Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-16
OUR STATUS.
Nashville and Vicinity Viewed
Through Northern sPeetaeIes.

Nashville and Vicinity Viewed
Through Northern SPeetaeles.
Mr.. John C.. ROrick, an intelligent citi-
zen of WauseOn, o., was in Nashville a
short time ago prospecting, and left with
the remark 10 an acquaintance that he was
pleased with the country and might return
next fall to make this his home, being de.
sirous Of exchanging a cold for a mild eli
mate. Since his return home he has pub
lished a letter in The Northeastern RepUb-
licdl, from which We make the following
extract of local interest to US:
cater looking over Nashville, and talk
ing with its business men, / have come to
the conclusion that it is not in a prosper
Gus condition, financially. Real estate
changes hands at fifty per cent Of its value
before the war, and buyers are hard to find
at that. Farms in the vicinity are very
low and rents moderate. An acquaintance
informed me that he owned a good farm OF
seventy acres three miles from the city that
he rents for two hundred dollars per an
NUN. Ii was sold before the war for eleven
thousand dollars. BE paid after the waI
seven thousand dollars and thought it very
cheap, but would sell it nov for thirty-ive
hundred. The cause of these low prices |
think can be easily explained.
The consequences of the wal have
caused a new order Of things. Men who
were wealthy before the war, were bank
rupted by it, and a new class have come TO
the front who are doing business in a new
a and building up their fortunes on a
new basis. Invested wealth formerly eX-
listed in slaves and plantations. II must
now exist in manufactures, merchandise
and farms. The mOnied value Of the
slaves has in effect been so much capital
taken out Of the country. The immense
cost Of the wal has impoverished the people
TO lust that extent. At the close Of the
war the State Of Tennessee occupied the
position in apOint of Monumental prosperity,
Of a new State. A long time must of neces-
sity elapse before the large plantations could
be divided up, and arranged and improved
into small paying farms, and mainly upon
the farming prosperity must depend the
accumulation of capital and the introduce
ton Of extensive manufactures. The
slaves so recently freed, not accustomed to
the management of business, are, as a
mass, poorly fitted to build up a country
and develop its wealth. The crops Of the
State last wear were light, and considering
all the circumstances it is remarkable that
the country is as prosperous as it is. The
larger and better class Of people seem TO
have adapted themselves to the circum-
stances, and are applying themselves to bu-
siness with an energy which fOretells sue
cess.5 Farmers all over the State, not to be
discouraged by the last years failure, are
making extensive preparations for the com
ing season, with good prospects Of success.
All with whom l have talked were anxious
that men from the North should come here
and settle. They realize that Northern cap
ital and industry is needed to build up the
country, and l have every reason to believe
that all settlers from Northern or any
Southern States will be gladly received and
kindly treated. And further, l believe the
State Of Tennessee, with its soil adapted to
the growth Of almost every vegetable raised
in a temperate zone; its ineXhaustible min
erals and wealth of timber; its fine climate
and magnificent streams will speedily in
duce extensive settlement, and | prophecy
that soon it will rank in agriculture among
the very best States of the Union"