Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-21
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Answers to Correspondents-

blla8H .bsUHe NO. XIV ,taHaoa
We have received the following letter,
one of very many similar to it, since our
last issue, and propose to make it and the
answers to it our article for this number of
the Weekly:
a.F HoNESBRooK, CHESTER Co., PENN.,
Is.tsl.lt .Ia June 10, 1871.
Rule & Ricks. Eaocpitte, Tennessee!
DEAR SIRs-In company with some Penn
svlyania farmers expect TO go through South
west Virginia and East Tennessee to prospect
land, with a view of settling, and as | see, per
n. Y. Tribune you answer inquiry, propose
to ask n few questions, which, if convenient and
agreeable to you, would be pleased TO have
answered LIST. Is Knoxville and surrounding
country subject TO ferer and dghe I'd. Is the
feeling toward Northern men satisfactory? 3D.
Are YOU subject to drOughts or long wet spells?
4th. Have you q good market for grain and pro-
duce in Knoxville? 9Th What are your prin-
cipal crops2 9Th. The average Of wheat and
corn per acre? 7th Il it good grazing coun-
try? Sth. The average price per acre, lnelud1
bought on time and what interest on deferred
payments 10th. What gre your rates of state
and county taxes? 18th. Have You free schools?
18th. What denomination of religion is most
common7 18th. Are the titles generally good
through there? 18TH Do your railroads make
any reduction in prices of transportation Of
goods or fare to persons settling or coming to
purchase land? i4th. What kind of timber is
most common 10th Is il a good fruit coun-
is try? 10th. What proportion of blacks have
are wages for farm hands per day, month or
You must excuse my many questions and
answer such as are convenient. shall take
it amiss if you overlook them.
We answer the above questions as fol-
lows:
LIST. East Tennessee, and especially the
country about Knoxville, is perfectly free
from fever and ague. Not case known
here, save occasionally with those who
have just come here from ague countries
and not vet been acclimated.
I'd. The feeling towards Northern men is
constantly improving here, is far better
here than in any other section of the South,
and there is in the country no prejudice
worth noting, and in this city none among
the better classes. Some few who hold
themselves aloof, and pride themselves on
representing the culture and refinement OF
the city have their prejudices, but they
have i'm fact but little culture, growing
fewer in numbers and less in influence ev-
cry day. and are really beginning to see
and realize how contemplate and unmanly
their preudices are. Northern men conf
ing here in good faith TO live will be kind
ly received, and cannot fail to do well.
There is very large number of Northern
men in Knoxville and East Tennessee and
the number growing every day. lu-l
rO3d., Our wet and dry weather Is very
well proportional. We are not subject to
either droughts or wet seasons. Our win
tiers are open with good deal more OF wet
rains where you have SHOWS
4th We have good grain and produce
markets in Knoxville and East Tennessee,
and good shipping facilities to the South
where most of our produce goes. s.
9Th. We grow cereals and grasses, pretty
much the same crops raised in Ohio and
Pennsylvania. Corn is perhaps most rails
ed .,l1al ' rrsl 'r
9Th Taking the seasons through, and
averaging our poor and rich lands we raise
toa h..ch kals ylaof i-fly mn 1al
corn per acre. We have lands yielding 30
bushels of wheat and so of corn average
seasons. We have some very good and
some very poor lands. The great trouble
here, in our Judgment, Is that our farmers
try to work too much land. With proper
culture we can raise about as much grain
here as in most sections North. Our lands
are run down and need work to bring them
up. But East Tennessee wheat is known
the land over as the best raised for flour.
eth. We have the best grazing country
in the South. Our farmers are paying more
attention to the grasses, and we are glad to
note 1t. Hay is worth here from fifteen to
twenty dollars per ton, and can be sold by
the car load for shipment at those rates.
Sth This IL a hard question TO answer.
Good lands can be bought in this county
with good improvements at from twenty
to forty dollars per acre. Lands can be
bought at any price from one dollar up to
hundred per acre. Very good farming
lands at twenty dollars per acre near good
markets are offered for sale and some fair
lands as low as ten dollars. There greatest
failing Is, they have been run doWn, but
they respond UeJy quick to good treatment
and fertilizing. ESQ. ans s..,, L--..s -rL
9TH Lands can be bought on time, with
part cash and often without any cash
Lien is generally retained on the land for
deferred payment. Interest generally but
six per cent. Our statutes now allow
special contracts for more.
10th. Our rates for State and county tax
are unfortunately pretty high. The rate for
1870 was siXty-five cents on the hundred.
II is some higher this year
18th. We win put In operation free,
schools in this county this fall. Other
counties are following and all very soon,
we hope.
18th. We have all religious denomina-
tions, Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist
most common. - ,
18th. Land titles are pretty well settled
and can be made. good -fst1
18th. Railroads have special rates for inn
migrants. .a-'tr,fh s1fT t,-ss
18th. We have pretty much same tim
Goers common i'm Pennsylvania, and plen-
~ of it, and good quality.
18th. We consider East Tennessee one of
the finest fruit sections on the continent.
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