The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-05-27
TO THE FARMERS OF BLOUNT
AND OTHER COUNTIES OF
F.. TENN

Having noticed with deep interest
that you are moving, as believe and
trust, to better your condition, and
that of the citizens generally Of your
beautiful and nature favored country
East Tennessee feel constrain.
ed, as native, and, in the main, a
citizen of your beloved section, to
make few suggestions. intended
for your good and encouragement.
The forming Of Farmers Clubs,
to discuss and interchange ideas for
the Improvement of your farms and
farming interests is well-timed and
hope viii not only improve the con
ditiOn Of your farms. but elevate the
farmers to that high standard in So
ciety which their merits entitle them.
1t is a we'll established fact, among
all classes of intelligent persons. that
all wealth comes, primarially. from
the ground. This is God 8 decree /;
science, skill and art may improve,
refine and add to the value of that
which the earth produces, but the
products of the soil are the origin,
the prime source, of all the wealth
of the world; and no man could live,
much less prosper, but for the Far
mer. Really, the blessings which
flow to the human family, produced
by the farmer, are only secondary to
the hlessinge that flow to mankind
from the Great Author of all things
1t is remarkable, and much to be
regretted, that there are so many
upstarts and brainless men and wo-
men who look upon the farmer as
low in the scale OF aristOcratic (Shod-
dy) society, when every intelligent
person knows that the farmers who
labor on their farms. and produce
the necessarfes Of life, are the great
est benefactors to the human race,
and should be held in high, if not
the highest, esteem by all other
classes.
Why is it that the farmers have
not heretofore, as a general thing,
occupied that high position in society
that some other classes do? 1t is
simply because merchants, manufac,
turers, and others, have and do take
personal interest in legislation. and
often band together to obtain the en-
actment of laws to promote, foster
and encourage their own callings and
pursuits; whilst the farmers hare in
the main depended solely upon their
own labOrs, and looking only TO Prov
idence to send them good seasons,
to enable them to produce their
crops.
1t is to be hoped that a new era
has dawued in your section of conn
try, and that untold good and lasting
blessings and prosperity may result
to all classes of citizens ALLOW me,
then, to suggest that the improve.
ment of your farms, and stock, is
well and praiseworthy. But there
are other improvements that must
be made to enable you 10 receive and
enjoy the full benefit of your labors.
The improvement of your soil, your
facilities for conveying your surplus
produce to market, and the cost ol
| transportation, are matters of vital
Importance to the farmers; mnch
more so than to the merchant, trader
or any other class of people, because
whatever it costs to transport your
produce to market, that cost, be il
high or low, comes directly or indi.
rectly from the hard earnings of the
producers.
Perhaps many Of you are not aware
of the fact that you are annually
paying enormous freights for trans
porting your farm products to mar
ket, as compared with othe section:
of country. distances considered. Tt
illustrate and make plain, I give be
low table of rates, as given me bJ
Railroad officials in this city:
! From Knoxville 70 Atlanta. 21O Miles.