SE.VSES OF SHEEP. 181 



The cliniat/' is much the Fame, hut a very Utile warmer. The more broken portions 

 of these cnuritios resembh; inuih the mouiiiaiiious parts of Yancey ami Haywood, 

 but tliey conlaiu much more level land. Indeed the greater portion of Hendemon la 

 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 

 d.:scribed. I would advert particularly to the Valley of the Nantahalah, in Macon^ 

 and of C^eoh, in Cherokee, In either, for a comparatively trifling price, some ten 

 or tifleen miles square could be procured, all of which would be rich, and the n)ajor 

 part sutficiently level for cultivation, and especially fitted, as their natural meadowg 

 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 Unicin. 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 Jive stock (as ascertained from books 

 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 Oliio, and 

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

 parts of the Southern market, viz., Charleston 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 horned 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, &c. 



I have thus, sir, hastily endeavoured to comply with your request, because you 

 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 weig-ht 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, averao-ed last year three 

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

 same. The South-down wool sold at Albany last year at twenty- 

 eight to thirty cents per pound, where at the same time Merino woo. 

 sold for thirty-four to thirty-six. 



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