New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-09
HOMES roR rHn UNEMPLOYED.
KENTUCKY.


ment of capital in manufactures or other large IN
dustries offers many advantages which VIII NOT
be enumerated here. The object Of these papers Is
not to point out promising chances for investment
70 moneyed men, but homes to the poor laborer,
who has made up his mind TO go back to the ground
and force his living out Of it by resolution and hard
work.
The principal advantages which Kentucky offers
To such an emgrant are her central position and al
ready established means Of transportation Tor mar
ketable products There portions OF some OIL the
other Border States rich in mineral and agricu-
turnl resources that the settler literally walks over
wealth great as that which Aladdin found under
ground. But he is so completely barred out from
the markets by lack of rail- or any other roads, anu
nv population too sluggish to build them, that he
grows gray Door man, his minerals and timber
untouched about him. and the bountiful soil Weld
ING him only bare subsistence In West Virginia at
4his moment there are enormous tracts covered
with the finest quality Of cherry beech and hemiock
timber literally worth millions, which it IS impoS-
sible to bring into any market.
In Kentucky, on the contrary, whatever the set
tier can produce he can bring to sale with compare
live readiness and che1pness The State lies in the
centre of the Mississippi Valley; two Of her bound
aries ara washed by that river and the Ohio; she
has of their ailments within her bounds over 1000
miles of navigable streams. She is already con-
nected by a complete railway system with the
South West and North, and the completion OF three
roads already begun requiring only about $40 miles
in alD viii bring her in direct communication with
the great Eastern markets. The emigrant viii thus
end his new home within satisfactory neighborly
distance of the old one But what of the resources
Of the new home itselfi These details regarding
them have been furnished officially by Governor
McCreery and w. J. Davie, esq, Commissioner OF
Agriculture This article simply condenses, as ac-
eurately as possible, the large amount OF InfOrma-
ton kindly offered by them.
CIimate.-The climate of Kentucky averages 5O'
Fahr. IN Winter. the thermometer rarely falling
below zero. and in Summer the temperature Is not
nearly so oppressive as that this city, Cattle
are often left in pasture the whole Winter. The
rainfall is 40 inches per annum near the Ohio
ranging to 90 inches at Cumberland Gap. Since
the DAYS of Boone, Kentuoldans have boosted with
a lust pride of the heathfulness of the climate OF
their State There are twenty-seven States with
larger death-rate, and it is a noteworthy fact that
in the statistics Of measurements made during the
civil war Of the United States volunteers, the men
of Kentucky and Tennessee surpassed IN weight,
height ana breadth all other native soldiers. and
all foreigners except those from Scandinavia.
There is something in the pure air, water,
and succulent food of the State, which pro
duees the finest breeds of cattle, mules and horses
in the country. and 1t tells on the physical man
also.
Coal F7eld.-The coal-ield of Kentucky includes
the whole of nine counties and parts of five more
area OF nearly 900 square miles, Kentucky Goals
carry more sulphur than those of Pennsylvania
and the VirgnIas but less, it is claimed than those
of Missouri and Iowa. They rank, therefore, as
high as any in the West There are thirty eoiheres
in operation, and the coal field is being rapidly
developed. In 1870 the production was rated at
115,O94 tons, in two years later at 4Oo,OOO TONS
In iron, Kentucky has large and as yet almost un-
developed resources, In Eastern Kentucky are
found in EstiIl, Lee Powell, MenIfee and Bath
counties the Clinton ore and acarbonate and brown
hematites; also. in Boyd, Greenup, Carter and
Lawrence counties the limestone. block and kidney
ores. In Eastern Kentucky iron abOunds most be-
tween the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The
ores are Romantics, found above subcarboniferous
limestone. The yield can be brought here as high
as 80 per cent, though the average is 30 per cent
Iron is found also large quantities IN Edmonson,
Grayson and Muhlenburgn counties, and to a less
degree in many others. Among other sources Of
wealth which this State possesses is its exceptional
yarie Of building and other stones Of commercial
value; gray, buff, cream-colOred marble, the green
Cumberland sandstone. Buena Vista stone, oohtes,
argillaceous lmestones, etc, etc. Salt wells are
numerous and easily worked; lead, zine, fire and
tile clays abound. The workngman has, 1t Is true
no capital to invest in developing this kind Of
wealth. but its propinquty adds value to his ground
though he tils but an acre,
SoiI-The soil is either hight and sandy or dark
and clanmy, according to locality or where the
lmestones are near the surface deep red, rich. and
exceedingly productive. The coal measure soil Is
especially suited for the culture of tobacco This
ia the principal staple of the State, in which she
outranks all Others both in quantity and quality
The yield per acre averages 700 to 500 pounds,
though the rich lands will produce from 1,20O to
1000 pounds.
Cotton grows well In some Of the southern and
southwestern counties, well as fax. buckwheat.
and rye. Hemp is the great staple of the Bluegrass
region Oats will not grow of late years account
Of the rust. Barley is grown prOftably owing to
rapid development Of beer-drinking tastes among
the Keatuckians. The average yield annually OF
Indian corn is about 65,0000O0 bushels, and OF
wheat from 1000, GOO to 100000 bushels. Ken
tacky -four commands higher price IN every mar
ket than that of most other States. Irish potatoes
yseld from 70 to 400 bushels per acre, but sweet
POTATOES grow well only on the low, sandy soils
1t is for her grasses and food for live stock how
ever. that Kentucky deserves special prominence.
Il was called long ago the Eden for cattle 1t
claims TO furnish the finest natural blood in horses
in the world, next to Arabia Kentucky mules rank
Is high as her horses throughout the country.
Fancy stOck-raising including the finest grades Of
cattle sheep hogs goats and poultry, is carried on
enthusiastically. The settler who cannot buy iue
stock will have the air. water and food which will
bring his poor breeds to the highest possible cond-
ton. Land In Kentucky rates lower than that OF
any State with the same advantages, for two rea-
sons first, depreciation during the war; and sec
~ the lack Of direct communication with the East,
which has kept out of her limits the curreat OF emf
grafton flowing to more distant States Following