Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-27

than was the Crutchfield house, and to be
of modern style and equipment. Our
friend Kirby, who, with his varied journal
istic accomplishments serves in himself as
full staff for thesprightly Times, toldus the
hotel and passenger depot building would |
contain 10000, 900 brick. AS we have no
head for that kind of figuring, we leave it
for some of our Knoxville builders-as good |
as you can find anywhere-to compute its
size, or say whether it is Chattanooga |
brag.
SUGGESTIONS FOR KNOXVILLE.
We have now thrifty, growing city, !
with many advantages which we can not
longer afford to disregard. We have CAPT
tai and business capacity sufficient for any
enterprise we want to undertake. Why is
it we do not have our shops employing
their hundreds of mechanics, sending off
their products to every part of the Sonth?
Why is it that our columns are advertising
for sale machines built up near the lakes of
the far North-machines we could
build here for less money than they cost in
Ohio? We have lumber and iron within
sight of the city that can be converted into
any kind of machinery alta fine profit. We
have men ready to come here and under
take the enterprises if they receive the pro-
per encouragement. What encouragement
do they want, do you ask? In the first
place they do not want money at 2 per cent.
per month. They do not want to locate
among business men who pile up brick and
lumber into business blocks, that are not
| needed, or that pay but small per cent. on
the capital invested, rather than loan at
reasonable rates their money to manufac-
turing establishments, that would bring
population and thrift with them. How
| much money is there invested on Gay
street in buildings that are either unoccu-
pied or rented at a small profit, that might
be loaned to active, capable mechanics or
manufacturers on such terms as would give
us increased business and trade? Why is
| it that our large establishments that en-
ploy their hundreds of men, and that have
built up our city and given us new resour-
ces and wealth, can not get money from
our banks or men of capital, without pay
ing ruinous rates of interest? 1t is not so
| in cities that grow and build up by magic.
In such places the business men reach out
and help sustain the shops that bring to-
gether the population which is the very
foundation of their trade and prosperity.
Suppose our men of capital were to raise
SlOO, 600 which it was understood would be
loaned on good security at six per cent.
for five years, or some other deh-
mite time, to manufacturers, provided
they would use it in building shops
and manufacturing machines, such as arc
needed every day right here at our doors
and all through the South. Would not the
increase in population, in business, in the
value of real estate, and in the assured pros
perity of the city, which such manufacture
; ing would certainly bring with it, more
: than repay our capitalists for their liberali-
, ty? Would not some such practical en-
. couragement bring to US men of sterling
worth and of energy, who would help IL:
to build up our waste places? Why no
l try it? Suppose we get to work and see t.
it that our unfinished railroads to Charles
ton and Cincinnati are completed so tina
4 we can have cheap freights and new terri
1 tory opened up to our business men an'
i mechanics. If some of the dozen store
keepers who are now complaining of dul
5 times will shut their doors, invest thci
money in some way that will employ labor
d if they will put their hands and heads t
: work we think we will all hear less com
d planning, see more of a healthy growth t
v our city, and more trade for those encoura
p ging them.
e We have Board of Trade organize
e from the best business talent of the city
e If we understand correctly the objects G
II their association, some such suggestions a
2, we make might profitably engage their al
d tention. If they will crystalize the ele
n ments here and direct our energies in tn
p proper channel, they will do what simila
= organizations are doing in other cities. w
e print elsewhere the fruits of the labors {
s. board of trade in one of the thrivin
1t towns of Ohio Some such spirit her
e would soon complete our railroads, and Civ
y US facilities we need to make us the manu-
It featuring city of the South.
r THE CoLoRED MANS FRIEND.