January 16, 1890.
This morning I went up to call on Col. Spaulding and found him a very pleasant man and a man I think one can depend on. I showed him my letters and he directed me to Mr. A. W. Train, the manager of the Ft. Payne Rolling mill. I went to see him and after talking with him he told me to go and get my instruments and come back to his office.
I went to work on a drawing of the ground plan of the entire works and have worked all day on it.
The schools, as far as I can see here are two in number. One is a public with a male teacher and two assistants. It is the only public school in town and fit for college. The other is a private school kept by a “professor.”
January 17, 1890.
I go to work at 7:00 and do not get back until dark. I have plenty to eat and it is just as good as any in the north——except at home. We don't have squash pie or Jonnie cake. But I have to pay $9.00 a week board. I have a place in view with one of the Y.M.C.A.’s where I think I can get into a private family some cheaper. I go to the Y.M.C.A. every eve to see the Boston Journal.
January 23, 1890.
The excursion has just arrived and I go up to see if anyone from Mass. I know has come.
January 27, 1890.
Sunday went to the Presbyterian Church where they are having revival services by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. They were conducted about as they are in our churches. In the p.m. took a walk around town and then to meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms at 4:00. In the eve went to church as in a.m. crowded house and much interest.
Thursday the excursion comes down and I may see some one I know.
February 1, 1890.
Thurs. eve. had a long talk with Mr. Dean who boards here and is a school teacher of the Southern school system. The state gives the poll tax as an appropriation to the support of the public schools but it amounts to less than $1 a pupil so it costs more than it is worth to get it. Most of the schools are private and charge for tuition. The colored children have schools for themselves and col. teachers. A white teacher of col. pupils is rarely received into good society. Primary and intermediate teachers get a salary of from 30 to 40 dollars a month.
We have a colored church, Southern Presbyterian and a Northern Pres. is being formed, a Baptist, a Methodist, and a M. E. Church is being formed, a Cong. and an Episcopal. The white churches——Southern——will not allow negroes to go into their churches as a rule. Sometimes they have the gallery or a seat on one side for them. As a bit of gossip, the Cumberland Pres. Church was taken hold of by Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Train and others last summer, the church building remodeled, new seats put in and an organ bought. But one day a negro, who is a northern educated man, who came south to teach the colored children, came in at Sunday School and quietly sat down in the back of the room. A southern lady saw him and went to her father and tried to make him put out. Well, Mr. Godfrey and the rest don’t go there anymore. It is also said the elders were afraid the northerners would get too much control of affairs. A Cumberland Pres. Church is one which rejects some of the Calvinistic doctrines, notably predestination and preordination. There is to be formed a Cong. Church and I presume Mr. Godfrey will be gen. manager.
There was a lawsuit in court yesterday between the Furnace Co. and a contractor and Mr. True V. Pierce was council for F. Co. An Alabama jury is about the hardest looking set of men one often sees.
I am fairly suited with my boarding place. $7 a week. At New England House. I am the only draftsman employed by the Co. They will manufacture ingot steel and rails, cars of all kinds, and have room and power enough to manuf. all kinds of tacks and nails. Works cover a good part of six acres.
February 6, 1890.
The coal here is all soft coal. Soft coal is not nearly as good, burns faster and makes more ash.
There is a new boarder here, a Mr. Abbey of Kansas, who has a place in the Rice Investment Co. I like my boarding place quite well. The boarders are nice people and I feel quite at home. A Chinaman does my washing, charges about the same as the H. one.
Ft. Payne is bound to go. It may be some time but it cannot help it finally. I have not been at work this week but have seen Mr. Godfrey and he has taken my case in hand.
Sec. Pierce (Editor’s Note: Massachusetts Secretary of State Henry B. Pierce) just came to town and will stay a week of more. I met him this noon and had a very pleasant chat.
February 16, 1890.
Monday I saw Mr. Train and as no blue prints had come he thought I had better look elsewhere for work. So I went to see Mr. Dustin of the Dustin Hubbard Works and he talked very favorable to me. I liked him very much but his building will not be done until April so I had to look elsewhere. Mr. Godfrey introduced me to Major Mullins the engineer of the Furnace Co. and he took me over to his office and after a little talk told me to come to the Furnace office Saturday. I don't work but eight hours a day so I don't get tired.
Today is bright and I have been to Church without my overcoat. Went up to the spring 3 miles north of the city Wednesday and found a few flowers. The mud dries up very quick, but it is mud when it rains.