St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-04-12

In addressing you don't mean to in
sinuate that anyone cares particular,
where l am, but did have an idea tina
some of our dear mutual friends nigh
appreciate few words of description o
this part OF the world. It's land littl
known by New Englanders generally
though quite a few have percolateC
through has faras here and throughout
this section, both for business and pleas
ure.
Myself and Mrs. H. left Washington
shortly after the adjournment of the
extra session OF the Senate, and worked
down here by easy stages. The Southern
railway had courteously furnished us
with transportation, sort OF wander
ing commission, good anywhere through
the south and as far as Augusta, Ga.'
and we had only to pick our stopping
places and destination. may say, In
cidentallv, that the Southern is the great
railroad system of the south, including
over eight thousand miles of road,
thoroughly equipped in every particular,
tapping the country in every direction,
and opening up sections for manufacture
ing and other purposes which. without
it, would be eternally isolated and stag
nant. The result is that through Virginia
and the Carolinas, especially, cotton,
tobacco and various other manufacturing
plants have been esta blished along the line
every few miles, and thriving villages and
cities built up where only few years
ago were only scrub oak, pine and sand
plains.
Our first stop out of Washington was
at Danville, Va, which name had many
attractions and was decidedly pleasant
in my ears. 1t bore very little resem.
blance however, to the Danville up
among the hills. 1t is lively, hustling
and very dirty city of possibly 10000
population ON the Dan river, devoted to
tobacco manufacturing. The principal
object continually in sight is a colored
man enthroned on ton OF leaf tobacco
on a dray and chaperoning pair of
mules. The city and all the country round
about is subordinated to tobacco, and
farming generally is at very low ebb.
Here we remained from p. m. to 10 a. m.
the next day, and l became tired Of ask
ing questions which everybody was
either too lazy or ignorant to answer,
and resumed the road.
We soon crossed the North Carolina
line and put in most OF the day rolling
| though the red earth and scrub oak and
pine land of that state to Charlotte, n.
c., where we made our next over night
stop. The scenery from the railroad
through Virginia and the Carolinas is
decidedly interesting to a northernel
but after while becomes too much OF 6
sameness. 1t is rolling land with pine:
and brown fields stretching away or
every hand and the eternal blazing rec
earth which marks the entire south be-
low Delaware, or, in fact, New Jersey
Diapdated negro shacks are scatter
ed lonesomely and miscellaneously il
every direction with the frequent estab
lshment OF the white farmer, an exten
sive, low, rambling, weather-beater
house with litter OF battered out build
ings around it. Once an hour we cam
to manufacturing town, with two o.
three stores and post Office and biz
brick factory or mill with two or thre
acres of workmen's cottages, adjacent
These are the places where few north
ern capitalists have come in and stirre,
things up bit. The beauty of the land
scape just now consists in the million
of peach, pear and plum trees in blossom
in every direction, the former a mass O
pink and the two latter the purest white
Peach trees are in blossom every wher
and convert the barren fiat country int
Elysian fields.
Charlotte claims population of %,
600, and like Chicago, includes all tn
surrounding country. This is by far tn
livliest and busiest town of anywher
near its size in the south north Of Altar
II ia. 1t has a dozen or so cotton mill.
. wood working manufactures, banks, fin
). electric power, foundries and factorit
e OF nearly every description. all on ii
boom and buzzing with prosperity. Re-
~ estate is continually advancing, macao
v amized roads are being built in every d
& rection, and everything is being success
le fully done to attract capital and busine,
! as well as home seekers. Wei put in
,e day and night at Charlotte very plea
It antly, and then away on south to Spa
e. tanburg, S. c.. a snug well located lit
- city, continually growing in size, bushes
is and beauty. 1t now has about 1900
population, mills and manufactures
De every description, and is we'll located
> junction Of the Columbia & Ashvil
&c and Charlotte & Atlantic divisions
o. the Southern system. There we pass,
'e. a pleasant and profitable Sunday, al
~ Monday came up here.
is Tryon is situated about half way /
u. tween Spartanburg and Asheville and
he | Ii -,