Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-08-21
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE,
Carter County.

NO. LNNX.


Among the many prosperous and wealthy
counties of East Tennessee, there are none,
all things being equal, superior to Carter
county. 1t is one of the extreme upper
counties of the State, only one east of it
johnson. 1t lies alongside of North Caro-
lima. Elizabethton is the capital, q small
place Of about one thousand population.
1t is pleasantly located, and can boast of
excellent public buildings. The Court
House is one of the best structures in
Fast Tennessee, and is credit to the coun-
ty. The Jail is also good building. There
are two hotels in the place, and both of
them well kept.
The valley in which this quiet town is
located is, perhaps, one of the most beauti-
full and fertile in this end of the State 4
lovely river runs through it. The lands
on either side are enormously productive,
and, OF course, are very valuable. We
doubt If they can be bought at any price.
The owners are aware that they could not
better their condition by selling and going
somewhere else. Corn is the chief staple
and that is fed, principally, to hogs and
mules.
Elizabethton is in the midst of the finest
water power on the continent. We doubt
r II there is any superior to it in the world,
we make particular meution of ii that our
many readers in the Northern States may
be, some of them, at least, attracted by It
and induced to invest capitol enough In it
to make 1t available. 1t is a downright
pity that such power should remain dor.
mant for the lack of means to utalize it,
The only machinery driven by it is q wool
en- factory and some saw-mills, and per-
haps, some flour mills.
But there Is another locality in Carter
county where the water power is as WON
dQrfllI IL the Ahnuo h -
the Wautauga, near Carter's Station, ON the
East Tennessee and Virginia railroad.
The power here Is Immense. 1t is availa-
BILE ON both sides of the river. Mr. Hem
dirk, the polite and accomplished Depot
Agent, at Carter's Station, owns on one.
side and Mr.. Cunningham on the other.
The former is unimproved-the latter has
a fine merchant mill on it, with capacity
enough to turn out one hundred barrels of
flour per day. Mr.. Hendrix is very anx-
ious to interest heavy capitalist in the de-
velopment of his power. He lacks the
means himself. He would afford a rare
opportunity to any one who would like to
invest in machinery at this favorable point.
A wooden or cotton factory would pay
well.
We are here reminded of the existence
OF one of the largest and most fruitful
orchards in East Tennessee, near the de-
pot already mentioned. 1t belongs to n
Mr.. Barnes, an old and esteemed citizens
OF Carter county, who has wonderful
passion for planting and cultivating fruit
trees, and who has spent the prime of his
manhood in this direction. He cares for
nothing else. What has been the result +?
Wonderful, indeed. He now has an
orchard of over twenty-five hundred bear
ing trees, all of them thrifty and in excel
lent condition. He has over too hundred
varieties. Just see what skill, attention,
and perseverance will accomplish. Mr..
Harness efforts only show what may be
done, not only in Carter county, but
throughout East Tennessee in the way of
fruit growing. There is no better fruit re-
gion, as we firmly believe and maintain,
anywhere in all the States than that of
Eastern Tennessee.
. The iron interest of Carter county is
worthy OF consideration. 1t is full of the
most superior iron ore, perhaps the best
west or pennsylvania. 1t is used extern
sively by Clarke, Quaife 4 Co., of this city.
They pronounce it exceedingly valuable,
and they are competent judges. The only
drawback upon this interest is the want Of
cheap and easy transportation. When
railroad communication shall have been
established, as we hope and believe it will
be ut no distant day, this great interest
VIII be enhanced in value thousand per
cent.
The people OF Carter county are plain,
practical and unassuming. Their habits
are beyond suspicion. They are temper
ate. as general rule, industrious and fru-
gal. They work hard and attend to their
own business. Honest and well-behaved
citizens from any part of the globe would
be welcome among them. Their politics
are about equally divided, but this occa-
sions no differences among them. All
move together pleasantly and harmoni-
ously. One thing they need-nore schools
and better churches. 1t is, however, due
them 10 observe that they were terribly
injured during the war, and they have not
had full time to recuperate,