Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-21
THE CUMBERLAND TABLE LANDS,
Interesting sk etch oTihe Climate, soil,
Land titles, &c.

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Few people who have never been in
the " Cumberland Mountains have
"a definite or correct idea of the phys
zeal appearance or qualities of the re-
gion designated by that general term.
1t is applied in ageneral sense to belt
ofcountry extending diagonally across
the State, from Cumberland Gap to
Alabama. 1t has width, along the
Kentucky and Tennessee line, of about
seventy or eighty miles at the south
ern houudry of the State, it is not so
wide say fifty miles. 1t covers an
area of some five thousand square
miles, aud includes the counties of
Morgan, Scott, aud Cumberland to-
bother with large PORTIONS of Camp
CELL, Fent:ess, Van Buren,, BledsUe,
Gruudy, Marion, Anderson, OvertOn,
Putnam and White.
This table land Is distinct aud
marked feature in the physical geOg-
raphY Of tennessee. On the eastern
-ide-, it, outlines are badly marked 10y
Waid-n's Ridge. which RUS from
Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga,
to Careyville, IN Campbell county.
This ridge stands like mighty bull
wark, between the highlands and the
lowlands, aud is only passable AZ the
different gaps or points where the
streams have cut through on their
passage to the sta.
Passing this bulwark, the traveller
will generally fluid the country rough
and uneven for IA few miles, and al
though it all partakes of the same gen
eral elevation of from nine to twelve
hundred feet above the lowlands, still
one travels five, ten, fifteen, or even
twenty miles westward before he finds
the realization of his book idea of a
table land.
Passing the ridge at Winters Gap,
in the lower edge of Anderson county,
on the road from Knoxville 10 this
place, one strikes the tributaries Of the
Emory River in few miles, and fol-
lows their valleys, To this place. Cross
ing the Emory at Old Montgomery,
YOU come to most beautiful country
few miles westward.
Vast areas are almost perfectly level,
except where you strike a stream.
Again. other localities present IA rolling
surface. Ten miles west of this point
on the jamestown road, are extensive
savHnnas, or open meadows, where "A
species of wild grass grows in the
grea est luXuriance. The settlers in
thai section NOW it and preserve the
bay in large stacks. This Is the stock
region of Morgan county.
The rolling land Is the best
timbered. aud also has the
best soil. Upon he dead
levels in 'he western part of the cuun-
~, iar-- forests of yellow pine are
found. The rolling land abounds IN
the Usual forest growths indigenous Ia
this ltttude. Along the streams ARE
a found heavy growths of white pine
This pine aft ,rds the finest lumber
A The sume general remarks on the
phN steal appearance OF the country
apply To large portions Of Fentres-
= Scott aud Cumberland counties
THE SOIL
~ of the table land is a subject Of inquiry
il by those seeking Information ubOu
this section. Upon this subject, muul
has been spoken and written, that wa
II calculated to Ln,,lead one. The soil Il
!. not of that natural fertility, which
& characterizes the strong clay soils o
A. the lowlauds, and those who seel
as homes here, with the expectation
- of finding such, are sur
to be disappointed. 1t is true, upol
some of the streams, are to be fOunC
m narrow bottoms OF great fertility
ct but the main body Of the table Ian
T. proper, furnishes light, friable sand
In soil. 1t is the most easily cultivate
of any soil known to the writer.
lis seems almost the natural home of rec
top or herds grass, aud grows ry,
he potatoes, all the fruits, strawberrit
X and vegetables in the greatest luS
urianCe. The nursery business cOul
il be made TO pay largely, upon all par
r-t Of the table land. Ten miles west
Az this place, the sons of Mr.. ThOmi
nj Jet have engaged in this business,
,is "a limited extent. In Cumberlun
county, ten miles west of Crossvill
. Messrs. Hubbard and Abbot have el
- gagged extensively in the same bus
~ ness. They sell annually man
y, thousands of trees, aud Il
"a, trade is yearly increasing. Those WI
profess To know say that IA scion grow
nc and grated here il much better for I'll
on latitude than one brough. from Il
Ohio nurseries-frOm the fact that IL
a. already acclimated. In the gardens
re Crossvill- aud Wartburg tina writ
ioi has seen strawberries growing in q
~ greatest luXuriance.
Another branch of industry viii,
vas is bound to pay large money in ii
zen section is fruit growing aud stoc
lay raising / speak OF them jointly,
Use. cause they can he carried Oh more II
'e "a cessfully in conjunction than separa
he ~. A farm located within striki
lde distance of the great Southern railw
m now being built thro-gh this sectlc
ma with sufficient open land to furGl
rld, hay for winter food, aud within ca
m reach of the vast grazing field in
uld western part OF the county, would b
IN, success. Let the cattle De herded
uld the natural pasturage during SUNNI
in winter let them be stabbed on
God Surm; let the proprietor understa
ltle that the manufacture aud scientific
Ar of manure il one Of the farmers Fl
fore art let him use only the improN
Of varieties of fruit, and in few ye
IDS, his farm will be u perfect paradise
mn blooming verdure.
cad Another business that might be p
nd sued prOfitably is sheep husband
II There are certain localities on the IA
YER land where sheep will live for