Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-09-02
ssfEX O.k- 81 - LIEEo .t)f
A Week i'm The Rural Districts.
Il AIcMINNp1ILE, Aug 81, 1871.

tains, when seen as sketched by the gifted
pen of McGuffey or Redfield, has some
thing of romance connected with it; but
when it comes to the reality, it loses much
of its romantic aspect. 1t is all veay well,
after having enjoyed the plenty of one ta-
bic, to take up one ofthese fancy sketches,
and admire the adventurous spirit of the
writer; but when it comes to riding seven
miles among the mountains without being
favored with the sight of a human habita-
ton or human being, and having IAN
aching void within, - which nothing but
dinner can fill, tits avery different thing.
We speak from experience, having tried it
within ten days past, ra.. T
Leaving the pleasant and prosperous
town of McMinnville, we travelled in the
old primitive style to Sparta, a distance of
twenty-six miles. The road passes through
an interesting country, and a rich one.
Quite a number of Northern people have
settled in Warren county, (of which Nc
Minnville is the county site,) since the
war, and by their experience and enter
prise as farmers are doing very much to
add wealth and population to the country.
The inevitable large and well adapted
barns on many of tie farms attest the pres
ence of the Pennsylvania farmers, PROV
erbial everywhere for their sound, good
Judgment in such matters.gm9E ..iHoT y
Sparta is situated in White county, and
is one of the oldest towns in Middle Ten
nessee. n. Although situated in one of the
richest agricultural districts Of the State,
it has hardly increased a score in popula-
ton in so many years. The people are
now excited over the fair prospect for the
extension of the McMinnville and Man.
chester road to that place, which they ex-
pect to take place by the first of January
1873. When this is done Sparta will become
one Of the most desirable communities for
business, in the State. The people at pres
ent are waiting and hoping as they have
done forryears, for something of this kind
to turn up. Politically speaking, aclarge
number of them are bourbnos ofthe strict
est sort. At Sparta the stage coach stops
and we procured horse. ,r-I stT
The road to Livingston passes through
Putnam and Jackson counties, and is as
good q country as need be. 1t is level,
we'll watered and very fertile. Thousands
of acres of the very finest land lie I'M
improved. The distance is thirty-nine
miles, and though the readers of the
CHRONICLE may not be interested to
know it, we were made the subject of
most drenehing rain for near twenty miles
1t was very wet. Cookville the county
site of Putnam, is eighteen miles from
Snarta and shows very little appearance of
life 5n..I ,.e.slI s.aT rot. r.r l-7rJ gyI. rz..
! Living6ton, in Overton county, we found
to be a small town surrounded by good
country. Crops in that locality look bet
than in many portions of East \Tennes-
see. There are some enterpr1slng gentle
men in that vicinity who manifest an IN
terest in building up their beautiful county.
From Livingston to Jamestown, twenty
eight miles, the road for more than twenty
miles islright among the mountains. The
traveller ascends and descends throughout
the long tedious day, going up elevations
ranging from forty-five to ninety degrees
some of them extend mile and half
others less. We reached Jamestown late
in the evening, and partook of the
substantial repast provided by our
host with a hearty good will I'VE
were about worn out as was our
horse. The next day we passed over the
famous table lands of the Cumberland
range. SO miles to Crossville. The road is
one of the most lonely we have ever traV-
eled. The houses are ranged along at
from five to seven miles apart, and the
herds of fine cattle with their hundreds of
tinkling bells is all that breaks the mono
tony of the seem 1t is very fine graz
ing country. The grass stands thick
much of it three feet high, and seems to be
very luxuriant. Cattle thrive amazingly
with very little attention. In the
neighborhood of Crossville, a number OF
Northern gentlemen have settled, and by
their enterprise are making the wilderness
to assume the aspect of life and busl-
ness. Here we stopped over night.
Our z host, Mr.. Gibson, brought IN
two fine, fat, fresh venison hams, when,
properly prepared for use, we were IN
condition to Thoroughly appreciate. Next
day wepassed overthe old stage road lead
ing from Knoxville to Nashville, and IL
the evening found ourselves in comforta-
BILE quarters back ia Sparta. Next NOR
ming we greeted with feelings OF pleasure
the old stage coach, for with a horseback
ride of one hundred and thirty-tiVe miles
over rough mountain roads we were begin
ing to get heartily tired. We returned to
McMinnville, stopping by the way and
spending an hour at Rock Island with the
old veteran, Gen. John b. Rodgers. We
had but little time to spare, but thought
there would be something of irreverence
in passing by one of Old Hickory's
comrades without taking him by the
hand. Under a cool shady bower
we spent "a pleasant y hour hearing
him recount events of the past. He is one
of the very few. left who participated in
General Jackson's campaigns. Though old,
he has yet much of the vivacity of youth,
and when he speaks Of the past, patriotic
emotions cause his eye to sparkle with the
fires of other days. He pointed out to us
on his premises an old house in which
Gen. Jackson held court fifty-eight years
ago. 1t is a. venerable edifiee but in a good
state of preservation. Time pressed us
land we bid the general hasty adleu, arrl-
wing at McMinnville late in the evening,
to partake of a splendid supper with Mrs.
Reid, who knows Just how to keepa hotel.
/ And here ends our chapter. -
/ The late rains have improved the appear
ance of crops wherever we have been, and
though the harvest may not be bountiful,
We are in no wise afraid of famine.
I THFgzE --a%-~.-A- 70 Nra
THE Question OF SECRETARY FIsH'S
RESIGNATION SETTLED. The Hon. Ham
iton Fish, Secretary of State, is at present
Il rorotioti,,r for bOuca in tI,iS oitx-- which