If . K4J 1 ►,. •% '-.w r oV O > m ■^ ^ •y ^ *^ cv » • • , °o >* .•■•« * 4 o The Southern Railway AND Mobile & Ohio Railroad Sections of the State which offer opportunities to the FARMER, STOCK RAISER, ORCHARDIST, TRUCKER, DAIRYMAN and MANUFACTURER. i £1 NOTES ON THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. The Exposition visitor who may desire to investigate the advantages and attractions of the State of Kentucky, particularly in those thriving sections traversed by the Southern Railway and Mobile & Ohio Rail- road, have before them two important gate- ways to the State — Cairo, on the Mississippi, at which point the Mobile & Ohio enters the State, 154 miles from St. Louis, and the metropolis of Louisville, on the St. Louis- Louisville Lines of the Southern Railway, 274 miles from St. Louis. JEFFERSON COUNTY.— The St. Louis- Louisville Lines enter Jefferson County at Louisville. This county, as it now stands, comprises 233,206 acres, and is bounded on the north by Oldham, on the east by Spencer and Shelby, on the south by Bullitt and on the west by the Ohio River. Except in the eastern and southern portions, where hills and knoba occur, its surface is generally level and well watered by Beargrass Creek, Floyd's Fork and I'ond Creek. Besides Louis- ville, the chief city of the State, it contains some of the oldest villages, such as Jeffer- sontown and Middletown. There is a variety of soils in Jefferson County, some quite poor and some as fine as can be found in the Stat^, ranging in price from $10 to $1,000 per ar re, owing to quality and location. Almost all the land within six miles of Louisville is devoted. tp market '. .' * ' * •*••*' **•••- IAN TO IQto better class of soil having- the red subsoil. This soil is peculiarly well suited to the white Burley tobacco and to hemp, but the growing of tobacco has nearly superseded that of hemp in late years. It is also pro- ductive of corn, and is fairly good wheat soil. Lexington, the county seat, is one of the oldest settlements in the State. Its position at the intersection of several railroad lines extending in all directions, together with its system of turnpikes radiating into every part of the surrounding country gives it the most commanding commercial position in the eastern half of Kentucky. MERCER COUNTY.— This county is tra- versed by that portion of the Southern Rail- way extending from Lawrenceburg to Burgin, on the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railroad. The lands of this section are peculiarly adapted to the raising of fruits and vege- tables. Much of it is in grass and is well suited for sheep raising, which is a very important industry of the country. The greater portion of the timber land of the county, comprising about 15 per cent of its area, is to be found in this section, and here are located several saw mills. The best farming lands of the county are equal in productiveness and adaptability to a variety of crops to those of any county of this or any other State. Often on the same farm can be seen the largest corn, the heaviest wheat and oats, the tallest hemp, the finest tobacco, the most luxuriant meadows of clover and tim- othy, the most splendid bluegrass pastures, with winding streams of crystal water, fed by never failing springs. While wheat, oats, corn, hemp and tobacco, clover and timothy hay are the great staple products of the county, rye, broom corn, buckwheat, pota- toes, orchard grass, millet and hungarian grass are also grown. No county in the State is better watered. In addition to the streams mentioned, com- prising about seventy-five miles in the coun- ty, it has numerous other streams, such as Thompson's Creek, Big Indian, Brush, Glen's Lick, Deep Creek, Shawnee Run, Cedar Run, Cheese Lick, Potomac, etc. It is also water- ed by innumerable springs. Nearly every farm has one or more sources of never-fail- ing water. A number of the streams of the county furnish excellent water power, and some are made available for flour mills and other industries. Being so well watered, the county is peculiarly fitted for stock raising. A number of the farmers are interested in raising short-horns. Some of its fine farms are devoted to raising thoroughbred or trot- ting and saddle horses, and are furnished with commodious stables. Harrodsburg, the county seat, is a sub- stantial city of about 5,000 inhabitants, the seat of important educational institutions and the home of several important business enterprises. MOBILE & OHIO TERRITORY IN KEN- TUCKY. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad enters Ballard County from Illinois. The soil of Ballard County is mostly of a black loam with yellow clay subsoil, except counted for on account of the difference in conveniences in the matter of reaching mar- ket. The higher prices are commanded for fruit and vegetable lands near railroad sta- tions. The county contains a vegetable can- nery, seven merchant flour mills with a capa- city of 700 barrels daily, two box factories, making boxes and crates for the fruits shipped, several saw mills and two planing mills. The towns of the county are all con- nected by telephones which also connect with adjoining counties and Cairo, 111. HICKMAN COUNTY.