Walker County messenger. (LaFayette, Ga.) 187?-current, February 22, 1894, Page 6, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6 RESOURCES OF NORTH GEOR GIA. Walker County—Her Possible Bright Fntoie. BY T. A. COOPER. Written for the MvwKNoa*: In tho M ESHKNGEit of January 25th, I read a communication from \V. B. Gray of Trenton, the closing paragraph of which prompts tho desire to write an ar ticle, or rather a series of arti cles on that region of which Mr.- Gray so ■forcefully expresses my ideas.where ho statoS: “I always had a largo hope and my confi dence in North Georgia is, she will right herself and be to the front Hgain iu due time.” It is natural for one who first saw the light of day iu that then picturesque region, to fool an intorest iu the laud of his birth and where ho grew to manhood, where his life characteristics,etc., were formed. When I uso the words,“then picturesque regiou,” Ido not wish to bo understood that the regiou is not attrac tive now. At the same time I will assert—without the fear of contradiction by the few “old . timers” pioneers yet living, that the present generation havo but a faint idea of the forest scenery in Walker county from 1840 to 1850. My memory leads me back to ’45, when I can call to mind yet vividly, transpiring local events, and my mind frequently reviews the scenic panorama painted upon the then blank pages of memory. And as I write a sensation of my boyhood fool ing creeps over me, as I see be fore the mind’s eye, the vast ex panse of variegated forest iu spring time, after tho frosts of winter had been dispersed by the radiant sunbeams of spring. At that time there were hut few settlements from tho valley bordering Taylor’s Ridge to Pea vine Valley. From Chiekamauga on the north to LaFayette, there was a large area of country, fa milliarly known as the “Ridges,” then a vast grazing rango foreve rybody’s stock, aud at that time the gruzing was good. Up to that time tho whiles had wisely followed the precedent set by the Indians, who aunually burned the leaves in tho forest, thus keeping down the under brush and permitting a luxuriant growth of grass, flowering herbß etc. At that time a person could see a turkey, deer, or any other wild animal indigenous to that re gion at the time, aB far as the to pography of the locality would permit. Early in the morning during the month of May, bells were jingling in every direction as they were swung to and fro by the neok motion of the animal feeding on the luxuriant grass. This was a crude music—“bell ringing,” but in memory as I hear it in the far distant y»ars at this writing, it is a sweet music even in a sinner’s ear. The cow bells, however, were not the only music. At that time, (now look ing backward fifty years,) I be lieve there wore more sweet sing ing birds, a greater variety, aud of more brilliant line, than 1 have ever seen since in all my travels. Those happy musicians of the forest congregated iu May seem ingly in oue grand coucert to pay their tribute of song to the Groat Giver of all good, to sing their warbling autliems of thanksgiv ing, that the long "inter of dis content had aguiu past, and the spring time of joy and hope again gave cause for all animate matter to join in one grand chorus of thauksgiving and song of praise. Thus I grew up seemingly in an enchanted region. 1 did not so much appreciate it theu as I do now wheu passing iu review those happy days in years long gone by. The little brooks, rivulets and rills, were full of sportive fish. The borders of those little streams were ornamented iu spring time with flowering shrubbery of many kinds, with flowers of different fragrance blending together and perfuming the atmosphere. In the midst of these pleasant surroundings with a common book and a home-spun line at tached to a pole cut from a bush on the bank of the stream, 1 lis tened to the forest warblers of song, inhaled the fragrant atmos phere and occasionally landed a small fish, with far more pleasure than I have since, though hand ling the latest improved tackle, with a gamy trout sparring for a chnnce at the shoddy fly. It was the inspiration then derived from my surroundings, that in later years developed the mind pano rama so frequently enjoyed by reflections on days in years past. Little did I then think how my environments were daily forging links, that