Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-18
A NEW INDUSTRY FOR TENNESSEE.

NEW INDUSTRY FOR TENNESSEE.
We learn from our exchanges that
ten car loads of Texas beef, fresh and
in quarters, containing 10000 pounds,
haverecently been delivered in New York
in good order, and sold at prices satis-
factory to consumers, shippers and
farmers. The results are so favorable
that the company having the enterprise
in land is building one hundred new
cars for this trade. Strange to say,
Texas fresh meat reaches New York by
the way of Canada, crossing the Detroit
and Niagara rivers, and then by the
Erie railroad. There are men of old
fogy ideas who suppose that cheap
meat can only be made on
wild grass as on the plains
of South America, New Mexico
and Texas; but this is great mistake
Wild grass compares with tame for any
economical purpose just as wild Indi-
ans on the Western plains compare
with civilized Europeans for steady IN
dustry. The aborigines soon run out
in the presence of active civilization;
and SO do wild grasses under the tread
of domestic cattle by the ten thousand.
Experience in Texas, Australia, and
all other countries, proves the truth Of
our statements and when one comes to
raising blue grass, orchard grass, and
| others for stock, Texas has no advan-
tage over Tennessee. The climate in
| the former is some warmer in winter,
but beef is eight hundred miles farther
from market in Texas than in this State.
This disadvantage renders Tennessee
better section for raising beef and
mutton for Northern and European
consumption than Texas or New Mexi-
co. Proximity to large and reliable
markets is a matter Of the first impor-
lance. and we are one-third or more on
the way from Austin to the commercial
metropolis of this continent. We are
now sending fat cattle by rail out of
the State by the way of Knoxville and
Bristol, and Nashville and Louisville,
and the business is susceptible of in
definite extension. In place of ship
ping live stock, it should be nice
ly slaughtered and the meat sent
in the most improved refrigera-
tors, by rail to distant consumers.
| A large trade in cattle and meat may
be developed in and near Nashville
by converting ten million acres of our
now unproductive lands into first class
pastures and meadows. Grass is cheap
ly cut for hay by horse power, and it
may be raked and pitched by the same
cheap power. No one can deny that
we have the land and climate adapted
to growing purposes, provided
the work to be done is taken III hand
by men of good sense, industry and per-
severance. Before farmers can get
their land seeded, cattle grown and
freight ready, railroads VIII be pre-
pared to carry it at satisfactory prices.
Our agricultural friends must
look ahead and appreciate the
wisdom of making al of their farms
Weld an annual income. instead Of re-
living on few acres in corn, what, cot
ten or some other staple produced by
tillage and much labor. The colored
| part of our agricultural laborers is not
improving as the older men and women
become infrm and die off. We are
leaning on a broken reed. Our children
| will need an income from land not cul-
tivated. and to be more Independent Of
the blacks who are likely to become de-
moralised and iitie inclined to work
steadily for wages or a share of lie
crop. Meat production for Europe is
destined to be a vast industry in the
Southern States, and Tennessee enter
prise should take the lead in this branch
Of agriculture. The annual fall and
distribution Of rain favor the work.
The mean or medium temperature of
Our climate is also propitious. Less
| capital is necessary TO seed ground to
grass 10y the million acres than for any
other farm industry % equal fruitful
ness and value; yet grass land in Ken
tRcky, New York and England, sells
higher than any other for farming pur-
poses. How could thi- be if grass
growing was a proftless business
Think Of sending grass in the form of
beef from Southern Texas, l,S00 miles
through Canada 70 New York, and over
grass all the way!