The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-04-17
written for the Advertiser.
EAST TBNN1O81B.
An Iowan,s impressions from !
tour through the Swtfsefiano q
America.

~. Adrerf;ser.-About mont
.oo / conceived the idea of visitin
East Tenn.--the place that gave n
birth. ! left the mountains of ii
| Switzerland Of America, MS it is Gale
| by those who have Travelled throug
Europe, something near 40 years ag
but at that time l had but little con
ception of what the country is or was
Now the object Of this letter is NOR
especially to tell in my way wha
good things God in his providence has
thrown together.
| To begin with, East Tenn. is ont
vast valley living between two great
ranges Of mountains-the Allegany
and Cumberland--cx,ending from the
eastern extremity almost parallel to
Chattanooga where the Cumberland
approaches the great waters OF the
Tennessee. viii now attempt to
give you an inkliEg of the interior.
There are Greene, Carter and
Washington counties in the eastern
end Astounding with all that goes to
| make il manufacturing country
At an early day my ancestors erected
upon the waters OF the Nolachuckcy
an iron manufaetury-a thing then Of
vast interest in the way Of machinery
when a tilt hammer was FIRST used to
reduce waxen lump Of iron ore to
understandable iron. This was taken
on what were called fiat boats upon
the Nohchuckcy river and transport
ed scross her free bosom to the mar
kets below. This interest employed
but : very small portion Of the availa-
BILE water power and in few years
the agricultural interests began to be
developed and |. was found that an
excellent article OF wheat could be
raised. Then there was a demand
for Touring mills.
Some time after this the enterprise
of building railroad through our
section was agitated but me: with
much opposition though eventually
was chartered by the State and re-
ceived it's support. When it was
completed and the iron horse ploughed
through the mountains. the inhabi,
tan,s were like the man who hid in
the loft while his wife killed the bear
tive did it, they said This road
now completed is grand trunk. or
will be, through from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific, the eastern terminus be-
ing at Norfolk, Va.
Since this day there have been
men Of capital located among us from
the East who are diving into the
mines OF ore AMI manufacturing the
best iron made upon the continent.
Just here it is worthy of remark that
noticed that some scientific char
acter had collected data conce. ming
The steam boilers that have burst |
within period Of wears in the Z. s.,
and not one were manufactured out
Of Tennessee iron. You NAV saw
hat this may be accounted for from
he fact that none or comparatively
ew are manufactured out of Tennes-
zee iron, bu. you will find by very
title trouble that this is not the case
nut that considerable per cent are
made from it.
The ore from which this article is
Manufactured is thought to be almost
aexhaustable for it is found on both
t the above named mountains or
snges cropping out without the
'ouble of sinking costly. shafts to de-
ct its presence. This is only be- {
inning of our undeveloped or hidden t
ealth in the way Of metals, for zinc
found in paying quantities imme- 9
lately upon our railroad and SUI
erior quality Of lead.
These things are to be developed
Y the unparalleled water power of
ur streams. Building stone and
mber are so plenty and so excellent
nat nothing better could be desired.
ublic spirit has already taken hold
some few Of those who own water
over to form stock companies and
'ect spinning and weaving factories
has been rumored by some that
merica would ere long. in view OF
el being exhausted elsewhere, be-
'me the workshop Of the world, and
think that East Tennessee will be a
rand corner Of that shop.
! have said nothing yet about the
ties, or city, because | believe they
aim but one. Knoxville is the prin-
pal market, which has population
about 25,0o0. The inhabitants
e generally thrifty and give the city
lively appearance. 1t has a whole
lie house Of general merchandise
lid to be the next largest occupied
y one firm in the United States, and
upplies East Tenn Middle Tenn,
.entucky, a part of North Carolina,
Alabama and a portion Of Georgia
nth goods for their trade. The city
not only of interest in this but |
many other points that space viii not
How to mention.
But two other things and | am
lone. The immense coal fields must
'e noticed which lie imbedded in the
cumberland ranges almost directly
orth OF Knoxville 20 or rs miles.
is said that for manufacturing pur-
'oses it is very superior and in al
1ost inexhaustabic quantities.
The other thing that deserves no.
ice is the agricultural interest.
Along the streams there are immense
Of the finest lands produc-
lg something near 100 bushels Of
orn per acre and cheap now which
1 my opinion cannot be in a few
ears, for when the facilities above
re developed will be almost one con.
nued garden and no land will be up
n the market. Corn aud hogs have
eretofore been the staple OF the
ountry but this is gradually giving
'ay to varied products and i. is found
late that almost anything except
le tropical fruits can be raised in
aging quantities. Now in conclu-
on, because | fear ] will worry your
atience, | would say that the people
re sffable, friendly and their doors
e thrown wide open to strangers
specially those who come from the
orth and East who expect to make
eir homes among them. | would
rther say that those who live in the
Grille North could find no bet
r country to which to cmigrate and