Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-04
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
what Northern Man Thinks of Our city
and Section.

Mr.. II. G. Smith, editor of the Lancas-
Ger, Pa, Hiteuigenccr, writing to his paper
about East Tennessee, gives the following
information. which will be interesting to
readers at home and abroad. 1t will show
our large circle of Northern readers what
a disinterested writer thinks of our Sec
zion:
East Tennessee has been called the Swift
zerland of America, and it deserves the
title. Its average elevation above the
ocean is about 900 feet Mountains en-
circle it and ridges and peaks rise in pic
turesque beauty throughout its extent.
Beautifully clear streams flow through it,
and from their banks stretch valleys of
rich lands resting upon limestone base.
East Tennessee seems to have little in
Common with the rest of the State. It Is
mountainous, while Middle and West
Tennessee are level it raises grass and all
rhe cereals in perfection; the rest 'of the
state is best adapted to cotton.
1t is fair and fertile land, offering the
greatest inducements to agriculturists and
capitalists. Limestone lands, naturally
equal to any in Pennsylvania, can be pur-
chased, with good improvements upon
them, at very cheap rates. The war has
eft legacy of debt which many have not
been able to free themselves from. Not
few have found it difficult to adapt them
selves to the changed conditions of labor,
and embarrassment has been the natural
result. For Northern farmers there are
great bargains here, and chance to secure
desirable homes for themselves and their
children in climate which can not he sur
passed. We have had abundant opportuni-
ty for observation, and it is our deliberate
Judgment that the climate of East Tennes-
see IS all that could be desired. AS n prac-
fest lG
sary to state that East Tennessee had none
Of the deep SHOWS which fell in Southern
pennsylvania during last winter, and none
Of those which we have had during the
present winter. These are cold snaps, dur
ing which some ice Is formed, and there
are SHOWS, but there are very seldom three
days together during the winter when out
door work upon the farm can not be done
with comfort. The autumns are long and
bright, and much of the winter weather is
like our finest November days. Frequent
ly there is no cold weather until late in De-
cember. Spring comes five or six weeks
earlier than with us, and gardening is be-
gun in February. March is like our April,
and April more pleasant than our May.
The thermometer does not rise as high in
summer as with us, the elevation of the
region tempering the heat. There is al
ways a breeze in the afternoon, and the
summer nights are said to be delicious. If
we were looking for a favored region in
which to locate, we should choose East
Tennessee or Southwest Virginia, in
preference to any portion of the United
Strtes.
The towns of East Tennessee are pleas
Antly located and many of them are thriv-
ing. In all of them business men and me-
chanics will find opportunities open to en-
terprise. Knoxville is the place of most
Importance, being fiourishing city with
ant nj ah nnnhlnn
its population since the war ended, and is
growing rapidly. 1t is beautifully located
upon the Holston river, which is navigable
to this point for steamboats,, during great
part of the year. The East Tennessee and
Virginia railroad passes through the city,
and the Knoxville and Charleston railroad
opens communication to the southeast.
Other railroads are projected and in course
of construction, so that Knoxville will
soon be one of the most important railroad
centers in the Southern States, and prop
erty and business will advance in proper
ton. 1t IS already the center of large
wholesale trade, drawing custom from
portions of seven States. Some OF lis
Wholesale houses surpass in size anything
in Philadelphia, and do an immense bust
ness. Here are located the State Univer-
sity and the State Asylum for the Deaf
and Dumb. The University is amply en-
dowed, having received within year or
two 800, 600 from the Congressional APP
preparation of public lands. The buildings
are good, being located upon an elevated
hill in the midst of forty-aere lot, which
il capable of being made one of the most
attractive spots in the country. There are
some two hundred students in attendance,
under the care of competent professors.
The Deaf and Dumb Asylum is commo-
dious and attractive structure, with beau
tiful grounds and all the appliances that
are calculated to benefit the unfortunate
inmates. One hundred and twenty three
are in attendance, most Of them being
children.
During period of twenty years, with
an average attendance of ninety, the deaths
in the institution were only three. This
may serve both to show good treatment
and the great healthfulness of this favored
region.
Knoxville is fast becoming a manufac-
uring city, and the time is not far distant
when the hum of various industries will
be heard throughout itsstreets and suburbs.
In the rolling mill and nail-factory we
found a Lancaster county man who had
been honored with seatin the State Senate
q practical, clear-headed Welshman, who
did not care for the honor and who Is con-
tent TO do thriving business. We heard
of ten Lancaster county farmers located to-
gether some miles south of Knoxville, and
they were said to be well pleased with the
change. Many Pennsylvanians have set
tied In East Tennessee, some before and
ON. are since tha war ThPre are not q few