gradually formed a chain which has ever since, in all circumstances, hold mu iu memory dear to the picturesque hills and valleys, brooks and rills of Walker county. Life characteristics were there imbibed from nature dressed in her pristine beauty. My young crude ideas then were circum scribed and confined to a small area. As to the extent of the world, the state or the country, 1 knew the forest for a Jew miles around where we then lived on the head waters of middle Chick ainauga, and that was world enough for me. The hopes,fears, anticipations; disappointments and cares of a busy life in the big world hud not then obtruded on my mind. I did not then know I was hap py, but I can look back now and live oyer the time in memory,and realize that in my then primitive ignorance I was happy as I have never been for a like period of time since. I was more iguorant. less enlightened then as to the ways of the world than lam now. And strange to relate,!.neverthe less true, that our measure of con tentment and happiness iu this life seems to decrease in propor tion to the increase of our square of knowledge. With the increase of knowledge our realization of an increase of responsibility is constantly before our eyes. Then if “ignorance be bliss it is folly to seek to become wise.” This how ever is somewhat digressing from the subject matter as out lined at the beginning of this ar ticle. I wish to unite with Mr. Gray in strengthening the faith of Georgians, that North Georgia has a wonderfully bright future befare her, notwithstanding that time aided by the rnthless hand of man has robbed the hills aud valleys of mnch of tneir pres tine beauty. But North Georgia is beautiful still, and her wonder ful resources are comparatively undeveloped. My observation during a short visit to that coun try in 1891, led me to conclude that more progress had been made iu recent years devastating the forest than in developing other resources. That is, that other resources had not kept pace iu developing with the lumber indnstry, and that the destruc tion of the forest had in a like proportion destroyed the little streams that m early times flowed the year round, in recent years are dry during the summer sea son. Those were the streams iu which 1 fished with such pleasure iu my boyhood days. I also noticed that one very important need in that country was good practical farming.l saw some lands well farmed,but I must say however such was an excp tion rather than a rule. It will not be possible to frankly deal iu facts w ithout pinching some one’s toes, but as a native, born and raised there, I trust that readers will at least give mo credit for well-meaning and charge any supposed errors to the head rath er thau to the heart. I lu tho first place North Geor gia is better adapted to growing cereals, grasses, hogs, cattle, shoep, etc., than it is for growiug cottou. In fact,and a well known fact it is, that cotton cannot be successfully produced there with out a liberal use of chemical fertilizers, which cost an amount WALKEK COUNTY MESSENGER.—FEBRUARY 22, 1894 per acre, that leaves little if any ■ profit to the producer of cotton after all expenses are paid. Fur thermore, in my opinion the fer tilizes used as a rule, simply stimulate to action fertilizing | properties now in the earth with out adding to, or forming a per manent bodv of fertilized soil. Again, when we pass iu review, conditions existing before the war, the vast fields of wheat and corn grown, how all had meat and bread iu abundance and to | spare, how that Ringgold was an immense shipping point for grains and meats produced with |in a radius of 25 miles. But alas, the decadence of cereal produc tion was the death knell of Ring gold. During that era of pros peiity every body had more or less money the year round. Since the war, cotton growing at times has assumed a degree of mania. The crop requires per sistent labor from January until the close of December. When marketed where does the money go? Out of the country, as a matter of course,to purchase meat and bread! How can you citizens of Walker county and of North Georgia, expect to have money circulating among you, while your methods necessitate send ing a large portion of it out of the State to purchase meat and bread. When I was a boy, the Hour ground by the little burr mills, from wheat grown on Geor gia