The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-10-22
Tor the state at Large.
EMERSON ETHERIDGE, of Weakley.
EDMUND COOPER, of Bedford.
KNoXvILLE.-.Irs pRoSpERIrY.


In late issue of the Wing Governor
Brownlow recommends strongly the es-
Enlistment of a rolling mill in Knoxville
for the manufacture exclusively of rail-
road iron, lie says that the four railroads
oentering at that point should contribute
largely to the enterprise, and that citizens
will be found ready to do their part. The
Press and Herald favors the project and
concludes that the Governor having ex-
pressed his views, or "issued his proclama-
tion," on the subject, the mill will un-
doubtedly be built. Even autocrats, it
says, may be of some benefit to the COM
munities in which they reside.
We do not know how great proper
ton of the prosperity of Knoxville is to
be attributed to the influence or exertions
of Governor Brownlow. If any, heis en-.
titled, that far at least, to the thanks and
support of its citizens. These are evil
times upon which our people have fallen,
and particularly the people of Tennessee.
Almost everywhere trade seems to Ian
guish, energy to lie dormant, and even
hope to be well nigh extinguished. Of
course we attribute this state of things to
the unhappy result of the war, and the
consequent misgovernment with which we
have been afflicted.
But Knoxville seems to be wonderful
exception to the general rule, In all di-
rections, as if by magic, factories, machine
shops, storehouses, dwelling houses and
buildings of every description are spring
ing up. Business, in all its varieties,
seems to be thriving. The people, gener-
ally, seem to have remunerative occupa-
tions-at least they dress we'll, look well,
and appear to be all busy.
In this general prosperity the newspa-
pers have largely shared. The Press and
Herald has been enlarged, much improv-
ed, and gives evidence of greater success
than was ever before attained by Knox
vile daily paper. The Wing has added
to its weekly tri-weekly edition and ev-
erything about its new and handsome
Printing House denotes attention, activi-
~ and success.
The business houses, wholesale and re-
tail, are the depots of thriving, remuner-
ative trade. Among them we noticed
particularly the mammoth establishment
of Messrs. Cowan, M'Clung & Co., the
new wholesale house of Messrs. Gaines &
Co., and the East Tennessee Book House
of Messrs. R. II. Richards & Co.; all on
Gay street, the Broadway of Knoxville.
Many other establishments of the same
grade seem to be in the enjoyment of ex-
tensive patronage, while new firms, with
new goods and new attractions, are almost
constantly springing into life.
The well-flled omnibuses arriving at
and leaving the Lamar House at intervals
during the day, invest that institution, to
the eye of one who for several years has
been debarred the privilege of witnessing
very big things, of that kind, with almost
the Importance of an Astor House or St.
Nicholas; while the numbers of persons
passing to and fro between the frequently
arriving and departing trains and the At
kin House give things about that well
managed and elegant hotel the air of busy
prosperity.
With the exception of a few western
towns which were marvels of goaheadative-
ness in their day, we have never seen a
place toall appearances more certainly on
the road to hugeness of size than Knox
vile. 1t only wants even now, to give il
the finishing touches of frst-class city a
few concert saloons, with their "pretty
waiting girl" attractions, and perhaps
"wickedest man" or two. In view, how.
ever, of the questionable moralityof these
modern improvements we hope the me-
tropols of East Tennessee may be able tc
fulfil her destiny without them.
4,s - up--b----------
~ The State Central Committee o.
Georgia have unanimously adopted thu
resolution presented by Wade Hampton