Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-18

| gathered. We propose at some time to
give infinitely the method Of planting, culti
waiting and gathering this crop. For the pre-
sent we will only say that the facilities for
transportation being very bad in the county
| of Hickman, it is the only crop that has
proved remuneratiYe to the farmers Of the
county since the war. Previous to the war
many hogs and mules were raised and
driven to Nashville and other points, but
the impoverishment of the people by the
war left them without a sufficient capital to-
go into stock raising. L -aa +
The principal manufacturing establish
ment in the county, other than iron was the
cotton factory, at PineWood, owned by Mr..
Graham, which was destroyed by fire on
the 18th Of July last. Around this estab-
lishment had grown up little village Of some
300 inhabitants, with store, Masonic Hall,
school, church etc, and the burning threw
large number Of INDECENT people out of
employment. Mr.. Graham, whose energy is
checked by no calamity, Immediately set to
work to rebuild and has now erected, nearly
on the same spot, a large three story brick
building IS by so and is receiving and put
ting up pOnderous machinery which will, in
few months, make the air buzz and clank
with the sound of the spindle and the loom.
The whole number of spindles will be
1886; number of looms 40; number of
cards 20. The entire cost of the establish
ment, which is run by steam, when com
pleted, will be 100000. 1t will employ
about 40 hands, and turn out 1900 yards of
sheetings per day. The hands employed
are mostly native born and the spinning is
done by little girls. The weavers have to
undergo some training and Mr.. Graham
has occasionally to send to other places for
them. The amount earned by weavers will
average So per week; spinners 81. The
county could supply cotton enough but for
the peanut excitement. We saw several
fields of cotton that promised a remunera-
tive yield. Mr.. Graham owns the entire
village Of Pinewood and furnishes his cot
tages to his operatives and laborers at a
nominal rent, sells them provisions and at
the end Of every month settles with them.
He pays one dollar per day tor farm hands
and supplies nothing. He has had no di fl
Guilty in procuring as much labor as he
needs and finds that he can get quite as
much work in this way as he ever could
from slave. His son, Mr.. Jno. Graham,is his
partner and displays degree Of energy, in
teligence and executive ability in his bust
ness that argues well for his prospects in
the future. BE brings to his work mind
filed with industrial thought, and is liv-
ing example of how much more useful our
young men would be to themselves and to
the State if they would abandon the over
crowded professions and betake themselves
to the development Of the material wealth
of the State.
As to the social qualities of the people
there can be but one opinion. Away from
h hvrs-- .1-r
the seductiOns and temptations of cities and
railroads, they are less suspicious and re-
ceive with hearty hospitality the stranger
indulge in manly sports, such as fox and
deer hunting, trout fishing, etc. The
streams are full of fine trout and many deer
yet roam over the county in comparative
security. Churches are scattered all over
the county, and schools are very well at
tended in winter, but are discontinued in
summer. As majority of the farmers till
their cwn lands they keep their children at
home during "crOp time," which usually
lasts from the first of April until the first
Of October. The people are contented, free
of debt and unambitious. They practice a
rigid economy and many family whose
table is spread with delicious food, and
whose home is comfortable, spend less than
fifty dollars year for all supplies. A bar
rel of salt, a small key of sugar, a bale or
two of spun cotton and a little coffee is the
extent of their purchases. The wives and
daughters still adhere to the spinning
wheel, with which they convert the
wool into "filling" to make the
cloth for the use of the family. They do
their own weaving, and, until quite recent
ly, made up the clothes with the needle.
Sewing machines are now used to eonsid-
cradle extent in the county. Ali farmers
try to raise a suffiCiency of wheat for their
own flour, but none for export. At farm
er's table one would find greater variety
of dishes than at many of the hotels. Chick
ems, ducks, deer, fish, wild turkeys, are
common dishes. The cooking and other
hoUsework is done, with few exceptions, by
the family. A pleasing contentment reigns
in their homes. Neatness and taste and
| order prevail. A moderate share of work
keeps their bodies in health and their minds
| at peace. Purity and honor, gentleness and
| kindness, patriotism and benevolence, are
TO be found in such homes. The higher
| and nObler instincts of manhood
are here developed. From such material
| Jackson was wont to gather his invincible
/ squadrOns. Through such the State of
! Tennessee has won a name for courage,
. gallantry and honor that is imperishable.
! In the town of Centerville, which has pop
ulation of 300, all the social characteristics
/ of the people are to be seen. The court
| house stands in the centre of a square some
! two hundred yards across. Surrounding
| this square and fronting it are several dwell
! ing houses, along with stores, offices, etc.
! After business hours the old men and old
ladies, young men and msidens, girls and
! boys, all assemble, like one great family,
and indulge in social converse, or an in
nOcent game of CrOquet, marbles or ball.
! The merry laugh, the active movements,
! the display of skill here and aWkwardness
there, the sly glanCes that betrayed the con-
cealed but growing affection between the
dark haired girl with the po.onaise, and the
fair haired gentleman who was her partner,
are few things noted by your cOrrespOn-
dent as he watched the play. Itmay serve
10 tell what CenterYile is in a social point
of view.
Prof. Clark has a school in this place for
boys, and female school is conducted by
Miss Mary Hanlin. Your correspondent
was unable to visit these schools, but learn
! ed that they are doing good service in the
cause of education.
The people are too thinly settled to have
an efficient system Of common schools.
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