Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-09
of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHATTANOOGA.
CHATTANOOGA, April 2, 1874.

CHATTANOOGA, April 2, 1874.
The Tennessee river wharf presented an
animated appearance to-day. The high water
brought down fleet of two hundred fat
boats from the headwaters of this great river
Many of them came from far up in Virginia,
down Powell's river, and the Clinch, to the
broad Tennessee, thence to this city. They
are laden with corn, bacon, wheat, lumber
and wood. The river and its upper branches
afford the only means of communication which
the farmers of the far up country, bordering
the Tennessee and Virginia line, have. A
farmer up there builds a boat after the sum-
mer's work is done, puts his truck into it,
and awaits a "high tide" When it comes he
launches out into the current and comes down
the rapid Tennessee at the rate of about one
hundred miles day. These boats will hold
from eight hundred to two thousand bushels
of corn and other produce in proportion. The
making of the boat costs from sixty to eighty
dollars, and after it is unloaded here, brings
from fifteen to twenty dollars for fire wood.
Sometimes whole family comes down in
one of these boats with all their produce.
which they sell here and 60 West by rail. The
other day a family from Lee county, Virginia,
pulled their rough boat up to the wharf and
sold off their "truck" to get money sufficient
to take them to Texas. The family consisted
ofeight. The old man, the shepherd of the
flock, was quite I asked how
long he had been coming down the river.
"Nne days." he replied "hit's powerful
long ride the way the river runs l come this
ere way because hit was cheaper. 1 built ray
boat, and put in my truck and cut her loose
The old woman she didn't want to get in the
boat, she was sorter skeerd. Says l, old wo-
man, just wait till you get on the steam car,
and then you can talk about being skeerd.
This boat, says I, is nothin' to what we will
come to before we get to Texas. kinder en-
couraged her that way, you know. But we
come all right. I've sold my corn for two
hundred dollars, and now we are off for Texas
by the very next steam car that goes. My
old woman, expect, will be skeery at 'em !;
but when once the iron hoss gets started
tain't no use for to be skeery, is it?" and the
husband and father laughed until little rivI-
lets of tobacco juice ran down from each
corner of his mouth.
"Why did you leave Virgiuia?" ?" I asked.
ooh that country isplayed out" he replied.
"The land is pretty nigh wore all to nothin',
and 1 thought would 60 to a new country
Pm bound for Texas whar there is plenty of
good fresh land for a poor nan with large
family. I staid IN old Faginia till l were
plumb out of heart. lived thar thirty odd
years, and all I have got in that time is
enough money to take me to Texas. That
will dsincourage any man, and 1said would
20 whar could do better. The old woman she
was sorter agin it for awhile, but when | said
would goor bust, she said she wouldn't hold
back any longer"
"Have you ever been in Texas?" l asked.
ooh Lor, no. I've never seed much of
this ere world, but all reports says Texas is a
good country for poor man, and right thar
is whar I'm goin'."
'But suppose you find it an unhealthy
place, with poor water, and fever and ague in
the very air." l said.
The old man thought moment. II can't
stand ager," he replied, "and if hit runs on
me pretty thick, I'll jist exactly come back to
old Faginia, that's what's the matter"
hope the old man will have smooth sail
ing in the Lone Star State but alas! there
are many from the border States who look
back from the hot plains of Texas and would
give all they possess to be again among the
mountains endeared to them from childhood.
THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.
Since my last report to the ENQUIRER, the
TEMPERANCE crusade has not made much pro-
gress. The whisky interest is firmly in
trenched in the hearts, pockets and throats OF
an influential class of the community, and re-
fuses to be moved by prayer, song and tears
At Greenville Mrs. Ward still holds out.
I'll 1l;o, boya a 1aroe tent in front of her