Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-01
TcoMMuHIcATED.l
WHY Is THIS THUS?
Knoxville Pinched?

Writers on political economy will theorise
free trade into a beautiful system under which
nations are certain to become wealthy and pros
porous. But the experience of the United
States, in putting such theories in practice,
proves so disastrous that, on the several occa-
sions when its policy has been so shaped ms to
approximate the system, all her industrial and
financial interests were brought to the brink of
ruin
In the same strain, we might present beauti-
full theory which would prove that, as man sup
ported himself in tolerable comfort before
the days of modern inventions and labor-saving
machinery, that now, with such advantages as
the steam-engine together with the thousand
valuable machines for increasing the products of
agriculture and for converting raw materials in
to finished articles of use, rs well for easy and
rapid communication and exchange, all can live
in ease and enjoy every comfort and luxury of
life and not work half the time. But when we
come to face the stern realities Of the case, we
find that our theory don't stand the test of expe
rience. We see good, honest and industrious
mechanics who are compelled to work hard all
the time, and then find It difficult to keep up the
actual and necessary family expenses Farmers,
with all their improved agricultural machinery,
find when they have sold their products and set
tied their store bills they have nothing left.
Manufacturers, with their steam-engines and
labor-saving invention, find it a struggle to pay
current wages to their hands and make adequate
dividends on investments. Merchants find that
when they take account of stock, pay rent and
expenses, they have not become rich. And so
we may go through, and all classes will report
that business is not satisfactory-not up to the
standard of expectation and desire. And while
such is the case in regard to the everyday life
of the active workers and producers, we not UNI
frequently find the community suffering, in con-
sequence of business having come to n stand
a dead lock. Laborers out of work, actually
idle, and at the same time suffering for the very
necessaries that they would fain produce if they
had the opportunity to work, and, as a conse-
quenee, al branches of industry and business
inactive, because so many laborers are idle. We
may have occasion to refer to this matter at
some future time but now only mention it to
illustrate the difference between the actual and
the ideal.
1t is easy to show ION paper that Knoxville is
destined to be a great city. With the fine lay
of land on the east, north and west suitable for
building lots, together with the chance, by
bridging the Holston, to spread out on the south,
there is hardly any limit to which the city may
not be extended Then, with the facilities af-
forded by the river and two creeks to furnish
water to steam engines which shall propel i'm
mense cotton and wooden mills and factories
and every other kind of mill and factory, and
with a railroad running directly to the coal mines
which will furnish fuel to said engines. there
can be no proper estimate of the extent to which
1'annJactnTe may be put in operation. With
the advantages of selubrious climate and pic
turesque scenery families in afluent circum-
stances will resort here and locate in genteel re-
tirement, svailing themselves Of our high schools
and our University for the education Of their
children
Besides all thia, Knoxville is the centre of a
great railroad system Roads csntering here
stretch away to all points of the compass and
every important city of the Union. 1t is true
then, our roads are not all completed, but they
would soon be in running order if the State
would insure the requisite bonds, and keep away
all nosing investigating committees Then with
the Tennessee River Improvement completed,
we shall see at our wharvea large steamers from
the Ohio and Mississippi which will come la
dened with the luxures offoreign chimes, to ex-
change for the agricultural and mineral pro-
auctions of East Tennessee. All of which
would, no doubt make the city of Knoxville
perfect metropolis.
But candor compels us to say that this is "all
in your eye" Knoxville is not a great city.
The fact that offer of lot in North Knox
vile, free of charge, for Custom House is re-
jected because it Is too far out in the country,
fixes the present status, and shows that the citi-
zens themselves do not expect thatit will ever be
much of city.
The reason iohy Knoxville is SO nearly sta
tionary and is falling SO far shortof her natural
advantages, will yet be considered. Ii. c.