Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-21
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Farms and Farming in East Ten
nessee.

OuT correspondents SChCioi'J iAluiN
about the farms in this region of coun-
try, and what are the most common pro-
ducts. Unlike, of course, the Great
West, most of the valuable lands were
entered many years ago, and much OF
them have been under more or less de-
gree of cultivation. Under the old sys-
tenn of labor the tendency was to an ac-
cumulation of large tract so as to give
work to the more men. There are now
many plantations containing from 800 to
800 or more acres of land. Since the
emancipation of the slaves, these farms
are larger than can be proftably man
aged with hired labor, consequently a
great deal of tillable land is neglected.
The owners, not desiring to retain so
much unproductive property, are willing
to sell, but the same reasons they have
for selling are an objection to buying.
The only way to obviate this difficulty is
for a number of persons from the same
ueighbourhood in any Northern locality
to unite in buying these farms andl di-
vide them up into smaller tracts. This
will afford an opportunity to settle down
together and be ncighbors, and will re-
move an objection which is urged against
leaving a home where their associations
are already formed and rcscttling among
strangers.
We know Of some large farms for sale,
which lie near each other, containing
land enough for quite a colony. In past
years whole townships of land in the
West have been settled by families who
were acquainted in the East, and the
same to less extent might be done in
coming South.
Having said the above about farms, We
may suggest some information about
farming here. TO begin with, there is a
ready market at home for all the land
will produce. We hear no such cries
here as at the far West about the cost of
transportation of surplus products to
market being more than the original
price. Many parts Of this State and eS-
pecially the Eastern portion, is destined
eventually to be a manufacturing district,
when the consumer will come to the very
doors of farmer to obtain what he
wishes to eat. Besides being good ag-
ricultural region, there are hills and
mountains containing coal and the me-
talic ores, which will require consumers
to explore and bring this wealth to the
hands of an anxious world.
Our farming lands, although not uni
formly rich like the great prairies of the
West, are still more fertile than those of
the New England States or the hill por-
ions of the Middle States. In close
proximity to the banks of coal and iron,
are beautiful valleys and coves, which
can be made into good grain and grazing
farms.
The mineral lands of this region of
country are destined at no distant day to
supply the South Atlantic trade with
iron and coal. Only railroad communi-
cation is now wanting to open these i'm
mense deposits of coal to an extent
which will surprise the world. Now is
the time to secure in advance these ad-
vantages, and there will never be time
when real estate can be bought so low as
~ lHe pIcseuI'
While Mr.. Greeley was saying to the
young men, $50 West" he might in the
same breath have said to the older men,
$50 South" Capital and acquired skill
are required here to develop the resources
of this interesting region.
1t may not be amiss to repeat what
may have been stated in former numbers
Of our paper many times, that for farm
ING, our short and mild winters should be
taken into account. What will only
winter one horse or cow north of the
Ohio river, will carry two or more through
here. One who has never visited the
South, it can hardly be possible to con-
vince Of the great difference in climate.
This difference not only is a great item
so far as personal feeling and enjoyment
is concerned, but in the question of ex-
pense in wintering stock, and Of doing
farm work at q season when at the North
the ground is solid with frost.
We might write much more as bearing
upon this subject, but our readers will
have seen that we can offer superior ad-
Santages to all who will como and try the
New England Of the South, or as our
Swiss friends say, "the Switzerland Of