DISEASES OF SHEEP. ' 191 



The climate is much the same, but a very little warmer. The more broken portions 

 of these counties resemble much the mountainous parts of Yancey and Haywood, 

 but they contain much more level land. Indeed the greater portion of Henderson is 

 quite level. It contains much swamp land, which, when cleared, with very little if 

 any drainage, produces very fine crops of herds-grass. Portions of Macon and Chero- 

 kee counties are quite as favourable, both as to climate and soil, as those above 

 described. I would advert particularly to the Valley of the Nantahalah, in Macon 

 and of Cheoh, in Cherokee. In either, for a comparatively trifling price, some ten 

 or fifteen miles square could be procured, all of which would be rich, and the major 

 part sulficiently level for cultivation, and especially fitted, as tlieir natural meadows 

 indicate, for the production of grass. 



In conclusion, 1 may say, that as far as my limited knowledge of such matters 

 authorizes me to speak, I am satisfied that there is no region that is more favourable 

 to the production of sheep than much of the country I have described. It is every- 

 where healthy and well watered. I may add, too, that there is water-power enough 

 in the different counties composing my congressional district to move more machi- 

 nery than human labour can ever place there — enough perhaps to move all now 

 existing in the Union. It is also a rich mineral region. The gold mines are worked 

 now to a considerable extent. The best ores of iron are found in great abundance in 

 many places; copper, lead, and other valuable minerals exist. That must one day 

 become the great manufacturing region of the South. I doubt if capital could be 

 used more advantageously in any part of the Union than in that section. 



For a number of years past the value of the live stock (as ascertained from bookn 

 of the Turnpike Company) that is driven through Buncombe county, is from two to 

 three millions of dollars. Most of this stock comes from Kentucky and Ohio, and 

 when it has reached Asheville it has travelled half its journey to the more distant 

 parts of the Southern market, viz., Cliarleston and Savannah. The citizens of my 

 district, therefore, can get their live stock into the planting States south of us at one- 

 half the expense which those of Kentucky and Ohio are obliged to incur. Not only 

 sheep, but hogs, horses, mules, and liorned cattle can be produced in many portions 

 of my district as cheaply as in those two States. This must ere long become the 

 great manufacturing region of the South, <fcc. 



I have thus, sir, hastily endeavoured to comply with your request, because }'ou 

 state that you would like to have the information at once. Should you find my sketch 

 of the region a very unsatisfactory and imperfect one, I hope you will do me the 

 favour to remember that the desk of a member during a debate is not the most favour- 

 able position for writing an essay. 



With very great respect, yours, 



T. L. CLINGMAN. 

 J. S. Skinner, Esq. 



As to the usual weight of the carcass of the South-down and of the 

 fleece, as well as of the value of the Cotswold compared with that of 

 the Merino, it may be useful to state that, according to the most recent 

 information to be fully relied on, Mr. Bement's ewes, (near Albany, 

 New York), about seventy-five in number, averaged last year three 

 and a half pounds washed wool per head — Mr. Mclntire's about the 

 same. The South-dovvn wool sold at Albany last year at twent}-- 

 eig-ht to thirty cents per pound, where at the same time Merino wool 

 sold for thirty-four to thirty-six. 



