Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-09

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Special Correspondence Memphis Ledger.l
CHATTAEooGA, November 5. 1871.
There is no city in Tennessee which
has made such rapid progress in popu-
lation and wealth as this large and grow
ing city. Not only the stranger just
arrived, but persons perfectly familiar
with the former history of Chattanooga
are utterly astonished at the rapid
growth here manifested. Expressing
my astonishment at what had been acI
complished here since the war, resident
of few months informed me that my
astonishment found parallel in his own
experience. Every three months the
town is so turned around by improve
ments that one is compelled to go around
it frequently in order to keep up with
the various Improvements to be seen in
every direction. The main street, lead
4 ing from the river, which only extended
a few blocks before the war, now
stretches out for miles, and on either
side large substantial brick structures
now occupy the shanties that formerly
graced only portion of this business
thoroughfare, while on the cross streets
no less improvement is marked in the
character and style of the business
houses and private residences.
Perhaps no city in the Union can
boast of more elegant and commanding
private residences. These are stretched
along on the streets apart from the busi-
ness portion Of the city, and on the hills
and elevated points which overlook the
busy mart below. They are of the most
approved styles of architecture, and
present fresh nd tasteful appearance.
The situation of the city is such as to
give the residences on the elevated sites
around it most eligible, airy and health
full locations. No city can be more
healthful; no malaria and no epidemics
afiict this people. On the contrary, the
air from the mountains around is fresh
and invigorating in the highest possible
degree, while the colder blasts are turned
from the city by Lookout Mountain and
its kindred gro ups, which encircle the
city from almost every point OF the com
pass.
Already five railroads run into Chat
tanooga two trains daily, and five other
railroads are already projected. The
census reported a population OF ten
thousand inhabitants, but a subsequent
census has already found twelve thous-
and, and every day adds scores to the
number. In fact, the city is growing so
fast that house and store-room is very
scarce; and notwithstanding fifteen hun
dred houses have been erected here
within the past season, the constant de-
mand is for more.
There are four hotels already in sue
cessful operation, and now we have an
other. 1t is the Stanton House, located
on Main street, just opposite the brow OF
Lookout Mountain, and is one of the
most commodiously planned and ele-
gantly constructed hotels in the United
States. Col. H.. f. Parrish is now in
charge. Soon its gorgeous furniture
will arrive, and it will then be opened
out on scale of elegance that has never
been surpassed by even the Fifth Avenue
in New York.
Business here has not been as lively
as formerly. 1t was anticipated that the
completion Of the Alabama aEd Chatta-
nooga road to Meridian would open up
an immense trade at this point, but just
as the rails were laid together, Tom
Scott, the great railroad manipulation,
commenced coquetting with parties in
Alabama, and Governor Lindsay was so
insane as to believe that he could seize,
upon the failure to pay interest, on the
bonds issued by Alabama, in part pay
for the construction of the road, and
either run il or sell it as he might elect
In pursuance of this scheme Of his,
which it is boldly charged here was in
the interest of Tom Scott, Governor
Lindsay now has actual possession OF
all the road and rolling stock in Ala
bama, and is now running the road to
his own satisfaction in his own
dominions. But Georgia will not
let him pass over that portion of
the road lying in that State, and hence
there has been no connection between
our merchants and the planters of Ala
bama, and none Of the trade which the
farmer had so confidently anticipated.
Not only that, but cotton designed for
this place has been shipped to Mobile,
and of course the supplies which the
planters need, and which have already
been accumulated at this point for their
| convenience, will doubtless be drawn
from that place instead of this Hence
| the merchants here not only denounce
the conduct Of the Governor of Ala
bama, but they are impatient for the
road to be returned to the men who built
and can most successfully operate IT.
At meeting held here last night,
composed of theIleading merchants and
bankers, it was unanimously determined
to do all in their power to assist the new
President of the road, Colonel Drake,
whose banking house in New York rep
resents five millions of capital, to regain
possession of the road at the earliest
| practicable moment More than that,
an attorney here, in the interest of many
Of the merchants, creditors of the road,
stated that he had been instructed not
to press the claims on which he
had brought suit, if thereby 1t
would delay the officers Of the road in
speedily operating the same. Others
said that the Alabama road is of
more advantage to the merchants of
Chattanooga than all the other roads
centering here put together, and all we're
united in determination to aid, by all
means in their power, the new President,
Colonel Drake, to obtain control OF the
same.
The cause Of the trouble with the Ala
bama and Chattanooga road is thus
stated: Tom Scott is seeking Southern
connections for the Pennsylvania Cen
trail, so that when the Southern Pacific
road is constructed he may WELD its des-
TIMES. He has already made his con-
nections through Virginia to Chattan-
ooga, and wished to gobble up the Ala
bama road, which is the shortest route to
New Orleans But j. G. Stanton, who
built the road. was unwilling to give
up even for Tom Scott, who is said to
have influenced the action of Governor
Lindsay. Finding that Stanton was not