Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-04-08
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1-hOh OOe1 AfnOsl -AhaNh -Af Aofbs
Editors Nc,0s Gents, as there are
many citizens Of your section of coun-
try who ure desirous of improving the
condition of their worldly affairs"
by seeking new homes in the "Great
West" l shall attempt to give, in my
feeble why, short account of this part
Of Mo. Dade county issituated in the
s. w. of the State--lying some sixty
miles east Of the Kansas line and sew
enty Or, one hundred miles north of
Arkansas. The climate Is some milder
than that of s. w. Virginia, and with
the exception, OF an occasional ague,
equally as healthfuL The country is
comparatively new and offers many
Inducements to all classes of laboring
men. Any industrious artisan or
farmer Is sure of reaping an abundant
reward for his labor. No man need be
idle here on the plea of nothing to DO.
There Is a demand for labor and desire
to see 1t come. Laborers on the farm
receive from fifteen 10 twenty dollars
per month, board and lodging included.
The surface Of the country is broken,
md in some places rough and stony,
b,a. in no place win be seen those lofty
and precipitons hills and mountains
that charncterizes East Tenn. and s.
W. Virginia. A large portion of the
country consists of prairie, which in
the Summer season affords rich pastur-
age for all kinds Of cattle. These
natural meadows are elvated and roll
ing, and therefore free from, bcgs or
swamps. The soil is loose, dark loaffi,
resting on snbsoil Of red clay and
finely adapted to cultivation. 1 have
been informed by the 'old settlers
that the timber IL fast encToaching on
the prairies-they show localities that
twenty years ago were covered with
Mxuriant grass, that now bear dense
and thrifty growth of young timber
The frequency of fires has heretofore
kept down or destroyed the forests.
In quality the timber is inferior to
that of the wooded lands east Of the
Mississippi. Walnut, Ash, Hickory,
Cottonwood, and several varieties of
Oak, are the prcdominating timber
trees.
OF water there is an an abundance
and It Is GENERALLY Of good quality,
though springs arc less common than
in Virginia. This section of the State
IL very well adapted to Agriculture
All kinds of grain are produced that
are common to this latitude. The ma
ture of the soil renders the business o
the husbandman comparatively light
and pleasant. The average yield of
corn per acre Is about 40 bushels, but
with careful cultivation might be in
creased. As yet fertilizers have been
but rarely used.
Yield OF Wheat, 20 bushels; Oats dc
well but few raised. Potatoes both
sweet and irish are grown successfully
Clover has grown finely where tried
but owing to plentifulness Of natural
grass is neglected. Stock growing Is
very profitable--cattle and stock horses
requiring to be fed only about month;
in tine year. The quality of both horses
and cattle is rather poor. The cost o.
rearing being small, farmers are con
tent with native stock and realize
greater profits from their sales thar
the producers of better grades ut tho
East.
As wool growing country this ha'
few equals, but as yet nothing but ma
tive brtvis are kept.
Fruits of all kinds are plentiful; mp
pies are raised in the greatest abun
dance and of the finest quality. A
the time OF writing hundreds of bush
els can be had for 10. or. so, cents pc
bushel. This country, and especial.
the vicinity of the Ozark range O
of mountains, appears TO be atmirabl.
adapted TO the vine. Wild grapes ar
found In the utmost profusion and o
good size and flavor. All that Is want
ing here are energetic men of business
to develop the resources of this vas
region, and judging from the It'd
Of Immigration which Is now begin
nihgto pour Ia the time will soon ai
rive when every prairie will be dotte
withfann houses and ifthe land does nC
literally ''iiow with milk and honey,
there will at least be considerabI
stream OF milk and wine, which
ssuuaiIy a. good If not better.
POLE MCPHATRIDGE.