Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-13
NEWS OF SOUTHLAND
j. M. Murray Writes of Trip
Through Cotton States.
WAGE War ON UNCLE TOMS CABIN

Tells of RiItmore, N. c., Visit to Rich
mond and Other Cites-Mississippi
r. Legislatures Investigation of Man.
agement of Convict Farm Labor.
j. NJ. Murray Of this city, who trav-
eled through many of the southern
states during the month of January,
tells OF many things he saw and of nu-
meTous experiences in a letter to
friends in Ottumwa. He speaks in
terestingly of many of the cities which
he visited and OF the many quaint. old
fashioned buildings to be seen in Rich
mond. Va, Mobile, Ala, and other
places and tell of the little town OF
Biltmore, n c.. which is owned and
kept up by Vanderbilt He tells of the
various industries of the different sec.
ions OF the southland the extensive
cotton mills of South Carolina, of the
farming industry of various parts OF
tnat country and of the immense ship.
ping OF the coast cities. He also refers
In an interesting way to the sentiment
that is being aroused throughout the
south against the presentation of the
] play, Uncle Toms Cabin, upon the
stage. He mentions the convict farm
\ TABOR system in vogue in the state OF
mississippi ami of the investigation
mat IS being made at present by the
I legislature OF that state with regard to
1 some alleged crookedness OF the board
OF control. Mr.. Murray writes as fol
lows:
j. M. Murray's Letter.
When | left home it was for an eX
tended trip throughout the south My
nrst stop was made at Enid, Okla, or
January 6. 1t was bright, warm day
and everything about the town looked
as II spring had come, quite in contrast
WIN The severe weather | had left al
nome. Enid has improved very rapid
~ and the changes that have taker
pace within the past eighteen months
were great surprise. | next stopped
at Ell Reno. Here | met well known
Ottumwa boy, George f. Silvers, and
mad very pleasant visit with him
tuesday morning, January II. | left b
Reno for Memphis, Tenn, and travelled
most of the day through Oklahoma and
indian territories. Judging from the
appearance of the vegetation along the
line OF rainroad, the crops through
there two territories are in very good
conditlon, owing to the extremely dry
weather they have experienced. Most
OF that night was spent TRAVELLING
through Arkansas and just about day
iisnt we passed through the swamps
before crossing the Mississippi river
10 Memphis. left that city Wednes
day morning and spent that day pass
ing through the state of Tennessee.
). Through Tennessee.
There were many beautiful town!
through which, | passed and the coun
try scenery was also very interesting
The dwellings, on many of the farm.
consisted of the old fashioned log cab
ms with the clapboard roof and sticl
and mud chimneys. AS we passe,
some OF the larger plantations a clus
ter CT negro cabins could be seen AM
1t was most amusing to watch the pick
anlnnles as they peeped out of the win
doWs or from around the corners o
the little cabins. In this section O
the country the old time rail fence still
:. prevails and is quite in harmony will
the rest of the Improvements. TIL,
weather was very pleasant and durin!
the day we kept the car windows opel
the greater part of the time"
) RiItmore, North Carolina.
Thursday morning found us in thu
mountains OF North Carolina and dun
ing the forenoon we passed through
Vanderbilt's town of Biltmore, apou
three miles from which is located hi
elegant mansion, which it is claimel
cost $S,000,s00. All the houses in tn
town are owned by Mr.. Vanderbilt an,
rented to the inhabitants of the place
1t is beautiful place with nice, wild
streets and the lawns about the house
: are all kept up in elegant shape. Il
conversation with aperSon who claim
ed to live in the vicinity OF the Van
derbilt mansion | learned somethin
about the place. The mansion is abou
three miles from the village, the roa
leading to it is macadamized and i
; skirted by well kept lawns and beaut
full flower gardens. 1t is said that tn
estate comprises about 10000 acres o.
each side of the road, while his hunt
ing parks is said TO contain about 1l0
600 acres. Over this vast huntin
ground Vanderbilt has his wardenS
who keep the rowing hunter from tres
passing.
Sights of Richmond.
On the 18th of January | reach Ricl
mond. Va from Danville. where l ha
last stopped. The trip to Richmon
was c1ne of great interest. The lin
OF railroad ran through many larg
, plantations on which the preparation
tor spring had already begun. Fro1
the train we could see the workme
pillow ing in the fields and many wer
+ the signs that could be seen of tn
high water which had recently owe
flowed this country. Richmond is
city of about 100000 inhabitants M;
ny of it's buildings are quite elaborat
anf, up-to-date though there still ma
be seen many of the quaint, old-fasl
iared structures that ante-date tn
!, war and there are some that would al
/ pear to be. relics of the old coloni:
, times The capitol building, whic
! Stands in a large park near the cente
nf the city, is of very ancient arch
lecture. Another attraction in til
l{1anitOl Square which is really tE