Plateau gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Tenn.) 1883-1884, 1883-03-24
THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU.

very much of the Cumberland Pla-
teau has been a sealed and shut out
section of country, the outside world
knowing but little of it beyond its
repute as healthy, "happy hunting
ground" for hardy and Independent
mountaineers. The making of the
Cincinnati Southern Railway, how
ever, has been so far, and must be
more so, the making of the Plateau,
and passing directly through Nor
gan and Scott counties, and within
easy reach of Fentress county, the
sections just now more than any
Others competing for the muscle and
money of the immigrant and the
capitalist, the rail will receive the
first and largest credit for the de-
veOping of the Cumberland table
lands.
During the year 1880, it is we'll
known, extensive surveys were being
made by New England and old Eng
land capitalists, in Morgan, Scott
and Fentress counties, with the idea
of founding an Anglo-American
colony. The investigation resulted
in the purchase of some $4,000 acres
in Morgan and Scott counties, with
small portion in Fentress, although
the original idea was to secure the
larger portion in the latter county:
In October, 1880, Mr.. Thomas
Hughes, of London, England, form
ally opened the Rugby colony 1t is
unnecessary now to go into the de-
tails of its history to date, beyond
saying that the foundation of Rugby
has given an Importance, and drawn
attention, to the Plateau that can
not be mderrated, and will never
cease. 1t is the pioneer settlement
of the present generation, and as
such, whatever its prosperity, will be
socially and historically interesting
1t has not been that success antici-
pated, but it is to-day, farther of
from failure than ever it was. 1t is
slowly but surely emerging from its
difficulties, and every effort, capital
energy and business intelligence can
do for its successful progress is being
silently done by men of practical
ideas. The time cannot be far dis
tant when the Rugby lands, and
Rugby town, with its more than
average social advantages, will enter
that prosperity originally contem-
plated.
Another important step in the de-
velopment of the Plateau has been
the opening up of exceptionally fine
coal veins at Glen Mary and Helen
wood, in Scott county, and the
numerous mines in Anderson and
Campbell counties. The Glen Mary
mines, originally on the Rugby
estate, have been very successfully
worked until they now occupy {
foremost place in the Southern out
put of coal. All down the line, CLOSE
adjoining, are numerous busy sta
tions for timber sections, and very
large lumber shipping business il
carried on.
The latest step in development
J however, is now taking place in Fen
tress county, where a settlement O
: Anglo-American- -Germans-if on,
, may coin such a word-has beel
quietly but very successfully started
Allardt, the name of the new colony
, is situated on a very level and well
: lying portion of the Plateau, abou
nine miles west of Rugby, and al
though only few months old
already numbers nearly one hundred
people, and of class, withou
} praising them too highly, SECOND t
| none as Intelligent first-comers upol
! the soil. Building has rapidly gon
, on, roads have been cut out, a SAY
: mill has been established, the sol
. and fencing attended to, a goo
store opened, with church an
school house now in course of con
/ stlucton. At Buffalo Cove, close by
= q valley of rich farm lands and TIL