Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1899 — SOME TENNESSEE CAVES. [ARTICLE]

SOME TENNESSEE CAVES.

Utilized in aa Industrial Way by the The unique socialistic and cooperative colony of Raskin, which hae been recently organized in the backwoods of middle Tennessee, about six miles from Tennessee City, owns, among other attractions, some peat natural wonders in the way of huge cave 9, which are not only exceedingly curious and picturesque, hut useful as well, ae since their discovery a few months ago they have been utilized by the colonists as a canning and vinegar, factory and a storehouse for canned fruits and their large celery crop, the uniformly cool temperature of the cave preserving the celery perfectly for months), thus enabling the Ruskinites to bring it forth in the spring fresh and delicious. Imagine a -railroad depot with solid rock arched roof and wall© about 500 feet long by 60 feet wide, well lighted, for the entrance is high and wide enough for half a dozen teams to drive in abreast, and some slight conception can be gained of the appearance of Ruskin’s largest cave. In the center is a little crystal lake, about 50 feet in diameter, with water so clear that you can see the stones plainly on the bottom 35 feet below, for that is its depth. This is the basin of a subterranean spring, from which the water flqws in a comparatively large stream perpetually, and which has been guided down a wooden flume by the colonists to an overshot wheel, famishing power to a pump that forces the water to the top of the great limestone bluff in which this cave is found, 200 feet above. Here is a great Portland cement cistern, holding 1,200 barrels, connected by pipes to the printery of the colony, that would enable them to flood the building in about three minutes in case of fire. There are various passages from the main cave. One tff them, after going about one-eighth of a mile, opens into another cave even larger than the first. These caves have never been fully explored, hut a tramway has been built some distance towards the second cave, and ample facilities have been found for the storing of celery, gladioli, cape bulbs and other rare plants. The atmosphere in theae caves is remarkably dry and pure.— Chicago Times-Herald.