The Times News

MY COUNTRY
'TIS OF THEE
By S. J. FULLWOOD

TENNESSEE

Tennessee is in the east south central group of states in these United States. It is bounded on the north by Kentucky and Virginia; on the east by North Carolina; on the south by Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi; and on the west by Arkansas and Missouri. The natural western boundary is the Mississippi river.

The topography of the state is mountainous in the eastern portion—these mountains being of the range of Appalachians. The central portion of the state is hilly, but not mountainous only in the Cumberland mountain regions in the north central part; and the western portion near the Mississippi river is bottom land of extremely alluvial soil structure.

The table land of the Cumberland mountains has an average altitude of 2000 feet. The Great Smoky mountains form in part, the eastern border of Tennessee, and altitudes range upward to 6000 feet in places. Mt. Guyot with an altitude of 6636 feet is the highest peak in the state above sea level.

In a booklet published by the Department of Agriculture for Tennessee, we are given a small copy of the state seal, done in black and white. This copy measures one and a half inches in diameter. Between the outer and inner rims of the seal, reading from left to right, we see "The Great Seal of the State of Tennessee" and at the bottom appears "1796." In the center of the seal at the bottom appears the word "Commerce," with a boat sailing on a stream just above the word. In exact center appears the word "Agriculture." At the top of this inner circle appears the Roman numerals "XVI." and inscribed therein from left to right is seen: a plow, a sheaf of wheat or corn, and a small tree.

The State flower for Tennessee is "The Iris." The nickname or the name the state goes by sometimes is, "The Volunteer State." The State bird is the Mocking bird. The State song is entitled "My Homeland, Tennessee." The population is 2,909,000. And the state capitol is located at Nashville.

Tennessee has a state flag. The flag is of a deep red color, with a blue inset in the middle. On this field of blue is seen three white stars. The outer edge of the flag is also blue; and the whole is mounted on a gold staff. The flag is best described in the following poem given to us by the State Department of Agriculture:

"Three stars upon a field of blue
God keep them strong and free
One stands for me, one stands for you,
One stands for Tennessee."

Agriculture is the leading industry of the state. The major crop is Indian corn. Other important crops raised there include: tobacco, cotton, field crops—all kinds of fruits. Livestock is an important agricultural industry in the state as well.

The major mineral of the state is coal. Of this mineral a large quantity of it is converted into coke for intra-state and out of state shipments. "Iron ores are found in forty-four counties." The production of silver in Tennessee reached 85,533 ounces in 1930. Much zinc is found in the state. "Among the non-metallic minerals may be mentioned large deposits of phosphate rock, clay products, sandstone, marble and limestone." Also we find large amounts of lithographer's stone, cement and slate. "Tennessee marble is used extensively in building, and it forms the inside casing of the National Capitol and Library of Congress in Washington."

Transportation in the state consists largely of steam railways, river navigation and highway traffic. "There are 3962 miles of steam railways and 507 miles of electric railways in the state. The state maintains 6571 miles of highway, of which 5,006 miles are surfaced. The chief railways are the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis; the Louisville and Nashville; and the Tennessee Central."

The Mississippi and Tennessee rivers form most of the river shipping done in the state.

In Tennessee there are 1561 establishments for manufacture, which employ a total of 94,909 wage earners. The principle forms of manufacture in the state are: agricultural products, of which the leading forms are: flour and grist mills, extensive manufacturing of cotton goods, lumber products, dyestuffs, leather, textiles of woolens, wagons, and implements. Some iron and steel manufacturing is done in Tennessee.

An interesting factor in the study of Tennessee as a state is found in connection with the population. "Tennessee is almost wholly American in population. Foreign born whites being less than 0.7 per cent." Illiteracy, for the state as a whole is 7.2 per cent; among the native whites, 5.4 per cent; and among the negroes, 14.9 per cent. "School education is free and compulsory throughout the state, and the employment of children under sixteen years of age in workshops, factories or mines is illegal." Educational facilities in the state are numerous for both whites and blacks. Five public normal schools; a State University; a State Polytechnic Institute; and twenty-six other colleges and universities are found in Tennessee. One of the most outstanding colleges for colored people is the Knoxville College, located at Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee is rich in historical lore. The first white settlers went there from Virginia and North Carolina. The first permanent settlers located in this state in 1769-71. In 1784 the inhabitants became dissatisfied with being merely a part of Washington county, North Carolina, and organized an independent State of Franklin with pioneer John Sevier as Governor. Tennessee became a part of the above mentioned county following the battle of King's Mountain in the Revolutionary war. In 1796 it was admitted to the Union as a State, taking the Indian name of the chief river.

Recreation in this state is varied. In the eastern portion of the state, tours through the Great Smokies attract people from all over the world. A trip into the state must mean some time spent in the various cities of Tennessee—all of which have attractions to offer the tourists which are worth seeing. Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and motoring are only a few of the many forms of recreation to be had there. A number of State Forests have been established in the State.

From Tennessee, crossing the Mississippi river, we journey once again into the great southwest, stopping for a sojourn in the State of Texas. What is the nickname of this great and vast domain under the American flag?

Learn to know your country.