Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-08-22
SURVEYS SEQUACHEE !


tended tour of Sequatchie valley by the
means of Foot's hack line, and incl
dentally, we would like to inform Mr..
Ell Howell that about seven hundred
and sixty-four brand new crossties, ju-
diciously placed between Bridgeportand
Pikeville would greatly improve the
efficiency of his stingy old railroad.
The picture of an Italian peasant cul-
tivating a garden among the ruins of
a roohess, but once magnificent temple
to some heathen god, was suggested by
the abandoned factory buildings, which
yet stand among the fields of growing
corn which the traveller sees on leaving
Bridgeport for trip up Sequatchie
valley. Corn, Indian corn; oceans of
corn but not drop to drink. With
her four miles of width and forty miles
of length, Sequatchie valley is sea
of Indian corn. The fifty acre corn
field to the quarter acre kitchen gard
en- is the safe average for the entire
valley. The old orchard is dead and
the new one has not been planted. The
acre of sorghum cane, the large field of
Irish and sweet potatoes and the rich
patches allotted to the cultivation of
cotton, peanuts, melons and tobacco
have been abandoned for the growing
of corn The farmers son, past eigh-
teen years of age, has deserted the old
farm for employment in the mines,
mills, factory and forest. What he is
out for is ready money. good clothes
and his Sunday jug. The cultivation
of Indian corn being the most conven-
lent means of producing sustenance for
man and beast and providing a cash
revenue for taxes and incidental expen-
ses, the old time farmer expends his
energies to the growing Of large crop
of this cereal to the neglect of other
features, which go to make the sue
cessful and contented farmer. AS Sc
quatchie valley is now giving up to in
dustry largely of her store of virgin
wealth of mine and forest it should be
the concern of the present generation
to prepare for an agricultural era when
this natural wealth shall have been ex-
| hausted. For the same reason that the
Sequatchie farmer raises large quaint
ties of corn the Indifferent observer
would not fail to note the many large
herds of cattle that Craze the meadows
and roam the forests of this section.
At Copenhagen, just a few miles
north of Bridgeport, the Hunt Engin-
eering company have under construct
ion for the Dixie Portland Cement
company, possibly the most complete
cement plant in the United States. No
idea can be formed of the immensity
of the plant by description in words.
1t is located in cove of Cumberland
mountain, possibly one half mile from
| the station and one mile from the
Tennessee river. The location is pic
turesque, and the buildings which
are of steel frame and cement con
struction, are so arranged as to present
a most pleasing and artistic appear
ance. The scheme of construction is
such that the blasted stone is thrown
into an immense crusher at the quarry
where it is crushed into small stone
and passes on automatically from one
treatment to another. until it finally
lands an extra high grade of cement
in the sacking house at the extreme
end of the plant. The company is alsC
erecting a series of splendid dwelling
houses for the use of the employees
who will operate the plant when finish
ed, most of them will be of the skilled
variety. An elaborate system of water
WORKS is being installed, delivering
water for all purposes from a noun
tain spring of pure, clear water. Tht
construction camp is under the super
vision of Col. Bob Farris, the hero o
the coal Coal Creek war, and is /;
model of neatness Your correspondent
can testify to the merits of a Sunda,
dinner at this camp. Three million
dollars will be spent on this plant
The large three hundred ton bias
furnace at South Pittsburg is not il
operation atpresent, but there are sew
eral large foundries, wood workin;
plants and cedar slat mills that ar
very busy. Then, too, South Pitts
burg, is the commercial mart of th
valley. Hearing that South Pittsbur
was a dry town, your corresondent but
J toned small phial of dram in his in
side vest pocket for the purpose of rub
bing on mosquito bites, ETC., but i'm
agine his surprise and astonishmen
when arriving at this place to find h
: had been accompanied by forty-fv
, gallon jugs of wbiskey and thirtee
kegs of beer. A knowing one said th
shipment was about the daily allow
ance.
The abutments for the bridge owe
Battle Greek for the Southern railwa
are finished and the road bed graded I
a South Pittsburg.
Washington Stone, an old darke
purchased by Gen. VIM. Stone, i
Washington, d. c., in 1886, he bein
then II years of age, is now living
> South Pittsburg. Wash is in splendi
health and enjoys the respect and col
1 fidence of the people of the valley fl
= his honorable life and devotion to h
= people.
Jasper shows no material growth on
: er its dimensions and importance 4,
:. thirty years ago-the corn fields are
= little nearer town. Circuit court W;
T. in session, the court house yard WI
. full of loungers and three wagon loa,
of melons were the attraction. Tyr
= Havron, local publisher contemplat
t an early removal of his plant to Tu
lahoma, Tenn.
Sequstchie is an ideal site for
n beautiful city, and considerable mol
ey has been spent ON its development
|. IL contains some handsome homes,
. large handle factory and the usual a
lOtment of stores. Mr. g. Sherman
fine vineyard of Niagara grapes, whi,
are 50 eagerly sought in ChattanOol
each season, was blighted 10y the In
a frosts. and the crop this year is an e.
]. / tive T.. .-~r cra is = vi'lqcn ne.~