Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-09-22
A RUINED CAPITAL.
Tho Fall OF Cahaba. once Chief
City Of Alabama
Before the Days OF Railroads Il wns tn,
Center OF Culture and Learning
Now n Cotton Plan
NafInn

Center OF Culture and Learning
Now n Cotton Plan
tation.
1t was Father Ryan, the southern
poet, first who said: IA and without
ruins Is n land without memories" IL
be the truth, Alabama is not with.
out memories. \ visit to the plauta-
ton OF Capt. Cliff Kirkpatrick, situated
about twelve miles from Selma, in Dial.
las county, beside the ripping waters
OF the Alabama river, where the once
city of Cahaba, for many years the cap
ital OF the state, and the seat of culture
and learning, stood, will convince one
OF this fact. What was once the streets
and boulcvards of the gay city are low
broad fields. where stately stalks of
corn and spreading plants of cotton
grow in l~uNuriancc, nourishcd by the
fertile soil upon which famous men in
Alabamu's history half a century ago
gathered to solve grave problems OF
state or To enjoy the unalloycd pleas
urcs of antcbcllun times.
Before the days of railroads, saws the
Chattanooga Times. Cahaba. then the
capital of Alabama, wa in her glory.
Beautifully situated, with steamboats,
plying up and down the Alabama river
Cahaba and Mobile, carving
down cargocsof cotton and produce aud
returning with merchandise. thcuncicnt
capital became the inland metropolis
Of her state. The bulk Of the cotton
crop was shipped through II. The
wealthy planters and slave owners
made their purchases there and its
trade became large. II was likewise
the hub of aristocracy and the seat of
colleges and schools of Il high rider.
When the legislature was in session the
season Of gaycty set in. The p~alatial
homes Of he wealthy and historic fam.
lilies, many of whom owned Iordly man.
Lions in and around Cahuba. w.-,,
thrown open and southern hospitality
hcld uninterrupted sway. These homes
were vcritablc palaces of luNuriancc.
Tor their owners lived i. the lap Of
plenty.
The decline Of Cahuba began bcfor.
the war, when railroads missed il and
were built To Selma and
The days of river transportation yvcr,
numbered, and Cahaba's trade bcuon
to leave for the more favored cities. and
with it went the population gradually.
ihcn the capital was and
ncNt the courthouse. The population
'un,inucd to diminish. Then came the
trials Of war. the raid of Wilson's cav
"lry and the devastation that followed.
by h end of the war Cahaba'a glory
had departed. II was II vcritabIc de.
serted village. The more substantial
of lis buildings still stood. but it's pco.
pie had sought other climcs.
4 visit -, ~. .,,.;.,, .r...
cotton plautatmn-a few days ago dis
closed soHr curious sights. II demon.
stratcd what wonderful changes time
had wrought. Nearly n hundred old
houses, relics OF the past, still stand,
aud around them the cotton plants are
just now disclosing their white blooms.
These old structures, built Of brick,
VIII for years TO come continue to mark
the spot where the proud city once
stood, for the owner Of the plantation
not contemplate pulling them
Some were stores. others were
churches and schoalhousr~, and others
still lordly mansions. All are Crurn-
ping To ruins, and while a few ARE m
hhbitcd by negro fniuilics who labor on
the farm, the majority are tcunntcd
only by bat- and owls.
On a hill not far from the river stands
what was once the capitol buildinp i'm
whose walls the cloqucncc Of William
J." iancy and other famous Alabumians
OF by.gonc days rcSoundcd. The old
building. "a substantial thrcc.storv stour
ana brick structure. still stands, and is
utilized now as IA gri,tIuill and steam
Einncry. Across from il are two blocks
of brick stores, time having made sad
inroads into them.
The once fashionable church Of tho
town. which cost many thousands OF
dollars, is now used by "A culorcd con.
grcgntion. II was, when built. the
coStlicst and handsomcst house Of wor.
ship In the state. The old Dallas acad-
cIny, where senator John T.. Morgan
attended school. Is now only towering
mass of ruins. The place where the
historic Craig family resided is planted
in corn, and the broad cxpnns" where
Gen. Il. w. Pcttus' costly house stood
Is now used as n pasture. The ruins OF
the famous old Pcrrinc mansion, which
cost sixty thousand dollars. were torn
away last ear and the brick used for
purposes. a solitary magnolia
tree marks the spot where II stood.
At n time Cahaba was u city Of
many thousand people. Lots sold for
rs high ms fifteen thousand 90 twenty
dollars. Now the entire site,
with land adjoining, embracing nine
hundred acres. Is owned by one man.
Cliff Kirkpatrick, who came out
Of the war pcnnilcss. but by pluclt and
perseverance, has built mp his lost for
tune until now lc possesses one Of tho
plantations in the south. lie r.,
with his charming fumilY "a one
n the twcnty.thousnud.dollar unicbpl.
.um mansions, which has been rrnttcd.
u Is hospitality own nbvlc. The
property which Capt. Kirkpatrick now
could not have been bought fity
;cars ago for ten million dollars. SJrac
.hirty nrtcsinn wells. which pucnchvd
he thirst Of our ancestors. siilI flow
but only the wandering herds
nd the thirsty farm lnborcr imbibc
heir sparkling waters. n the story OF
'ahaba's rise and fall could have been
pictured by Father Ryan he would have
mmortulizcd the dead city.