Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-12-25
Letter From Rev. A. B. Bourquard.
Atlanta, Ca. Dec. is, 1913.

Mr.. B. j. Bennett, Editor Tribune
Dear Brother Bennett: II am deIin-
quent in keeping my promise to write
a,line for the paper, but here is word.
am not good composer for news
paper columns nor for anything else,
but here goes.
Like every one else had my own
notions Of Georgia, especially Atlanta,
before coming here. These opinions
were made up partly from imagination
and partly from memories of early
childhood, for when boy of eleven I
lived here with my widowed mother
and sold the Atlanta Constitution on
the streets to help make living for
the family. But my expectancy we
all shattered when | arrived and found
fine, clean, up-to-date, hustling city
with sky scrapers, splendid municipal
Improvements and organizations real
| y to be let down in the heart of the
city one could hardly discern the differ
ence between Atlanta and Chicago. ex-
cept the absence in Atlanta of the
smoke and the saloons. Near beer is
the beverage now sold in Atlanta some
Of it very near it is true 4 but much
better than the old regime.
The city is growing in every direction
by leaps and bounds people coming in
from every section of the country,
making Atlanta the great metropolis
of the south; the distributing point for
all the surrounding states, thus making
it very cosmopolitan in every way. A
city of large manufacturing, wholesale
and office activities; of fine homes,
schools and magnificent churches, and
by the way one notices that the people
here and elsewhere in the south are
church going people to a much greater
extent than in the north
| The climate here so far has been
ideal. For the most part it has been
warm and bright. Gardens growing
and flowers blooming, and seldom any
fire needed for comfort We have had
both doors standing wide open today.
| We expect ice and slush to some ex-
tent in January and February, but not
enough to prevent us from making
garden in February.
This is a country of great future.
The soil is good loan. clay subsoil, and
produces grains, potatoes, cotton, al
falfa, fruits and other crops. The
farmers raise cotton mostly at the ex-
pense Of soil and stick raising it be-
cause their fathers did Modern meth
DDS and machinery would make this
section FAR more profitable for farming
than any section of country know of,
and land can be bought within so miles
of Atlanta from 500 to 500 an acre.
am surprised that so many go farther
south, passing this fine cattle, fruit
and grain country by.
| Labor is cheap. Negroes are plenti-
fu and if handled right are good help.
Negroes and large per cent of the
rural whites are ignorant, poor and
shiftless. | suppose the majority of
the rural whites can neither read nor
write. This accounts for poor farming.
Conditions are better in the centres of
population, where schools are good |
am seeing the negro problem, the fac
tory problems and the railway problems
from a different angle since leaving
the state which bears the marks of La
Follette's craftsmanship. They need
him here
Take it all in all ! think this country
offers great inducements to young men
and to any seeking home and compe-
tence Enough for this time.
One personal word. We are all well.
| am some improved. The strain and
tension of getting settled was not good
for me but | am gaining slowly now.
| hope to be in the harness again some
where within another year or two. |
read the Tribune eagerly each week and
receive with much pleasure letters from
some, and all this adds much delight
to life.
To the many to whom | would love
to write were it possible, and to all
from whom | hear I want to use this
method in wishing a blessed, peaceful
and happy Christmas. May the spirit
of the Child of Bethlehem rest upon
you ALL Sincerely,
REV. A. b. BoURQuARD.
80 Ferguson St., Atlanta, Ga.
Christmas Mail Taxes Postal Service.
The parcel post system's first