Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-06-27
TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY,
Az View ed from n Granger stands
point from Actual Observations.
HAsK1Ns, OHIO, June "a, 's4.

BAsKINs, OHIO, June "a, 'S4.
ED. JoURNAL--Dear Sir The entire
region for one hundred miles north OF
Spring City abounds IN wild and pictur-
esque scenery. 1t may be but quiet
valley with its springfield brook, clear as
a crystal, winding along the bottom, or it
may be the Laurel and ivory-covered
cliffs OF some mountain towering high
above the surrounding country-it is all
alike, beautiful. Nature seems 10 have
completed this country to her own satis-
faction, for wherever a native has touched
it with his lazy, shiftless hands, he has
destroyed the beauty and given an un-
pleasant poverly.stricken look to the
country. One cannot wonder at this when
he takes their systematic, soil-killing
style OF farming into consideration. They
would ruin the most productive farm IN
the Black Swamp in ten years and starve
to death too, if their wives did not come TO
the rescue.
Many people living in the North have
a vague idea that the climate has some
thing to do with the degeneration of the
natives; but every Northerner, and we
have met many from the North, East and
West, declares it to be a most delightful
health giving climate. They invariably
give their reason in three words, viz,
"Lack of transportation" Lack OF trans
portation means no export and that sig
nlfies poverty. No transportation also
m cans ignorance. Ignorance and poverty
are the pa rents OF degeneracy.
| Somerset, the county seat OF Pulaski
county, KY, lies on the border OF this
mountainous region. II consists of two
parts, one built before the war, the other
within the last four years. All the older
houses are after the Southern model, large
and airy with long porches and massive
outdoor chmnies, each OF which cont aims
brick enough for a small cottage. 1t was
the scene Of one of the first skirmisles
west of the Alleghanies and was occupied
by troops from that time until the close
of the war. All business was prostrated
Farmers and merchants were alike left
bankrupt. The fences were destroyed
stock either killed or driven away, and
worse than all scores OF families complete
ly broken up. Everything lay dormant
until the railroad WAS completed in 1880
They then numbered 700 in population
now they have over 1000 and claim to be
increasing ut the same ratio. The boon
certainly exceeds anything that / hav'
ever seen east of the Mississippi. Th'
people have that cheerful hospitality tina
follows in the wake Of every business re-
vival. Let Southerner feel that hi
fortune ia on the mend and lie will shoy
it IN every move for good nature and EN-
thusiasm are then his constant compan'
ions. But few miles out it is the SAM
old story lazy men and over-worke'
women.
After leaving Somerset the land grad
ually improves until Lexington, the cenle
of the Blue Grass region, ia reached. VIII,
!, il is called "Blue Grass" Is an unsolve'
. problem, for il never is blue, but resem
bles our June grass 30 closely that man
Northern farmers in passing through de
: clare them TO be identical.
From Lexington the land just as grad
; ually becomes worse until CINCINNATI
: city having an excess of American Char
acteristics-is reached. No undertaking
il too great tor the Queen City. 1t ha
, had the largest dog shows, music AM
. dramatic festivals, exposilipns, bridge, rio
and floods of all yankeedom; has built an,
manages M fine railroad as is in the land
, but cannot keep her streets clean, even o
, ordinary filth and garbage.
In review might say that j like Ten
nessee aud Kentucky better than | ex
: pected The soil is thin in many places
but fertile spots can be found, and The dis
advantages are more than counterbalance'
by the fine climate and living water
cheap lands and cheaper labor. In man.
places farm hands receive but ten dollar
/ per month, and above all good markets
All of these advantages, with tie excel
tion OF cheap land, are minus in the Wes
Therefore the South has my preference.
: Do not think that rate IL above Woo
Q county. Far from il. After havin
!. looked at land from a purely agriculture
stand point in twelve Of our States, l Gu
say that have yet TO see anything III,
. viii compare with parts OF the Blac
;, Swamp twenty years hence. The Oh
r who has any of our Wood county mu,
n and has health, had better hang on.
i will pay. But to the young man unab
u 10 pay the required sixty or one hundre
a dollars per acre would say-"ga"
WE. NJ.