Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-18
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Knoxville as Seen by strangers.
NO. LXXNIX.

NO. LXXNIX.
1t is well enough sometimes to see our
selves as Others see us. We publish below
extracts from a letter to the Atlanta Con-
stitution about Knoxville, for the informa-
ton of our readers abroad who daily write
us asking about our city. The correspon-
dent says:
''This picturesque city is situated on the
north bank of the Tennessee river, and is
the county site of Knox county. The
Smoky mountains on the south; the Cum
berland mountains on the west and north;
and the Clinch on the east all of which
are from ten to forty miles of the city, and
in full view while the beautiful river
winds its way lovingly along its southern
boundary, all conduce to its romantic gran
deur.
The climate OF Knoxville, Tennessee,
especially at this season of the year, Is
unsurpassed in healthfulness and purity.
Its location is midway between Chattanoo-
ga and Bristol, and in importance and pop"
ulatiou it is the third city of the State, Gt
contains about 10 900 inhabitants). Upon
lofty eminences overlooking the beautiful
river are erected many elegant and impos-
ing mansions whose observatories COM
mand a view of as picturesque and lovely
scenery as any of which the Hudson can
boast. In other portions of the city also
are elegant residences, while in every di-
rection may be seen the humble cottages,
in which dwell the honest sons of toll.
COMMERCIAL INTEREST.
Knoxville is the great commercial center
of East Tennessee, and is supported on
every hand by fertile lands and an indus
trious, moral and thrifty population. 1t
is to this Grand Division of the State what
Nashville is to Middle and Memphis to
West Tennessee. 1t has already pushed
its trade throughout East Tennessee and
penetrated far into adjoining States.
Gay street is theprincipal business street
in the city, extending from the river on
the South, distance of more than nan
mile, to the +. T., V. q q. Railroad on the
north On either side of this street stand
many business houses, where here and
there are grand and elegant four story
buildings, occupied by wholesale estab-
hshments, one of which does larger bus
mess than any other in the State. Its
sales this year will approximate two mill
lions of dollars.
The United States Custom House, made
of Tennessee marble, is gand and impos-
ing structure.
Manufacturing interests are becoming
quite extensive. Prominent among these
are the nail factory, the rolling mills, the
foundries, the machine shops, the sash
and blind factories, and more recently the
carriage factory. The materials in the adj
jacent country are so abundant that Knox
vile will ultimately become one OF the
great manufacturing emporiums of the
South.
EDUCATIONAL
advantages are good. Just outside the cor
porate limits, and west of the city, is 10
Gated the East Tennessee University, {
State institution established in the early
part of this century. The buildings, though
antique in style, are commodious and I'M
posing in appearance. The college is IL
a prosperous condition. Its past history
has been bright, and with its present facul
ty and trustees its future is destined to b'
even brighter. There are now about two
hundred and fifty pupils connected witt
it. Many of the most learned and eloquent
professional men of the State, in the pull
nit, the DOCTORS shop, at the bar, and IL
the halls of learning, not only in tins bu
in other Southern States, look proudly t
this institution as their beloved "Almi
mater"
The Deaf and Dumb Asylum is also f:
State institution. The present number o
inmates is about one hundred and twenty
The East Tennessee Female Institute j
% time-honored Institution Oflearning,an'
affords good advantages to young ladies.
CITY GRADED SCHOOLS.
Within the last fourteen months thor
ough system of graded free schools ha
been inaugurated in the city. There ar
about seventeen of these schools, and near
iy two thousand pupils. Being sustained
by taxation, they are patronized by goo
class of society Besides these school
there are n number more select.
Knoxville has her full share of church
,es. There are two Baptist; two Presby
terrain; two Episcopalian two Southern
Methodist; two Northern Methodist; on
Roman Catholic; one Congregational
one Zunglean-in all fourteen, beside
quite number for the black population.
Taking into consideration her social
commercial manufacturing, educationa
and moral advantages /; salubrious climat
and central location, with her net work G
railroads. Knoxville is destined to becom
a great and important city,
A New Safety Switch.
This is a jolly sort of an idea. The NeN