Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-24
LECTURE M HoN. A. n. NELSON.
Protection, Immigration aud Education
Our Hope.

The second Of the series of lectures before the
Board of Trade was delivered last night by
Judge Nelson. He said he did not know what
more appropriate subject he could choose for
UGH an occasion than the Past Present and
Future.
Having lived in this city since he was sixteen
years old, he was familiar with the early history
of Knoxville and he gave many interesting in
cidents connected with tho limits, population
and points of local interest in the first days Of
the place The facilities for transportation in
his early years were limited. The six horse
teams and stage coaches transported merchan-
disc from the East. Then camc in order the
steamboat and the railroad. He told with what
difficulty the first railroads were built; about
the convention of 1887, when the road from the
Ohio to Charleston was projected and how
financial reverses delayed the enterprise for
years
The College used TO be where the Coffin place
now stands, East Knoxville used to be called
Hard-Scrabble, and where Mr.. Cowan's palatial
residence now stands and where the depot is To-
Gated was then woods.
After reviewing the past, Judge Nelson spoke
of the present of Knoxville and how to increase
its wealth and population. We arc now twice
as large as during the war, and would still in
crease if We pursued the proper course East
Tennessee needed more capital and population.
We can not now compete with the rich, agri-
cultural Western States without the Develop
ment of our mineral wealth by capital and po-
pulation from the North. 1t would be we'll for
us, he thought, if VIC would agitate this subject.
We needed moro men with hobbies, like Charl-
ton with his fair and Butler with his school.
WE NEED PROTECTION
for our industries The good old tariff doctrine
OF Henry Clay would help to build up the coun-
try. When he thought about our railroads get
ting their iron in Europe, he felt AS though they
coul Id better afford to pay two, yes, four prices
to home establishments, and thereby build
up the country. He cited the benefits that used
TO accrue to the farmers in Washington county
from Mr.. Emory's little mill. How they used
70 get so much more for their produce, and he
thought if we had rolling mil lis and furnaces al
through East Tennessee, the farmers would
have no trouble in getting high prices for theil
produce. Judge Nelson elaborated and several
times illustrated his protection theories by fig.
ures and expressed his belief that IL Clay idea:
had been acted upon at once, this country would
now supply the world with iron.
IMMIGRATION.
We very mvch needed more population. He
thought while we should look to Europe FOL
emigration, VIC ought particularly to look tC
neighboring States. There were many good
citizens North looking here for homes and VT
ought to invite them to come. We ought tC
make our lands reasonable, especially abou
Knoxville, and he named certain cases in which
parties had been deferred from coming here be
cause oil citizens asking too much for real estate
EDUCATION
On the subject of Education, Judge Nelson
was very decided. We ought to have leading
euuCallOnal institutions mere Our East Zen
nessee University with tho Agricultural College
fund, ought to be made one Of the leading col
leges of the country. The people of Knoxvill,
ought to sustain it and take an interest in it anC
work for it.. The same was true of the Female
Institute. Both establishments ought to bt
aided
Judge Nelson spoke without notes, huently
earnestly, and was listened to with great inter
est by very appreciative audience, who ap
plauded him when through.
On motion of Perez Dickinson, Esq, tho
thanks of the meeting were rendered for the ad
dress. President Woodruff announced that
the next lecture would be in two weeks.
We think the Boardlof Trade deserqes thanks
for these lectures and We hope they may all
prove as profitable as those already de-
livered.