The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
FERTILE TENNESSEE.
A FAIR LAND OF PROMISE FROM
MEMPHIS TO KENTUCKY.
What the Louisville s. Nashville Rail-
road Has Done Toward Aiding the
Growth and Prosperity of It's Portion
OF West Tennessee.


''The hills are ever bluest far away" 1t
is always in some other district or county
that things are better or worse, or, at any |
rate, different from what they arc with u.s.
The Anglo-Saxon is rambling race and is
always going somewhere, and sometimes,
apparently, he uses very little good sense
in selecting place to 20 from or to. why
anyone should choose TO emigrate to the
wind-tossed, snow-draped, fierce plains oil
Dakota when he could come to the love-
" climate and rich lands Of West Tennes-
see is an unsolved problem, unless he is
carried away by tho romance contained in
letter OF the once famous Mrs. Swishelm
concerning the lands for sale by the North
ern Pacific Road, wherein she says 'You
can, for ten months OF the year, dig
through six feet OF snow and find lucious
ripe Strawberries" Why anyone VINO
lives in West Tennessee should wish to
leave il for the Norther wasted plains OF
Texas, or the swamps of Arkansas, is still
q mystery. When one can live in West
Tennessee with its grand old forests, lovely
farming lands, fertile soil, pure water,
varied products, equable climate, old
settled country, with schools, churches
and society fixed by the crystaiz alton OF
century, what could induce him to live
anywhere else unless il were utter igno-
rance OF what he was losing2 Very little
pains has been taken by those who are
Interested In building up this iaircst sec
ton Of all our fair land, 10 show to others
what were the advantages OF this favored
region. While the Illinois Central Raft
road has filed the Northwest with leaflets,
folders and all sorts OF tempting and won
deriully seductive literature, while II has
brought excursion after excursion at the
lowest possible rates from the States OF the
Northwest and has filed the travellers with
the beauty and cheapneSs OF the land along
the line OF that road, and has brought
thousands OF woll.to.do settlers 10 improve
the land along the line and add immensely
TO the freight receipts Of the road, tho
Louisville u Nashville, with infinitely bet
ter 10 Offer has done nothing.
once asked q prominell Official OF the
Louisville ~ Nashville TO give me some
points for an article ON the line OF his road,
and ho said. 1--WE have nothing worth
MfltlNE NnnuA uiAll We lNNNu wv
iron and coal fields, and had come TO
suppose that he WIS correct; but recent
ride over the Memphis division from
Memphis 10 Guthrie showed me how littlo
he was acquainted with the country
through which that portion OF his line
runs. Supt .. NJ. Dunn had often told
me of the capacity and capabilities OF that
country. but / thought II merely the
II a L.
started out doubter aud came back q
thorough convert. cannot attempt To
describe the line in detail or station by
station, but only to give here and there u
few salient points.
The country between Memphis aud the
Kentucky line is comparatively but
sparsely settled; II would be greatly im.
proved II the population were trcblcd,
there il abundant support for four times
the population along the road, and the
relative value OF the land would be CORE.
spondingly increased. The past three
years have seen very great advancement
andimproycment In the development OF
this region but was greatly surprised u
find how much there was 10 see; how great
results. even with the limited means nj
their disposal, had been produced by Mr..
Dunn and Division Freight Agent Van
dcnbcrg by their energy aud inlth In IN,
future OF the country. All along the road
between Bartlett and Mckenzie. n dis
lance oi l02 miles, are a series OF iarm
devoted 10 small fruits ard truck.
This Is mostly the growth OF the pas
three years, aud the result OF the lacilitic
afforded by the Louisville & Nashville
which la the season puts on fast train
which have equal rights 40 far rs speed
etc., are concerned with the passeng'
trains. The strawberry season vi
nearly over and, owing to the drouth, u
crop was estimated at from one.half
three quarters short, probably there W
about half good crop, but oven with th
discount the Louisville X Nashville b
carried for shippers along iis line, ~
within two, or not 10 exceed thrcc mil
thereof, OF strawberries Ia full carload
4S.2si crates % twcnty-iour boxes cac
amounting 10 1907. s65 pounds Of bcrri,
aud OF peas, s, lOi crates, aggrcgting ~
800 pounds This does not include d
smaller shipments Of less than carlos
which were about 40 per cent as much,
total ior this season OF 2,25l, 900 poun
OF strawberries aud il5, 600 pounds oi pc
After dcducting all charges, freight, co
missions, etc, there was Melted to
shipper from $500 10 s.. a crate. 4 p
ton OF this expense still remained In
country in the shape OF wages paid
picking, etc, giving employment and ~
wages 10 otherwise idle handa The piD
ing Is paid by the box aud goods hal
have made a. high Us S. and - a Il
They arc shipped North aud East, the
trcmcs being 81. Paul and Boston.
There are this year, l,p1j acres In str
berries. l,GO7 In fruit, 55j IN Tomatoes !
an unasccr,ained acreage In truck, v
Guiding ut Gadsdcn aud Humboldt, Il
acres Ia canaloups, including In all
groworA These growers have very VII
formed the Fruit aud Vegetable ~
pens Association OF West TenncssC
With prcsidcn, and other officers. cX,
tive committee, aud a manager who NJ
laics shipments rs 10 place aud amoI
and thus prevents glutiing OF amy MAJ
aud consequent i0st The rules OF
association are drawn with much )
and must produce good results aud gre
increase the business Tho sirawb
season commences the lat OF Nav
lasts nearly through the mouth; cabb
and early potatoes commence about
10Th OF June aud last until August |,
there N also tie peach, plum aud q
apple crop. All this IL cash, bringing
b,ediaic results In solid cash aud rem
ing In the country. The results OF
money production are very apparent
the appearance Of the farms aud build
along the line, a. well as In the incro
value Of the land. There Is no crcdi
the business. sales are for {
and therefore the farmer has ready m,
20 make his purchases, and a dollar
much further than on the credit sys
All this dine 10 the fostering care OF