Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-11-02


We, the undersigned committee. appointed to-
solicit subscriptonsto capital stock Of the'knoX-
vile Bridge Company, for the in formation
of the voters of Knox county, beg leave to
state:
That the Legislature has granted charter
for the purpose of constructing bridge across
the Hoston river at Knoxville and the rate of
tolls allowed, and the location together offered
the county this opportunity 10 make this much
needed, and in every way useful Improvement
in such a way as will enrich the county, and at
the same time materially benefit large portion
of her citizens
Your County Court, after proper considera-
ton of the matter, unanimously voted to take
stock to the amount of $1,000. Their action is,
however, subject to the will of the people, as
was their desire and a. it justly should be. The
sound Judgment displayed in taking this stock
will be made evident when it will be seen that
the investment will be continual source OF in
come to the people, which will 60 far towards
paying the taxes of the county, rit will st least
materially lessen them.
The $4,000 will be.paid in ten year bonds, in
five payments Of Of $1,000 each-three months
between each payment; SO that by the time the
last payment will have been made the bridge will
have been completed The interes. that will
accrue on these bonds during the construction
of the bridge-amounting to S2,250-will be all
lhe money that the county will ever be called
on for, if, indeed, 1t is ever called on for that.
After the bridge has been completed the in
come from it, applied to the payment of these
bonds will at the end of ten years, have paid
athe $4,000 and leave a surplus besides.
l The facts upon which we base this assumption
ARD these: The Government Bridge, which cost
THE county one hundred dollars, and was kept
injoperation about ten months, yielded a net in
Come to the county after paying the purchase
money twelve hundred dollars for draw, and
other expenses. two thousand dollars.
1t will however, be remembered that the
County Court thought proper to reduce the tar
iff of tolls from time to time so that she rates
charged for crossing were merely nominal, and
the bridge thereby made nearly a free one. This
action in reducing the tolls was approved by all,
because Of the small sum Of money 800 which
the bridge cost the county. Judge c. W. Jones,
who had control of it, and who is now Chairman
of the County Court stated to the Court at MS
last session that the old bridge would have paid
the county eight thousand dollars the hrst wear.
after paying all expenses of keeping, had it been
the desire Of the county TO keep up the rate of
charge
The construction Of this bridge across the
Holston would induce people 70 settle on the
south side Of the river. so that in short time
town of considerable importance would spring
up in that locality and would be TO Knoxville
what Edgefeld il to Nashville or COvington.
Kentucky. is to Cincinnati. Ohio, which places
were started under like circumstances. and
thereby increase the revenue from the bridge.
This Is not all. Following this will be the
construction of good roads into the State of
NOrh Carolina through the counties Of Sewer
and Blount, which will bring thousands Of per-
sons to Knoxville to find a market for their sur
plus who never thought Of coming here before
This end can be accomplished with much less
outlay of money than those who have never
thought on the subject would at first be dis
posed to estimate it at.
1t is not necessary in this brief address to toll
you of the superiority, in safety and expedition,
afforded persons in crossing the bridge as COM
pared with the ferries, rs all arc aware that
there are on an average about thirty days in
each year that no crossing can be done in the
boats because of highwatsr, winds &c The
increase in the population of this county for the
last three years, and the consequent increase in
her agricultural and commercial resources, will
make the income TO this bridge twenty-five per
cent more than the old bridge could have r.
allied when it was in operation. This increa c
will 20 on each successive year, so that in jess
than ten years the stock will pay twonty-t 80,
per cent. annually, and be worth in the mark ri
three times the cost of it. The charter ha,
ninety-nine years to run, and it ia, Of course
matter of the greatest importance TO tie people
for the county 10 hold an influence iu the man.
agement and control OF the affairs 81 the bridge
The County Court has designated the Sth da,
of November next Us the day ou which You may
cast your votes for the enterprise, and we on
terrain the hope that all will vote fpr '-lfoscrip
ton, as it l. msnitestly 70 their interests 70 q,
SO.