The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-07-22
IMPROVEMENT OF TIE III\VASSEE,
OCOEE, AND TELLICO RIVERS"

OCOEE, AND TELLICO RIVERS"
An attempt has been made by the Chat
tanooga Advertiser" and correspondent Of
the Loudon "Frec Press" 10 mys,ily before
the public mind, the position Of Mr.. Van
Dyke in reference to the Improvement OF the
smaller rivers. lie is charged with advocat
ING direct appropriation Of funds from the
public treasury for clearing out such streams
as those alluded to in the caption Of this Ar
ticlc. This is not the policy Of Mr.. Van
DYKE. for he knows full well that even if
any one should favor course Of that kind
in Congress, the measure could not succeed
in the present posture of the country. We
arc free to admit that tho more important
rivers should receive the f"stcSing care OF the
government, being the great natural arteries
ton is carried on, and that the oca! streams
should be aided through States. But Mr..
Van Dykes position is this, and the people OF
the district when they sec it will heartily
concur in it. According to his general plan,
the menus Of the General government arc to
be used in the improvement Of these streams,
but it must be done through the States
How! Let the public lands, or at least a
portion of them. hc distributed amongst the
States. and then the States will be in posi-
ton to foster all their local interests. While
this Great national heritage is being squan-
dcrcd in every imaginable way--while the
nsr States are rcaping rich harvest from
thi, Great source-lGt the oM States, also,
whose blood and treasure first cngraftcd the
HERITAGE upon the national government, have
the Just proportion to which they arc cnti-
tied. Let Tennessee have her share with the
rest, and what Il magnificent prospect lies be-
fore her. FDly mihions ef acres appropriated
to our State would place us in an indcpcn.
dent position for all time 10 come. And fifty
millions of acres would be the just proper
ton to which Tennessee would be entitled.
What rich boon TO be within our grasp
ne ouiC Vi Wis IIIllicIISC
source of wealth is to remain forever under
the immediate control Of the people of Ten
ncssec Her railroads will receive aid from
the same source, and the means arising there
from arc, according to Mr.. Van Dykes poll
cy, 10 be appropriated 10 The improvement! of
The smniier rircrs. And this, reader, is tho
way in which he proposes that the govern
mcnt shal! make appropriations for the inl-
provcmcnt Of such streams. And is it
not the only practicable scheme by which
the lIiwassec, the Ococc, Tcllico, Clinch, &c.
&C., are to be improved! These are the fee
dcrs to our railroads and the distractions to
their navigation should DO removed.
TO the appropriation Of public lands for
this purpose Mr. Smith is bitterly opposed
He thinks it wrong to give the public lands
to the old Slatcs-that the people residing
in that portion Of the Union whose energies,
whose sc!l.sacriiiccs, whose blood and whose
treasure were the means by which the gov
crnmcnt itself was framed, and through
which that vast public domain was achieved
why they have no part nor lot in these
public lands. Tho people Of Tennessee must
stand aloor from participation in these
treat bessings--they must see their works
of improvement suspendcd-,he people re-
sidin" upon our smaller streams, far removed
from the railroads, must be cut oil from
market, and the only privilege they may have
is 10 know that the settlers Of the ne1r
States, perhaps large foreign population,
are in the enjoyment of those rights to
which they are entitled. And what plan does
he propose in lieu of the enlarged and liberal
one ~ advocated by Mr.. Van Dyke. Why
an adherence to the old system of appro-
priating money from the State Treasury, and
n consequent increase of State taxes. But
this, from an experience in Tennessee Of
fourteen years, is proved, like every other
plan Of Mr.. Smith, to be hopelcssly inctli-
ricnt and futile. As n member of the State
Legislature, Mr.. Smith says he would brine
TO bear all his energies and ability to have
appropriations made for thclliwassce, Ocoee,
Tcllico, Clinch, &c, &c. For ten years past
the energies of men equally rs able Us Mr.
Smith have been expended in useless efforts
TO have money appropriated to these streams
so that the matter is no longer even con-
sidcrcd in tho Legislature. At one time
there was an appropriation made, but it wai
wholly inadequate and accomplished nothing.
The ability of the State is not sufficient.
| when relying upon its taxes alone, TO appro-
pirate II suilciency for MI the streams that
present themselves for Improvement. But
! let us have the public lands, let us sell say
five millions Of acres, and thus raise fire mil
lions Of doilars, with no burden of taxation
upon our people at all, and every river in the
State that can float barge can be placed in
position 10 cary TO market the produce Of
the farmers along its shores. What say you,
voters Of the lIiwassce, Ocoee, Tcllico,
Cliuch, Sc, &c.-is not this the only FEAST
bic plan by which your rivers are to be sue
cessiu!Iy improved!
~" We learn from m editorial in the last
Knoxville Statesman, that the editor, after
preparing the matter for that number of his
paper, left for Montyalc Springs. We are
sorry friend Hurley should find it necessary