— The next county reached south of Carlisle is Hickman County. The general face of the country is undulat- ing, broken at intervals by hills and valleys. In the bottom section contiguous to the river and creeks there remains yet a large area of wild land, in forest; but by degrees the land is being cleared for cultivation and the once dark forests are rapidly disappearing to make room for more homes. The soil is generally a rich brown loam, with streaks of sand and clay deposits. It is fertile soil and produces abundantly when properly handled. The principal crops are corn and wheat, but to- bacco is also raised successfully, as well as all of the garden crops. Stock raising has become a considerable factor in the county's resources in late years, and most of the corn grown is used at home and sold "on hoof." In good seasons the wheat yield is from twenty-five to fifty, and the corn yield from fifty to seventy-five bushels to the acre. Sweet and Irish potatoes, especially in that section known as the "Potato Patch," grow as abundantly as can be wished. In recent and ranks among the best crops to be found in the Louisville and Cincinnati markets. Anderson County farmers, because of the fact that they always get the very best prices going for their tobacco have made this the leading crop of the county. The large crops of timothy and clover that may be produced from a given quantity of ground, with the bluegrass which is indigenous, makes this one of the best counties in the State for stock farming. The number of cattle shipped from Anderson County to Eastern markets and to Europe is increas- ing rapidly every year, and stock raising promises soon to become one of our leading industries. There is a fine opening in this county for a number of manufactories, such as a can- ning factory for preserving fruits and vege- tables. Fruits can be had in abundance and the soil is especially adapted to the raising of such vegetables as are used in these es- tablishments, and the supply, with encourage- ment, could be made almost unlimited. A woolen and knitting factory would also find here a most excellent location for that busi- ness. All the domestic wool needed could be obtained in this and adjoining counties, and the foreign product required could be as easily obtained here as at any other place in the country. The shipping facilities are as good. The Southern Railway has its main line running entirely through the county from west to east, and a branch line tapping the Cincin- nati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific at Burgin, in Mercer County. It also connects at Lexington with roads running east and number of the youth attend the colleges and universities. There is a very fine college for girls located in Shelbyville, which is exten- sively patronized by the people of the county. ANDERSON COUNTY.— Anderson County, the next county east of Shelby, occupies two high and fertile plateaus, separated from each other by Salt River, which flows through the central part of the county. The land on top of the table lands is gently rolling, and the slopes leading down from the uplands to the rivers are somewhat precipitous. The Kentucky River, which borders the eastern portion of the county for a distance of about twenty miles, is navigable throughout the year. Salt River, in the central part of the county, and Chaplin, on the southern border, are not navigable, but all of these streams are capable of furnishing unlimited water power for all purposes. Beside these streams, the county is traversed in every direction by smaller ones, which afford the most ample supply of water for stock and crops under all circumstances. The scenery along the Kentucky River and its tributaries is unex- celled in its boldness and in its picturesque features. The Salt River bottoms are fam- ous for their fertility. The soil of the county is of a limestone formation, with a clay subsoil, and is gen- erally fertile and productive. It is well adapted to the production of corn, wheat and tobacco. Oats, potatoes, garden vege- tables and fruits of all kinds also do well in every part of the county. The tobacco grown in this county is always of the finest quality, years the values of farm lands have steadily advanced until now the price averages are about $35 per acre. Many of the farms are well improved and a ride along the country road reveals an unwonted growth of log cabins into modern houses, surrounded by all the conveniences which make American farm life the ideal life of the well-to-do. There are more than fifty public school houses in the county. FULTON COUNTY.— The last county tra- versed before reaching the State of Ten- nessee is the County of Fulton, which was formerly a part of Hickman County. This county is well watered and drained by the several streams emptying into the Mississippi River from the same, the principal among them being Baj^ou de Chien and Obion Creek. The soil of Fulton County is fertile and pro- duces a large amount of corn, wheat, rye, oats and tobacco. The greater portion of the county is upland and very good; but the Mississippi bottoms are especially rich and fertile. This county is a great section for strawberries, and they are grown to great perfection and in great abundance, and thousands of dollars worth of them are shipped to Northern markets. The timber supply of the county remains good, probably one-third of the original timber of the county yet remaining. Oak, poplar, hickory and cypress are to be found in abundance. About forty miles of shore line along the Mississippi River is all the water transportation the county has, none of the streams of the county being navigable. Good farm lands can be had at reasonable prices and labor may be obtained at from $10 to $12 per month and board. The facilities for education are fur- nished by the common schools of the county which are well attended and under good and careful management. HOMESEEKERS' OPPORTU NITI ES.