Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-09-27
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Price Of Land-CIimate- wages,
sc.
NO. XXXvIII.

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and educational advantages. For months
we have devoted much of our space to
throw lignt upon our advantages, and to
induce good citizens from abroad to locate
in our midst. That our labors have not
been altogether unrequited is evidenced
from the spirit of enquiry which has been
aroused i'll many portions of the country
with regard to our section, and the appa-
rent determination of scores to make their
homes here. We have been striving to
scatter the seed. The harvest, we hope,
will come in the end.
We have on our desk letter postmarked
Fort Edward, New York, the writer of
which is anxious to be informed with re-
gard to East Tennessee, and urges us to
answer q series of questions which he pro-
pounds. This we shall do with pleasure,
and, in the meantime, we would request
our correspondent, if he should meet with
this article, to take some pains to show it
to his neighbors that they may be in
formed as well as himself.
i. =" what IS the average price ofIdnd in
East IenneSsee?n
Very low, we would say. We know of
no section of the Union, particularly as
old as this, where the general average price
of lands is so low. Take our entire section
which comprises thirty old and large coun-
ties, and theaverage would be in the neigh
borhood of eight dollars per acre. OF course
we have lands worth one hundred dollars
per acre, such, for example, as are termed
"cotton lands" and found upon our rivers;
and then we have lands that would COM
mand forty and fifty dollars per acre, but
these are exceptional cases. The great
bulk of lands are far below these figures.
Thousands of acres can be bought for one
two and four and five dollars per acre
Nor is such land worthless. Far from il.
Vast quantities of it is capable of producing
fair crops, whilst immense tracts afford
pasturage for numerous herds of cattle and
sheep. Indeed, we believe there is no
country in the world which commands
such facilities for grazing stock as East
Tennessee. But, judging from the tone of
our correspondents interrogations, we
imagine that the grade of lands that
would suit him and his friends, would cost
from fifteen to twenty-five dollars per acre.
These figures would secure valuable lands.
such as, we are sure, would please anyone.
We tell our correspondent frankly that he
need not go to the West to buy cheap lands.
All things being equal, ours are cheaper
than any he can find in that direction.
He may, to be sure, purchase prairie lands
for two, five and ten dollars per acre, but,
by the time he turns the sod, fences his
ground, builds him cabin to live in and
constructs shelters for his stock, his land
will have cost him fully twenty-five or
thirty dollars per acre. Nor have we, in
long, dreary and trying winters of that
section, nor of the drawbacks in the way
of transportation, &c. Here he may buy
improved farms, with comfortable resi-
dences and out-houses, for the figures men,
toned above, and enjoy all the benefits of
a pleasant climate. access to the best mar
kets in the world and social and religious
advantages.
40. Are Jaborers plenty, and at whot
price for good men and lCOnen 2"
Thus far in our history we have had on
trouble in procuring as many laborers as
we wanted. Even the arrangement in the
system of labor caused by the war, has
not disturbed us much, or interfered
with our operations materially. Wenever
had, comparatively, many slaves in East
Tennissee. Our farmers have, therefore,
mainly relied upon white labor. Hence
when the var ended they had but little
difficulty in resuming their business and
of going on as usual. A number one farm
hand will command on our best farms
from twelve to fifteen dollars per month,
everything found him. Medium laborers
about eight, and boys from sixteen to eigh-
teen years of age four to six dollars per
month. Women to cook, iron, wash, &C.,
can be had for dollar and one dollar and a
half per week.
"3. / e0ould like to hare a reliable de-
ScJiptiOn Of lOinterS there"
Our answer to this might be embraced
in one word-the miLdest and most gcnidL
on the face Of the earth. We have no dis
position, whatever, to .eXaggerate this
matter. There is no use of it. Facts are
stubborn things" and upon these we pre-
fer, as the lawyers say, to rest our cause.
We do affirm, most deliberately that our
winters are incompatible in their mildness
and in their invigorating effects upon the
constitution.
In the first place, they are exceedingly
short. Properly speaking, we have no
cold weather until late in December, and
even then, except in some rare instances,
quite genial and mild. During the months
of November aud December, when
throughout the Eastern States everything
is frozen tight and fast, and the whole face
of the earth is covered over with snow from
six to eight inches deep, we have soft and
balmy weather. Indeed, this il what we
call our " indian summer" season, the
most lovely and fascinating ever expert
enced by mortal man. Poets, themselves,
could not do it justice. The sky above us
is an italian one. The sun pOurs his rays
softly upon the plains below. There are
no dark and lowering clouds-no drench-
ing rains and no chilling sleet and hail
The grass retains its verdure and the cheer
full farmer plies his vocation in preparing
the soil for the next seasons crops. Later
slight fall ofsnOw, but only remaining for
about forty-eght hours, Ice very thick
for +" packing" Is a rare thing, and it is
only chance time that we can secure
enough tor consumption. Our correspond