The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-08-06
"KNOXVILLE"-aRAILROAD MAN
AGEMENT," &c.

Editor of the Post: My attention has been
directed to paragraph in your last weeks
issue, in which you see proper to inform your
readers that there is some excitement at
Knoxville on the subject of Railroad man
agement;" and you further take occasion to
volunteer the suggestion that if certain per-
sons in this city would turn their attention,
energy and means TO the Knoxville and Dan
vile Road, people would suspect them of be-
ing actuated by other than captious or sell
fish motives. Such is your gratnitous coun-
sci.
Now, sir, without desiring to be thought
either "captious" or "selfish," and yet not
fearing to be so considered by those whose
peculiar personal and local interests | do not
favor, wish briefly to express through
your columns tew of the reasons why |
am dissatisfied with the present "mnnage.
ment" of the East TENNESSEE and Georgia
Railroad, for presume am one of the
gentlemen here, whom you seem to regard
as particularly needing the benefit of your
advice.
II is too true-and It affords me no pleasure
to confess it-that Knoxville is at present in
"a depressed condition" With all her natu-
raj advantages that point her out as the site
of great city, it is lamentably true that her
prospects do not look as hopeful now as they
did before The Easi Tennessee and Georgia
Road reached this poini. Her population has
not increased, her trade has not expanded
and her property has not advanced in price,
in manner to meet the expectations of ma
ny of us who had relied upon the railroad as
great feeder to our commercial wealth.
This is all true, and did it never occur to you
that this depressed condition" of Knoxville
is in some manner attributable to the policy
adopted by the railroad company! Il seems
to have never been thought Of by the present
Board of Officers that the East Tennessee
and Georgia Railroad was built, in n large
degree, for the benefit of Knorpille, and not
for the advantage of the small county towns
along its line, which have presumed to rival
her interests and which even now affect TO
"laugh at her calamity" The present board
seem to have studously disregarded the in
terests OF real-estate owners in Knoxville, in
shaping their policy. OF what advantage has
the road been to many persons here, who
have made large investments in real estate,
if property is TO advance here no faster and
to no higher rate, than in Cleveland, and
Athens, and Loudon, and charleston, and
other towns whose positions give them COM
but little claims upon the policy Of
a great public enterprise! None, positively
none; and Knoxville, if the present policy of
the Company is to be pcrpetuated, will new
er be any geater beneficiary of the road than
otntr towns, of less importance, through
which the road may have CHANGED to pass
between Dalton and this point-and pre-
sumo you will hardly deny that Knoxville, by
reason of her position and aggregate wealth,
should have preponderating influence in de.
termining the roads policy. The energy and
enterprise of her citizens projected, and her
means in large degree, built ii; yet, though
situated at its terminus, the road is to her
only what it is to other towns-a convenient
way for people to pass rapidly through! The
stoppage of passengers here for twenty-four
hours, o. even one night, would give new
life to the place, and be but slight mark of
Difference on the part of the Directory to the
interests of the city. That this
is reasonable view of the case you will
hardly dispute, and that entertaining such
view, should oppose the present Board. will
hardly surprise you. Ineed not tell you that
have invested much in expectation of the
Railroads benefits, and you are probably
aware to what extent aided in the con-
struction, and am now interested in the stock
of the road--if not the stock books, to which
you are convenient, will show you. That
others here, similarly interested both in the
town and the road, are Influenced by the
same considerations and feeling as myself, is
quite true. Like me, they sympathize with
the movement to place the management of
the road in other hands, and, for one, trust
the effort will be successful. | know it ought
to be.
| do not design referring, unless II should
become necessary, hereafter, to the rarious
points of policy to which object, in the
presen. management of the East Tennessee
and Georgia Railroad, but have written to
simply and briefly justify the feeling and
conduct of the gentlemen" here, at whom
} on seem to take malicious pleasure in di.
rectng your squbs. I hope you will do
them and me the justice of giving this n
place in your paper. FAIR PLAY.
Knoxville, Aug. Sd, 1868.
BARBEeuE AND Pic NIc.-The citizens or
franklin county propose to give Barbecue
and Pic Mic, at "Sewannes" on the 18th in.
slant, to which oil the world and his wife are
invited. II will be remembered that "Se-
Ia tho eaat Of tho pronoead Gath