Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-05-28
FROM THE SUNNY SOUTH.


freight train about 20 miles south Of
Cairo. ILL., Five freight cars, one
loaded with stock, were ditched and
smashed to pieces.
The rich, fertile land in southern
Illinois, and many thriving cities
make travelling there pleasant and
interesting. The land in Kentucky
is a clayish mixture, and being seen
when flooded with water gave 1t a
bad appearance, growing corn stood
in pools of water. The best town
after leaving the Illinois line Is
Jackson, the capitol Of Mississippi.
The Ohio river was crossed at
about one o'clock Wednesday morn
ing, over the Illinois Central Rail-
road steel bridge. constructed at
cost of 100000. 1T is over 8 miles in
length, and is the longest metallic
bridge IN the world, except the Tay
bridge Of Scotland. II was two and
one-half years under construction.
noticed no material change In
the climate until after leaving Holly
Springs, Miss. But from there on
it continued 10 grow warmer, and on
arriving at New Orleans we found 1t
uncomfortably hot
The city Of New Orleans, often
called the "Crescent City" from the
crescent shape OF its river front, has "A
population Of about 10000; about
one-fourth Of which is colored, but
in the winter months it il estimated
at 100000. The central portion of
the city is built Of brick and stone,
but outside of 1.-THE limits wooden
buildings predominant. The streets
Of the city are several feet below the
level Of the river, and the stranger is
struck by the novel sight Of the
surface water running from the river
On account Of the marshy soil Of the
city underground sewerage is not in
use, and surface drainage carries of
all the sewerage, except the house
sinks, the contents Of which have TO
be carted OFF and dumped into the
river.
All nationalities are represented
among the population, but the two
most distinct classes are the Creoles
and Americans, the former living
mostly below Canal street, and the
dividing line, and it is said there are
many Creoles who have never
crossed that line. On going into the
part below Canal street, the stranger
finds himself in an entirely different
city. The signs are in French, and
/ the names of the streets also, while
/ French Is heard on all sides. New
Orleans is the largest cotton port IN
the world, and that product furnishes
occupation for nearly two-thirds of
the population
| Cemeteries are often called "the
cities of the dead" and nowhere is
the term more appropriate than in
New Orleans. The soil being near to
the water level, it is necessary to
bnry above the ground, and conse-
quently the cemeteries present the
appearance Of cities with little white
houses, which are really tombs. In
the rear of the city are some grave
4 yards whore internents are made in
the ground, but as you cannot dig
3 feet without striking water, such
manner of burial Is but little used.
| The customary way Of burying in
tombs Of bricks or marble cost from
one hundred to one thousand dollars.
So you see it is cheaper to live in the
south than to die, though the tenn
perature does run above 100 in the
shade.
The Custom House is the principal
government building in the city.
The corner stone was laid in ls47, by
Henry Clay, and work commenced
the following year and was only,
completed in 1888. The cost of the
building is in the neighborhood of
| 100000
lee is manufactured at several ice
works in this city. Natural ice has
been driven ont of the market.
Boquets, fruit, fish, etc, are often
frozen into blocks Of ice, where they
retain their natural colors.
The Z. s. mint, occupying the site
Of old Fort ST. Charles, was erected ut
n cost Of S1S2000 A desire to so be-
hind the rail and fill ones pockets
with the shining "luere" as it drops
from the stamps is very strong. The
mint Is Que Of the sightsof the city.
was told that IL 1852 one MGnford was
hung hy Gen. Butler in front of the
mint, fer removing the United States
ilag from the roof of the building.
4 All white men here are given the
tide of Capt by the colored race, and
your correspondent has had the hene-