The Rugbeian. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1881-1882, 1881-07-23
+" Herbert W. Morton, Esq.,N

" Herbert W. Morton, Esq,M
My dear Sir,-I received your letter of
the 10th inst. In the interview which |
afterwards had with you you informed me
of your wish to have it published. [
thsrefore send it to the Editor of the
Rugbeian with this, my reply. First let
me say that no one can regret more than
| do the want of success which has so
soon induced you to regard farming in
this part of the country, in your own case,
as "an utter failure" But this said |
must remind you that on your arrival
here, l did all [ could to warn you against
being in hurry, in making up your mind
not only as to whether the country and
climate would suit you, but as to what
land and what quantity of it would best
answer your purpose. | did refer you to
Mr.. Hill as the adviser of the Board in
agricultural matters. He was rightly
described as ga successful farmer in this
neighbourhood, and I feel sure that he
would not knowingly mislead any one
asking his advice. He must speak for
himself, as to any statements which he
made to you on that occasion, but, with
out referring to him now, feel pretty
confident that you did not act on his
advice, as within three weeks Of your
arrival here you had bought farm from
some Tennessee landowner, fifteen miles
from Rugby,
Mr.. Boyle, to my certain knowledge,
does "believe thoroughly in the country
The farm which he bought Of Mr.. Amos
Hill is managed for him by Mr.. Hills
son. Whether the crops on it, and else
where, are so poor as you suppose, and if
so whether the fact can be otherwise
explained than as you suggest, | must
leave to experts to say.
l am myself responsible for the pam
phlet published in Cincinnati last Novem-
Der. My instructions from the Board
were to give as plain and unvarnished an
account as possible of this place, and its
surroundings and capabilities, and to
answer on trustworthy authority all per-
tinent enquiries which had been made, or
might be made up to the date of publ
cation. | can only say that spared no
pains in complying with these instructions.
| believed then, and, with all due Difference
to what you tell me, | believe now, that
an intelligent hard working man with
some capital, may make good living off
the land, and have healthy and beauti-
full home, on this Cumberland Plateau
More than this has never been claimed
for it. There are many other parts OF
the United States to which l should
rather advise a man to go who had an iron
constitution, and whose sole object was tc
make "quick money off the SOIL
The Board do quite light in recommend
ing young men, who come out here
intending to learn farming and to see il
the country suits them, to work for 9
year with men already settled and al
work on the land. The premium $4,000
which the farmers generally ask, is in my
opinion not unreasonable, and you may
recollect that when | asked you som,
time since whether you would be prepared
to take pupils on these terms, | was care
full to say Gas | do in all similar cases
that if | sent any to you it would be OF
the understanding that you had in you
employment someone competent to teacl
them.
| remain, my dear Sir,
Very truly yours,