Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-03-20
Another Letter from !. e.
Staples Descriptive OF the
Leading Cities Of the "
Lower Mississippi.
Louisiana and it's Leading In
dustry-Sugar Making IS
also Discussed.
Public Parks and Squares
Statues of Prominent Men
and Women-ChurcheS
and Cemeteries.
TBY 1. E. sTAPLEs.l

We are more than pleased with the
country from Vicksbusg south. Its
people are Of Il far better class and
it follows that their buildings. hAb-
It's and customs are far better. One
cannot Judge the Inhabitants M the
whole south by the people he meets
along the country adjacent to the
river through Missouri, Arkansas,
Tennessee and upper Mississippi.
Many of these will never get over
the bitter feelings engendered by the
war and 1t will he a generation or 80
before some Of them realize that the
war actually closed in 1865. Lo-
Gated upon fighting ground during
the war in numerous cases neigh
hOrs, yes. families divided against
each other. raided one day by
strangling bands Of Northern men
and the next by the guerilias OF the
south, their homes and surround
ings demolished. The stories Of
these wrongs are reitera ted time and
again to the rising. genera ton, The
whole requiring but a touch to fan
to Il flame, thus hampering pro-
erosion and retarding those ele-
ments necessary to civilized COM
munities. Time, with her mantle M
forgetiulness, and the sunshine VI in
dustry must, in the course Of time,
wipe out the past or that portion OF
the South will never be possible to
settlement by u peaceable people. A
person might describe that part Of
our trip by saying it was Il dark
night between two beautiful days.
for we find from Vicksburg south an
entirely different country and people.
The country improved and BLOSSOM
ing with produce ON each side, the
people hOspitable, intellectual, edu-
Gated, and, upon the whole, thrifty.
The negro has better usage here
than at any other part of the
country we came through and his
prOgressi veness is visible in many
ways. such as comfortable homes,
neat and tidy yards, schools and
colleges filled to their capacity and
churches pastored by fairly we'll ed
ucated men. OF course for genera
tions perhaps filth. squal"r and Inn
morality will hamper the progress
sion of this race, but the benefits OF
education and religion are conspic-
nous and their effects to grand
end sure. The people here will tell
you without besitancy that the
s.'lost cause" was a gigantic mis-
take. The following inscription is
copied verbatim from the mOnu-
nlent of Henry Clay. located ON
Canal street in the city of New Or
leans and speaks much for itself: IF
I could be instrumental in eradicat-
ing that deepest stain, slavery, from
the character of our country l
would not exchange the proud sat
sisfactiOn which I should enjoy for
the honor of all the triumphs ever
decreed to the most successful con-
queror." OF course you can with
very little work find a "Secesh.'
But the brains and progressive men
Eot this part of the south are. upon
the whole, converted Union men.
Louisiana, or that portion adjacent
to the Mississippi river, is a perfect
garden, beautiful cane plantations
on each side with here and there
'truck gardener" The fine old resi-
dences on these plantations, sur
rounded ny small cottages, for the
help, all within miniature parks of
trees ever green, and walks bOrdered
by flowers, are a beautiful sight.
Baton Rouge, the capital of the state,
is a splendid old town well situated
on the east bank of the river, has
about $4,000 people and seems active.
The capitol building is Of pressed
brick with white stone trimmings,
located near the river. Its architec-
sture resembles an ancient castle and
it's beauty at Cnce is attractive.
About twenty miles above Baton
Rouge what is called the sugar coast
begins. From that point to New
Orleans, distance of 100 miles, there
is ON each side OF the river q continu-
GUS string Of sugar planta tions, re-
tfineries. stores and churches. with
here and there a public or sectarian !
school. We stopped one day at the
5Cinclaire sugar plantation and re-
:finery situated on the west side OF
the river miles below Baton Rouge. |
Here we were received with true
hospitality and the whole sugarproc-
ess laid before our eyes. This re-
finery is cOnsidere d one of the best III
the state. It pays for cane $3.50 to
% per, ton and buys large quantities
from the surrounding plantations,
which as rule have mills of their !
own. But owing to the Cinclaire