Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-11-01

tnat had only made her merely y"J,o ,,'Lo,
py, perhaps, and 1 left, quite cony;nnl i',
that the example set by our far,ofr ~e ~,
geenitors, in showing restlessuas. a pr;
whatever Eden located, was still and .
ways would be characteristic Of T tba, =
descendants to the very end; that tbn
haam and Eve were not ali who H.
places. in pieasan
one strong and controlling reaso
why, In all the past history of em;ara
ton and settlement of the whole co.,
try, the rich valleys of Kentucky bav
been SO much overlooked was that tb
range OF rough mountains. extend;n,
almost from the Ohio river to Cnmhar.
land Gap, compelled trains of emipran
wagons to keep on southwest clear +,
the last-named place, as TO the oni, +
point where this tremendous cape coulf
be doubled and, once through tb,
Gap, then before them lay feasible
road to Central Kentucky, Middle Ten.
nessee, and, indeed, to the whole West
And il, comparatively, few in these
early times diverged mountoinwards
from IRON this great leading pathway to
richer lands, they were those who es.
peciaiiy liked hunting for its own sake
and who, in the mountain districts
would be sure of sport not to be found
Ior any length of time in a more aori.
cultural district. So it was, then as I
have said in the first portion of this
chaptelethe mountain ranges and val
ilesys were in the outset peopled with
those who transmitted their unthrifty
ways to their descendants; and hence.
whatever the native resources of those
fine valleys, they have largely remained
undeveloped to this day.
But-the query is worth entertain
ing-is it indeed the case that because
the great tides ofemigration, assisted by
railroads and other potent agencies,
have swept past this great mountain
region on both sides, to find homes in
thesfar West-is it SO that this section
will be overlooked and neglected to
the very end? Will there not cotne a
reaction a desire to look ND desirable
places nearer home? and, making Of
this mountain region with its unbound
ed water power, its mineral wealth, its
iron, and coal, and copper, and lead,
and salt, true New England of the
South, develop it to better conditions
and results than hitherto it has been
fortunate enough to experience? Blessed
especially as it's residents are with good
health, and this to a degree excelled by
no other region on the continent, all
this should awaken public attention to
its advantages, and cause some more of
our people to benefit by them.
And in regard to what has been here
said of the mountain regions of Ken
lucky and Tennessee-indeed of that
whole scope of country in the head
waters of the Big Sandy and New rivers
on the one sideand the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers on the eother-mucht the
same reasons exist for making infinitely
valuable to the people of this country
for homes the mountainous region of
North Georgia, and the sections of that
character adjoining. In that naturally
favored hill country, it was declared by
the Cherokees when they were made to
abandon it for the lands west of the Miss
issippi. "a man was never sick or
sorry;;" and at present it is encouraging
to know that every year public attention
it getting somewhat more drawn to it,
the chief attraction being its mild and
healthful climate, which supplies favor
able conditions for many who find it
to live in theseverer climate
OF the North. ~, ., -,
But there are potent reasons why the
people of the South themselves should
turn to the development of that portion
of their territory, which, after all, has
more elements of real power. in it than
offered to them besides. The
region of the South is
the white mans country.
And bearing IN mind that the two
greatest elements Of power known to
this or any age are iron and coal; that
these are the agencies that in the end
make nations rich and respected, and
this consideration alone should make
the fortunate possessors of such ele-
ments of strength eager to make the
most OF them. 5, .sa'I x,'on ae.a.i
The great mistake that the South has
made in the past was in entertaining
the belief that, the agricultural, or, as
some of her political oracles fondly
termed it,Ethe patriarchal condition"
was that which was most desirable
that which would most certainly give
her empire and greatness-not reflect
ing that iron commands not only gold,
but everything else almost of which it
is the representative! Fear, it should
be borne in mind, however reluctant we
may be to acknowledge it,is too often
in this world constituent or condition
of respect; and we may say Of cannon
foundr1es and sbip-yards that, although
these may not lay the world under
tribute as does cotton, they compel that
tribute of respect, without which cot
ton, money or, anything else may be
comparatively valueless. S',g :
I have said that the hill region is the
white mans country; and this tecausse,
while he must in the very nature OF the
case leave cotton and rice and sugar
culture to the colored race, he himself
could he but realize it-can do with
these mineral treasures what the other
race can never do-can develop poioer!
And, although what ] am going to ad-
duce may be deemed but o trite or
lements Of development indicated.
iron and coal--to make almost every
other civilized, or even half civilized,
nation pay money tribute to her to the
extent annually Of more than $4,000.
600, 900? Whatever nation wantsmoney
goes to her; and the obligations, conse-
duently, that appear at che LONDON
Stock Exchange comprise, perhaps.
four or five hundred millions OF dollars
on which we alone as one nation pay inter,
est; and this, along with the ponos .. o., Q,
Egypt, Turkey, the South American
snd