The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-02-01
East Tennessee.

DEAR SIR According to promise |
will do "a / agreed write few lines |
about this sectionof the country and
surroundings. This is the oldest coun-
try in the state, (Washington,) Jones'
boro, the county seat, claims to be the
oldest town in the state. Johnson City,
where am, is one of the largest and
best towns in this section of the coun-
try, beautifully laid out, and has some
of the best business buildings in the
state, and one of the largest hotels in
the state, an honor to any city or state,
the Carnigee. The city is blessed with
electric cars and lights. The Eastern
Tennessee and Georgia, the North
Carolina railroad, Narrow Guage, has
its terminus here. The Nola Jhucky
river, and also numerous creeks afford
good water power. Timber In alum
dance, of the best woods known, and
the valleys are fertile. and the uplands
are very productive. The hills abound
in coal, iron ore, lead and zinc, also
mica, in and around Johnson City.
Is very largely an agricultural county,
it's products are corn, wheat and oats,
buckwheat and fruit. There is a very
good tannery, working some 800 hands
turning out an immense amount or
leather, which is shipped to all parts
of the United Staes. MucQ fruit, poul-
try and eggs are shipped from this
point. Foundries, stove factories, and
furnaces abound. The industrial de-
velopents of the past few years in
johnson City is marvellous, as will be
seen by referring to the growth of the
city but at the present time its growth
has been retarded on account of the
hard times the past four months. The
large acres of ground around here are
primeval forests of valuable timber.
The mountains and their slopes and
the narrow hills that characterize this
region, offer great inducements for
sheep growing, superior to Texas or
any OF the northwestern states, the
wild grass that carpet the earth, the
small and tender growth OF the shell
tered slopes, afford ample sustenance
for thousands of hocks almost the en-
tire year. These lands are very cheap.
All the fruits common to the middle
states are successfully grown, especial
ly apples, peaches, pears, cherries,
plums and grapes. With little cul-
tivation and care it would make this
the greatest and finest grape region on
this continent. Great things are pre-
dicted in this direction. This section
OF the country is aptly stiled the Swift
zerland OF America, her majestic
mountains and beautiful valleys, hel
shadowy forests and equisits coves
that sigh and slumber for the want
of push and grit to unearth the hidden
treasures that have been chained
within them for centuries, her sweet
mountain streams, and her swift rivers
her healthy springs that gush in life
giving purity foom the rock ribbed
hills around and about Johnson City
will make it the mecca of our people
who splendidly illustrated the virtues
and bravery of mountaineer character
in the late unpleasantness, shows ou'
daring patriotism and gentle hospital
ity-which reminds us OF the land o
William Tell. In addition to the grea'
mineral wealth her educational facili
ties are of the best in this city. The
climate is 30 agreeable that thithel
one might flee from the cold north il
safety, from the scorching suns of 1