Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-17


The East Tennessee Agricultural Society,
You must bear with me, Mr. Editor, if /
should frequently ask you to be heard.
through your columns, i'm behalfofthe' East
Tennessee Agricultural Society" AS you
are aware, we have no organ, and, there
fore, must rely upon the press of this city
ana OF East Tendessee to aid us in the
prosecution of our plans. 1t seems to me,
from my standpoint, that you could not
perform noblcr work than that of advo-
eating and urging the claims of this instl-
tuition. In doing so you are helping the
people and doing your section a vast
amount of good.
l would kindly suggest, at the outset.
that Knoxville has not, and does not give
that encouragement to this undertaking
which Its Importance demands. Her citi-
zens must not complain if thus write.
Am l become your enemy because | tell
you the TRUTH If l express myself free
~, frankly,it is because | feel an emphatic
and decided interest in the triumphant
success of our cause. The citizens of
Knoxville ought to increase the capital
stock of the society at least one hundred per
cent, and then not do more than one
half of their duty. They could do this
and not feel it, That they would be large
ly benefited pecuniarily, no one can
question. Who better understand this
than our own business men? They know
1t to be 50. 1t is utterly impossible to
make an investment of this kind and not
reap the fruits of it. But independent of
this, there is predominant feeling of
pride and laudible ambition involved that
should prompt every good citizen to do
something. We have the institution To-
Gated in our midst. Its shadow rests upon
the very brow of our beautiful city, and
should be made one of its chief attractions,
To adorn and beautify it, ought to be a
pleasure. ] have always thought that the
city council should have, long ago. ac-
cepted the proposition made by the di-
rectors to take the grounds and convert
them into city park. What a delightful
place could be made of them! How pleasant
it would be toivisit them during the spring
and summer months! Money expended up
on them to adorn them and make them
would be a most judicious ex-
penditure. A community never looses
anything by augmenting the innocent,
but eXhilerating pleasures of its citizens,
Cheerfulness and hilarity of spirits pro-
notes a healthful action of the physical
organs, helps digestion amazingly, and
throws sunshine upon an otherwise dark
ened pathway.
We must come to the realization of the
startling truth that Indifference is with
ering this enterprise. 1t is doing it every
day, slowly but surely. Its Vitality i
being sapped and undermined. We NAV
not be conscious of it, / confess, yet it Is
too true. This wonderful enterprise should
be deeply imbedded in the affections of
every man, woman and child in the COM
They should love it, and cherish
1t as the "apple Of theireye." Can our en-
terprising citizens suppose, for a moment,
that it can survive without mateial aid
or succOr2 Can we "make brick without
straw" VIII the institution sustain
Itself? We tell them, nay! 1t is not
endowed with the attribute of self-locomo-
ton, any more than the Knoxville Iron
Company. 1t must have support, ample
support, or else it will so down with fear.
full crash. The "troublous timesn are al
ready upon us. The memorable creditor is
now "crying away" at the door of the
treasury, and demanding admittauoa.
Our Threats are seized and dues raauired.
What will we do ? Are we going to Ignore
our ohligations9 VIII we refuse to come
to the rescue2
AS yet, | have no means of knowing
what plans the Finance Committee will
adopt to clear up our financial skies, but |
have, as the country has, unbounded con-
hdenoe in their capacity TO devise WAYS
and means to lead us out of our troubles.
They are all men of energy nIuck aud