| From the Charleston Mercury |
| |
| May 25, 1861 |
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| Our Montgomery Correspondence |
| Montgomery, May 20, 1861 |
| The Congressional Trip to Pensacola -- Planting in
Alabama -- The Alabama & Florida Railroad -- ***** |
| One day last week an invitation was sent
to Congress, by the President of the Alabama & Florida
{(of Alabama)} Railroad, to visit
Pensacola. On Saturday the invitation was accepted, and about
twenty-five of the delegates in Congress took the cars at two
o'clock, for that place. The run down was very pleasant, and occupied
ten hours, the cars arriving in Pensacola at midnight. |
| On the trip down, great satisfaction was
expressed at the character of the crops by the road-side; and at the
broad fields of corn that were spread out on either side. Wheat, too, is
looking excellently well, and in many places is ready for the sickle.
The rich prairie lands of Alabama, especially those in Montgomery and
Lowndes counties, are very productive, and large crops are raised from
them year after year. A farmer of my acquaintance has told me that the
first crop of wheat sowed in this section of country was upon his place,
and in the year 1838. Since that time he has never failed in a crop, and
has never raised less that fifteen bushels to the acre, and some years
has received thirty-five. Upon the lands, no fertilizers have been used,
and still they are as rich and productive today as when first settled,
more than half a century ago. There has been no injury to the crop this
year, and with the exception of that stolen by a little bird that is
common here, none will be lost. He says that eight of his neighbors have
this year put in fourteen hundred acres of corn, more than they have
ever planted before. It is the intention to lay aside enough for home
use, during the year, and to give the remainder to the Government for
the support of the army. In many places along the road I noticed the
cotton fields, crossed with corn, a thing that has never been practiced
here previously. |
| The lands grow less valuable in Alabama on
the line of this road, the farther one travels southward, and near the
Florida line they are of little account. But little cultivated, one goes
through an almost unbroken pine forest, with an occasional clearing,
none of which show any signs of thrift. Now that the railroad is
completed through to Pensacola, I presume this whole country will settle
up, and that villages will spring into existence along the entire route. |
| The Alabama & Florida Railroad,
considering the rapidity with which it was built, is a very good one,
and is as pleasant to ride over as any I have ever seen. For a greater
portion of the distance, it runs through level, fine planting country,
but in some places there are heavy grades and low swamp lands to cross.
The highest point on the road is near Greenville, where we at one time
were five hundred and twenty feet above the level of the sea. |
| The train arrived at Pensacola at twelve
at night, and it was unfortunately found that there was no place in the
city where lodging could be obtained. We were, therefore, forced to make
the night out in the cars, and sleep as best we could, coiled up upon
the seats. The next morning, early, the party took a walk around the
town, and, at nine, went to the Navy Yard, which is seven and one-half
miles from Pensacola. Of the fortifications, and other matters
pertaining to the Navy Yard, I am not allowed to speak at present;
suffice it to say, we were shown through the Yard, the forts and
batteries, saw all the troops, and left for home the same night. As far
as I have heard, every one was satisfied with the trip, and Mr. Pollard,
the President of the road {Alabama & Florida (of
Alabama) RR}, has the thanks of the party for his courteous
attention and many acts of kindness. |
| ***** |
|