PHYSIOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES IN TENNESSEE. 63 



division is into East, Middle and West Tennessee. The line separating 

 the East and Middle divisions crosses the Cumberland Plateau so that it 

 is divided somewhat equally between them, while the line separating the 

 middle and western divisions is approximately the lower or northward 

 portion of the Tennessee River. East Tennessee is Republican in politics 

 and is interested in diversified agriculture, mining and manufacturing, 

 while Middle and West Tennessee are Democratic politically and inter- 

 ested primarily in agriculture. The two latter divisions with their com- 

 mon politics and similar, though by no means identical, interests, usually 

 dominate in political matters. 



In early days there was a land office and a treasurer for each of these 

 three divisions. The Supreme Court still sits in rotation in East, Middle 

 and West Tennessee. There is a state normal school for each of the three 

 divisions and a state asylum for each division. In the constitution of 

 political boards and committees it is usually specified that equal represen- 

 tation be given to each of these three divisions, so that in many ways the 

 State comprises three separate communities more or less distinct and dif- 

 ferent from each other, and yet united under one system of government 



j 



GENERAL PREDICTION. 



It is always hazardous to play the role of prophet, but a few general 

 conclusions would seem warranted from the facts at hand. 



From the diversity of its soils and its surface features and the stimulus 

 of altitude, climate, and the partial obstacles to free communication that 

 obtain in the valley region of East Tennessee, the development of civili- 

 zation there in the future should produce our highest type of progressive 

 citizenship, marked preeminently by individuality and independence in 

 thought and action, and with more diversity of industrial activity than 

 any other part of the State. Its people should naturally be more nearly 

 radical in their views than in other parts of the State, and might be 

 classed as the future radical progressives of Tennessee. 



Middle Tennessee should develop the highest type of conservative cul- 

 tured citizenship, a citizenship more inclined to be content with the con- 

 ditions and institutions as they are and that will take its religion, its poli- 

 tics, and its general outlook on life from a conservative instead of pro- 

 gressive or radical standpoint. It will be more nearly the holding ground 

 for older ideas and its people may be denominated the future conserva- 

 tives of the State. 



West Tennessee is more nearly like Middle Tennessee than East Ten- 

 nessee in the physical conditions that must influence and largely determine 



