Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-13
OUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
Tennessee's Future in Her Own
$50 Hands.
An Admirable Letter From Col.
j. B. Killebrew.

/
The following open letter has been ad-
dressed by Col. j. b. Killebrew, Secretary
of the State Board Of Agriculture, 70 Col.
c. A. Charlton, editor Of the Grange Out
look, and head and front of the Order of
Patrons of Husbandry in East Tennessee:
NASHVILLE, Nov. II, 1S74.-COl. G. w.
Charlton: read to-day with great pleasure
your open letter addressed to DIR. Maxwell
on the subject of immigration. 1t meets
with my most hearty approval. There new
er was time within the history Of the
State-certainly not within the past quar-
ter of century-so opportune for prOcur-
ing immigrants as the present; and to this
conclusion L am led from the very ex-
tensive correspondence have had with the
people Of the North and Europe. The rea-
sons for my convictions are:
l. The low price of land in our State
cheaper than it has been for twenty-five
years.
2. The great anxiety of large class Of
farmers to sell off portion of their lands,
which they cannot, under the present labor
system, cultivate with profit, and which
rests as burden upon them.
3. The failure of the West to meet the
wants and expectations of large class of
ClllBfdilbc llldI udNC UCCu uCfuUCu w
ing Misrepresentation, and are greatly dis
satisfied. There is, therefore, rehux in
the tide, and Tennessee is attracting spe-
cial attention from this class.
4. The warm welcome which our people
have, within the past year, been extending
to all seekers after homes.
5. As a result of the recent elections, the
increased confidence which the people Of
A-v- f,,t
ty of the South, and their greater willing
ness to invest money in the State.
Q. The INSTRUMENTATION Of our people,
as shown by the election, that the plighted
faith of the State shall be preserved at all
hazards.
Z. The depression in the price of iron in
all the markets Of the world is bringing
about investigations as to where iron can
be made cheapest. 1t is low a conceded
fact that it can be made as cheaply in the
State Of Tennessee, as at any other place
within the bounds Of civilization, and with
facilities for transportation English
iron-masters are now turning their atten-
ton to this State,and with proper efforts on
the part of the next Legislature, and the
hearty concurrence Of our people, thirty
millions of dollars will be engaged in the
manufacture of iron in Tennessee within
five years. Coal and iron ore are here
found in juxtapOsition, both easy Of access,
and nothing but the blight of dishonOred
name can prevent capitalists from seeking
investment.
These are few of the many reasons
why think the time is highly propitious
for the invitation Of capital and labor. Our
people need them. We are land poor.
Rich in all the elements of wealth, we lack
the means TO transmute these elements in
to wealth. Said a very intelligent English
man, few days since, after visiting one of
the iron regions Of the State: "Sir, you
have country rich in everything except
capital and labor. Bring these, and the
sun will shine upon no land more prosper
Gus or more plentiful Let US reach out,
then, and grasp these Keys, which will
alone unlock for us all the hidden treaSu-
ries of our mountain chains, and our fertile
valleys. Let Tennesseeans prove worthy
of their heritage, and not slumber forever
in obscurity and poverty, when the glOries
Of the golden age are within their reach.
Development of our resources means
low taxes, and improved agriculture,
an extension of our commerce, a multiple
cation Of our industries, utilization Of
our wasted forces, and a growth of our
cities and towns. II means mOre-it
assures an increased intelligence and all
the blessings of rational existence, and of
higher and more benign civilization.
Believe me, there is but one way to reduce
taxes, and that is 10 increase the wealth of
the State by immigration, by labor and by
the Introduction of capital. Any other
plan than this, consistent with honor, is the
delirious dream of visionary and shows a
signal lack Of craftsmanship.
There is a growing demand for copies Of
the work on the Resources of Tennessee.
Very truly, j. b. KILIEBREw.