Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-06-18
SOUTH YES TERN TIRGINLA
O. EAST III NNESSEE.
A PennsvIcdniGn Prospecting
among Us.
His Views of our PeopIe-Their Gus
toms ana Animus-Our Soil eli.
mate and Productions.
EDITORIAL NOTES.

(Pa.) Intelligenccr, recently travelled
through Virginia and East Tennessee, and
we copy largely from his editorial notes.
That he is gentlemen of large views aud
liberal cultivation, Is proven by bis well di-
gesied productions. The clipping we make
Is lengthy, but It will repay for its perusal
The IntelIigencer is really one of the most
elegant and valuable papers we have ever
aeon.
Having reached the summit Of the Ale
ghanies We descend rapidly for few miles
speedily coming into fertile region he
who knew nothing Of the geography Of this
part of Virginia would suppose be had here
reached the base of the mountains lint s.
far is that from being the case that we trav-
eled upon a broad pleateau, or gradually
descending slope for almost a hundred
milea, passing through Pulaski, Wy'he and
Smyth counties into Washington. Pulaski
is one Of the fiuest grazing regions in the
world. The blue grass grows spontaneous
ly everywhere, and clover fiourishes luxu-
riantly. The land Is also hnely adapted 10
grain. We saw no finer land han that
along the New r yer. 1t is very rich lima
stone soil easily worked, and can be bought
cheap Finely improved tracts can be pur-
chased near the railroad for from twenty
dive TO thirty dollars an acre. In Pulaski
county many Of the farms are very larg !,
and we heard il aid that one of the Cloyds
was the possessor of no less than $4,000
acres. The Wstsons, Pierces and Atx,n-
ders are also very large land holders. One
man, Mr., Frank Bell, wintered thirteen
hundred head OF cattle. Cattle live here
all winter without feeling the need of shell
ter, and require litte feed and little atten-
ton. Wythe and Smyth counties are also
distinguished as remarkably fine grazing
sections. Grain grows finely everywhere
and we have never seen any region of coun-
try which would be more attractive TO
Pennsylvania farmers. The timber is album
dant and very fin, it is well watered, the
climate Is delightful and remarkably healthy
aud in all respects II presents great advan-
tageS to persons who may think Of emgra-
ting. The soil is red clay everything lime
stone, and as an instance of its fertility we
only need TO state that all along the rail-
road, from the top Of the Blue Ridge to
Bristol, clover can be seen growing luxuri-
antly between the ties, even In the deepest
cuts, and on the highest embankmt nts.
With the exception OF few spars here and
there II is an unbroken stretch of limestone
soil, a deep mellow, red clay, superior nat
urally to land which commands two hun
dred dollars On acre In Lancaster county.
The lands in Southwestern Virginia were
never worn out by tobacco culture as they
were in the eastern part of the State, and
they are now in fine heart. This section
did not suffer materially from the war, and
the fencing is in excellent condition. The
country is beautifully diversified with hill
and dale, but the lands lie well and are ad-
mirably adapted either to grazing or the
growing OF grain. Considering the quality
Of the lands we regard them as cheap, and
can assure all who may be looking for
homes in the South, that they can flhd no
more attractive country than Southwestern
Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, of which
we will have something to say in our next.
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND EASTERN TEN
NEssEE.
Southwestern Virginia is a very beauti-
fnl country. In fact We have never passed
through any section OF the United States
which is better adapted TO varied agricultu.
raj pursuits. Here the farmer has longer
season In which TO labor than In Pennsylva-
mia, and the cost Of keeping up a farm and
wintaring stock is greatly less than II is
with us. There Is not q farm from the top
Of the Blue Ridge to the extreme South
finest limestone can not be found in abun.
dance. The mineral resources of this re-
gien are also great. Iron ore abounds, and
in Floyd county vein which has been
worked for some years 10 so largely mixed
with copper that IL Is thought tho copper
will speedily he found TO predominant. II
has constantly increased as the vein has de.
scended. Oh the Peak Greek Ridge, lsome
miles beyond the Central Depot, Penn
| sylvania company is now running q large
charcoal furnace. II is doing we'll. Tim
Der Of the finest quality abounds through
this region. Within a reasonable distance
Of the railroad, improved lands, capsule n
the highest development, can be purchased
at very cheap rates, often from five TO az
| teen dollars an acre. These are not wOrT
out lands, like the old tobacco Gel 5 Of Eas
tern Yugiuis, but lands that produce good
crops now, even under the imperfect sys
tenn II farming which prevails.
| In Washington county there are mex
haustible beds If gypsum, aud 1t is said T.
act liks charm when applied TO the gras
| crops. The wheat raised all through thi
section commands higher prico than tina
| Of Pennsylvanla, and il is said this mOr'
than makes up for the difference In tho cos
Of transportation. The rates for local ffeigh
on the Virginia and Tennessee road ar
moderate. Wheat can be shipped From
Tennessee 10 New York cheaper than fron
Illinois. Near Abingdon Is one of the larg
est salt wells In the country, and the waite
is as strongly impregnated as any known
There is no coal near, but the business Ia
been very probably conducted with wno
for fuel. II is at this point the gypsum
found, aud Pennsylvania company ha
lately taken lease on an inexhaustible be
II.
The Virginia and Tennessee road doe
not pass directly through a single town o
the route, except Liberty, Salem, Mario
and Abingdon lie at short distances froI
the track. These are all nice towns. Their
are numerous colleges aud semtnaries
high character along the route, which ahor
excellent facilities for education Emor
aud Henry College, a few miles this side
Abingdon is a regular station. The ColleG
is In = fiourishing condition, with Zoe buile
logs, an excellent Faculty, aud beAnufl
surroundings. Martha Washington Fema
College, at Abingdon, has high repnt
tion. We met Mr.. James A. DAVIS, fr'
lessor Of Natural Science, on the reigl
train. In fact a good many people tray
oy this train, as II Is tue only Que wnls
aav. We found Prof. Davis 10 be gentl
man of One culture aud received much Va
u,ble information from him during Of
abort ride together. The people of IL
, section of Virginia are highly intelligeu
Culture is general among them, and th'
. ars very genial and hospitable. They a
deslrous 20 see emigranis come among the
and ali who 20 with design Of engaging
any legitimate business will be cordial
. welcomed.
| The Virginia aud Tennessee railroad W
( A greet thOrOughfare during tha var.
= was almost uninterruptedly In tho hands
. the Confederates. Raids were, hOweys
. made upon 1t frequently, aud only q siol
4 depot was left unburned throughout /
, struggle. That was what is known as Ce
: tral Depot, station In Pulaski county,
q which the local freight on which We 70
\. lay over night. frhe writer Is in orr
here. The depotA at Lynchburs AMI Ola