Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-27

KNOX County-Its Location, Re-
putatiOn and Area.
NO. Ii.

heart and center of East Tennessee. 1t is
eQui-distant from the northeastern and
southwestern boundary of this section of
the State. 1t has about seven thousand
voters and population 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 ana French Broad, flowing
through it and many creeks, some of them
considerable size, it consequently has
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 will not be for some years
Our farmers have been anu will be for
some years busily employed in restoring
worn-out lands. 1t is easier to do this than
to clear fresh lands. The basis of thesOil be-
ing mulatto clay, very favorable to the
growth of clover, which lasts three years,
turning under the third crop generally
prepares the worst WORKOUT lands for a
crop of wheat.
Our farmers have greatly improved i'll
agricultural science in the last six years.
1HSY nave W1IHlH Iudb llIIlG DulCIdScud
great many of the most improved agricul-
tural implements. The consequence has
been that much of the WORKOUT lands have
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-
60 of
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.
OTHER PRODUCTIONS.
Besides the products emanatipg 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
home consumption.
Feathers are very important article of
export and bring a 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 to
Knoxville for steamboats, of large class
nine months in the year. The French
Broad River, very considerable stream,
navigable during the same time for small
steamers, and for other craft during the
whole year, runs through a considerable
portion of the county and makes junction
with the Tennessee River four miles above
Knoxville. Besides these two rivers there
are some fifteen or twenty creeks, some of
them of large size, and innumerable spring
branches permeating every section of the
county. Some of these creeks afford ex-
cellent water power for the purposes of
machinery,
10 MINERALS. - s,
Knox county abounds in minerals-mar-
BILE, zinc, hydraulic cement, iron ore and
limestone. Marble of the very finest quail
ity and in endless variety is found in every
section of the county. u
Four miles from Knoxville, on the Taze-
well turnpike, the road for nearly mile
is macadamized with beautiful variegated
red and white marble of the very finest
grain.
Six miles above Knoxville, on the TEN
nessee River, is single quarry containing
the white, the variegated white and red
and a black marble. No section of the
world, it is believed, of the same dimen-
siOns, contains such abeautiful variety and
such an ineXhaustible quantity of marbles
as Knox county.
Zinc of very fine quality and i'm large
&c, found i'm fho'o nor of tho
county. Hydraulic cement in ineXhaust-
ible quantities and of very fine quality
is found ten miles above Knoxville, imme-
diately on the French Broad river. Iron
is found in several of the ridges of the
county. Limestone abounds in every sec
ton of the county.
MANUFACTURES. ------.-
There are quite a number of manufac-
turing establishments in Knox county.
most of these are in the city of Knoxville.
They consist principally of rolling mill,
nail factory, two or three fOunderies, three
sash and blind factories, two large boot
and shoe factories, large saddle and har-
ness establishment, two or three broom
factories, two furniture factories and 9TH
ers Hydraulic cement in considerable
quantities is made up the French Broad
river. Zinc of exquisite whiteness and
great strength is made out of white marble,
about two miles from Knoxville, In large
quantities.
Our capitalists are beginning to turn
their attention earnestly to manufacturing,
and probably next year we shall have a
wooden factory and an establishment for
making wagons, carriages, and other We
hicles. These are very much needed and
would do thriving and prosperous bust
ness. Our carriages and buggies are now
purchased generally in New York and
New jersey. Our wagons come principally
from Wisconsin and Michigan. Both
markets are more than a thousand miles
distant.
Knoxville is very eligible point for
manufactures of nearly every kind, Fuel
and provisions are very cheap. Coal for
manufacturing purposes can be had for
twelve cents per bushel Of eighty pounds:
The country from this point to be supplied
by manufactures, without competition, is
four hundred miles In length