Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-10
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
what a Northern Man Thinks Of
NO. LII.

Mr.. Ebenezer Stevens, of New York has
recently visited EastTennessee with a view
to making investments here, and he was
so favorably impressed with what he saw
here, that he has addressed us ? long letter
on the subject, from which we give ex-
tracts. He visited the marble quarries on
the lands of Horace Foster, Esq, of this
county, and says of them Il examined
these quarries carefully and must say that l
am astonished to see such vast quantity
of such rich and beautiful variegated mar
BILE, lying undeveloped such marble as is
in great demand in all the cities Of the
East and West, and would afford such a
vast revenue to the country"
Speaking of farming lands near
McMillan's Station, he says. "they are
as fine farming lands os L have seen any
where, and the society is of the very best"
He says further on another subject /
have been astonished that there is no more
grass grown in this country. The only
reason that can be given is that it has not
been cultivated. | saw many farms OH
which there was fair proportion of grass
enough to convince me that it can be
successfully and profitably cultivated here,
seems to be almost entirely neglected. He
visited the farm of Mr.. Jared Mead, near
Louisville, in Blount county, and observes
that he found he had cultivated n farm
about three years. When he first went
upon it, he found it pretty well run down.
Its now well covered with cloverand other
grasses. He visited different portions of
Blount county and was struck with the
abundance of rich, productive soil, and
beautiful clear streams of water, atfording
such ample water-power for driving
machinery of every kind.
He crossed the Tennessee River into VIII at
is known as Kellar's Bend, and saw there
some bottom lands equal to any soil in the
whole Southern country. He came up the
Kingston turnpike and passed to Caswelps
Station, travelling over the Rutledge pike,
and seems to have been much pleased with
the country all along these roads. After
wards he crossed the river at this place
and went down the Maryville road, cross
ing Little River at Kirby's Mills, thence
to Maryville, all this country striking
MIN in the same way. He was favorably
impressed with the fine college buildings
and the schools of Maryville. He visited
the head waters of Little River and was
impressed with the fine water power there
afforded, as well as with the fine farming
lands of Miller's and Tukaleechee COves.
He went into the mountains up there and
of minerals which he thinks may be heard
from again. He speaks in glowing terms
of the manufacturing advantages afforded
by this country. He visited a marble
quarry at Loudon, which is now being
opened, and seems to think favorably Of
the quarries. He sums up the matter thus
The result of my trip, | hope you may
hear more of in the future. When l see
the thermometer standing at twenty de
erees below zero at the North whilst i
is forty above here, and the people are on
Aplowing iIl-their shirt-sleeves- and attend
ing to their domestic duties without in
convenience, L realize some of TIN
great benefits of your country
Here | see stock of all kinds GU
in the fields, while at the North the.
must be kept closely in barns. l hay
come to the conclusion that if the peopl
of the North could once recognize this diff
ference in climate, they would emigrat
here instead of going to the cold North
west. I am well pleased with the climate
the country and the hospitality of TIA
people. respectfully
EBENEZER STEVENS.