Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-27
81 FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Knox COuDty-Its Location, Re
putatiOn and Area.

southwestern boundary of this section of
the State. 1t has about seven thousand
voters aud population a little upwards of
forty thousand. Its area is five hundred
and seventy-three square miles and con-
tains three hundred and siXty-siX thou
sand seven hundred and twenty acres of
land.
ITS SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
The county having two large rivers, the
Tennessee and French Broad, flowing
through ii and many creeks, some of them
considerable size, it consequently has a
great deal of bottom land and many islands
and valleys that are extremely fertile
Some of the uplands are also very pro-
ductive and easily cultivated. Much of
the best lands in the county have not yet
been cleared and willno be for some years
Our farmers have been and will be for
some years busily employed in restoring
worn-out lands. 1t is easierto do this than
to clear fresh lands. The basis of the soil be-
ing u mulatto clay, very favorable to the
growth of clover, which lasts three years,
turning under the third crop generally
prepares the worst worn-out lands for IA
crop of wheat
Our farmers have greatly improved in
agricultural science in the last six years.
They have within that time purchased a
great many of the most improved agricul
tural implements. The consequence has
been reclaimed and restored to their pris-
tine fertility, and in equal seasons our
crops are increasing at the rate of at least
twenty per cent. per annum. The produc-
tons of the soil are corn, wheat, oats, rye,
buckwheat, grass, sweet and Irish pota-
toes, turnips, every variety of roots, to-
bacco, grapes, &C., &c. All of these are
raised in great prOfusion, except tobacco and
grapes. Both of the the latter, however
have been sufficiently tried to show that
our climate and soil are admirably adapted
TO their culture.
rglta OTHER PRODUCTIONS. ia.
Besides the products emanating directly
from the soil, large quantities of but
ter is made and exported to the South.
Turkeys, chickens, geese, ducks and eggs
are in great abundance and in large num-
bers exported both North and South
Some cheese is made, but not enough for
Feathers are very important article Oi
export and bring considerable revenue
into the country.
Furs in considerable quantities are also
exported to the Northern cities. Hogs,
horses, mules, cattle and sheep are sent out
of the county in considerable numbers.
Our farmers are beginning to bestow earn
est attention to the improved breeds OF
hogs, sheep and cattle.
WATER COURSES.
There is no county or country better wa,
tered than Knox county. The Tennessee
River flows through the county from north.
east to southwest, and is navigable tC
Knoxville for steamboats, of IA large class
nine months in the year. The French
Broad River, q very considerable stream
navigable during the same time for small
steamers, and for other craft during the
whole year, runs through considerable
portion of the county and makes a junction
with the Tennessee River four miles above
Knoxville. Besides these two rivers Their
are some fifteen or twenty creeks, some o
them of large size, and innumerable spring
branches permeating every section of thu
county. Some of these creeks afford eX
cellent water power for the purposes o
machiaery,
MINERALS.
Knox county abounds in minerals-mar
BILE, zinc hydraulic cement, iron ore ant
limestone. Marble of the very finest quail
ity and in endless variety is found in ever,
section Of the county.
-Four miles from Knoxville, on the TaZe
well turnpike, the road for nearly mil
is macadamiZed with beautiful Variegate,
red and white marble of the very fines
grain.
Six miles above Knoxville, on the Ten
nessee River, is single quarry containing
the white the variegated white and re,
and black marble. No section of TIN
world, it is believed, of the same dimen
sions, contains such beautiful variety an,
such am ineXhaustible quantity of marble
as Knox county.
Zinc of very fine quality and in larg
quantities Is found in the'eastern part of tn
county. Hydraulic cement in nexhaust
IDLE quantities and of very fine qualit,
is found ten miles above Knoxville, immG
diately on the French Broad river. Irol
is found in several of the ridges of tn
county. Limestone abounds in every sec
ton of the county.
MANUFACTURES.
There are quite number of mauufaC
turing establishments in Knox county
most of these are in the city of Knoxville
They consist principally of rolling mil
nail factory, two or three fOunderies tire
sash and blind factories, two large boo
and shoe factories, a large saddle and han
ness establishment, two or three broom
factories, two furniture factories and 9th
ers. Hydraulic cement in considerable
quantities is made up the French Broa
river Zinc of exquisite whiteness an,
great strength is made out of white marble
about two miles from Knoxville, in larg
quantities q, alr.- ~ .s ..,If
Our capitalists are beginning to turl
their attention earnestly to manuiacturina
and probably next year we shall have
WOODEN factory and an establishment 10
hicles, These are very much needed an,
would do thriving and prosperous bust
b. neSs, Our carriages and buggies are nov
y, y