— The homeseeker and investor will find splendid opportunities in the sections of Kentucky re- ferred to in these notes. More detailed information will be furnished by M. V. RICHARDS, Land and Industrial Agent, Southern Railway and Mobile & Ohio Railroad, WASHINGTON, D. C. OR CHAS. S. CHASE, Agent, M. A. HAYS, Agent, 722 Chemical Bldg.. 225 Dearborn St.. St. Louis, Mo. Chicago, III. W. A. MOYER, Agent, W. J. HURLBUT, Agent, 271 Broadway, 122 E. Eighth St., New York City. Chattanooga, Tenn. verse a section famous for raising premium Burley tobacco. Under a liberal "share" system of tenantry this county has greatly prospered. Many of the laborers have bought good farms and live in comfort. In one neighborhood many thousands of dollars can be borrowed from the laboring classes alone. It may be of interest to the public to know just what the share system in Shelby County is. Usually the farmer furnishes to the tenant a good house to live in, with garden, grazing for horse, cows and hogs for their own use. The tenant raises usually about ten acres of tobacco and some corn, half of each crop belonging to the farmer. There is no charge for the garden and the grazing privileges. Where the land is good and the tenant is intelligent and industrious he soon gets to be in comfortable circumstances. It is usual in the best parts of the county to raise 1,400 pounds of tobacco per acre. This often sells for ten cents per pound, so that ten acres of land will yield from $1,200 to $1,400. The tenant getting one-half of this in addition to his opportunities to make a living on garden, corn, land, etc., often has an income which a professional man would be very proud of. Many of these laborers have developed into substantial and influential business men; their sons sometimes enter the profession and many of their children take high positions in the schools. The dairy interest is a very important one In Shelby County. In the western part of the county along the railroad line there are a large number of successful dairies. Shelby County is noted for the interest manifested by her people in higher education. A large north as well as south. At Louisville with the many lines runing west, northwest and south. Louisville is sixty-five miles west and Lexington twenty-five miles east from Lawrenceburg, the county seat. WOODFORD COUNTY.— The St. Louis- Louisville Lines pass through the center of this county. Here the leading crops grown are corn, wheat, tobacco, hemp, barley, rye, oats, clover, timothy and bluegrass. Quan- tities of these are exported, as also blooded trotting, running and saddle horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs. Much attention has been given of late to the breeding of thorough- bred cattle, particularly Herefords and the Red and Black Polls, and fine hogs. Diver- sified farming, such as fruit growing, dairy- ing, truck farming, etc., is steadily increas- ing. Its opportunities are great, and those who have recently engaged in the culture of small fruits and vegetables are gratified at the results. Vegetables of the finest quality are easily grown. There is a splendid open- ing here for a canning factory, as well as for tobacco and hemp manufactories and other industries. Woodford County is well supplied with transportation facilities. Besides the main line between Louisville and Lexington, the Versailles and Midway branch connects Ver- sailles, the county seat, with the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific at George- town. The Kentucky River is navigable the entire length of the county. The county con- tains about two hundred miles of the finest turnpike roads in the State, rendering all power. In addition to this there are a num- ber of other streams affording a number of sites for the development of water power. The soil is a clay loam, with no rock, ex- cepting a few places where there are traces of drifted gravel of the Paducah variety. Bordering the river, the usual rich sandy bottoms skirt the whole western line. In what is termed bottoms is the better land, if it were tilled. Tilling has been resorted to in a few cases. This land does not over- flow so as to drown out the crop, but after rains, it does not dry out and is termed cold, but in favorable years it produces very largely of wheat, corn and the grasses. There are no minerals known to exist in this county, but there are valuable clays. It is estimated that there is enough clay con- veniently available, to make a million tons of ware, and while the quality is not the very best, it is considered superior and will make any ware except the pure white. For the manufacture of tile, the clay is fortuunately close to where the tile is needed and it is expected that in the near future this clay will