The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-09-15
A DAY ON The RANGE.


the cultivated lands were enclosed, In
ali this section, is the socalled Fiat
wood ranges" of Giles and Lawrence
and Lewis counties. 1t Is here that
civilization has not yet approached
the point where it is profitable to
fence all the lands to which one holds
title, where houses or shacks are few
and far between, where but for the
absence of the heavy trees, long ago
fallen a victim to the rapacious lum'
bermen, the forest primeval stu
exists This range country alone re-
mains to remind us in a general way
of what our country looked like to the
early pioneers who blazed their path
way to civilization through the wilder
ness.
There is something peculiarly fasci-
mating, too, about this range country
Its solitude: its vast distances with
out fences, without human structures,
holds to the lover of nature; OF nature
untouched and unpolluted by the hand
of man, a strange and abiding inter-
est. Especially at nightfall, when the
only sound to pierce the stiffness Is
the tinkle of a far-off COW bell, the
boot of an owl or the shrill cry OF
some other creature of the forest, does
1t hold one enthralled.
Recently the writer spent his first
day in this range country near where
the counties OF Giles and Lawrence
come together close to Anderson
Creek. He was struck with the posi-.
bilities of this section for the man
with little means, and little credit,
who has love of the country and OF
stock. The land is not held in very
high esteem as witness its lack of
development but this summer it has
afforded magnificent pasturage for
hundreds of cattle. 1t could have east
ly supported three times the number.
On the lower lands the beggar lice
grow in luxuriant abundance from
knee to waist high. On the higher
grounds the grass has been fine all
the summer. 1t Is sweet and nutritious
and very pleasing to the palate of the
cattle. Hundreds of fat cattle driven
to the range in the spring roamed at
will. They are all sleek and in fine
flesh, many of them as fat as those to
be found on the famous blue grass
pastures OF the "Dimple."
The range is splendidly watered
both by running streams and by high
ponds always affording supply OF
clear and limpid water Of SURPRISING
purity. Anderson Greek, as crooked
stream as Duck river, winds its way
through the lower reaches Of the high
lands. 1t abounds with big spout"
springs, which shoot out from the
sides of rock bluffs, oftentimes streams
as large as ones arm at the shoulder.
The water is as clear as crystal, FL
tered to astounding purity by natures.
untouched processes and as cold as II
cooled by coils of everlasting ice. In
the small coves or bottoms along the
creeks the lands are productive. Even
the hillsides that in places. rise almost
at right angles to the EARTH so steep
they are, oftentimes produce good
corn with proper cultivation. The
soils are Of a gravelly substance and
not easily washed or leached away. !,
Along the water courses the scenery
is exceptionally pretty. Very little
timber has been cut out and the creeks
flow through ravines overarched with
the shade Of forest trees, their banks
lined with mountain laurel. 1t is quite
a wild, picturesque and beautiful coun-
try, a genuine sylvan retreat and yet
It Is within easy reach of Columbians.
Nothing could be more invigorating,
more inspiring, to the genuine lover OF
nature, than day spent in this fasci-
mating country, away from all Of the
evidences OF cultivation, far removed
from the strife and tumult and daily
grind Of this existence. It affords one
q complete relaxation, provided. Or
course, that he loves nature.
A congenial party OF enthusiastic
nature lovers accompanied the writer
to the cattle ranch of A. Elem Thomas.
of Columbia, who approaching the pos
sibilities Of the country, recently &C
auired for q nominal price, large
body of land on the waters OF Ander'
son creek. He is going to see what
the possibilities Of that section are
for the farmer with little capital. He
IA making a test Of improved methods
Mr. Thomas is rapidly improving his
place. He is fencing It. He is cutting
out the underbrush in the woodlands
and he is grubbing out the bushes in
the abandoned fields. He is trying
deep blowing His corn fields are all
alnuoP