Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-06
COFFEE COUNTY.
water Power at Manchester, Tennes-

For the Union and Dispatch.

Of water at fhese cascades hath voice Of
music to the neditative, and lessons Of in
struction to the prudent. Here the ex-
pOsure Of the stata Of rock affords the stu
dent Of geology a rare opportunity for re-
search, tests and information. In fact, the
whole surroundings of this little village,
are interesting, and it is a reproach to the
intelligence, industry, enterprise and capt.
tal of our State and people, that the water
power at this almost central town, and
other advantages Of this section, have been
for 50 hong a time, almost wholly passed
by, or slightly estimated by those who
have sought investments for early and con-
tinually prospective increase in profit
There is no more healthy region in all
America. That is a first consideration and
requisite. The air and water are ever
fresh, pure and healthful. Adaptation to
the growth and yield of fruit, is beyond
question. The poorest land will grow
herds-grass with abundant Weld. For
sheep and cattle range, it compares well
with Illinois and Texas, with this i'm
mense and decided advantage, that it is an
almost unbroken forest, yet with native
nutritious grasses for grazing during the
greater portion of the year.
But we call attention to "the falls at
Manchester" as afording power to operate
mills and manufactures equal in number
and productiveness to those of Lowell or
Lawrence. These are never-failing streams
Of water; they are never locked up by ice;
their flow is for several miles down each
tream. The measurement of one will an
swer cOrrespondingly for the other, and we
give the various falls of the east branch,
that practical men NAV readily see what
great power is here inviting to the the rich
and the poor, the capitalist and the indus
triOus, to come, use, improve, and do well
or myself"
The measurement We give commences at
the ford above the dwelling house or resi-
dence Of Mr.. W. s. Higgins; thence to the
first falls below his spring, a distance of
$50 feet. The fall of water is seven feet
five inches, and may have dam Of seven
feet. From this fall, commencing on the
bed ofthe stream, to the Touring mill. a
distance of 1881 feet, the fall is thirty feet
two iEches to bed of the stream; present
dam seven feet; may have dam of ten
feet. From this point to the bed of the
stream, nearly opposite the oil well-dis-
lance 82j feet-the fall is twenty-eight feet
ten inches. May have a dam of FIVE feet.
Whole distance from the ford mentioned TO
che oil well is 4,356 feet, or ], 452 yards,
and the entire fall from this ford to the oil
well is sixty-six feet four inches,
The banks on either side of these streams
are firm, and chiefly solid rOck-rarely a
seam for leakage or waste of water. BY a
tunnel of sixty yards, cut through the
"bacl bone" below the oil well, another
fall of thirty feet may be had, and no inter-
ference with any other power. In gaining
this last power bend of the river, over
tive miles in length, would be cut of.
Admirable sites for factory buildings,
tenement houses, shops, elegant dwellings,
town-a city-are here, east, west or
north The town of Manchester is situa-
ted in semi-circle formed by the east fork
Of Duck river, and could be supplied with
water, fresh, cool, and pure, and "clear as
chrystal," at every house and along the
magnificent streets" by the power at either
IF these falls, or by such as could be gained
by a three feet dam, above the town.
In connection with the interest Of Ten
nessee, more than hundred thousand rea-
sons could be given why the water power
at these falls should be put in full, perma-
nent and profitable use. Some of those
reasons we will mention, merely for the
cousideration-(tem temptation to State pride,
4 love of gain?)-of men Of means.
Water power can now be purchased at
very reasonable rates, or the owners will
put in such power and fifty or an hundred or
more acres of land, at fair valuation, as capt. |
tai. Every material for building purposes
is athand, in unlimited uantity. Laboring
men are here and anxious for work; and
families, with Ghosts of children" ready to
become operatives. The railroad is re-
paired and in operation. There is no pop
Vlatien in the Union more quiet, orderly
and law-abiding.
Within the year about thirty families
from Ohio and Pennsylvania have made !
advantageous purchases and pleas ant homes
in the county. But, consider the certainty
Of large dividends. There is as good pros
pect for these at Manchester as there was
at Lowell or Lawrence when rich and pub
lie spirited men began to build there, and
with no probability or possibility Of having |
90 incur here the One-thousandth part of |
The expense in the construction or repairs
of dams to which they we're subjected III
the enterprising and determined men there
could could cheerfully "expend a million
Of dollars in a ddul''-with half that sum
abetter one, to last for half century, and
also build houses and put in machinery, |
20 employ a thousand hands, and thus,
ere long, like the stockholders there, eRioy |
] aTge dividends.
The Boston Manufacturing Company
recently divided 1881 per share-one hun
ired and thirty-three per cent.-and the |
psr value of the stock was raised TO one |
thousand dollars The original working |
rs1ital OF this company was 100000, lone
thousand dollars and for some
years past the par value has been esti- |
mated at S75000O but now il is held at |
one million Other manufacturing COM |
7paiies, in Northern and Western States |
nave been alike successful and gainful |
There are many such in those States, and |
Jhsre are some in Southern States-but in |
not one instance or location where they |
have thus succeeded and been SO remuner-
alive is there a natural superiority or other |
special advantage over the Duck River /
Falls at Manchester.
The writer has no interest in any Of this |
property, but he has, in the good |
order, prosperity and advancement Of soci- !
ETY., here as elsewhere, and will avail him
self Of this occasion to say that immigrants |
from the Northern States or elsewhere, can !