Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-11
NIlN AND AMERICAN.
DIOKSON COUNTY.

Hotel TOpOEraply--IfEab er--Sumac
Eeaves-Suftable Work for Women
and ChiIdren-Farms of tue PENN
syIvauinns-Price OF Lnud-Indtreet
BENEFITS OF Railroads Peanuts
Wheat - > ObaccO - Grasses = stock
Running at Large WOIYes-Inde-
pendence OF the Citfzens-Price Of l
Labor and LumBer-DuERbiIity OF
Chestnut Grist MuIs-Fruit-IrOn
Northumberland Furnace-NegrOes |
-Far1ners' CIubs-Statisties.
The varieties of soils and diversity of
ropS which Middle Tennessee presents, in
ne absence of other excelienctes, would
trongly commend its claims for being
uitable home for the industrious husband
nan. But when to these are added salu-
rity Of climate, an abundance Of living
water, and q total absence Of mlasmatic
,wSmps, those nurseries Of deadly fevers
and other formidable maladies SO dreadful
hat no richness Of soil can compensate for
when these advantages, positive aSd neg
alive, are added, the wonder is that there
is any land in the market at all. And yet
We find large portion IF the native popu-
lation dissatisfied, and craving either to
d X ne their business or their homes. The re-
4 sEsof the war have upset all their previous
ideas Of farming aud many despair Of ever
being able 10 follow successfully the pur-
suit which they learned under other cOndi-
tons and circumstances. We accordingly
find this discomfort to prevail 10 the great
est degree in those counties where the most
radical changes were effected. Those coun- /
ties which before the war were the largest
slave holding are precisely those in which
the dissatisfaction among the whole popu-
lation is the greatest, while the inhabitants
of those counties that worked but few
slaves are usually prospecting under the IN
creased pIice Of agricultural products.
Dickson county is one of these. The
white persons Of this county have always
In the main, belonged 10 the labOTing class,
and the war afflicted them but little. Their
numbers have been increased by considera-
bic influx of Pennsylvanians, who immigra-
ted to the county a few years since, and
have built up on the Northwestern Rail-
road the houIishing
VILLAGE OF DICKSON,
which has a population Of some one hun
dred and fifty persons, and is rapidly I'M
proving. An excellent hotel kept
by Mr.. McCutcheon is in the place, and
no traveller will ever have cause to re-
gret bis stay at this hotel, for the landlord
not only consults the comfort Of his guests,
Oub VIII AUAl4AoAl GIL AhADA AAAi@1iOAA
about the country, with which he is well
acquainted, and, if need be, viii supply
horses as feet of foot rs Arabian coursers
to bear the observer over the swelling hills
and down the deep rsvines Of old Dickson.
Your correspondent had occasion to test
the mettle and the powers of endurance of
one of these horses during his visit to the
county, and therefore speaks from an am.
pie experience.
The country around Dickson, and lying
on tie road from thai place TO Charlotte, is
high and rolling aud vel drained. The
distinguishing timber is walnut, poplar,
hickory, doswCoi, mulberry, all the varie-
ties Of oaks, with an occasional maple and
wild locust and chestnut covering few Of
the higher rocky ridges. The underground
ia the valleys which border the streams, is
hale and gum, on the higher lands mostly
sassafras, peTsimmon and sUm2c. The
ieaves of the latter are gathered to some eX-
tent and ground for shipment. One gen
tleman, living at Burns Station, has erect
ed a mill, and shipped, as we were inform
ed, some seventy or eighty tons the last
year, for which be got SO per ton. The
work OF gathering the leaves is somewhat
tedious, but may lie performed by women
and children who arc worth but little on
the farm.
The Pennsyl 'anians near Dickson en-
gagged IL farming, have made great many
changes for the better. Their farms are in
good state of improvement, as is mani
tested by the luxuTiant fields Of red clover
which are 10 be seen on their farms. Their
Fences are all neat and free from briars and
bushes, aid their stables are put mp after
the fashion of the old Pennsylvania Dutch
barn. Nothing shows so well how such
farming pays, as the rapid enhancement Of
the price Of land in their immediate vicinity.
Fifteen acres we're sold q short distance
from Dickson a little while since, for $3.50.
Adjoining this a larger farm sold for $40
per acre. Very little land can be had on
the railroad in Dickson county for less than
SIS per acre, while thousands Of acres may
be bought north and west Of Charlotte foI
two and three dollars; practical demon
tratiOn Of how much railroad will benefit
land owners.
The farms around Dickson are small and
titled by the owners themselves. All who
bodgG Just what land they could conven
ieuty Pay for, are satisfied with the coun-
try, and they first Of all raise the products
that are required TO support the family anC
tbe stock. In addition, a field o
peanuts is planted. 1t is the lead
y
about fly bushels per acre. Not les
than five hundred acres were planted thil
wear within a radius Of four miles Of Dick
son. a man can cultivate ten acres witt
other crops. Wheat looks finely and prom
ises an abundant yield. One field, belong
ing to a Pennsylvania, was pointed out Il
your correspondent that had been thor
oughly and deeply plowed and manuret
which viii probably make yield OF TWEEN
tv-five bushels per acre. This is enccur
aging when the fact is remembered that tht
county has, perhaps, never averaged sil
bushels. On the south side Of Chariot,
a good deal of tobacco IS grown. The
average yield is 600 pounds per acre. Tht
quality is good and the farmers usually re
alize handsome prices.
Timothy, except in bottoms, does no
grow well. Herds grass does better, and IL
connec ion with cats and clover, is grow
for a forage crop. There are very few tin'
stock in the county. Indeed, it would b.
sheer folly TO introduce fine stock until th
owners are willing to keep them up. Sheep
hogs and cattle are all turned cut about TIT
first of April and are hunted mp about th
first of December. They find during thu
summer months a sufhciency of pasturag
10 the old soalines and along the margins o
crease, as, besides his domesticated enemy
the dogs, a few wolves yet roam over TIN
county. At the last county court citizel
brought in Tho scalps Of six wolves and de
manded a certificate, which certificate b
eau use, By our statute laws, for the pay
ment of taxes. The scalp of every vol
over four months old is, or was WORT
by our law six dollars, and unde
four months, four dollars. Steep, of the
common kind, may be bought for TWO dol
lars apiece. Mules enough are raised L
supply the demand OF the county.
il seems, indeed. TO be the policy Of The
citizens of Dickson county to be as nea
seIEsustaiuing as possible, What they can
not raise ihey usually. do without. The.
hire very li.te labor, and not one family il
five have ether a cook or house servant
the members Ofthe family preferring to d
their own work. There is no attempt a
display in the surroundings Of their homes
The houses are usually built near spring
of los. with sandstone or brick chmneys
An ot i-ional wild rose or honeysuckle
the or flower TO be seen. The people ar