The Rugbeian. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1881-1882, 1882-05-27
EENTRESS COUNTY.

u"y
The abandoning of the narrow policy
which has for some months character
lied the management of Rugby will be
of value not only to that colony, but to
that portion of the table lands of Ten
nessee of which it forms a part. After
all that has been said for and against
East Tennessee, the fact remains that
there is large part of the Cumberland
plateau that is well adapted to the cul-
tivation of certain products for which
there is large and increasing demand
in the markets of the large cities of
the Middle, West and South. 1t is
probable that corn and wheat can not
be raised in quantities to compete with
the prairie States of the West, nor even
with Ohio and Indiana; but in small
fruits, peaches, vegetables, potatoes es-
pecially, it is unsurpassed. There is no
doubt that within few years we shall
be receiving nearly our entire supply
of peaches, grapes and berries from the
now wild and unsettled regions of East
Tennessee.
The Fentress County lands are part
of the famous Cumberland plateau
which is about twelve miles wide and
extends nearly across the State from
north to south. The lands undulate,
but for miles the roads are as level as
floor. The land is covered with
timber, not dense, but sufficient to sup
ply all the wants of the settler, and if
he is so disposed he can sell many dol
lars worth for lumber. 1t is estimated
that the bark of the chestnut oak alone
will be, as soon as facilities for trans
porting it to market are provided, worth
several million dollars. The climate,
both for man and beast, is unexcelled
and water is abundant. During the
prolonged drought of last summer per-
sons who traversed Fentress County
state that the streams flowed as full as
during the spring months, except after
storms, and that they found unfailins
springs. Stock suffered no inconveni
ence from this source
The country is said, by those wh'
have examined it intelligentlv, to b'
well adapted to stock raising, though
to successful sheep raising knowledg
of the breeds adapted to the climate il
necessary. Several parties from Gin
cinnati are now engaged in sheep rails
ing within few miles of Rugby.
Several attempts have been made t
settle up these lands, and the prospec
seems now to be brighter than eve
before. One hundred thousand acre
of the Fentress County lands have bee
> placed in the hands of Mr.. M. Allardt
of Port Huron, Mich, a gentlema
who was for years member of tn
Board of immigration of Michigan
. and has had years of experience i
> settling up that State. He propose
to subdivide the land into one and tw
hundred-acre farms, and then settl
upon them a few German families VIII
i have already had experience at farmm
: in America, who will form the nucleu
Of larger settlement. This is tn
$ practical method of colonizing, and on
|, which had it been adopted by Rugby
k would have brought about differen
> result.
These East Tennessee lands are a
most inconceivably cheap. The averag
t price for the lands controlled by th
n Rugby Board of Aid is probably fv
n dollars, and a few months ago farm
= could be bought for even less. TIL
Fentress County uncleared lands ca
+ be bought for three dollars and upwar
y per acre.
It When such opportunities are open fc
r unemployed and young men of sma
G means to secure good home and q
# such low cost, we are surprised that S
5 many continue a dependent life in tn
o city, when they might lead an ind'
/, pendent life in the country. The frs
" few years of pioneer life even in Eas
d Tennessee would no doubt be years
Of toll and privation, but after that OF