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VOLUME XLII—NUMBER THIRTY-THREE.
Atlanta, Ga., Week Ending October 15, J904.
50c PER YEAR—SINGLE COPY 5c.
I Newly Opened Cumberland Plateau, One of j
| >P ^ South’s Richest Sections ^ ^ I
f _ •
A Scene on the Caney Fork, a Splendid Fishing Stream.
By S. T. DALSHEIMER.
Wriimi for G6« .Sunn:/ South
URIXG the early days of
" 1L ^y " ~* T Vt!re ebirrlt>J**
Daniel Boone, fleeing froir
the rigors of an unproduc
tive farm in North Caro
lina. when the hunter and
the trappigt. the pioneer
and the settler, seeking
homes and fortunes and
peace and plenty even in
the wilderness, finally made
their way into the forests
of middle Tennessee, they
found themselves sur
rounded by almost unknown conditions.
The soil was of marvelous fertility, ce
reals. grasses, garden vegetables and
fruits of all kind fluorishing as beneath
the hand of a magician. The climate
was ideal—the small streams and larger
waterways giving the final touch of
completeness to the* picture of a set
tler’s needs. So, it is not to be wondered
at if the intrepid pioneer was willing to
fight bravely and well for a place in
the new land, and to wrest every foot
of it. if need be. from the treacherous
ailvages who made treaties and broke
rliem. and who accepted bounty from the
new comer and massacred him with equal
facility.
This coveted land lies about 100 miles
from Nashville, Tenn.. and a little east
of the town of A1 good, and is designated
as the “Cumberland Plateau.” At Mon
terey, the brow of the plateau is reached
and the height at this point is 2,000 feet,
while the highest point is nearly 3.000
feet above sea level. For a - short .dis
tance this plateau extends into Ken-
I'tuctey 4hr norlh-iRnd intci AUrt>ama‘OTf'
* the south, but these boundaries are so
small as to leave the entire plateau
practically within the state of Tennessee.
In viewing the scenery and in glancing
at the resources of this newly developed
part of Tennessee, one is impressed with
the fact that nature has. with lavish
hand, dowered it with a richness of field
and of foliage, with a bounty of beauty
and of plenty, which is almost unsur
passed by that of any other part of our
southland.
But so long have these rare advantages
lain dormant, or inadequately appreci
ated. one is forced to the conclusion that
civilized man seems less ready to avail
himself of nature’s largess than is the
primitive savage. The latter with unerr
ing instinct chose for his “happ^ hunting
ground” those woods best stocked with
game, those mountain fastnesses best
fitted for hunting and hiding, while the
wigwam of the savage is ever found be
side those running streams where fish
abound and on the smooth surfaces of
which the slender canoe can slide with
swiftest movement.
INVASION UNDER WAY.
But the spirit of modern trade or of
commercialism has too often been the de
termining factor in much of the civiliza
tion of our country today, and our citi
zens have as often found themselves
under the ban of some powerful corpora
tion as did the shepherd kings of old
under that of the superior lawlessness of
some opposing and resistless enemy. This .
fact is perhaps most forcibly illustrated
in the conditions surrounding^ the Cum-
. beriand. ’Pl^egu—that wond#hfL Xten<>
of promise.” which distinguishes middle
Tennessee as one of the garden spots of
the world. IJntil a new railroad recent
ly ran its rails through the plateau, its
marvelous resources were comparatively
unknown, and certainly its commercial
advantages were absolutely undeveloped,
simply because heretofore the transporta
tion facilities of the state lay in another
direction. The modern American does
not choose to make his journeying today
by stage or ■wagon—steam or electricity
has become a necessity to him—and the
former being now available, the eyes of
capitalist and speculator are already
turned toward the Cumberland Plateau,
with an ever-growing appreciation of its
limitless possibilities. But even the
brooding spirit of trade must pause a
moment m its search for the hidden
treasures of coal and iron and even gold
or precious stones, which the natives
declare are hidden in the Tennessee hills,
to contemplate the marvels of nature’s
handiwork. Towering mountains cast
their grim shadows over valleys cf un
dulating beauty, where tiny streams oK.
silvery waters flow from far off heights
and gleam with shining radiance from
out the hidden places of the hills. Pur
ple shadows temper the brilliant green
of the summer forests, while the gold and
crlmsoa of the autumn hill sides defy
reproduction by even the most skillful
artist’s brush.
4 Even winter brings no rigors in her
train—only clearer skies and more invig
orating atmosphere. Great masses of
A Bit of the Historic Walden Road, the First Thoroughfare Across the Mountains.
rock, covered with deep sea pebbles, are
grouped in picturesque profusion along
the very line of the new railroad, show
ing how, by some stupendous cataclysm
of the past, the “sea and land changed
places/’
These rocks and streams, these hills
and valleys, make the work of the mod
ern engineer almost as difficult to ac
complish as was that of his ancestors,
the pioneer of the past. But both alike
have conquered, and the path prepared
by the one is now thrown open by the
other and the whole world may step in
and reap the rich reward which has been
long prepared by nature’s hand, and
which has only waited for modern man
to grasp. Although there are. as has
been said, “pearls of price” hidden in the
streams of Tennessee and rare jewels em
bedded in the rocks, it is not toward
these to which we may look for the benl-
fit to the many. But in the coal fields of
the Cumberland plateau it found the'
richest promise,of the future. Of these
coal fields, as to quality and quarftity
Professor J. M. Stafford, of Vanderbilt
university, says: “We wish to say once
for all, that no true coal has ever been
discovered in the state except within the
limits of the Cumberland tableland, or
its outliers: the thousand and one re
ports to the contrary, notwithstanding.
