The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-05-14
~ = All Interesting Letter.

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EDITOR ADvANcE;- @.:: W., i.'2s =.
Having returned from an extended
trip through the southern states, and
being requested to write few lines,
for the benefit Of those who may, in
the near future, think of going south
in search Of homes, Twill briefly out,
line my trip to the Gulf.
I Leaving here over the Burlington
on the 21st day of April in company
with Mr.. G! A. Carlson, farmer OF
Elk township, we arrived at St. Louis
at 4:2O in the afternoon of April 22d.
After taking in the city, which by the
way, is much larger than we expect
ed, they claiming 100000 inhabitants
we left over the Mobile and Ohio R.
R. for Mobile, Ala. Before leaving
the city of St. Louis, we took the
street car and. rode out to several
different points and found it full Of
BUSINESS everywhere. From the
opinion I formed while there, I think
St. Louis has great future before
her. AS yousprobably, know, they
have the largest depot in the world
there. :Therehis room # in the train
sheds for thirty passenger trains to
run in at one. time The main build
ing is made of. the finest material to
be had, and inside, it is finished" with
costly marble and brass ornaments.
Besides the commodious waiting
rooms and parlors, most every kind
of business is represented in the
building. s.~ :.. !.
Our train time came all too quickly
and we boarded a Pullman sleeper
for Mobile. At two o'clock in the
morning woke up and looking out
found we were in the middle Of the
aohio iiss III ne6r sis4 eis uf aifo u if
The company have no bridge at that
point, the trains being doubled and
taken across the river on a ferry. At
seven o'clock in the morning we ar
rived at jackson, Tenn, where we
had twenty minutes for breakfast.
Looking to the east we could see in
the distance the ruins of breast
works of the civil war and could see
quite a number of both Union and
Rebel soldiers talking together Of
the war times on the train. * -
If one should Judge from appear
ances, he would form very poor
opinion of the state of Tennessee, as
the land on both sides Of the track is
very swampy, and in some places too
hilly for farming purposes. But L
learned from several parties wh 20
were familiar with the state that
there was some very fine land, it be-
ing held as high as $3.50 an acre.
The same thing can be said Of the
state of Mississippi. To pers on
riding on the train and viewing the
country it looks as though a human
being could not exist there. The
general appearance of the country
caused to great extent by the huts
built by the negroes gives very bad
effect to one not familiar with the
sight. But again 1 was told by re-
Liable parties that there was some
very good land in the state.
1 had in company with me from St.
Louis Presbyterian minister, who
formerly lived in Iowa but who has
resided at Starkville, Miss, for the
past four years. From him I gather
ed great deal Of information and he
told me that a great number from the
western and northern state were
located in his community and were
all doing we'll. I promised to visit
him on my way back, but my time
was 30 thoroughly taken up that I
had to forego the pleasure. Since
my return I have written him for
further information, and anyone de-
string to communicate with him will
find that he is always ready to an
swer all questions relating to the
country. His name is Rev. I. A.
NeKernon, Starkville, Miss. -
At seven o'clock in the evening We
crossed the line between Mississippi
and Alabama. It was then too dark
10 - any Of The state, 80 We went
.l;ah. th,ersh and arrived at Mobile
= TN >. N. ON Thursday, April 2srd.
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