Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-11-15
THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF EAST TEN
NEssEE AND WESTERN LANDS

/ Upon this subject we desire to be heard.
There are many of our citizens unduly
excited about Western lands, and are
crazy to ''sell out" that they may invest
in them. But few of them seem to eXer-
else any Judgment or forethought in the
premises. .N
We would venture, in a modest way, of
course, to suggest to them that we think
that they are very much in their own
light, and they will have cause to regret
| their haste in this matter. We dislike to
| see our best citizens abandoning country
likethis, and seeking one which secures no
advantage over and above those they have
and enjoy here. ''-..
We assume, without the fear of success
| full contradiction, that there is no portion
of the Union where lands can be bought
cheaper than in East Tennessee, all things
| being equal. This conclusion we have not
arrived at hastily. 1t is the result of ac-
! tual experience and observation. We have
been in the West, and know something of
the expense and trouble of Opening up"'
| a farm there. We do not deny that land
| can be purchased cheaper there, seemingly
very low, as low, indeed, as two, three and
| five dollars per acre, but SOhere are such
! lands situated?
Usually, if not always, far into the inte-
rior, remote from the commercial centers
of the country, cut off from churches,
great thoroughfares of active life. 1t seems
to us that such lands would be dear at any
price. At the present rate of emigration,
whole generation would pass away be-
fore they would be worth anything. Think
of a well-to-d0 East Tennesseean, leaving
n snug home, giving up productive farm
and turning his back upon his own and
seeking a domicil in such q retired spot
But suppose he could buy land in such a
place for four or five dollars per acre?
Would that really be cheap investment?
1t might be il it were improved, had houses
upon it and was fenced and cultivated.
But this is not the case. Improved farms
cannot be bought upon such terms. For
these high figures must be paid, much
higher than improved farms will COM
nland in East Tennessee. You can't buy
an acre of ground either in Kansas, Iowa
or Wisconsin improved for less than from
twenty to one hundred dollars per acre.
What, therefore, does it cost to "open up"
farm in one of these States Let us see.
In the first place you have to buildt a
house, and that is full of significance to
the emigrant. 1t means something
1t must be borne in mindthat is prairie
region. Timber is exceedingly scarce.
Fuel is hauled often ten miles, and occa-
sionally, fifteen or twenty. Even to con-
struct a rude building, it will be seen how
difficult and expensive it would be to do it,
Lumber is hard to get, and enormously
high. A small frame house and some sort
of out houses for stock, would draw heavi-
ly upon the eXchequer of the husband
man. The very same difficulty would be
in the way in building fences and break
ing the prairie sod But few pretend to
construct rail fences. The timber that
they can get is not fit for it. 1t is small
and scrubby. Now and then rails are
made of ash, which, as every farmer
I'm on n RI q
will not last any length of time. The ex-
pense of "breaking the sod" is prodigious.
1t is enough to alarm any judicious
farmer.
Now we contend that by the time you
improve your "cheap" land, put house
upon it, and fence and break it, it has cost
you dear sum. Allow that the first cost
of your land was five dollars per acre, to
this you must add three dollars for turning
the sod, ten dollars for your house and five
dollars for fencing, aggregating, as will be
seen, not less than taOenty-tIiree dollars per
acre.
Now we happen to know of good farmers
| in East Tennessee, well fixed, comfortable
in all their arrangements and prosperous
| in their business, who are trying to sell
their fine estates at t,0enty dollars per acre,
| for the purpose of going West to buy the
! cheap lands alluded to. They own farms
that they have been gradually improving
for years, and, indeed, they are in fine
condition. If we wanted cheap farm,
we would not think of going West to get
one. We would buy it right here in East
| Tennessee. That is precisely what we
would do. There are hundreds of farms,
well improved, that can be bought for ten
and fifteen dollars per acre in East Ten
nessee. They have orchards upon them,
the houses are comfortable, the fencing is
good, the fields are properly laid off and
the grasses are cultivated.
In all that we have said, we have not
made single allusion to the fact that here
we have an invigorating atmosphere, a
genial climate and an abundance OF whole
some water. We wish we could say as
much of the West. But few East Tonnes
seeans can 90 there and stand that rigor-
Gus climate and not succumb to the "chills
and fever" both of which they must make
up their minds to do.
The Memphis Appeal is in favor of low
taxes. Gov. Brown is opposed to reduc-
ton. The AppeaJ don't want to Ego back
on the Governor too strong, however, and
shows some sDleeu towards the CHRONI-