Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-27
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Chattanooga from two Stand Points---some Sug-
gestions for Knoxville.
CHATTANOOGA, 23d April, 1870.

Rome was built on seven hills, Chatta-
nooga has two, but she is prouder of her
two than Rome was of her seven. do not
know how to account for this, unless it is
that she finds greater need for her two than
Rome ever did for her seven. Chattanooga
is occasionally flooded. Rome never. But
Chattanooga is as proud of her flats as
modest people well could be. She has I'M
usual facilities for building large city, and
her people wonder why it is not as large as
New York or Paris. 1t is not for want of
room, they say, for see, we have splendid
fine open land at three thousand dollars
per acre, which is cheap, you know, for it
is worth that much per foot in New York.
They think there is no objection to the
ground because it is low, for say they,
Noah's flood never came but once. Touch
this subject of floods as delicately as you
will, you find it provokes the Chattanooga
people, and they always meet you with
ready answer-they have studied the sub
ject. -
But all joking about floods and hills aside,
Chattanooga is great place. Seven cities
claimed the nativity of Homer, but Chat
nessee seven men greater than Homer.
One is painfully impressed, however, with
the fact that all of the seven men left their
| native city before tney could impart to her
any of their glory, or repay her for the
pangs of maternity. She feels this terrible
drain, and now, in the hour of her long
promised prosperity, longs for some of her
departed sons to nurture and give direction
to her new, PheniX-like, vigor.
THE SERIOUS POINTS.
But there are serious reflections provoked
by visit TO Chattanooga, which it is well
enough to consider We have cur mutual
jealousies--KnoXville and Chattanooga
but we ought not to shut our eyes to facts
and figures, which if we study Alright may
serve to awaken US 10 new enterprises and
life. The long-talked of rolling mill enter
prise at Chattanooga Is now an assured
fact, and in the hands of men who know
no such thing as fail. When old "Pal
Thomas" commanded the army of the
Cumberland he had in his service brigade
: of mounted infantry, known all over thu
land as "NVilder's hatchet brigade" WheI
2 any daring, dashing raid was to be made
. Wilder was sent-for what he was ordere'
| to do was always done. This man, who il
r war went ploughing through the Confede
e racy, carrying death and dismay-and de
r struction when it was needed-is now on
: of the leading spirits in the grand indus
: trial enterprises which are to lift us up on
: of straightforward of the old nut we hav
D followed 80 long-into IA new prosperit!
/ and life. The Roane Iron Company, tina
a built little city, noisy with the beating o
Z hammers and glazing with the fires of fur
: naces, amid the rocky WOods and quiet hill
;, Of Roane county is at the head of this roll
0 ing mill enterprise, and guarantees to i
: the business capacity and skilled lneehan
0 ism of it, successful organization. Will
c such men and means at the foundation, on
D sister city may well feel assured that a new
: life and vigor is to course through he
. streets. The new company begins with
4 capital of $500 900, and has gathered abou
{ II men who control the patronage ant
: wealth of the whole system Of wealth.
I railroads that center about the Mountain
D City" Such works, it Is estimated, viii
! employ about three hundred hands, AM
e must soon add TO the city ii population o
Z two thousand, of those Immediately con
netted with it,
? II will naturally be followed by other en-
terprises almost Of necessity associates
with a rolling mill which will bring addi
tional capital aud need additional labor.
The Alajama and Chattanooga road ha'