The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-11-26
Maury County Enterprise.
the Editor of the Herald and Mail:


Knowing that you take a warm interest in
the prosperity and progress OfTennessee, and
especially Maury County-its garden spot
venture to give YOU q few notes ofa late visit
/ paid to the neighborhood of Spring Hill
which is not behind any country for the
beauty Ofits scenery, the prOductiveness OF
enterprise ofits people. This section of the
country is unsurpassed as grain, grass, and
stock growing country; ii seems to be pecu-
liarly adapted to bluegrass, which springs up
spontaneously everywhere; and after all, this
is the king of grasses, for grazing. The far
mers of this section raised very fine crops OF
wheat, corn and hay, this season; l have
heard ofsome crops of wheat averaging q, %,
and % bushels per acre. and in a few instan-
ces still more, and for the corn crop 50 BUSH
els is a frequent yield, and 1t is not uncOm-
mon to hear Of60 bushels per acre. 1t is true
that last season was an exceptionally good
one, but the average is always high one. 1t
seems singular that the Farmers of such a
highly blessed country as this will persist, in
the face of the facts have stated, in planting
cotton, which is almost always losing crop.
That crop is almost a total failure this year
i heard of one farmer in this section who
planted fifteen acres and had made but one
bale. heard ofno one who will make more
than bale to five acres, and generally the
crop will not come up to that figure. But l
think the time is not far distant when all
these beautiful lands will be devoted exclu-
sively to cereal crops, and choice fruits.
There is flourishing Grange Lodge at Spring
Hill; ii embraces some of the most intelli-
gent and enterprizing men of the surround
ing country, The Grange, assisted by some
of the substantial men outside, have lately
completed one of the most complete Touring
mills to be found anywhere, and ii is one of
the most perfect establishments i'll all the
country. The-building itself is one of the
handSomest and most symmetrical l ever
saw. The main building consists of 4 stories,
including basement, and is IS by 81 feet, with
an extension of the basement of twenty feet
for engine room, which Is built ofsolid ma
sorry. The engine is OfGO horse power, built
by Romans d Co., of Nashville, and is run by
Mr.. n. \. Denham, who was engineer of the
Dixie Mills of that city. The mill runs four
pair of stones, three wheat and one pair for
corn. These stones, with their machinery,
can be run entirely independent of each
other, can be run one pair or all at once, at
the pleasure of the miller. The first story of
the building contains the stones, Madison
packing machine, which packs barrels and
bags of the various sizes, both paper and
cloth as many he desired the corn and
wheat bins, and large flour chest. The
second story has two Eureka shutting ma
chimes, one for custom and the other mer-
chant grinding. These shutters are so per-
feet in their machinery that it is next to inn
possible for a particle of smut to get into
the wheat being ground. These also render
a most admirable service to the farmer in
cleaning wheat for planting, which is done
by the prOpTietorS of the mill most willing
ly, as it aids greatly in improving the quail
ty of the wheat crop of the country, which
they expect to grind when they have per-
fected their arrangements. This story con-
tains one reel merchant hOlter and one 2
reel for custom work. The third story is Oc
cupied by ConveyOrs, which convey the
flour to the bolting chests, and the meal
back through the tunnels to the first floor.
l neglected to mention that in the basement
IL placed powerful suction fansmill, which
cleans the grain to be ground of all chaff and
light and imperfect grains. Mr.. Denham in
formed me that he could run the whole ma
chinery to its full capacity with Is pounds
of steam, which shows a high degree of per-
fiction of the machinery, and all the ap-
engine is supplied by a bold and never fail
Ing spring, which is conveyed by pipes fif-
teen hundred feet into tank of so barrels
capacity. The mill is situated Immediately
on the the railroad track, and can take off
and put ON freight from its own platform.
There is ten acres belonging to the mill,
which is ample for all necessary Out-build-
ings. The proprietors design adding, for next
season, a large granary, so that they can
store a full supply of grain to keep them
running at all times. / feel that / haV done
feeble justice to this admirable improve
ment, but hope it will serve at least to con
the attention of your readers to the enter
prise, and stimulate our people to emulate
the public spirited gentleman who have set
it on foot, and hope it win not be long until
factories, mills, &C.; &c, will be erected in
our midst sufficient to supply all the wants
of our country, and keep our m0Dev nj
home, circulating with our own peopIe-
That the mill proves a success, it is only nee
essary TO say that the executive officers
of the mill company are Mai. N. +. Cheairs,
Maj. Campbell Brown and Capt Thomas
Gibson and that such go-ahead outside work.
ers as Capt. Mccormack, Mr.. VIII Cheairs-
whose fine farm Joins the mill pronerfy-
and such like, are of the company.
took occasion to make hasty visit to
Capt. Thomas Gibson, whose splendid farm
joins the Grange Mill premises. Capt. Glib
sons farm is one OF the very best of the many
fine farms of this beautiful section. Standing
on gentle emipence north of his residence,
the eye takes in one of the most beautiful
scenes l ever behelG, The whole plain as
far as the vision reaches presents vast
number of well cultivated farms, dotted with
beautiful country residences and commodi-
GUS, substantial barns, and other evidences
of a prosperous and happy community. Mai
Nat Cheairs' fine two story brick mansion
cent farm lying beyond, and to the south OF
the house, which rivals all around it, forms a
scene that would make the heart Of
the most Indifferent beholder, swell with adj.
miration and pleasure. To do justice TO such
a scene as this is far beyond my powers, and
besides my purpose is to speak more partic.
ularly of what saw of Capt. Gibson's fine
stock of Shorthorns, blooded sheep, &C., sc
Capt Gibson's stock yard, barns and grana.
ries, are arranged with fine taste, as well az
being of the most substantial and conyen.
lent character. j very much regret that the
Iateness of the afternoon and the Indictment
weather limited my opportunity to make 8
| ofshorthorns. His fine bull, Earl of Wei
don, was the first animal that his herder
| Mr.. Shut, formerly herder for Hon. NJ. H
Cochran, the celebrated breeder of Canada
| showed me. This, believe, is the fines
| shorthorn bull ever saw, and regard his.
| as near perfect as is possible TO find ono II
/ is of deep, bright red acior, with 9lieh
| white marks, and OF not,, oaffiaee and nc
ton al'',,,-a equal TO that OF horse. He wa
cred by Mr.. Abram RenniclK, OF KY, and be
longs to thecelehrated" Rose ofSnaron" IAN