The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-08-17
Washington County.
(From The Tomahauk, )

line OF lofty mountain peaks, diversi-
fled by hills. ard valleys and threaded
by numberless streams, replete with
gorgeous Landscapes and scenes Of
rugged and picturesque grandeur and
quiet beauty. 1t is most beautiful for
locati )ns. Her limits contain a world
Of attraction for the geologist and the
scientific tourist; the lover of grand
and magnificent scenery the seeker Of
health, recreation or pleasure.
Her county site (Jonesboro) was the
ancient capital of the shortlived, bat
brilliant State of Frarklin, which had
its existence before Tennessee was
born. Jonesboro has the honor Of be-
ing the oldest townin lh4 state.
The beautiful and historical Nola-
chucky River flows through the south-
ern portion Of the county and on the
banks OF this swift streams just Il little
ways below the Embre9ville Iron
Works stands the Old home OF John Sc
vier-a MONUMENT of the State of
Franklin, This property is now owned
by Hon. A. A. Taylor. John Sewer
was Governor Of franklin and after
Tennessee was frrmed deserved her in
the same capacity for twelve years, 80
Washington county has the honor OF
furnishing the State of franklin with
her FIRST Governor and also the first
one for the State OF Tenn.
Near whore the Big Limestone creek
empties into the Nolachukcy is the
birthpacle of Davy Grocket, Que Of
Tennessee's noted pioneers. AT this
noted SPOTS now located Strong's Min
eral Springs. In the northern portion
OF the county is the beautiful Boone's
Greek valley and within its Unite still
stands tho historical tree, bearing this
inscription; I'D Boone killed Bar
on tree 1900" This was few years
prior to the first settlement planted in
what is now Tennessee, and it has been
one hundred and thirty'three years
since Daniel Boone marked this noted
tree and killed the bear, yet the letters
and date are to be seen to this day,
and stands as a monument to the un-
daunted courage and bravery of that
noted hunter whose flint lock rifle was
not only terror to the wild game, but
TO the red man also, who claimed this
beautiful East Tennessee valley as his
hunting ground.
There are numerous items OF interest
worthy OF the historians notice This
county has sites for thousand mills,
factories and workshops that could be
driven by water power all the year.
And q thousand furnaces could not ex-
haust her iron ore depositsin en- cent
tries, and this il not an extravaganza
assertion Her forests abound with the
most valuable kinds Of timber. Her
natural wealth is incalculable Never
theless the acquired poverty OF our PEG
pie is proportionate tothe opulence and
prosperity which the rich bestewals OF
nature, aided by enlightened effortand
energy, have made easy and possible~oi
attainment.
Milling, merchandising ard arming
represent our chief enterprise and in
dustrial employment Washington
county with all her natural facilities
should have long since made mining
and manufacturing her industrial en-
ployments, but has not. 1t seems very
hard matter for our people to ges out
OF the old ruts and trial marked ont by
our ancestors more than hundred
years ago. No peoplc'can Or will pros
per as they should without diversity
Of avoc atoms and elnployments. w
have few mechanics but as our PEG
pie prefer buying what trey use from
abroad they have no encouragement
to devote their whole time to thti
trades, What we now need is manu-
featuring shops to manufacture al
kinds of machsnery and farming uten
sis, then our mechanics could get con
slant employment and our farmer
have home market and a far bette
price for their surplus products auc
the money that is annually sen
fram our county to the North for ma