Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-02-23
Castle Grove, Montgomery count,
Tenn, Feb. II, 1878.

Castle Grove, Montgomery county,
Tenn, Feb. II, 1878.
r.. l.. Johnson, Esq, Netc Prori-
dence, Tenn:
DEAR SIR-Your letter of inquiry
of the LIST inst. reached me this morn
ing; / was truly glad to hear from
YOU. On account of the i'll health of
my wife / was induced to remove
from my "old Kentucky home" to
this city. Having been here long
enough to test the seasons, | can
truthfully say that i deeply regret
that did not remove ten years ear
lier. Its high altitude, vast plains
and lofty mountains, all free from
any kind of miasma or poisonous
Vapors or gaSses, insure us against
chills and fevers, neuralgia, sick
headaches, nervousness, debility and
other kindred diseases. The atmoS-
phere is clear, pure, healthy and in
Migrating. An object can be clearly
discerned with the naked eye at
least twenty miles further than in
Kentucky. The climate is delight
full, taken generally through the
wear. The average temperature
from January to December is SO
Fahrenheit. In mid-winter the mer-
curry falls from IO' to 200 below zero,
but only for 81 to 4S hours, and then
ensues a long, dry, cool, pleasant
weather; not variable and change
able as it is in Kentucky or Tennes-
see. In summer it rises at times to
a50, but the average temperature is
$50. We have no decOmpOsed ami
nal or vegetable matter to make
our atmosphere impure ItVanisheS
by exposure TO the atmosphere, sun,
rain, Stow and freezes, perfectly
OdOrleSs. We lose no pork, beef,
mutton or other animal food by
warm spells of weather as you do in
your State. No tainted meat out
here. You can slay the animal,
hang it up i'm or out of doors, with
out salt, and all is well. We who
have lived in Kentucky, Tennessee
and other Southern States, who have
felt the lassitude and oppression of
that climate, especially in the sum-
mer season, when we inhale the
pure air of this State, night or day,
and at any season of the year, feel
blessed, feel strong, mentally and
physically, and are strangers to IA
tigue and WEAKNESS. 1t is nO1C win
ter, and every night we have our
windows partly up or open, that we
may have the clear, cool breeze from
the snow-clad mountains to fan our
brow when enjoying refreshing
sleep. We eat and drink anything
and everything you do in the South
ern States, at any time, any season,
without fear of any disease. We
have imported to us all the delicious
fruits of the tropical zone, canned or
otherwise. We also raise all the va
rietieS in common use i'll your State,
and have the greatest abundance;
but everything of that kind is sold
and bought by the pound, and are
as cheap, with a few exceptions, as
in your State; and a. to animal food,
our market is stocked with deer,
elk, bison, buffalo, antelope, rabbit,
beef, pork, mutton, prairie hen, par
fridge, chicken, turkey, duck, goose,
mountain trout, salmon, etc, which
are sold by the pound. 1t is worth
a visit here to eat hearty meal of
our slope and mountain trout
Meats are cheap and in abundance.
The soil of this State is most eX-
cellent, produces well, but is exceed
ingly thirsty. When first beheld it
looks arid, poor and almost worth
less; but irrigate and turn up and
pulverize it, and no better land can
be found i'm the West for productive
qualities. 1t is being rapidly apprO-
priated by emigrants from the older
States who have been induced to
came and settle by wholesome and
liberal legislation. We make the
best flour and raise the best wheat
of any State in the Union. | have
never heard complaint as to either
since my residence here. 1t is at
premium in the East. The State is
being dotted all over with large and
valuable grist mills. We raise
pretty good article of corn, but can
not brag on it. It is not hard or
tiinty, but porous and chalky, but
nutritious enough for all farming
purposes. The system of irrigation
by dykes, bitches, acqueducts, chan
nels, wells, etc, is being carried on
extensively, and bringing into mar
ket large bodies of land once cOnsid-
cred valueleSs for want of water.
We raise the finest, best and most
nutritious grasses and hay in the
West. 1t is not burned by the sun,
or its sap destroyed, but retains its
all the time, as well as its
rich blue color. The unimprOved
land ranges from the Government
price of 81 p per acre to 81 Oh per
acre, dependent on location, water
course or railroad or other facilities
or advantages, such as its proximity
to a town or city. The improved
lands range from 50 90 to SO 90 per
acre. Timber is very scarce in the
eastern part of the State, which is
mostly planes or prairie, but in the
western and southern parts
of the State there is much timber,
and especially in the mountains
mostly pine, cedar and cottonwood.
The only water power we have is
to the mountains. 'PhRt in
the mountains is used principally in
and cleansing ores. The
business is full, well
stocked and | apprehend, in these
times of monetary depression, not
much is being done. Surely no
large cash sales, and fear of loss by
and want of confidence
prevent much crediting
yet we have had fewer bankrupt
cases, fewer failures here than in
any city of its size in the Union.
We have population of nearly ~
600 souls within the city limits, and
some thousands just outside and
around it, to say nothing of the bal
ance of the county, all of whom have
to be fed and clothed, and some
times, on beautiful days, the crowds
of business men, shopping ladies,
hacks and drays, hOrsemen, carria-
ges, eXpreSsmen, city railway cars,
etc, etc, reminds one of the activity
and thronging business life of Chica-
go, St. Louis or other eastern cities,
to as, for we call everything eastern
here. We are midway between the
Mississippi river and the Pacific
ocean, and on the grand thorough
fare with our trap set to catch the
commerce from the east and west.
The Frisco millionaire and the east
ern magnate from New York or
Washington halt here on middle
ground and compare notes. The
President, members of Cabinets,
Garafova1 and p0p~ocapfofix-ac FOR