The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-05-05

GREENYILLE, MISS, APrl ZI.-hN.
itsr.-I viii fsi6ii my promise 70 yeu, ~
Let me 6rst, ,ay, IL ives with much ssdns ss
that turnsd away from my native State.
shall always love old South Csroiin,, end
should nave ~.s..-- - .... .---g,
trust that my Bones will be carried and
laid 70 rest in her soil, beside the dtcaying
body Of that oro Of my own househsld, that
has 'spassed over the river and IL now rest
ing under the shade Of the trees.
Your tswn and surrounding country are
yery dear to me. Some OF my hsppiest and
some of my saddest days were passed In the
years when was one Of you. My friends
among your people are many, true and
tried. to whom am beuud not only by the
ties Of association, but also by testimonials
too numerous to mention. These give 10
Union Q place in my affections which time
and distance can never sface. No ono
will rejoice mere than in the prosper ~
and future growth Of yesr town and county,
and l am pleased 10 pste IN your columns
the bright outlook for an early development
10 the line Of prosperity.
Greenville, Miss, my present home, is the
county seat of Washington county, said to be
one OF the oldest in point Of settlement, aud
largest 10 area of the counties Of the State.
The people here claim that they have, In
land, the richest county in the world. Ii
lies between the Yazoo and Mississippi
rivers, and is known as the Yazoo Delta.
In this county the large Hampton plantation
is located, and am proud to say that out
here, the name and fame Of the grand old
Carolina hero of IS" are loved, honorsd end
reyered, as they should be all over the State
in whose behalf he shed his blood, and to
whose advancement he has given the better
days Of his manhood. Near here "Dahomy,"
the largest o: The many plantations OF the
estate Of the world-renowned cotton planter,
| Med Richards is located. Many
of the largest and finest plantations Of the
State are in this county. The land is level,
the soil black and rich, and does not need
commercial fertilizers.
with those in South Caroliua, behind, caused
by the low price Of cotton and overaows by
| the river, the last three years. Up TO this
writing, the firmers claim the brightest out
look for three years past.
The city of Grecnville is located au the,
bank Of the Mississippi river, and said to be-
ON the highest point of land between Mem.
phis and Vicksburg. One Of the best rights
| to the claims made for the place, both rs to-
| hea tn and prosperity, is found in the ex-.
| i,tencc Of the city. One c,n scarce believe,
the stutemcnts made by some or the Oldest
and most substantial citizens, regarding the,
less Of property by the changing of the
river. Standing OH the levee in company
| with one Of the older citizens q few days:
siIce he remarked to me that the river had.
taken off $4,000 worth of his property.
lie sad when he came here, thirty years.
ago, the bed Of the river was two mi es west.
Of its present site, that the bank had caved.
on the east and filled in on the west until it.
had reached its present bed. The planta-
lions that he bought when he first came here
hal n hcpn tax n nv tl,o oriv
pointing TO an old house near by, he said,
when that building was put uI, twenty-five
years ago. It was placed on the extreme east
ern limit of The town, now it is within fifty
feet of the waters edge" 1t is the nearest
house to the river on the west side of the
city
From all that can gather, l am safe In
saying that there arc not twenty-five houses
Standing that were constructed inside the
town limits 20 years ago. Greenvi le has
given back from the river, but she has con-.
tnucd to keep up life and growth all through,
these years. AS to buildings, it is n new:
place, built up in the lat ten or twelve.
years. The PEOPLE are now confident that.
there will be no moro caving. The u 81
government has spent hundreds of Thousands
Of dollars in putting in mattresses 10 stop
tho caving, which seems now to he q success.
The city was overfowed in 1890, the only
"the black eye" Many moved away ; not
so many have moved in q, in the few pre-
ceding yea,s. But there is life, push an
energy here, and the citizens are looking for
general return Of growth an / development.
They tell me that if one lives here for n time,
he will never care to leave. The city is wei
and regularly laid out 1.-The streets are broad,
and i'll dry weather they are fine, but in wet
weather very bad The mud here has in il
the elements that compose the stickest stick
of any mud with which ever came in con-
tact. 1t is hard for sober man to keep his
head aud heels from changing places.
The business houses are large and substan-
tial buildings. We have many elegant
homes The public buildings are of modern
design. The courthouse, nearing compile
ton, Is the most substantial building that [
ever saw. 1t is built Of Alabama browns,ope,
fire. proof, there being but lilIle wood about
il. 1t cost 100000. The furniture cost
Sic, 900. and is the handsomest l ever saw
In public building. The public boarding
house, attached to The courih house, is OF
modern des;gn, and cost $4,000
We have very fine public school build
ing, we'll located and splendidiy equipped.
There is II large commercial business c,r-
ricd OH here. We have two large cotton
congresses, .@c cct:cm seed oil mil pl,nts,
large lumber and milling business, ice
factory, branch Of the Armour packing house,
electric plant. street railway. and will soon
have water works
In The line of traffic there arc fine facilities
oy the railroads ccntering here and also the
liver. There are three papers publ heI
here. The population is about 5000
mixed, badly mixed. We have Representa-
tivcs Of climcs aud nations, many: This is
the ''Jerusalem' of the State. There arc
many Catholics here. In the way of churches
we have Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian.
Methodist, Christian or Campbcllite, Cah-
olic, and Jewish Synagogue.
klndest regards to all of my many friends.
Yours with great resnac.