. . . The quality of coal which the coal
measures of the state will supply has
been estimated equal to a block. 10(1 miles
long. 50 miles wide and 8 feet thick.
Assuming that a ton is equivalent to one
cubic yard, we would have within the
boundaries of the coal fields of Tennes
see 4.127,380.000 tons, and this is not an
overestimate.”
Perhaps it was the original divine de
sign that man should delve deep for the
earth’s rich treasures, and we see one
evidence of this in the depth below the
surface which must be reached ere the
coal is touched. But in one point of the
Cumberland plateau, nature seems to
have suddenly blossomed out in “gravely
gracious mood” and by one of those
strange acts curiously misnamed by
geologists “faults’* a large strata of coa!
and Silurian iron ore are found on the
same level, often separated by only a
narrow ravine though geologically sepa
rated by the passing of countless ages!
At such a point we find the town of
Rockwood. Tenn._ and, naturally, iron
can be manufactured there at a marvel
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With
Back to the Wall ^ Last of tHe Political ^Series , ^
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By JOSEPH M. ROGERS.
TIE time came, as it was
sure to come at last, when
Martin Dooner had to
stand with his back to tire
wall and fight for hi* polit
ical prestige. Not that in
his twenty-five years of
power he had met with no
obstacles. He had be*»n al
derman for a quarter of a
century. He kept a sa
loon. He knew every man
in his ward, and he intro
duced into it many
strangers on election day to exercise the
freeman's right of voting without legal
permission. He got his share of ap
pointments. &is proportion of the “rake-
offs” in contracts, and paid his assess
ments or carri*d hteward in a most mas
terful manner? TV’h?n one thought of the
sixth ward it was to first think of Mar
tin Dooner. He was the ward. He glo
ried in it to the extent that he went to
any length to maintain his position. He
was not rich. His saloon paid w-11, and
he was not in politics “for his health,”
but he was not avaricious. B neath a
rough exterior anil behind an almost bru
tal mask there beat as kindly a Celtic
heart as ever reached America on th«‘
threshold of manhood.
It cam e about in this wise: The mayor
of the city, who was the head of that
machine with whose fortunes Dooner’s
were constantly oound up. died suddenly
of apoplexy, and under the law the presi
dent of the board of aldermen succeeded
him. This s’mple statement is luminous
only when explained. The new mayor.
Hartshornc. was a deadly enemy of
Dooner’s though they were both of the
same party. There had been some words
between them on the floor of council
concerning a contract. Who was in the
right matters little. It led io recrimina
tions. and finally to Dooner’s offer to set
tle the matter outsida the chamber. This
was rejected with a contemptuous re
mark that rankled In Dooner's breast.
Each had threatened to “do” the other,
but the occasion had never arisen until
now. By a stroke of fate, Hartshorne
was in a position to deal his enemy hard
blows
Dooner knew this only too well. He
spent little time in mourning for the
late mayor—his mind was fixed on his
own futur\ He could do one of three
things—get out of politics, which on many
accounts woQld have suited him; try and
make peace with the new mayor, which
his pride woald not allow, or fight. He
said nothing and waited. It was not lor
long. Three days a~er the funeral word
was sent out by the “old man,” as th?
mayor is always known, to “break” Doo-
n«-r. who most unfortunately was up for
re-election in November
At the first announcement Dooner’s
friends rushed to his support They
premised him everything and threatened
dire evil to his opponents. Dooner said
nothing. He knew the worth of -such
promises. He might have got oat alto-
gether. but the death of the mayor was
made the occasion of another sporadic
attempt to reform councils, concerning
whose membership not much good could
be said that was true, and nothing bad
that was wholly false. A committee of
one hundred best citizens was organized
to carry out a campaign to purify coun
cils in the coming elections, and it was
generally understood that they would
fight nearly every sitting member. When
this was known. Dooner made up his
mind to fight. He could stand aside as
against a machine man. but against or
ganized opposition of mugwumps he
wouid not quail. His coat came off and
he stood with his back to the wall.
It was hard work. Deprived of the
services of his office-holding lieutenants,
he had to organize the entire ward anew.
