Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-04

is as near as we can make 1t, chronicler
Of the daily experiences of our people. and
just in proportion as it is faithful, Ii 1t a
valuble aid to emigrants in making truth
full and practical the information we give
in this series of articles.
The first point upon which the immi-
grant naturally desires information is the
geographical position of his proposed home.
In reference to East Tennessee, some gene
raj observations upon this point are parti-
cularly necessary, because, being part of a
Southern State, it is usually classified with
them as to its climate, soil, products, and
the customs of its people; whereas, the
very respects in which it differs from the
rest of the South, give it its distinctive
features and form part of its very strong
est attractions.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
East Tennessee is part of an extended
section of country almost entirely bounded
by mountain ranges. Its Southern bound
airy line is in the main ON the parallel of
latitude 350 north its northern line, some
what broken, lies between the go 80 and
360 Al. The southern line runs mainly on
the crest of the great Unaka chain of noun
tains running from northeast to southwest
and dividing North Carolina and East
Tennessee. It's entire width is about ITO
miles, and its length $50 miles. 1t has two
natural divisions; the Valley of East Ten
nessee and the Cumberland Table Land.
These two divisions form part of the great
central section which transversely cuts the
extended trough or basin running from
Eastern Pennsylvania through Virginia,
East Tennessee and Alabama to the Gulf.
! This transverse section slopes to the north
west from the summit of the Blue Ridge in
North Carolina. So that East Tennessee
while in the great basin which, beginning
| in Eastern Pennsylvania, extends south
| west to the Mississippi and Gulf, is also
part of the great water shed, sloping from
the crest of the lofty Blue Bidge range
enthusiastically to Cincinnati, on the
Ohio, and to Memphis, on the great Father
of Waters. The slope of this great water
shed determines in general the course of its
rivers. These have their heads in the Blue
Ridge piercing, transversely in deep cuts
the Unaka chain and sweeping in general
enthusiastically direction to the Ohio and
Mississippi. This general flow of our rivers
to the northwest is changed to the south
west for near two hundred miles by the
high table lands of the Cumberland part of
the chain marking the northern boundary
of the valley of East Tennessee. This Cum
berialId plateau stands up 80 q great wall,
breaking the general slope to the north
west, and forcing the Tennessee and its
tributaries to make that long, graceful
sweep to the southwest, which is one of its
distinctive marks.
These general geographical relations it
will be necessary to remember, as they
have an important influence upon the eli
mate and productions of the section, as We
shall more fully show hereafter.
THE VALLEY OF EAST TENNESSEE.
The Valley of East Tennessee comprises
the greater part, both in area, population
and wealth, of East Tennessee. 1t is bound
ed on the South by the Unaka chain be-
fore referred to, and on the North by the
Cumberland Table-Land. It's average
width is about so miles, and its length $50
miles. It's elevation above the level of the
sea is from 800 to 500 feet, or an average Of
about 1900 feet 1t has an area of about
5000 square miles, and is one of the most
picturesque and romantic sections of the
South. While valley in itself, lying
between the great mountain walls to the
South and North, it is in fact composed of
a number of valleys all tending in the
same general direction, northeast to
southwest. These valleys are formed by a
series of high ridges which are remarkable
for their uniformity of character and out
line. In some places, as where they come
out from Virginia and terminate abruptly
they are called mountains. They are in
general but ridges, and pierced at conven-
lent distances by gaps which are used for
roads traversing the valleys. In some
places, near the Unaka or Cumberland
range, several unite and with the noun
tains form picturesque coues, often five TO
ten miles long, and one to two miles wide |
isolated retreats of great fertility, where
one or two hundred families live in true
simplicity and Spartan independence.
1HeSe SuUOIuludte "dlieyS are VI fdilouo
widths and lengths, vary in fertility and |
population, and to some extent differ in |
geological formation. Traversing these |
valleys the country is very rolling, but |
following their course it is as level as a
plain. 1t may therefore be said to be both |
rolling and level. All trending in the
same direction, the valleys are watered by |
clear, rapid flowing streams, large enough |
to be valuable for irrigation, and of suffi-
cient descentto afford unsurpassed water
power. This valley of East Tennessee,
made up of these minor valleys andlcoves, is
one of the most favored sections of country |
in allthe South, presenting more varied /