The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-20
A Mtnnesotfan II, Tennessee.
DICKSON, Tenn, April 10th, 1881.

DICKSON, Tenn, April 10Th, 1881.
Having been requested by many OF
our MankatO friends to tell them
about this country when we saw 1t,
wc will do so through the FREE
Press. Our Journey was protracted
AID tircsome, having to lay over five
hours i'll Chicago, and twelve in st.
Louis, which kept us on the rad
from Thursday until Sunday evening.
We had a safe journey we found
more snow in northern Illinois than
we left in the vicinity of Mankato.
The first indications we saw of spring
was between Springfield, Illinois, and
/ st. Louis, the grass was up, and the
trees were leaved ont, it was the most
beautiful country we ever beheld.
! On Sunday morning we crossed the
! line into Tennessee, we were disap-
pointed on finding the country look
Ing so poor, the soil being of a red,
sticky substance. The towns we
passed through were small and the
buildings dilapidated, which caused
us TO wish ourselves back to old Min
neSota, be the winters ever so cold
and cheerleSS. This, however, wore
OIL TO some extent rs we arrived at
Dickson, which proved to be thriv-
ny town with 900 inhabitants, intel
iig"nt, social and kindly disposed.
oar friend at this point was DIR.
McCrary, who invited us to his home
where we remained for half day
and one night, enjoying ourselves.
We are now keeping house, having
rented a house with three large rooms,
hall and kitchen on the lower floor,
al III good condition, a good garden,
tWenty-four peach trees, plenty tame
grapes and apples, Il blacksmith shop
and tools, all for eight dollars month.
there is not 50 much difference in
The season, however, as we expected.
The woods are thick with foliage and
ih" grass is quite high, but the gar
dcnS are rather backward, we can
plant all we wish with time enough
to mature the crops. There appears
to be plenty of land for grazing pur.
poses, yet cattle and sheep appear to
y" scarce. There is plenty of iron
ore III this vicinity and furnaces to
work it. They say the soil is pro-
du"tiVe and far as we can see yegeta-
ton looks luXuriant. There is one
hotel, Il very good one, two Methodist
which are severally called
Northern and Southern. There are
quite Il number Of Methodist minis
I"rs in the town and nearly all the
people as far us we can learn, are
connected with some church. There
IS but little liquor sold in this Place
rs II costs $500 to take out license.
Tobacco, however, is not prohibited,
gentlemen and ladies partake freely,
the latter prefer theirs powdered in
which they immerse small broom and
chew the brush end. leaving the other
pF"truding from the mouth, a very
novel way of taking snuff we think.
On the whole We expect to like Dick
son very well. There is large settle.
'uenl Of Pennsylvania people here
which makes it appear like home,
and the people are all looking healthy.
We do not advise any to move hero
without first coming To look, which
would require time. We are forty
miles from Nashville and twelve from
I fashionable watering place. Four
passenger trains pass through town
tally and twelve freight trains.
:. b. DANIELS.