Just what he did and how he did it is
too long a story to tell; but from the mo
ment the fight began there was little
sle°p on either side. Of course, Dooner’s
long leadership had created rivalries,
which from time to time he had sup
pressed with money, with office, or by
means of an overwhelming defeat at
the polls. There was one man whom he
had befriended, not only in politics, but
whom Ire had kept from serving a de
served term in fhe penitentiary. Thomas
Mailon had received favors enough. But
no man believes he is the creature of
others, or that he succeeds other than
on his own merit. Mailon was made
leader of the opposition, but was alto
gether too shrewd to run himself. He
discovered a lawyer of ancient lienage
and wealth who had a constructive resi
dence In the ward and set his sails to
catch the wind of reform that seemed
to be blowing a gale. EdwayBt Murchi
son was a surprised man ina^d when
told that he had been selected by Mal-
lon and the gang to lead the forces of
reform. He would have declined, but
most of the Committee of One Hundred
were his friends, and they urged him
to stand. Murchison knew* much more
about English politics than about the
politics of the ward he was to lead in
this contest. He was a cultured man
of leisure and refinem%nt. The political
b^e did not sting at first. But when
Murchison got into the light, he was
warmed to an enthusiasm that was not
exactly suited to the situation, and it _
was made the excuse for many and large
drafts on his purse by Mailon. “for legi
timate purposes only.”
The crisis came in the middle of Oc
tober. when all candidates for office were
asked to appear before the Committee
of One UWndied to present their claims
for indorsement. Dooner’s first impulse
was to decline; but when he considered
that this would be considered a sign of
weakness. Ire determined to go and fight
it out. He would have faced a crowd of
hyenas rather than seem to admit any
thing to his own discredit. He appeared
at the appointed time before the com
mittee. of whom at least thirty had
found time to' leave their own affairs
and be present. The chairman was a
business man of standing in the com
munity. but the chief inquisitor was a
lawyer who had joined the movement
for purposes of his own. He had his eye
on the district attorneyship. There were
business men. lawyers, clergymen, physi
cians and men of many callings on the
committee. Most of them were honest
and earnest. Few had practical experi
ence in affairs, but each felt that the
safety of the nation rested on his should
ers. The colloquy was in part on this
wise:
The Chairman—Mr. Dooner. you are a
saloonkeeper. I believe.
Dooner—I am.
The Chairman—Do you consider that a
calling to fit a man to administer the
affairs of this city?
Dooner—As much so as the fact that
one member of this committee is living
in idleness off the money his grand
father made as a distiller.
The Chairman—That is not to the point.
Dooner—It is to the point that I work
for a living under a license granted by
the judges of this city and that no com*
plaint has ever been made that I vio
lated the law. As to whether it is a
good job to fit a man to serve his con
stituents. I say it is better than doing
nothing.
The Chairman—Don't lose your temper,
but come to the point at issue. I believe
that you keep a low groggerv, where the
worst liquor is sold.
Dooner—I believe there is less drunken
ness in my place than in the swellest res
taurant in this city, where wine is served
against the law after midnight Saturday.
I close when the law directs. Some of
you gentlemen have drunk champagne at
3 o’clock Sunday morning.
This was not a fortunate beginning, so,
after a hurried consultation in w'hispers.
the lawyer undertook the cross-examina
tion.
The Attorney—Mr. Dooner, it is report
ed and believed that you are deeply in
terested in the street paving contract**
of this city, and that you have made
much money out of them.
Dooner—It is reported and believed that
the chairman of this committee gave $50.-
000 to the last national campaign, and
^ for this he was permitted to write one
~.T.. ir -rnnb the tariff bill that has made
him ten times that amount at the ex
pense of tiie taxpayers of the nation.
At this the chairman grew warm, and
attempted an explanation, but the discreet
attorney waved him off and said:
‘‘Answer my question. Have you or
have you not made money out of con
tracts by your influence as a council
man?”.
At this Dooner’s ire began to rise, and
he blurted out:
“I never did so except legitimately, as
a stockholder in a concern that did the
paving; but I see a man in this room and
on this committee who was convicted of
selling Inferior goods to the almshouse.
At the least. I never was accused of rob.
bing paupers.”
Thereupon one of the most respected
members of the committee arose, and, in
unfeigned anger, shouted:
“It's a lie! One o£ my employes did
without my knowledge send some infer
ior goods, but he was discharged for the
offense. ”
a liar,” roared Dooner; "he Is
now employed by you as your New York
agent. Don’t be a sneak.”
^Ax^this^tjTere^w^s^KUch^a^prosject^of^a
CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE.
ously cheap rate. Limestone, too. is near
at hand thus furnishing the one more
thing needful to facilitate the production
of iron.
Many new towns are rapidly springing
into existence in this vicinity and indus
tries are increasing with equal quick
ness. At Waldensia are coke ovens, at
Crab Orchard a fine woodworking plant;
at Pomona Road magnificent fruit grow
ing facilities—the latter at present but
partly developed by a small party of or-
chardists. whose plans, however, are sna-
tured for a large increase of this busi
ness. At Algood there are more wood
working plants. such as stave mills,
spoke and handle factories, saw mills,
etc., while at various oth^r points in this
rich country there are varied other in
terests, including stock raising, agricul
tural.' etc.
So much for the utilitarian condition*
which mark the Cumberland plateau and
the country immediately surrounding it.
But, with true American spirit business
and pleasure go hand in hand here in the
rich Tennessee country and the wonder
fully salubrious climate has given ideal
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