be largely utilized for the manufacture of tiling. These clays, at certain points, are within one hundred feet of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. There are still some very fine bodies of oak timber that can be had, but railroad timbers are supplied from the county in large quantities. Cottonwood can be had in almost unlimited quantities. With wood and water plentiful, it is claimed that this county can give good support to paper mills. Farm lands in the county are worth $8 to $40 per acre, this wide difference in prices being ac- the valleys, which are a black sandy loam with generally blue clay foundation, and very productive. The minerals that exist in the hills of the county are undeveloped and to what extent they exist is not known. The timber resources of the county have been greatly abused, but good timber land can be purchased at this time for from seven to twelve dollars per acre. Diversified farming is carried on to a considerable extent, but fruit growing, which could be made profita- ble, receives but little attention. About thirty miles of the boundary of the county is on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and this, with twenty miles on Mayfield Creek, con- stitutes all the navigable waters touching the county. The county has no turnpike or metal roads, but has as good graded dirt roads, maintained by a system of taxation, as "there is to be found in the State. The railroads, in connection with the river front- age, renders transportation easy of access, and freights reasonably low. Farm land will average in price about fifteen dollars per acre, and good white labor can be had at eighteen dollars per month. There is a good opening for the establishment of a wagon, plow and implement factory, as well as flour mills and canning factory. A creamery would also do well. CARLISLE COUNTY is bounded by Bal- lard County on the north, Graves County on the east, Hickman County on the south and by the Mississippi on the west. The surface is slightly rolling and the soil very produc- tive. Mayfield Creek affords an abundant supply of water that can be utilized for parts of the county accessible. This county contains many noted stock farms, devoted to the thoroughbred horse and the finest strains of cattle. Versailles, the county seat, is an attractive and progressive city of over 3,000 inhabitants. FAYETTE COUNTY is the central county of the celebrated bluegrass region of Cen- tral Kentucky. The greater part of the land of the county is arable and pasture land of the finest quality. The soil is of two principal kinds: That with red subsoil, de- rived from the Trenton limestone, and that with yellow subsoil, derived from the lime- stone of the Lower Hudson. The former is considered the better, and may be regarded as the typical bluegrass soil. These soils are very similar, physically, both being rather clayey in texture, though not containing a large proportion of true clay, but being com- posed largely of very fine sand. They are remarkably rich in phosphates, and contain a 'large reserve of insoluble potash silicates, so that they are capable of retaining their fertility for a long time under proper tillage, and when depleted, may be restored again by clover or grass. Experiments made at the farm of the Agricultural Experiment Station near Lexington, upon the soil of the second variety described (yellow subsoil), show that when run down by long cropping, it becomes deficient in available potash, though still containing an abundance of available phosphates, and upon such soil fertilizers containing much potash and little or no phosphate may be used with profit. It is believed that this is true also of the gardening, and Jefferson County likely pro- duces more of what is known as second crop potatoes than are produced in any other section. Enormous quantities of main crop potatoes (or first crop), onion seed, onion sets and onions are grown extensively throughout the county. The territory lying from eight to fourteen miles from the city is largely devoted to fruit growing and truck gardening. The small fruit industry is very extensive and no place in the world raises finer berries than those grown in the Middle - town, Jeffersontown and Fern Creek region. Strawberries were grown at Fern Creek in 1899 and exhibited in Louisville, seven of which would fill a quart box. Farming proper is carried on quite extensively in a large portion of the county. Magnificent corn and wheat lands are found along Bear- grass Creek, Pond Creek, Floyd's Fork and other sections, while in the southern part of the county more attention is paid to early corn and hay. The people have splendid facilities for transportation of their products in every direction. , The timber growth of the county has been mainly oak, poplar, walnut, hickory, ash, elm and beech. There are several excellent quarries of building stone and quite a num- ber of brick and tile works. Perhaps the most noted mineral water in the county is found near Floyd's Fork, one mile below Fisherville, and the place is becoming quite popular as a health resort. SHELBY COUNTY.— Passing into Shelby County, the St. Louis-Louisville Lines tra- WRITE FOR FACTORY LOCATIONS, FARM LANDS, TIMBER LANDS, GARDEN LANDS AND HOME PLACES IN KENTUCKY. R 1«J0 8U LIBRARY OF CONGRESS