Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-12
WEST TENNESSEE.
The Advantages Of ObiOn County 10
New Settlers.

: country Immediately surrounding Uniol
CITY, and offered, what seemed to me U
be. very decided inducements to larmeI'
with capital, and farm hands to come and
at least, make us visit Of observation
Since then we have been blessed with
beautiful rain, which seemed as grand
irrigator, not only improving the pros
poets for fine yield of corn, cotton and
tobacco, but enlivening the spirits Of the
people generally. Truly, the Lord has
been good to the people Of Obion, and
while they would give the thanks that
are due the "Giver Of all good for His
manifold favors, they would encourage
the suffering Of those sections, less fors
tunate than this, to come and enjoy with
them the rich abundance to be found
here. Enough has, / conceive, been
said already for the benefit Of the agri~
culturist | propose now, very briefly,
to give for the information OF other
classes. a few items that may be interest
ing to them. Persons seeking homes,
whatever their general occupation may
be, prefer-if they are wise-to settle in
q growing section, where the people are
fully up with the times, energetic, hos
pitable and law abiding. To all such l
say, come to Union City.
In 1865 there were scarcely 800 lnN
habitants in the place. Yet, so rapid has
been its growth, that the present estimate
Of the population is from 1000 to z. 5OO
inhabitants. Many claim even more than
this, some contending that $500 souls
would not be an exaggerated estimate But
with them l imagine the desire is miss
taken for the fact. The city-for so it is
universally termed-is scattered over an
area of one and quarter miles square,
and is indeed a city Off not magnificent,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. distances. 1t
will soon be the great railroad centre of
West Tennessee, having already the juno
ton of the Nashville and Northwestern,
and the Mobile and Ohio railroads, and
the contemplated northern terminus of
the great Mississippi River road. These
roads traverse the finest sections of the
State, and give our city communication
with the best markets of the land. In
short, Messrs. Editors, we have at present
the facilities for making the place what
many predict it will soon be, the third
city of importance in the State, and we
have also the people here, who are de-
termined, if possible, to do it. A word
in reference to said people, who they are,
where they came from, and what they
are doing at present. They are princi-
pally of that class technically % termed
the ''bone and sinew'' of the land F;
farmers and mechanics, who, broken up
by the war in their old homes, have come
here to develop the resources Of Obion,
and thus recuperate their fortunes. None
but energetic, determined men can sue
coed in very new country in opposition
to the Vulnerable barriers which are
constantly springing up in their paths;
adventures may flourish for while, but
in the end will give away to the
more wholesome element, which
alone can make the wilderness
"bloom and blossom as the rose.'
Immediately after the war, advsn-
turers swarmed here, but, thanks to the
difficulties which they were Brought to
encounter, they have changed their base
of operations, leaving their places to be
filed by men Of worth.
And such men are continually coming
in. My position is such that l meet
with most of the new corners as soon as
they reach here, and l rejoice as | report
it, hardly day passes but from one to
four families pitch their tents among
US. And they are, as general thing, Of
the right stripe" for such a section,
working people, who are either too
honest or too proud, or both, to live by
the labor Of others, who shirk not hon
est toll, but rather glory in the conscious
ness that they are fulfilling their. obi
cations to their Maker, their country and
to themselves. And there is still room
for more, and there is plenty of work for
them to do. AS new settlers "tlock in"
new houses are going up, which gives
employment to the saw mill men, the
carpenters and the painters. Furniture
is in demand there, and as q natural Sc
quence cabinet makers and other work
ers in wood More mouths are to feed,
more bodies to clothe, which, with other
things hardly necessary to mention,
should serve to encourage other classes
of laborers. But some will reason, your
society is Indifferent but to such
will say, you were never
more mistaken. l came to the place
myself laboring under similar appre'
hension, but only few days sojourn
here convinced me of my delusiOn. The
society here is surprisingly good; say
surprisingly good, because it is generally
expected that in new town it will be
"shoddy,' but it is not so here. The
shoddies are generally educated, yes,
highly accomplished, and | make the
assertion advisedly. There is no town
of this size in the State, that Union City
will not compare favorably with IN this
respect. And why should it be other
wise? The people are from the most
cultivated sections of your own division
OF the State, principally from the coun"
ties of Sumner, Wilson, Davidson, Maury
and williamson; and where in all the
land is more cultivation to be found than
in these five grand old counties? They
are all new corners here, many Of them
fresh from the first class seminarles OF
the land, and are indeed to be admired
and loved. But | am about going beyond
the limits l allowed myself when l be
gan. A word or two to the professional
men, and will close for the present.
There is room here for you too, if you
have in your compositions the necessary
elements for good citizens. The liberal
professions, it is true, are as everywhere
else, well represented, not only numerical,
ly but.intrinsically considered; but there
is a rich field of labor open for energetic,
high minded men Of every profession.
There is no place in my knowledge where
mental and moral worth is more sure oil
reaping its reward than in Union City,
and if you desire pleasant home among
a people who will know how to appre-
ciate you, come aud settle among us and
you may count on" success.
/ am no politician, Messrs. Editors
and will not write at length about polls
tics. The question as to who will follow
Fowler in the Senate of the United
States is being vigorously canvassed IL
, private circles, and ObiOn seems disposed
TO take sides in the contest with thosC
who are opposed to sectional monopolie'
of honors. 1t is argued that already thu
| eastern division of the State has it
Governor and one of the Senators, AM
. they contend it is nothing but fair tina
West Tennessee come in for share o
the bonors. But we will not squabbl
about the Senator, so he is wise and al
: honest statesman. What Obion want
. is, that the general interests of the Stat
> be considered, and in heart she joins me
not only in the expression of the hop
! that you will cOntrive, as you have here
oiore done, to contend vigorously 70
I this end, but that you will reap at lengt
the rich reward that is due for your faith
fol Iabors ia the interest Of the State