hill made sweeter, more nu tritious bread thau any 1 ever ate from the famous rolliug mills of Minneapolis. It may be said that the wheat and corn-producing era in Walk er county is past. That the soil has been exhausted, etc. In re ply I will ask why? The answer is easy. The methods used have been exhaustive rather than re habilitating. While this process has been going on many years too long, yet it is never too late to reform, and the quicker now, the better. Turn to grass and grains. Sow, grow, and turn under clover. Gather leaves from the forest and keep your barn yards well tilled with such vegetable matter as will absorb all liquid fertiliz ing matter from animals. Also gather from ponds and eddies along streams all accumulated mud and decomposed vegetable matter, and with such fertilizers you can build up a soil that will produce grain and grass, which will enable you to increase your stock and they in turn will in crease your fertilizing resources. Then when an ample crop of ce reals, grasses, etc;, are produced for home consumption, you can plant your surplus land in cotton which will furnish money for current expenses. This will bring money into the country, whereas you are now sending it out. The time will come, and 1 be lieve in the near future, when North Georgia will be a profitable manufacturing region. You have a mild climate, timber, water, iron, coal, lime and other no less valuable mineral deposits yet to be developed; hence the impor tance that you speedily begin the preparation of soil to produce bread, meat, vegetables, fruits, etc., to feed a vast army of me chanics and laborers, that will be required to develop your many resources and to carry on the manufacturing industries, sure to grow up iu that much fayored land. Here it is in place to treat an other important and which can be | , made a profitable industry iu j ! North Georgia, viz: horticulture and fruit-growing, etc. I notice recently that many are leaving 1 their native hills and valleys for ; Texas, Florida and other semi- 1 tropical climes. Some rensou that they Gan live iu opuleuce in I a climate where the orange,lemon and apricot grow, and that a for tune can be made easy and iu a j I short time growing grapes iu I Ualiforuia. This is more an illusion than a realty. If the people of North Georgia will give the same vigi lant energy to the growiug of ap j pies, peaches, plums, grapes,etc., that is required and must be prac ticed in Culiforni* to make h suc cess grow in tr fruits there, they can make more money in trow ing fruits indigenous to North Georgia than can those growing the citrous fruits. Apples are always in demand, they are UHod the United States over, the year round, in various forms as a ta ble diet. Oranges will not and cannot fill the place of apples Oranges are cheaper in the mar ket here now, than are apples. North Georgia produces the most luscious peach on earth,and as to grapes, they grow there to a state of Derfection scarcely at tained elsewhere, 'l'lie Con-oid lis the finest table grape grown, | and the hills of North Georgia are its home. Columns could |be written on the glowing pros ! pective future of ihat region, and I am surprised that so few of its citizens seem disposed to speak a word for the great, the good country of North Georgia. I will he pleased to read some thing from the pen of one better qualified to pen-picture the re sources of that region and how best to advance the interests thereof. If I have made mis takes in this article, 1 will be pleased if a geutde reader will correct me. Should this line of thought interest the readers of the MESSENGER, and they join iu an effort to make that country better known,and the editor feels that such will at the same time contribute to expanding the cir culation of his paper, I will cordially do all I can in that di rection. Chicago. 