Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-01
OFFICE Il, II. h, ASSOCIATION,
Knoxville. Feb. %. 1863.

hhoANllc RCD ~ looH' J
Rev, M, Hi0acs, Chairman Erecutirc Coomihsci
1t is proper that | communicate to you and the
Committee, from time to time, such information rs
may be doomed important,
! have the pleasure of announcing MS the result Of
greater system and business-ko order instituted
with the new year and new supplies that after sup
plying all destitute cases resident in this county, the
numerous INDECENT refugees from the upper counties
from North Carolina, Virginia, Gcorgia, &c, we
have an undiminished fund on hand with which to
meet the future wants of the people of East Ten
nesseo If this result had been brought about 10
the neglect of the poor and the suffering ! should
have instead of emotions of pleasure and gratiAca-
ton no other feelings than those of rcmorsc and
sorrow But assure such has not been the case
We have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, relieved
the suffering, and, Mt the same time reserved for
them still richer harvest, on which they may feast
at an hour when want and hunger, but for it, would
plead in vain for relief. ] scarcely need state that
these results and this state Of the treasury widely
different from those in the former history of the AS
ISOLATION. Instance the counties east of this, and
having agents at this place, Its known to you and
the gentlemen Of the Committee that the capital Of
these counties was expended last year with very
meagrc returns to the treasury. We are now feeding
the same people-possibly increased in number
without diminishing, to the extent Of one dime, the
sums due said counties respectively.
The system which has operated so hyoraby is
doubtless known to you, and yet you will allow me
to state for the information of gentlemen of the
Committee whose attention may not have been
called to the subject that we sell bacon at 10 cents
per pound -four at 30 cents and other articles pro-
portionably low, to soldiers wives and poor widow
women, but sell the same articles to citizens, under
the usual restrictions, ut an advance upon invoice
cost sufficiently to make up losses by sales Mt low
prices and losses by donations to those unable to buy
at any price 1t is in this way the capital has been
sustained. The number of soldiers wives and poor
widow women supplied at low prices and gratui-
tously at this point will not fall under seven hun
dred Supplies are being sent to other counties ms
rapidly as possible.
To one or two curious facts ask the attention of
the Committec-curious by reason of the much talk
about heavy sales to citizens able to buy elsewhere
1t appears from the books in the dry goods depart
ment that the average bills to citizens is S3O4 only
and that the soldiers wives and widow women, 1862.
If the wealthy have dealt here surely they have
been sparng in their expenditures. These bills
clearly indicate what nearly the facts in the case
that the poor are or customers and that tie goods
hare not gone rhere they lcere not nccded These
figures also indicate n general diffusion of benefits,
and that purchasers have bought nothing save
enough to supply actual want.
/ may, in conclusion, intimate to the Committee
that my purpose, which was to supply the poor and
relieve the suffering at this point, without exhaust
ing the fund due the people of the other counties,
has been so far accomplished as to place our dis
bursements at this place upon Independent bases for
some time to come if carefully guarded and | can
BOW if need be, contine our operations to n COM
paratvely narrow compass, without at all thwarting
the original designs, Respectfully,
+. l.. GILLENwATERs,
Gen. Agt. +. T. r, a.