Year: 1872

L


East Tennesse is not a good agricultural
section. Indeed, during the past week we
met with several gentlemen travelling
through the South for observation and in
vestment, and we find that they had the
| impression that our section was too rough,
rollinga land sterile for successf culultlvatlOn.
We have several times heretofore dis
cussed this subject, but as our Northern
| readers change-new ones coming in every
week-we feel as though the subject
should be noticed.


East Tennessee is mostly known as
country abounding in mineral wealth.
Her iron, coal, copper and zinc are known
every where as abundant, rich and certain
to make us one day great manufacturing
center. These are the paramount
attractions in the minds of very
large class Of our friends i'll the
North. Our people talk more
about our iron and coal and rely more upon
this undeveloped wealth for substantial
growth in the future than upon our agri-
cultural interests-hence the advantages
we offer in the latter respect are underesti-
mated. We do not wish to say anything
to cool the ardor of friends on the subject
of our mineral interests. We invite atten-
ton to the article Oh our Iron Interests in
another column. We believe the facts
there given certain to be fully sustained
by future experiments. But while we
hope much from our iron and coal,
we want our agricultural interests en-
couraged, for we know that they can and
will make us prosper, and in connection
with our future industrial interests, make
us as near an independent section as is
possible.


FARMING IN EAST TENNESSEE.


We believe farming can be made more
profitable here than in most sections of the
North. Near large cities where the farm
can be converted into a garden and dairy,
it can be made more profitable than here,
but this interest in East Tennessee will
compare favorably with the same interest
in other States.


Our soil is not as rich as the soil of the
West, or as the highly cultivated soil of
the best sections of Ohio or New York, but
it is nevertheless good for general agricul
tural purposes. We have some soil as rich
and fertile as can be found anywhere. We
speak above, of our upland and general
farm land. Take this soil i'll our large val
leys, where the most of our farms lie, and
it yields fair crops and with little aid
and work can be made to compare favor
ably with the average farming lands of
most of the Northern States.


What the soil lacks iu fertility is in our
judgment more than compensated TO the
farmer in our climate and convenience to
the good markets in the Sonth. We be-
lieve that for general farming purposes,
East Tennessee affords an encouraging
field to the agricultural classes and we
believe they will so conclude on investiga-
ton, We base this judgment largely
upon the experience of many of our farm
er friends who have come here from the
North, some of them from the first agricul-
tural sections Of the North. Lands, all
things considered are reasonable here.
With reasonable improvements, fair up





twelve to fifteen dollars, near railroads
and markets. On this land stock, grains,
grasses and fruit can be raised with profit.
1t is being done, and can be by any work
ing, sensible farmer. But lands in East
Tennessee must increase in value, for we
are getting new railroads, our manufacture
ing interests are building up and our coun-
try in every way improving, We present,
in many ways, the advantages of new
country, with many of the inducements
afforded in a settled community.


ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.


The above statements cover answers to
many letters before us. G. w. Light, of
Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio,
wants to know if stage line connects the
end of the Knoxville & Ohio Road with
Nicholasville, Ky. We believe not, but a
stage ruIs from London, KY. to some
point in East Tennessee within reach Of
railroad.


c. B. SchoOnmaker, of Kerhonkson, u
ster county, New York, says he is young,
strong and wants to move to East Tennes-
see to work on a farm or at most anything.
He says it is too cold for him where he is
Perhaps some of our readers can sell him a
small farm.


A gentleman in New York City writes
to know through what counties the pro-
nosed railroad from Cincinnati to Chatta-
nooga will pass. We say in reply tha
several surveys have been made but the
Trustees have not yet made the location.
Indeed there is and will be sharp
con,netition for the route. One route is
through Scott, Morgan, Roane, MelgS ana
Rhea to Hamilton county. Another llile
runs through Bledsoe and its county to"h'
Pikeville. The road will probably go
through Roane county, as heavy interests
are centered there to offer it inducements
This road will be built some time ana SO
will the road to Knoxville. The chances