Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-06
ONE WAY TO MAKE A CITY.

munlty so certainly as Misunderstanding.
Knoxville has n large and extended terri
tory tributary to it, that furnishes to our
merchants and produce dealers a profitable
business. Heretofore we have had COM
paratively monopoly of this trade. But
as neighboring towns grow in size and in
crease in number, they one by one cut off
our territory and decrease at least our retail
trade. We need not then expect from this
direction alone an increasing source of in
come. We must, therefore, look to other
sources for the increase in population and
wealth we all covet and expect
We have manufacturing facilities which,
if properly advertised and directed, will
bring us capital and labor So far as natu-
raj resources and advantages are concerned,
we need not complain. But we need arti
fetal aids which are absolutely essential
to our success as manufacturing COM
munity, and these aids we can only have
through proper effort.
One of the principal of these aids is iOao
.troights Our people complain of the man
ayers of our railroads that they discrimin-
ate against our business men and manufac-
turers in the price of freights Ifthis is so,
it is only what every community with but
one line Of road experiences. We think it
capable of demonstration that it would be
to the interest of our railroads to transport
freights for our manufacturers andshippers
at absolute cost, for in few years they
would be more than recompensed by the
large additional .freightS. and by the in
creased local trouel, and by the thousand
other advantages certain to flow from an
increased, large and a0eolIy population.
But if such reasons do not bring low
freights, there is a remedy that surely will.
Competition in transporting goods as in
everything else, brings cheap freights and
we can have this if we make the effort
We can have our unfinished roads to Gin
cinnati and Charleston completed, if we
will see to it. One of these roads would
have been completed long ago, if our peo-
pie had watched their interests and proper
ly directed the means appropriated to it,
But we can yet secure its completion, and
we must do this before we can hope to con-
troll freights. If we have two routes from
New York or Cincinnati or Louisville, over
which we can ship or receive freights, we
can choose then between them and get
the benefits of low tariffs. This is one of
the aids we can secure if we will
One other very important aid necessary
to secure us manufacturing skill and capt.
tai is WeroHty and cooperation on the
part of our people.
There are strangers coming to our city
nearly every day They are pleased with
the thrift and general appearance of our
city. They have capital and mechanical
skill, perhaps, which they are willing to
give us. But they go about our streets and
sometimes by chance they fall in with
some clever, interested citizen, who makes
it his business TO show them about and
present the advantages we offer. Where
one Is fortunate enough to find such an
entcrprising citizen, many go away gener-
ally pleased with our city and people but
not specially Impressed with the fact that
acc Want them here and are miVipq to CO.
operate ctH them in any enterprise they
may have in contemplation. We ought to
have place here whore such men can feel
free to go and where they will meet and
interchange views with our people. We
have Board of Trade room that will
answer for such place, but have we men
who lhterest themselves enough in this
direction to look after strangers and
afford them an opportunity of meeting
our people and learning their feelings
But says some old croaker, If they want
to come here, or have money to invest,
they will find out for themselves all they
want to know, and they probably wouldn't
care to be bothered with US" But there
are many men travelling about without any
definite idea IN view, seeking some profita-
BILE investment or some pleasant, healthfuI
home. Would it not be wise to make all
who come feel that we want more money
and people, and have some inducements to
offer? A man who sells goods or wares
advertises his stock and makes known his
advantages and prices. So il il with towns |
and cities that grow and prosper. Through
the cordial greeting, wcH EHoUn Mberoiify
and 2'ubtic enterprise of their citizens, they |
advertise their attractions, and thousands |
are induced to settle and contribute of their !
money and labor to their growth and |
wealth. We met, but few days ago, in n |
leighboring city, men located there whom /
we had seen about our city, studying it, |