Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-14
Trip 10 SOUTHLAND.
Through ths Shenandoah Valley. the
Sugar Cane and Rice Lands.

III, Z, FarnsSofth, writing from Crow
lev, La, under date Of Feb. q, gives The
following entertaining description OF his
journey SOUTH
"fhinking a zephyr from the sunny
southland, laden with the odor OF flowers,
songs OF birds, the hum OF the busy bee
and mosquito, would interest your read
ers, Will try TO describe some OF the
things seen on this trip,
"AtteF a few days spent with friends in
Boston and vicinity, ! started on my
Journey South, The ferry boatrde across
New York harbor wss an hour tilled with
interest, We went under three bridges,
one IN process OF construction, and vessels
OF all sizes were passing, from small tugs
TO going steamers, Blaekwelrs
island and the bartholdi Statue OF Liberty
were noted.
~ stopped three DAYS In PHILADELPHIA
and saw Independence hall with its paint
lngs, statues and old relies, Quakers,
dressed in their quaint garb, were an
interesting feature OF the street, Here
Lee 5. Chadwick, son OF T.. ii. Chadwick OF
West BrOokheld, is engaged IN the manu-
iaeture OF automobiles, Then on to
Washington, where | visited the navy
yard, capitol, government buildings and
roo. Next TO Harpers Ferry, W. Va, a
rough and prectpitous place tilled with
legends of John Brown, Here are many
chlnneys OF buildings burned during
the war, (ehimneys are built at the end OF
houses in the SOUTH.
up the shenandoah valley brought me
TO Luray, Va, where | noticed the car for
eolored people on the train. | went into
the Luray cave, the guide taking me
three tourths of a mile through openings
and passages filled with curious shapes
IN limestone OF various hues, from black
to milk white.
"By way Of Chattanooga and Birming-
ham, reached the pine woods Of Miss
issippi and crossed Lake (Pontchartrian)
on a long trestle to New Orleans. The
last 80 miles was through the sugar cane
and rice lads OF Louisiana. The over
'eers on horseback, with gangs OF negoes
(both seNesl were planting sugar cane.
Some OF the plantation homes were beau.
tiful, surrounded by magnolia and other
trees and many Towering shrubs,
with the sugar mill ana negro quarters
nearby. The rice land is ploughed during
the winter the rice being put in and
cut with the same machinery as wheat.
The field Is covered with shallow water,
one or more inches deep during growth,
kept in by banks or levees aud let of in
time for the land to dry before cutting.
Rice yields about 40 bushels to the Acie.
1.-THE winter is the wRrmest known for
many years. Blackberries, roses, sweet
peas, violets and sweet clover are in full
bloom. Strawberrie are ripe for table
use, with all kinds of vegetables growing
in the gardens.
"rhere is very little sickness or malaria
here. The elevation is % feet above the
gulf. The salt in the atmosphere rusts
everything made Of iron or steel badly.
The soil was a dull red (brick COLOR from
Virginia to the Mississippi river
and water in the streams was the same
color. Here there is six inches Of loan
with a clay subsoil, which ploughs up
gray IN color with no sand or stones.
Louisiana has sulphur and salt mines.
81 have been over the Jennings oil
field, that has about 200 derricks. Pumps
and compressed air were forcing the oil
and salt water from the wells into tanks,
where the salt water is run off, leaving
the oil on top.
al expect to go to Texas in few days
and return home by different rou e."