Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-04-06
Newsy Letter of Journey to the
Land of Flowers
PENSACOLA, FLA, APRIL 1sT.

!
PENSACOLA, Fla, APRIL 1sT.
, DEAR GAZkTTK
Leaving Lexington at 1890 o clock
en- the 10th of March landed in this
city on the 18th at 4:15 P. M. The
ride from your town to Glasgow is
the worst of the whole route; from
that town to Lynchburg not being
much better. These lines are not cal
culated to make one think of the APP
propriateness of the song of long ago:
"Whizzing through the mountains,
Buzzing DER the wales;
Bless me this is pleasant
Riding on the rails"
1t is a common saying that our rail
roads pass through the poorest parts
of country If this is not true of
large portion OF that through which
| came, pity the people who live off
from the roads. One does not have
to get out of Virginia to have his
sympathy thus stirred up, for it is
puzzle to know what there is for man
or beast to live on between Lynch
burg and Danvl'e. This does not APP
ply to all, but to Il very large proper
ton. The same is trnG along the line
in North carolina, but the part that
inpit ssed me most of all is that for
1875 miles or more after passing Attain
Ia, Ga. Making as careful observa-
ton as fast running would allow, |
passed through that section without
seeing fowl or animal. excepting
mules and few very poor cows-not
a pig or chicken.
Gotten planting was going on ard
quite large portion of the worl. was
being done by negro wOmen--many of
them ploughing. The plan, to large
extent, seemed to be to run couple >
Of burrows between the cotton rows of =
asst year. plant the seed and then pre-
pare the rest of the land. 1t is cotton,
and cotton only for successive years
rs long as the land will produce it at
All, and then it is thrown out to wash
away, which it is doing very rapidly.
All of the farming is done by negroes,
10 far as can see. n
All that part of Virginia east of the
3lus Ridge, North Carolina and :"
Georgia, through which | came, is ',
Without fencing and am frank to
ay that, although l have been for a ..
ong while in favor of nO-fence law, -
mother Iun or two through these ~
ections will make me willing, for life, "
, submit to the expense Of fencing "
Is farm rather than have with us "
ne miserable, woe begone appearance ."
nat country without fencing pre-
,nts.
This city has, in little mole than
penty years, increased from 5000 to
600 inhabitants. No boom at any ~
me, but yearly growth. Exports
steen years ago amounted to 50, 900, ., 49,
&c; for this year the amount will be =,
., OOO,G GOO This is now, practically,
= naval stores market of the world.
lie receipts for the past year were
!, 900 pounds Of iosin and 10000
rrels of turpentine-in value but m,
tie short of $780, 600. Shipments -,
to all parts Of the world. This is "''
e deepest harbor on the Gulf and
t four Atlantic ports exceed 1t in p"'
I,th of water-POrtsMouth, n. H.; '0
rtland, Me-, Boston and New York. ~
ssels drawing thirty feet of water ~
4 pass through thechannelin safety. '7
'he North Atlantic squadronis now ne
Sc by-a part on the bay and the ~
t on the gulf, engaged in target ,ou
Ictice. The conclusions are felt WI.
he city to such extent as to seem
3 earthquakes. This morning there
re reported III port l6 steam ships, T.
Alps, 30 barks and IL schOoners, In
litiOn to these there are smaller
It's almost .nnumerable. These ~,
resent nearly all nationalitiss. A
he weather is delightful here now, Fl
tie a contrast between this and that skin
erience at home just two weeks "
, when we had such snow squat il.
| had the benefit % of it. says
! had THE GAZETTE chartered w
,his ;ss,o ,,,o.o g. -. 49,. ing .
' '"e'e 20 .o' more '''a' Mail
,uld like to say, but this not being conf
must leave off for the present. Oint
lccess and long life for Tup lissu
.ETTE. ma"!
s. w. w. go b