The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-03
Middle Tenn essee.

From the Wabash 0nd.) Plain Dealer.l
Mr.. Henry Bechtol, an old citizen and
farmer of this county, we'll known to
most of our readers, has recently made a
prospecting trip through Kentucky,
Middle Tennessee, and into Northern
Alabama. He has heretofore travelled
over much of the West, and through
the Indian country and Northern and
Middle Texas, and returns pleased with
portions of Kentucky and with Middle
Tennessee, beyond anything he saw in
the best parts OF the West, or in Texas,
and contemplates a removal to some
point in Middle Ten nessee
In the latter part of February he
found half the plbWipg done along the
line Of his travel from Lexington. *
south, and brought hAc az win him two e,
weekS ago peach and cherry blossoms
plucked from trees in bloom when be
was there.
Lands around Lexington, NY, are
prOverhiallY rich and finely improved,
and yet Mr.. Bechtol reports that farms
finely improved can be bought at from
$40 to $50 an acre. These lands are rich,
rolling, well watered and generally
quite well timhered. The climate mild
and health excellent. In Tennessee aud
Northern Alabama, cotton seems to be
the staple product of the farm, but Mr..
is equally well, or better, adapted to
the raising of corn, wheat and grass, if
properly farmed. He thinks they will
produce from ton and half to two tons
OF hay per acre, 40 to so, or even rs
bushels of corn, and 20 to 80 bushels of
wheat. Mr.. b. is an experienced and
good farmer, and competent to Judge OF
these matters. Northern Alabama he
does not like so well,
He THINKS COfiatU GOOD orJ Oonoral
interest is now awakening all through
Tennessee in regard to Schools The
people he found kind, courteous and
very anxious to have orderly and en-
terprising men from the North settle
among them. The extent of this feel
ing seemed so general and was so mani
tested as quite to surprise. He was ac-
companied by man from Wisconsin,
and where known that they were from
the North and looking for homes in the
South, they were promptly called upon
by tho leading men of the vicinity.
every courtesy and attention shown
them, and they urged to locate in their
midst, they not hesitating to aver they
wanted Northern men among them be-
cause Of their superior skill and resour-
GeS in farming and in managing farms.
Mr.. b. will take pleasure in giving to
any one desiring it particular account
OF the country he explored, and full in
formation as to the habits, character
and desires OF the people thereof.
Letter From Texas.
VAN ALsTYNE, GRAYsoN co TEXAS,
February %, 1874.
10 tie Editors Of the Herald and Mall:
According to promise, L will now
begin my series of letters to you on the
advantages and disadvantages of TexsE.
II you deem them worthy OF publtcation
in your paper you are at liberty, to use
them, bqtif not, just consider them as
private letters from one OF your warm
friends. And if these letters interest
you only during me ments of leisure,
shall be amply rewarded tor the labor
undergo in writing them. If you pub
lish them, trust the readers OF your
valuable paper will not be deceived by
me upon the important subjects about
which write. ] trust l am aware of the
delicacy of the task which have under
taken. My opinions, If published, Of
course are subject to the criticism OF all
your readers, perhaps more especially
to extremists " no rarely find the truth
i mean those who think Texas the
best country in the world, and those
who think il the worst. The truth is to
be found somewhere between these ex-
tremes-hence, in my investigations, l
shall steer away from these breakers,
upon which the truth has been so often
wrecked. / shall deal in facts and fig
ures, and let them represent Texas. l
will now write on the advantages OF
Texas, and in order to get my opinions
concerning this country, 1t Will be nee