Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-16
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Important Questions Omcfally
Answered.
NO. LIV.


We present as our East Tennessee ar.
ticle this week an interesting letter from
our State Commissioner of immigration
G. w. Charlton-written in reply to inter
rogations propounded to Ex-Presideni
Andrew johnson, now living in his
old home in upper East Tennessee. Mr..
Charlton has given this subject much at
| tention and writes, therefore, with clear
understanding of the question. Occupy
ing quite a different position politically
from us, and writing from a different
standpoint, we all the more cheerfully
give his communication a place in the
CHRONICLE to the end that our many
readers in the North can see how this ques-
ton of immigration is considered in East
Tennessee.
S. d. InghdDt, Ripley, Ohio:
DEAR SIR: Your letter addressed TO the
Hon. Andrew Johnson, eX-President of
the United States, has been sent to me by
that, distinguished gentleman, with the
earnest request that answer it. / trust
you will excuse the liberty / thus take in
making the contents public. ! do so for
scores Of your contemporaries with the laud-
ible view ofinducing them to least their lOt''
among us; and have sought the columns
Of the Knoxville CHRONICLE, o daily
paper of our city which has heavy circu-
Iation, not only in this section, but
throughout the Northern States, through
which to submit this answeI to your letter.
OF course, it is simply impossible, in so
short space, to give you perfect idea of
our section and its numerous advantages.
would infinitely prefer your paying us a
visit, and examine our country at your leis-
ure. am sure you would be delighted,
not only with our soil and climate, but you
would be pleased with our people, fea-
ture which / will more fully allude to fur
ther along in the communication.
/. What is the average Uatue of i'm
proved Iand for stock-rdiSing purposesf ?"
To answer this question intelligibly, it is
necessary to be somewhat specific in de-
scribing our lands. We have four distinct
varieties of land: 1st. The Valley lands
I'd. The river-bottom lands. Sd. The ridge
lands. 4th. The mountain lands. We
have no prairie lands or extensive plateau
of lands such as abound in your State.
Our ridges and mountains and mountains
run east and west, and these form our val
leys.
Our valleys are not very wide, but are
generally productive. They are adapted
to the growth of the different grasses, pro-
duce elegant clover, and reasonable guam
titles of wheat, corn and oats. The farms
in these valleys constitute our best lands
for stock-raising purposes. They are
well watered, which is weighty consid-
Grafton in the raising of stock. Such land
is worth, upon an average, from eighteen
to twenty dollars per acre. In some local.
tiles it may be bought for lower fignre.
l know of a body Of land, comprising five
thousand acres, nearly all tillable, conven-
lent to railroad, we'll watered, heavily tim
bered, finely adapted to blue grass and to
"small grain," fair improvements, supe-
rior water power, elegant springs andsom
minerals, that can be bought for fifteen
dollars per acre. l might also remark that
it lies in moral community and conven-
lent to churches and schools. l know OF
another body comprising about three thou
sand acres, very superior land, gently roll
ing, cool spring water, il. the heart of one
OF the richest valleys in East Tennessee,
contiguous to railroad, churches and school
houses, and in an excellent community,
that can be purchased for twenty-five dol
lars per acre, on time. / am thus particu-
lar In order to give you some definite idea
of our lands, all of which are admirably
adapted to the business of stock-raising,
OuT I1'eI laHua are Aelu at pretty nlgn
rates, say from fifty to one hundred dol
lars per acre. This is owing to their in
trinStc value. They are enormously produc-
tive. Corn is the great staple upon them,
wheat does not do so well. They produce
timothy and clover admirably. The corn
is fed to hogs. But little attention is paid
to cattle, which must be great mistake.
The ridge lands are not worth, intrinsi-
calIy, much. They are only valuable for
their timber, and as outlets for stock. Cat
tie and sheep fare well upon them during
the summer season.
The mountain lands are extensive. This
you will believe when tell you that we
have four or five different mountains, and
stretching along the entire length of our
section. They are invaluable TO us. In the
first place, they are full of iron ore and stone
coal. We have enough of either, am