Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-04
ORR FARMING LANDS

OUR FARMING LANDS.
: In an admirable communication pub
hshed in this paper on the End inst.
Mr.. Maxwell, Master of the Tennessee
State Grange. speaks Of "large un.
wieldly plantations that don't pay the
owners, and are wasting away in intrin-
sic value for the want of permanent
citizenship and ability to manage
them" Until desirable occupants and
purchasers of these large plantations
can be obtained from Europe and the
Northern States, which is likely to be
some years hence, they should be seed
ed down to grass, and devoted to the
production of wool and mutton-sheep,
both of which will bear transportation
better than corn or wheat.
What landholders and the public
need is a fair income from all the soil
in the State. Even our native grasses
with slight cultivation pay better than
cotton. Mr.. ]. T. Gray, of Columbus,
Ga, in letter to;Rev. G. w. Howard,
says:
have cut and housed this summer
seventy tons Of native grass, good mer-
charitable hay, at cost not exceeding
two hundred dollars. This seventy tons
will make four hundred bales, which
will net In our market next spring four
dollars per bale, say one thousand six
hundred dollars-this at an outlay not
exceeding two hundred dollars.
My cotton crop the present year will
cost me by the 18th of December about
one thousand one hundred dollars. Its
sale, at fourteen cents, will bring net
one thousand one hundred and fifty
dollars-ffty profit, extending over a
period of twelve months. Don't you
think it Is time to take a new depar.
ture?
1t is impossible to resist for another
quarter of a century the teachings of
facts like the above. Twenty-eight
times more money is made in Southern
Georgia by devot;ng $500 worth of
labor to grass, than by S1,l00 worth of
labor given to king cotton!
When Will the farmers of Tennessee
and Alabama take their new depart
ure" and learn to raise staples that re-
quire little or no tillage, and small
labor every way? The governments of
Great Britain, Germany and Russia
are taking measures in earnest to re-
sist emigration to the United States;
and the fact is now patent that we shall
receive from Europe smaller number
of immigrants this year than last by
about one hundred thousand. Every
State in the Union wants industrious,
economical settlers to work, rent |
houses, buy goods and create capital !
to share the weight of war debts and |
war taxation. Such immigrants have
an intrinsic high money value; but
what nations and States shall lose this
class of people, and who dare say ace
shall win them? 1t is a lottery in
which there are twenty blanks to one
prize, and Tennessee's chance to win is
very small. If the landholders of the
South should divide their large estates
into forty or eighty acre tracts and
give one to each head of family from
the Northern States and Europe, who
would become permanent citizen and
occupant, the attraction would be less
than toward government lands in the
great West.
As things now stand, it is no object
for Northern farmer to take land in
Davidson county, at ten, fifteen or
twenty dollars an acre. Why? Be-
cause all the roads leading to Nash
vile are In the hands of close monopo-
lies; and the farmer cannot take a load
of wood, hay, grain or turnips to mar
ket, without having money taken from
his pocket at tol-gates established by
of law.
If all bad laws in Tennessee were re-
pealed, the statutes of the State would
probably be reduced to one-fourth of
their present size and number. 1t is
mainly unwise legislation that drives so
many natives out of Tennessee, and
prevents the citizens of other States
and nations coming to settle among our
peaceful and inviting people. Congress
has cursed the whole country by its IN
wise legislation, and the practical re-
sult is that our American soil must ex-
perieuce a remarkable shrinkage IN
value. Bad laws tie the hands of hon.
est industry, tax unjustly the very salt
that goes into its daily bread, and make
a wooden coat to keep out the winters
cold cost two prices. 1t matters little
who hold the nominal titles to land, so
long as a monied despotism controls all
productive labor, all exchanges, all To-
on highways and railways.
Men who think should ponder these
pregnant truths.