The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-21
HIGHLANDS, n. c.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BLUE RIDGE
COUNTRY.
Answers TO Anxious 1nquirers-The Markets Of the
Region-The Effect of Railrosds-Prices Of
Stook-Its Grass and Dairy Possibilities.
Its Prospects as Great Sulnme.
Resort for Consumpt:vos.

receive numerous letters from parties
who have read my articles from this
country. desiring more definite iniorma-
ton. This "dehnite information - of
any country is difficult to impart to per-
sons at a distance. There are some things
that should be more self.evideit to well
informed minds than can be told by en-
terin@ into tedious minutie. To illus
rate, will give here some questions pre-
| pounded by correspondent which con-
! ttns the giSt of all such inquiries.
:" write you, says. this inquirer " for
| Information concerning the growth of
| clover. timothy and other grasses. also
price of land, building timber-what va
rieties have you? Where is your market
for dairy produce. farm products. cattle
and hogs9 What are your church and
school privileges9' etc.
If Il seeker after truth will take
the trouble to examine a map of the
United States find the region from which
| write, after having read my description
of the country, its climate. character Of
soil, etc, much more comprehensive
answer will be reached than can posi-
bly, write. The products of new coun-
try are always limited in quantity, and
strangers coming in make the demand
equal to, mostly greater than, the supply.
TINS is tue here to a great extent. and
iS nftan 1,,.,,,,,lt -,
bottoms. 90 miles below this town. and
sold here. | have known corn to sell for
upwards of a dollar bushel on the
frontiers of Kansas, when in the Eastern
and older settled portions it was worth Is
to 20 cents. There is IA demand here. and
ready sale. for all the butter that is pro-
duced. bringing 10 to p cents per pound.
according to quality. the high pricel arti-
Gle being the cheaper here as everywhere.
We send to New York and other di tant
points for firkin butter to supply the de-
cheney. Eggs are never less than 10
cents per dozen. and in seasons of search
ty ID cents. Chickens are 10 to 20 cents
apiece. Corn is now IS to 20 cents, buck
wheat and rye. about the same; the latter
omcthng higher probably. Ron. III feed
for stock Is scarce here this Winter, owing
partly to dry weather in May checking
the hay crop on the limited area which has
been laid down to grass in this region, as
yet. and protracted wet spell oc curing
in the topping and bladinS" season,
much Of the rougLness," as the natives
call fodder, was lost, making stock for
age unusually scarce.
Down on the Tennessee river bottoms
in the region of Franklin. the county
seat and 90 miles from here and
FIFTY MILES FROM RAILROAD.
with large crop of corn on hand, the
price is 30 cents at the crib. Railroad
graders are pushing their work along in
that direction, opening a line OF railway
from Mt. Airy in Georgia to Knoxville,
Tennessee, thence to Cincinnati The
farmers who have lived in these valleys
and coves between the Blue Ridge chain
and the Alleghanies for 60 years. and
within 30 to 100 miles of the nearest
point on railroad, believe they are going
to grow rich out of the present crops and
are holding it with great expectations.
We have witnessed the same state of al-
fairs in Cecil. When the railroad reaches
them their opinions generally underg" d
change. You see that we are in the heart
of an old agricultural region in the South
ern country where all kinds of farm pro-
duce command good prices. generally
high prices. Hay, mostly herd grass, is
now selling for 81 90 hundred. Dressed
pork sells here for and Z cents per
pound. butchereu off the mast Beet b,
the quarter OF roast, sells for ; and 6
cents: mutton for the same.