The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-19
Estimates of the Country's Actual
and Possible Products.
Tho Old Life and the New--Charmlng
Perspectives--The Farmers Para
disc The Riches OF Tennessee
What Congress Should
Do About II.

Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the
Upper Cumberland Valley. have jour
neyed from Nashville TO Point Burnside,
iorest-crowned promontory in Kentucky,
at the base OF which the Forks" mingle
their waters in the stream that flows
through regions OF poetry, romance and
material wealth, to debouch finally into
the mighty Ohio ard thence into the
mightier Mississippi which irets the bluas
of Memphis. As ! stood upon the deck OF
the l. T. Armstrong, at the head OF the
classic Cumberland, with the skies OF my
old Kentucky homo bonding over me, n
! careless child tossed q rose into the stream.
saw II driit in the GlanUing sunlight
around the bend and out Of my sight. In
+ imagination ! watched its dancing course,
past the rock.bound cliffs, past the capital
Of Tennessee, past the rich aluvial lands
Of the Lower Cumberland, past all the
scenic splendon through which the quiet
river winds past the fruciiierous shores OF
Illinois, past the bottom lands Of Missouri,
Western Kentucky and Tennessee, past
Memphis, past the greatest cotton region
OF the world, past the sugar farms Of Louis
lana, finally TO DO los, III the blue waters
Of the Gulf, three thousand miles away.
Ones Imagination Is apt TO run riot when
among the Cumberland Mountains clad in
the vcsturc OF the May. II is about $50
Government estimaiel miles from Nash
Vile. rs the river meanders, 20 the
Forks" II Is $50 miles Of uninterrupted,
continually increasing felicity. know Of
no moro fascinating pastime than TO sit,
hour by hour, forward Of the smokc-siacks
Of the steamer and watch the perspcciivos
''slow uncoilingthemselyes out Of dream"
The Cumberland has n curious course.
Not only is II constantly changing direc-
ton, but there Is a regular alienation
from side 10 side Of cliff aud valley, that il,
10 the tourist n matter Of neycr-onding
wonder. For few miles the bluffs are to
the right and the aluvium tothe left; then
the order changes; then back again, and
thus 10 the source. shifting panorama,
with the features ever the same, yet with
a variety that makes Of Il all a scene Of
vcriiablc cnchaniment. But the scenery
Of the upper Cumberland has n charm
peculiarly lis own. There may DO al
kali deserts that please the eye there may
be graniic-fibbcd peaks that cnthrall the
senses; there may be sublimiiy apparent
where sierility Is manifest. But here in
the Cumberland region the Lord Almighty
has invested hilltop, hillside and vale with
a fertile soil as with n mantle, and upon
the hight, Tar up In tho blue, or upon the
porilous dccliy,iy, or upon yondcr valley
that undulaics 10 the purple line Of hills
rising above the horizon wherever man
may drive plow-rich harycsls await the
farmers toll. The poet and the uiiliiaiian
NAV wander together through this won.
drous region and each rejoice in the rcali.
zaiion Of his ideals Tho agriculturist and
the miner NAV join with the fomanccr aud
tho artist In ~ glorihcation. And while
one, drifting Ia the shadows Of the giant
crugs that rise bcctling above him, aud
watching the yisias that open beyond, may
find his senses stepped In the beauty Of tho
cnyironmcnt-llo thought that the har-
vests Of the charming land are sui.
ficicnt 10 maintain an empire gives
zcat 10 his admiration. A late historian
has said that Daniel Boone was little moro
than an eager land Spectator, but when
stood at the confluence Of Twin Crccks,
where Boone lnt crossed the Cumbcr-
land, and my eye rested upon the gran
dours OF tho landscape, | gained now
respect for the acumen Of the hardy pho.
ncor. who, forscoing ils haryesls, subduod
Il for tho home Of a progressive posieriiy.
Ifc know good thing when he saw Il,
and Il ~ not surprising that he fought for
u and carried the glad tidings abroad. II
he had n mercenary motive Il may not be
related 10 bis disparagcmont. II Is money
that has made the marc 90 ever since
Adam left Eden.
or THE RIVER.
But LET me make my sketch Of tho re-
zion IN. an orderly way. Leaving Nash
Vile with the sun an hour high, aboard n
well equipped steamboat, the l. I. Arm.
strong. drawing twenty inches light and
Eve feet when fully laden. the first object
20 attract tho critical attention Il the city
waier.works, the peculiarly Of which r.
that the gravel bed Of the river IL utilized
10 purify and clarity tho water. Thus tho