Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-09-04
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE
Plain Truths for the People.
NO. LXNXII.

NO. LXNXII.
EDITORS CHRONICLE within the last
six weeks 1 have travelled throughout the
length and breadth of East Tennessee, and
have had fair opportunity of judging of
its resources, its disadvantages and its pros
poets. Besides 1 have been familiar with
it for over quarter of a century.
In the last twenty-five years, strange as
it may sound, there have been no striking
changes for the better. The country stands
Just where it did then. To be sure, in the
plans and operations of few farmers, there
has been some change and we have a few
men who have adopted broader views con-
cerning our development. But, in so far
as radical change for the better is con-
cerned, on broad and comprehensive
SCALE there is none. Indeed am prepar-
ed 20 endorse the conclusion that the soil
Of East Tennessee is not as fertile and pro-
ductive as it was twenty years ago. There
are sections or localities where the utmost
exhaustion shows ITSELF The lands are
completely worn out, and the owners, them
selves, reduced to poverty. Many of them
are trying hard to get their lands off their
hands. at almost any price, and are yearn-
ing for foothold upon our western bord-
ers. They now begin to see the folly Of their
ancestors, and of their own, in moving out
and running the finest agricultural region
on the continent. NFH
But how shall we remedy this sad state
of things? That is the question. You
perceive its importance. For one, / am
free to confess that there is not much hope
Of the present generation and of The pres
ent population. We are Joined to our
idols. We are gnarled oaks whose knotty
textures can not be altered. Fossils of a
century's growth, we are not likely to pn-
dergo any material change. Nor can
perceive any well-grounded hope Of the
rising generation doing any better than
ourselves, the way matters stand now,
We advocate no new ideas, nor do we urge
progress as the fascinating watch-word o1
the times in which we live. Our children
are breathing through our nostrils and
speaking through our throats, Like pa
rents, like children. They are the same
earnest advocates of the same obsolet {
ideas advocated by our grandfathers an
great-grand sires.
How shall the old order of things be up
heaved and set adiift? First and foremos
the native race among us, the 'homt
guard must learn to appreciate their sec
ton, and, appreciating it, go to work il
solid earnest to improve it. That is on'
way, and it is good one. There is an ev
vantages, and there is. most frighful in
cubus upon our energies. We must get ou
of these "hateful ways" If we did bu
know it, we have the finest country OF
earth, fact which some of our citizens hav'
learned to their sorrow by going ava!
from it.
We must encourage and foster education
That is always a country's bulwork. Here
in East Tennessee, unfortunately, we hav
not learned to appreciate and admire thi
profound truth We have most shame
fully ignored it. Some of us have Opposed
it and continue to oppose it. And we won
der that we are behind the age in view o
these terrible facts. Can any other resul
beanticipated than that of poor soil, indif
ferent farmers and widespread stagnatioi
in all the departments of industrial enter
prise Could we hope for other results
Why, then, should we stand aghast at tn
blight which is everywhere seen in Eas
Tennessee Ignorance is the fruitful
mother of all this. An enlightened educs
ton dispels it. Energy, enterprise an
advancement follow in its brilliant make
But few of the tillers of the soil are educat
ing their sons, and fewer of them sti
bringing them up between the handles {
the plow,
These thoughts will be continued.
c. w. CHARLTON.