Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-02

VI 7t 6luNO lawn +
passed away, with the system
which produced them, but renamed
to blight the prosperity of the coun-
try after slavery itself had ceased to
exist. These effects are seen IN the
imperfect cultivation and consequent
deterioration 10 the productive |
capacity of our farm lands. Many !
farms which twenty years ago were
considered reasonably fertile are
now scarcely worth cultivation under
the system which has succeeded the
abolition of slavery.
The natural effect Of the, old sys-
tenn was the cultivation of large
farms by such of our farmers as
were able to own the labor, as well
as the land. The abolition of slav~
ery left them with the land, but
without the labor to till it. As
substitute for the old system, the
owners have tried the renting and
share systems. These have resulted
in the deterioration of which / have
spoken. The laborer has had no in
terest in the soil beyond the crop for
a single year, consequently has no
incentive to careful cultivation or to
the growth of any crop, except such
as will produce an immediate money
return. No rotation of crops or ap-
plication of fertilizers to maintain
| the productiveness of the soil
can be expected under such
system. While our feds are being
thus exhausted they are taxed with
double duty; they must furnish a
subsistence for both the owner and
laborer Their failure to do this has
produced wide spread dissatisfac-
ton and discouragment among cur
agricultural preparations, tue result
} of which is seen in the fact that fol
some time pfst our emigration has
exceeded our immigration by more
than four to one.
The remedy for this state of affairs
appeared to me obvious. These
large holdings must be divided into
small farms, and disposed OF to those
who will themselves cultivate the
lands which they own, and who vii
be Interested in preserving for then
: the highest standard of fertility
But the question arises, Where shal
we find purchasers for these surplu
, lands ? Among our own people Il
Tennessee, there are few land buy
Q ers. The thrifty and industriou
,. among us already, as rule, owl
9 more land than they can properl,,
q manage. L looked to the more pop
ulous, and less genial State
~ of the North, and to tn
IS crowded countries of Europe
70 where | saw hundreds and thousand
}. ready to lend listening ears to til
;s advantages which our State can otfe
! to them. [ said, surely if these PEI
!. pie did but know definitely and Gel
IL tainly of these advantages; If the
y knew of the cheap homes which ms
IS be purchased here, by whom offere'
-. and where located, they would not |
, slow in abandoning the sterile hui
III andstorm-swept prairies OF the Nor
lie and West. They would come and ca
ge their lots with us, bringing with the
in their improved systems OF agricu
- ture, their careful pains-taking labt
CIV and their rigid economy, which won
LIZ insure to them independence, II n
fortune. Our own farmers, taug
by their example, and stimulated
their success, would soon adopt the
methods, and as result our Sta
~ would soon be made to rejoice a
IN blossom as the rose.
yer Again, look at our vast forests
magnificent timbers, such as
vi world is seeking for manufacture
te' purposes, at our splendid wat'
to powers, at our 5000 square miles
ion coal measures, at our vast deposits
.ho iron ores of finest quality, at
inexhaustible beds Of marble OF nj
ior durable and beautiful quality, ano
lch say there is capital which is lyl
,al idle, there are strong arms and
to tive brains ready to develope
these.
Acting upon these views, [ have
Led far as l have been able, secured
md agent in each county to procure
can scriptions of lands which the own
,oa wish to sell. These lands are ADJ
tised in monthly bulletins, which
ven sent all through the Eastern, Nor
no. ern and Western States and
der Europe, placing the land seeker
tics direct communication with the
h.- seller.
~ By every available means 1
S'a- seeking to diffuse information v
nee regard to the resources of Tenn
NAL see. Correspondence is invited
low. receives prompt attention. Redu
~ rates of fare for prospectors and
no migrants are secured, and e1
means employed to promote the
ties jects of the bureau.
pom Public attention at home
ON being directed to the imports
or of immigration as a means
on developing our agricultural, ma
upy featuring and mining intere
t of Meetings have been held and
sded lures delivered at various points
the State. Everywhere that
been in the State the most lit
81 !" spirit is found to prevail among
MAJ people. Associations in aid of
and mioration have been formed at