Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-13

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Country Gentleman.
/ have lately travelled By wagon, with
three friends, from Lake Erie to the
Gulf Of Mexico az Cedar Keys thence
across Florida to Lake Monroe on the
st. Johns. Here we sold our horses
and came home by water and rail. Our
object was mainly to see the country,
and learn what we might about the
South and people. Having travelled
our country from North to South, we
could only think Of Il as composed Of
three great belts-One north Of the
Ohio, one south Of the thirty-fourth
parallel, aud the other lying between
these two, and partaking somewhat of
the character OF both. After We had
been through Southern Alabama aud
Florida, we could hardly think Of
Tennessee as belonging TO the South.
In the southern half of Tennessee they
grow cotton, but more OF less through
out the State, aud in the coves aud
valleys of Northern Georgia and Ala
bama, the capabilities of the soil and
climate are favorable for grain aud
stock growing. But farther south,
after we reach the land where cotton
still is and always has been the lead
ing crop, and still farther, where sugar
cane and oranges grow, we are in sort
of other world, where wheat and clover
fields, and meadows of the cultivated
grasses. are never seen-this Is pro-
perly the South.
Tennessee in the middle belt, and
Florida in the Southern belt, are at
tracing the attention of the Northern
people, more perhaps than any other
portions Of the Southern States along
our route. Tennessee has published
an account of her resources, aud in-
terested parties are from time to time
adding to the facilities for acquiring
knowledge Of the country. Quite
good many Northern people are locat-
ing in Tennessee. Some are settling
on the table lands and in the barrens
on the Highland Rim-not a very wise
selection / fear. These lands are
mostly poor. and of little value. Land
costs more in Davidson county Nash
yille), and in Rutherford county (Mur-
but it is better 10 pay more
and get land that is of certain value
for farming purposes. There is no
more desirable part of Tennessee, or in
rich lands of these counties. They
have access to Northern and Southern
and once the land falls into
energetic hands, il must rise rapidly
in value. Another good region is in
franklin county (Wlnchester), in the
red, rolling lands along the foot Of the
mountains. There are
settlements of Northern
people there already. Land can be
had at from $40 to $40 per acre, with
good prospect, as | think, of being
worth twice that in ten years.
may say in general way that the
South IS no place for poor man to
move to. The South is full of poor
people now, and it will not help the
matter for more to go there. The scale
Of prices for farm labor tells the story,
Ohio. $l8 to $40 per month Kentucky,
BIZ to Sl5; Tennessee, $40 20 $l2;
Southern Alabama, IS to $40; Florida,
S6 TO SIS. A man who goes South
should be able to employ himself and
others. With five thousand dollars
Il command, if he is careful 10 find the
right place TO invest his money, he
nav do we'll in the middle belt of the
South. He will hardly keep out Of the
hands of land agents, of which the
South is full, but he wants TO give little
need, and should take time 20 study
he situation we'll for himself.
Let no Northern man be deferred
from going South by the partizau hue
md cry Of Southern hate aud intoler-
ance toward Yankees. This is one Of
the devils own ISLANDERS. Nothing pro-
misses so much immediate aid 10 the de-
pressed South as the influx of North
srn energy and Northern capital. This
s perfectly understood and freely ac-
Every intelligent person
,ou meet, and all the leading journals
n the South, are vieing with one anOth-
,r, each in his special way, 10 encours
lge immigration. They do not want
Northern politicians to come down
here and run their State and munich
pal governments, but they do want
and business men FROM the
North to settle among them. All such
ire sure of a cordial welcome. l am
Iuite inclined TO think that farmers
nay do better to go South than to go
w est; hence / send this brief state
nent, founded on personal Observa-
ion. No one has employed the writer
o say or not 10 say anything whatever
concerning the South or its people, and
le has not the slightest interest ex-
,ept that OF having the facts known.