New-York tribune., 1878-10-05
HOMES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
TENNESSEE.

n
TbisState will be considered, as others have been
from the standpoint of the needs of the working
man with little or nothing to invest beyond his
labor, rather than from the point of view OF the
capitalst Like the other States which lie immc-
diatelv on the other side of tho old line OF denarca
tion between the North and South 1t offers two
esuocia advantages this class of cmigrau's First
Its lands have suffered an abnormal depreciation
because Of the war; and can be had now at price
much below their actual value SecOnd-lts crops
and climate the mode of farming and the habits of
the people are, IN the MAN, similar to those which
the emigrant leaves behind him in New-Iork or
Pennsylvania. He has little to learn or unearn,
matter of no slight moment to a man of middle age.
Tcnne ssce may be divided into three great sec
tions, which differ materially in soil, products and
farming value:
1st. EAST TENNESSEE, which begins with the
heights of the Unaka Rance. at a mean elevation of
5000 feet and deSceuds through wooded spurs and
fertile pOpuious valleys to the Cumberland table
land.
Cd MIDDLE TENNESSEE, which comprises the
great basins and terrace lands, running northeast
and southwest, and extending from the Cumberland
Mountains to the Tennessee River.
Sd. WEST TENNESSEE, which is bounded by the
Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers, and formed of
rolling slopes low bottoms and marshes. These
divisions Will be spoken of in order.
EAST TENNESSEE comprises about 1900 square
miles. with a population of 329.112. 1t claims to
possess the most eQuable climate in the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains, its mean atl-
tude being 900 feet above sea-level and lis bar
rier of mountains protecting il from easterly and
northerly winds. The mean Summer heat at Knox
vileis IA, and mean Winter cold 400. here is in
this elevated region an almost entire exemption
from malarlous diseases The SOILS IN the hlgh
mountain ranges are sandstone in the valleys lime
stone each embracing variety of soil which ylelos
q wide range of products The Eastern iron belt runs
through this section in Johnson, Carter, Washing
ton Greene Cooke, Sewer B,ount Monroe McMlnh'
and Polk Counties. The principal ore IS hmonlte
in Carter County, magnetic ore is found and hema-
tites in sullivan, McMmn and Monroe. Dyestone
ores are found along the eastern base OF the Cun-
berand Mountains. The cost Of raising and deliver
ing this ore ready for smelling at Cumberland zap
is ST. per ton at Pittsburg S12. Give the towns OF
this portion of Tennessee capital transportation ana
enerqv and they have material of coal and iron
both at hand to outweigh that city in solid wealth.
The coal fields of East Tennessee exceed by 404OOO
acres the entire coal of Great Britain The
great coppor region of this State lies i'll Polk County
and the mines are worked by two companies, the
Weld of ngot copper IN 1872 from one being 1885,
s47 mounds; from tho OthoT 917329 pounds; about
700 hands are employed IN these mines. The marble
of East Tennessee is known throughout the
country the black variety is found IN largest
quantity in Washington, Greene, Polk and Sewer;
gray and red in Knox aud Hawkins Immense
veins of finely notified marbles run through the
belt of counties comprised IN this section Roofing
,ates. bydrauhc rocks sand and lime stones,
potters clay saltpetre alum and sulphae OF copper
are the principal mineral products OF this part OF
the State.
The crop which stands first among the products OF
Fast Tennessee is wheat to which it is especially
ADAPTED III climate and soil. The larger part OF the
cultivated land is, however, gwen mp 10 Indian
corn; oats grow WE'LL so do red clover and timothy;
the blue grass is indigenous on the mountains here
as in Kentucky hence cattle and stock of all klndS
can be raised at much less cost than in Northern
States The Disadvantages of this section lie m the
lack of good roads for the transportation of products
and in the nortness of the native population. The
mountain farms are small, 1888 being under 100
acres and the farmers resemble those of Western
North Carolina. They live as rule in log huts or
CABINS grow small crops of tobacco corn, wheat,
etc. spin and weave their own clothes, tan and
make their own Shoes barter at the village store for
the few groceries they need-llve, IN short almost
without money! but keep up tables like Irish kings.
Labor rates very low; good farm hands earn only
$40 OF $12 per month. As the larger number OF
letters received by The TRIBUNE inquiries as
to the price of land its value per acre In the di r
ent counties so far it has been possible to obtain
IT, is briefly given, the higher price being for
cultivated valley land, the lower for unceared tim
ber: Anderson, $50 to 81; Bledson, $50 to SO
Blount improved SO to $25; Bradley about the
same; Campbell S15 to 50 Carter, 800 to 80 cts;
Claiborne poor soil and cheap except IN one valley;
Cooke, $50 TO 50; Granger So to $50; Greene, 800
toS1; Ham5ln, S. to 800; Hamilton valley land
IS to $40; Hancock, 81 TO $50; Hawkins So to
S75; Knox 500 TO 50; Marion $40 to % cts;
McMinn. $50 to 81; Meigs same; Morgan, $40 TO
so cts; Polk 500 to SO; Rhca, R0ane, Srquatche,
Sullivan and Washington, 500 and $50 to So
Union $40 to So. The other counties make no re-
port
MIDDLE TENNESSEE is the wealthest IN both
capital and resources and the most popuOus division
of tue State. Ii is webbed with railways, drained
by 500 miles of navigable rivers, contains 300
milling streams 5S macadamizod roads, and good
schools and churches in every neghbOrhOOd. There
are no swampS, and consequently there is no
malaria The iron belt covers 1000 square miles,
running cO-eXtensiye with the coal measures. The
advantages of this State over Pennsylvania and
Ohio In working iron the greater cheapness of
ore ana fuel and the lower rate of taxes the dlsad-
vantage lies in the want of transportation; but
with this drawback, Tennessee can make charcoal
iron ST. and stone-cOal iron from $40 to $l5, less
per ton than Ohio Indiana or Pennsylvania. The
coal measures of Middle Tennessee are estimated as
equal to a block 100 miles long. 80 miles wide, and
8 feet thick. The emgrant will find cheap fuel,
pure air. and good water. Ho will find rich, mellow
soils yielding, with care. large crops of tobacco,
corn almost all of the cereals grasses, and the veg
etabes and fruits three weeks earlier than IN the
latitude of New-York. StOck-raisingi is carried on
successfully. Mr. Killcbrew, Commissioner OF Ag-
rculturs reports the prices of lands in the central
basin as high, best improved ranging from $50 to
Ha a