Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-07-09
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Our Tobacco Interests-What EX-
perience Teaches.
No. CXIV.

NO. civ.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: In recent visit
to the 10th district, of this county, I gain
ed some information, which may be of in
terest to such of your readers as are in
curing for ''facts about East Tennessee"
i found farmers club in active operation
at Thorn Grove, where there is post office
and an enterprising little village. The
organization is composed of men of deep
thought, who have surprising way of
going down to the bottom of every thing,
as one can soon learn by listening to their
deliberations. They are going to get up
fair this fall and offer premiums.
But my intention was to give few
points about the successful culture and
manufacture of tobacco in that vicinity.
was not little surprised to find a tobacco
mandatory in full blast. Its owned and
run by Messrs. Trent q Vance, who have
established the nucleus for an extensive
business. Mr.. Trent, and brother en-
gagged with him. were both old tobacco
growers in Henry county, Virginia. but by
the vicssitudes of war, were thrown into
our own section. The proprietors first
opened their mandatory last fall and
worked about seventy-fiYe boxes. They
have good frame building, furnished with
power presses and all the other necessary
appurtenances including storage room.
Mir Trent has had 20 years. experience and
prnnounces. East Tennessee land as good
for growing tobacco as the best in
old Virginia. With view to opening the
factory for extensive work this spring, a
large number of the farmers of the neigh
borhood were induced to put in n tobacco
crop last year. On nearly every farm
quaint looking, square, high-built log
structure is seen. These are the tobacco
barns. They are about two stories high,
without windows and closely daubbed.
Good stone hues pass underneath from one
side to the other, in which the fires are
lighted to dry the crop. The land planted
is generally what may be called high table
land and is gravelly and rather light.
inexperienced hands make from sixty to
seventy dollars worth of tobacco from the
acre in one season. One hundred dollars
worth to the acre is only considered " a
good crop" There is said to be no draw
backs which can in any way prevent it
being a profitable crop-indeed CeTy
profitable one. The land will likely cost
from twenty to thirty dollars per acre, and
some perhaps even less. Energetic farmers
can clear the purchase money of the land
in two or three years, if not sooner. The
sure way is to plant early and avoid 8
drouth. The plants may be put out from
the 10th of May to the Goth Of June. The
manufacturers pay 10 cents for the com
mon run, and, in some cases, 10 cents PEI
pound for the best. Mr.. l.. Foster solo
them the product of three and {
half acres, raised near Russellville
for three hundred and eleven dollars. They
opened their mandatory this year on the
first of May and will put up about 10000
pounds before the season is over. Most o
their tobacco is put up in the plug form
fI~o ctoolx mo hU MnGSrs
Trent q Vance is bought from the farmer
of East Tennessee, and thus a large sun
(which would otherwise be carried off i
put in circulation and kept among us. w
could obtain no data as to the profits o
Uhe manufacturers, but have heard it esti
mated that they will put upon the marke
fifteen thousand dollars worth of 9Th
weed" this season, Notwithstanding tn
fact that their establishment is yet bu
smallEand in its beginning. The profit
are certainly very great and there can b
noreason why East Tennessee should no
at once have hundred such enterprises
every one she now has. The number {
hands employed by Messrs. Trent d VanC
is fourteen. Land known here as hickor
and. dogwood land, from the timber whic
grows upon it, is considered the best tC
bacco land and ridge land, which doe
but poorly for anything else, it is said, wi
produce tobacco better than the best rive
bottoms.
I write this as much to call the attentio
of our own farmers to the fact that the
are other things more profitable than cor
and oats, as for the benefit OF distaI
readers. 1t is time that the ia
mers of East Tennessee We're opening the
ewes to the mines of wealth which
scarcely hidden beneath the surface
their feet. No business among us hol
forth such prospects of rich remuneratiC
as that of scientific, wide-awake agricu
ture. There is already shaking of Il
dry bones, and those who take hold fiji
will win. OBSERVER.
Knoxville, July 3 1873.
OUR IRON ORES.
Your correspondent has often seen pu