The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-18
IS IAN INLAND SAVANNAH"
SIDNEY HERBERT WRITES ENTER
TAININGLY OF HUNTSVILLE.

He styled the Place IAN Inland sa-
vannah" Many Years Ago, Because
1t Reminded Him of This City.
Madison County the Mother of
GOyernOrs-The Second Georgia
Camp in the Midst of Cultured and
Elegant PeOpIe-HuntsviIIe's Fa-
nous Spring VIII supply the Pur-
est of Water for the soldier Boys
Tampa, Fla. Aug. 16.-Many years ago
I wrote a letter to the Morning News
from Huntsville, Ala, which I styled IAN
Inland Savannah" the most appropriate
name 1 could think of for that then beau
tiful city. It's elegant homes, its refined
and cultured citizens Of wealth and ma
tional reputation, and it's immense cotton
traffic reminded me Of Savannah. Then
it is an old city, Madison county, of which
1t is the seat being the second county
formed in Alabama, in 1905 and Hunts
Vile having been founded by John Hunt,
in 1906 being the first town In the state
to be duly incorporated AS early as 1892
cotton factory was erected, as Madison
county comprises the richest portion Of
the Tennessee valley.
Until the civil war there were few
places in the South that could rival
Huntsville in its wealth, culture, eminent
men and lovely women. The close of the
war, however, brought chaos to all its
interests. The healthfulness and beauty
of the surrounding hills early made it a
desirable headquarters for a large force
of Union soldiers, and the garrison re-
manned there for many years. With a
large negro population turned loose from
the plantations. and not a few prominent
carpet-baggers and Southern Republicans
at their head, the people suffered great
hardships and indignities before the recon-
struction period ended.
Huntsville was the home of Gen. Leroy
Pope Walker, who was Secretary of War
in President Davis cabinet. His father,
Hon. John Williams Walker. was one
of the earliest settlers and went there
from Ebert county, Georgia, where he was
reared, his father. Rev. jeremiah Walker
having moved there from Virginia. After
holding many important offices at home,
John w. Williams became the first United
represented his state. And might saw
the same of Clement Conner Clay and
Clement Claiborne Clay. Madison county
IS truly the Mother of Governors" as
Virginia is the Mother of Presidents"
Gay, Smith, Chapman, Moore, Lewis and
others are on this list Huntsville Is the
home of Chief Justice Brickell, and years
ago Jere Clemens and Nick Davis were
famous characters. Gen. Edward Dorr
Tracey, the heroic young Georgian who
fell at Port Gibson, lived in Huntsville,
and it was once the home of Hon. James
G. Birney, abOlitionist and candidate for
Vice President
This is the inland city and this the
kind of people the Second Georgia is go
ing to from Tampa, a change like that
of daylight from darkness In addition
to the high and healthy ranges of hills
about Huntsville, in the very heart of the
city, an immense limestone spring gushes
up and forms a perfect little river through
the part of town made its outlet for
the surplus water not used by the clti-
zens. Soldiers who have been short on
water in Tampa, will hail with Joy this
gushing fountain of pure sparkling water.
am sure the Savannah soldiers in the
Second Georgia will be content at Hunts
vile unless the place has changed for
the worse In late years. 1 presume the
famous Monte Sano Hotel, built to rival
the Ponce de Leon and the Tampa Bay.
has made Huntsville more attractive as
cool, healthy summer resort. I know
that the old camp grounds on a com
handing ridge, were among the most de-
sirable l ever saw. If they are not now
available there are plenty of other loca-
tons that will meet Gen. Coppingers ap-
prevail. Sidney Herbert