supporting.
! There is certainly few better coun
$ tries than Georgia in which to raise
y up boy; here he is taught economy
t sobriety and self reliance. Cochran
is moral, and has one of the bes
Colleges in the South, and the terms
are very low; board in the best fami
lies at $40 per month. The teach
f ers are thoroughly educated and fit
a ted for their occupation; everythin!
] is taught-Mterature, Music, Art an
e Penmanship, together with Busi
ness course. More later.