111.. January 29th. La Grippe. During the prevalence of the Grippe the last season it was a noticeable fact that those who depended upon Dr. King’s New Discovey, not only had a speedy recovery, but escaped all of the troublesome after effects of the malady. This remedy seems to have a peculiar power iu effect ing rapid cures not only in cases of La Grippe, but in all Diseases of Throat, Chest and Lungs, and ■ has cured cases of Asthma and Hay Fever of long standing. Try iit and he convinced. It won’t i disappoint. Free Trial Bottles at J. D. Fariss & Co’s Drug i Store. A Boy’s Luck. I 1 Some boys have a great deal of luck. Probably the luckiest boy the world ever knew was the little Maidstone (England) boy, who bad a very narrow escape, while flying his kite, some five or six years ago. Not looking where be was going, he stepped back ward and fell into a quarry forty feet deep, to the horror of some persons walking near. The string of the kite, however being fasten ed around the wrist, the hoy was lowered gently into the pit, the kite acting as a parachute, and instead of being dashed to pieces he escaped unhurt. Perhaps this means he is destined to make his mark in the world. The great Lord Clive, when a youth, tried three times to shoot himself, but the pistol missed tire each time,— Harper’s Young People. I Manifold T Y Disorders ♦ W Are occasioned by an impure and im- W X poverishedconditionoftheblood.Slight X impurities, if not corrected, develop into T serious maladies, such as Y # SCROFULA, • A ECZEMA, A M RHEUMATISM Vs | yY an other troublesome diseases. To cure ▼ l these is required a safe and reliable rem-A ! edy Iree from any harmful ingredients, Jk an J purely vegetable. Such Ak It iemoves all impuritie® f from the blood and X ly cleanses the svstem. Thousands of ▼ cases of the worst forms of blood dis- ▼ eases hare been £ Cured by S. S. S. * Send for our Treatise mailed free to lay address T SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., Atlanta, Ga.yL " PARKER 7 ™ hair balsam IgSaSyg J Clo«n.M < and beauf.fie* the hair. ** ■Ml’nmu.rrt a hiiumrit fTnwth. .Jfi Never Fail* to Keatore Gray NRfl. Hair to its Youthful Color. sea p a M-a.«cs *. ha.r la .a ig. I'm Parker'* Ginger Tonic. It euie* the worn Coufh. Weak I.ur.jta Debdity, Indifeetion, Fain, lake in time.3o cts. S&STcS: £? Do You Ride a Victor ? j If you ride why not ride the bestir There is but one best and it’s a Victor. OVERMAN WHEEL CO. Boston, Washington, Denver, san Francisco. i; Queen & Crescent Route ;► ] | «< Finest Trains in the south.” i * Through Cars to Chicago without change, from 4 8 New Orleans, Meridian, Birmingham. Chat- , (s 1 tanooga, Jacksonville, Fla., Atlanta, Macon, ( 1 Lexington and Georgetown, Ky. Choice . I | of routes via Cincinnati or via Louisville. ( | Stop-overs allowed on all World’s Fair tickets. | *' at Chattanooga, Louisville, Indianapolis or | t * | Cincinnati. 0 For further information as to Rat«s, Car. j, Service, Sleeping Car Reservations, etc., call ' . on or address any agent of the Queen (k * * . k Crescent Route or E. T. V. & G. Ry. ( * W. C. RINEARSON, G. P. A„ Cincinnati, O. q h ;j THROUGH CARS TO CHICAGO.; \ STOISTGr BROS — DEALER IN Drugs, Paints, Oils, Glass, Jewelry, and Bulk Garden Seeds. We keep the VERY BEST floods and can make you the VERT LOWE p " MARKET PRICE. Call and see us, 222 Montgomery Avenue, Chattanooga, Tenn. fPH IN LESS DENTISTRY. NEW YORK DENTAL PARLORS Times Euiltlino, Chattanooga, Tenn. o< Treating Aching Teeth A Specialty 3* Teeth extracted without pain, by the use of Vitalized Air, made treat eraay dsv Attv one can take it with perfect safety, young or old. Only dentist in tfcw> South who use this painless and harmless system. This office ia permaamtly lo cated, atid all work warranted to give satisfaction. : : : : : : £ Tc-lli extracted 1 Jse. With Enamel Vitalized V> i ;>tintiniztereil 50c With G01d.... —.— fi ad ti^ Teeth fill-.l tv it It vnuigam ye. A Good aet of Teeth efc aw ~ with .tirvcr..\tl»y 75c- Beat Set of Teeth—^”Nobettaraudf’_taa. With White Vinfti*: yc. Alltimlnnm Plate*...™. |«rt»m. Pan,'. Iron* aVuR css came in the mornina. isd vtur their mv tnffi hIM D Henry A. Smith, Rome, Ga. DEALER IN ifJB 0 0 K S & M U S 1C.% KEEPiCONSTANTLY ON HAND—- — Blank Books, Letter, Cap, Note Paper, Envelopes, nk, Slates, Engravings, Pen Holders, Chromos, Photograp Albums,,, Pictures, Picture Frames, Wall Paper, Jordero, window Shades, Etc., Etc., Also agen' for Cliickering mid Co. ami Soiilhern Ft nt Piano, ait# Mason ami Hamlin Organs, ESTABLISHED 1875. WINTERS & MUR’HY, Pianos, Organs,, Musical- :-Merchandise- :-of- :-Every-Description;, 713 Market St., Chattanooga, n erm. 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Georgia Historic Newspapers

Walker County messenger. (LaFayette, Ga.) 187?-current, February 22, 1894, Page 6, Image 6