Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-22
Letter from Col. Baxter..No. Z.
Editors Of the Chronicle

more rapidly than railroad enterprises, wisely
projected and iudciously constructed. Especi-
ally is this truth applicable to Knoxville En-
sconsed amidst the mountains of East Tennes-
see, its only hope of greatness in population, in
enterprise and in manufacturing and CONNER
cial prosperity, is the completion ofthe projected
railroad system. Among these, the first and
most important is the Knoxville and Kentucky
road. The completion of this road would afford
to Knoxville direct and easy communication
with the Ohio river and with the active and
cnterprising populations and growing business
Of the Northwest, and necessitatc the early
completion of the Blue Ridge road, giving to
us 4 direct connection with Charleston and the
building Of this last named road would in
sure a road from Rabun's Gap, via Athens,
Georgia. to Augusta, with branch to Atlanta,
through which Knoxville would have short
and direct railroad communication with the
several important points named and through
them, with Savannah Brunswick, and every
other desirable points Of trade in Georgia and
Florida
These valuable connections would make
Knoxville railroad centre of the first magn-
tude and induce a current of travel and COM
merce which would energizc and enrich orr
people. The fruits and other products of the
tropics which now find their way through East
crn cite, to Cincinnati, Chicago, and other
Northwestern cities, would be landed at Charles
ton and Savannah, and seek our market and
the Northwestern cities, over our line of road,
while the mechanical and agricultural products
of the Ohio and contiguous sections would flow
through this channel to the South, and through
Southern ports to European and other foreign
markets Complete the Knoxville and Ken
lucky road, and the iron and coal of the Cum
berland mountains the beautiful marble in the
vicinity of this city, the roofing slate on the
Little Tennessee, the zinc, nickel and other
minerals with which this favored country
abounds, would all be brought into requisition
and made to contribute to our wealth. There
is no place in America where articles manu-
featured from wood, iron, cotton ur wool, can
he made at less cost than here in Knoxville.
Under such an impulse Knoxville would. at a
bound spring into the dimensions and activity
Of Pittsburg Property in and out of town,
would appreciate in value; thousands of acres
of mountain lands, now inaccessible and value
less, would command immense amounts of mon
ey mechanics would find plenty of remunera-
tive employment; industry would be stimulated
enterprise receive ample reward; new churches
rear their spires hcavenward and new school
houses make glad the hearts Of care-worn pa
rents; unhesrd of employment-at least to us
would open to our sons and peace and harmo-
ny, which always attend general prosperity,
would 0llay the perSonNl chickering's ana aSDer-
ties which have for so many years, been the
bane of our society. All this could have been
secured, Immediately or remotely, had the mon
ey contributed by individuals, by the counties
of Knox and Anderson, by Knoxville, and by
the State of Tennessee, for the purpose of build
ing railroads for our convenience been honestly
expended for these purposes. But this was not
done, and it is now my duty to show who it is
that have robbed this community of this ines
Unable heritage.
The building of the Knoxville and kentucky
railroad has been chiefly committed to Gen. J0-
seph a. Mabry and the directors and officers
associated with him. For this purpose, he and
they have received in city, county and State
bonds and in private subscriptions very nearly
g, 500, 600, and for this large sum, they have to
return only thirty-nine miles of finished road
cheaply constructed and inadequately equipped
From said bonds and individual subscriptions.
according to q statement furnished by Gen. Ma
bry to the Investigating committee, he, and
those associated with him. realized in cash, So
or $50 63-enough to have built the whole road
only sixty-fve miles long-if it had been
properly applied But of the foregoing assets,
the committee say Gen Mabry has failed to ac-
count for the following sums, to-wit: Sl62 900,
in bonds; $1,000 worth of iron; and $4,000 in
money, at one time, and S29,905, at another,
frauduently appropriated to his own use, and
SIS 600 used in cOrrupting the Legislature,
which they sum up as agg;egatng S2l7,905.
But this sum, As large as it appears is far below
the real sum with which he is chargeable--as
any one may see by reference to the figures fur
nished by Gen. Mabry, to the committee, which
are Is follows:
The committee find, from the general statement of
the condition Of the company, filed by j. A. Mabry.
that there has been
Subscribed stock by individuals, $50 S.
Subscribed stock by cities 100000 90
Subscribed stock by counties $4,000 90
Amount paid in by individuals. s7s9l s.
Amount paid in by cities lO0OO0 %
nnid i'm bv tiez IN
Amount of capital stock paid 91 IS
Amount of State bonds issued to said road23000 90
Amount of floating 10S.654 IS
Amount realized from sales of capital stock
Amount realized from S2,O63OOD Of bonds
sOld... ,6S so 81
Aost o. CONSTITUTION l3.sb9 "
Cost OF pullalhgs., li2l9 U9
Cost OF 1882 %
Total lengtho of road 65 miles
Length Of road finished in Tennessee,..........& /"
Length not fnished -
Length not graded. .......ib
This statement furnished by General Mabrv.
shows that the committee were towards him "a
little kind 1t shows that the State issued to
the company State bonds to the amount of
S2,3500O0, and that the company only sold
S2,062,0 600 leaving balance Of bonds not sold
of S2SS000. Deduct from this 10 bonds lost
with C. Powell Green " Co., $4,000 and il
will lie .,pN that <hprp ara. unappountad I'm