Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-16
The East Tennessee Agricultural Society

The East Tennessee Agricultural Society.
You must bear with me, Mr. Editor, if
should frequently ask you to be heard
through your columns, in behalfoft the" East
Tennessee Agricultural Society," AS you
are aware, we have no organ, and, there
fore, must rely upon the press of this city
and of East Tendessee to aid us in the
prosecution of our plans. 1t seems to me,
from my standpoint, that you could not
perform q nObler work than that of advO-
eating and urging the claims of this insti-
tuition. In doing so you are-helping the
people and doing your section a vast
amount of good.
| would kindly suggest, at the outset,
that Knoxville has not, and does not give
that encouragement to this undertaking
which it's Importance demands. Her cit-
zens must not complain if [ thus write.
Gam become your enemy because tell
you the truth ~ If | express myself free
ly, frankly,i 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 pehundred 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
HdSoClOIl' w IIO DcIlGI uuuSISldIlu llllS
than our own business men? They know
it to be so. 1t is utterly impossible to
make an investment of this kind and not
reap the fruits of it. But Independent of
this, there is a 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
Il
To adorn and beautify it, ought to be q
pleasure. l 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 delightful
place could be made of them! How pleasant
it would be to,Yisit them during the spring
and summer months. Money expended up
on them to adorn them and make them
attractive would be a most iudicious ex-
penditure. a community never lOoses
anything by augmenting the innocent,
! but eXhilerating pleasures Of its citizens.
! Cheerfulness and hilarity Of spirits pro-
notes 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 is
being Slapped and undermined. We may
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
munity. They should love it, and cherish
it as the ''apple of their eye" Can our en-
terprising citizens suppose, for a moment,
that it can survive without mateial aid
or succor? Can we ''make brick without
straw?n Will 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 go down with fear
fuf crash. The 'troublous times" are al.
ready upon us. The memorable creditor is
now "crying away at the door of the
treasury, and demanding admittance
Our Threats are seized and dues required
What will we do? Are we going to ignore
our obligations? Will we refuse to come
to the rescue?
AS yet, / have no means of knowing
, what plans the Finance Committee viii
adopt to clear up our financial skies, but
have, as the country has, unbounded con
) fidence in their capacity to devise ways
and means to lead us out of our troubles
They are all men of energy, pluck anC
, brains and are equal to the emergency.
2 G.. w. CHARLTON,
4,