The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-23
COLONY PLANTING.
Mobile Register

| Miner, Leverett Saltonstall and Edward
Whitney-all men of high position and
| some of them of national reputation. The
object of the formation of this Board is "to
| promote, associate migration to fertile,
| unoccupied lands: to aid their develop
ment into agricultural townships and home
steads by these means contributing to q
| redistribution of labor-its diversion from
trade and manufacture, wherein surplus,
| to tillage of the earth--the basis of all in
dustries, and the primary source of all
| wealth." Its proposed plan of operation
received general commendation az practi-
| cable, and for the public good. Meanwhile
| committees have made extensive journeys
| to the Western and Southern States, occu-
pying fve months time.
The fret delegation left Boston for Iowa,
Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas, in
the prospective discomfort Of the winter
season, that work might be prepared for
the following spring. They Investigated
thoroughly the various railroad land grants
in those States, and their opportunities for
organized settlement. Through the court
esy of the officials they were favored with
lines of the following companies:
The Chicago and Northwestern Iowa
lines, Union Pacific. Burlington and Mis-
souri, in Nebraska; Kansas Pacific, Atchi
son, Topeka and Santa Fee, Missouri
River and Fort Scott, Missouri Kansas
Texas Pacific and Texas Central, Houston
and San Antonio, st. Louis and Iron
Mountain.
This tour occupied two months, extended
2, 500 miles, from Omaha to Galveston and
San Antonio eoIthward, and to varioue
places 600 miles westward from the Mis-
sissippi.
With the flow of emigration and the
movement of heavy crops, these lines ex-
hibited marked prosperity under efficient
management. They offered in competition
millions Of acres of land, their subsidy from
the Government.
Deciding that the first experiment should
their attention to the region of the Ten
nessee river.
This region, say the committee, COM
prises the plateau or table land lifted above
adjacent levels by the central belt of the
Appalachian range of mountains, extend
ing from West Virginia into north Alabama.
There is q territory equal to that of several
States, with q climate unsurpassed for
salubrity, inauguration and healthfolness
sbou nding in springs Of pure, soft water, and
perpetual streams abundant for mechan-
ical power; forests of the most valuable
timber; coal and iron; potters' clay
sandstone and limestone for construction
and fertilization with excellent soil for
mixed agriculture, the most sure of con-
tinuousSnd ultimately the largest results.
On the slopes Of these mountains, which
turn the rivers eastward and westward,
in the valleys of the Alleghanies, on the
foothills of the Blue Ridge or on the Cum
berland plateau for 400 miles east of the
divide, there are tracts destined to develop
the richest agriculture.
The fourth exploration by the Board
was made in May to the table land of Ten
nessee. This unparalleled geological de-
velopment arrested the atten tion of the
ytotk he nr1
life of strata of iron, coal and sandstone
above the limestone formation which
underlies almost the entire VESTS one
of the most interesting features of our
continent. A territory averaging SO miles
wide across the State from north to south,
elevated 300 to 500 feet above adjacent
levels, and 500 to 1900 feet above the
waters of the Mississippi, clear of all ma
larial influences. It's undulatiDg surface
is covered by varied forests, with such
slight underground as to take the nsme OF
"opepings." It lie q series of natural parks
with deep gorges cut by mountain streams,
shaded and fringed with verdure.
The board cay:
For fruits aud vegetables the climate of this
upland region 10 unsurpassed, and for such
culture the soil in many places is specially
adapted. For intelligent, economical industry;
utilizing at one and timber for boildiDg: min
erals and water power for mecbaDical pnr.
snits: gathering the profuse wild p=Oduots-
oak tan bark, sumac, ginseng, turpentine,
enrichment instead of the exhaustion of soil
planting orchards and vineyards which como
moro speedily into bearing than at the North, |
with more perfect fruita9e; and by late i'm
proved methods Of preservation and transport |
elton, delivering the product into home or
foreign markets; with Increased means add. |
ing 90 herds, Aocks and pouitry-by such |
thrifty development these lands may open !
homes of comfort and independence to q large |
population. This is not theory. Colonies of
Swiss at Gruetti, and of Germans at Cullmsn, |
who celebrated their joyous fifth anniversary |
on the 23d of April, have demonstrated its |
truth. Andrew Jackson predicted, from personal |
come the garden spot Of the Union"
While large part OF the lands described are |
yet too far from rail oommu nication to be |
available, the Board are advised of tracts in |
West Virginia, West North Carolina, East |
Tennessee and Alabama that can be readily |
reached, and have access TO seaboard markets. |
The Cincinnati Southern Railroad Company
will probably extend its line over grade and |
bridges completed to ChattanooRR within O |