Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-01-26
A STRANGER In BRISTOL.
How eur Tewn looks to n Live
MAN who has both eyes open.

A correspondent Of the Richmond
Dispatch, writing from Botetourt, has
the following good things to say in a
most admirable manner of Bristol
and its people. He hits the nail on
tie head. First let us build our
town and enterprises will grow up
within it, just as apples grow on trees.
or bees seek the clover. The idea
that we must first have manufacturers
and then build the city around them
is fallaceous.-ED. News.
A word with regard to that go-
ahead border town Bristol. The peo-
pie on the Tennessee side (for Main
street is the present boundary line at
that point between Virginia and Ten
nessee) think the place is Bristol, and
the people on the Virginia side think
selves we must call it Bristol Goodson.
However, Bristol or GoOdson, it is des-
tined 10 be city, and big city. Its
a prominent shipping point already,
and doing the business for large and
rich section of country, situated at an
important point on the Atlantic, Mis-
sissippi and Ohio line of railway. 1t
is also to have the Cumberland Gap
railroad; that is fixed fact and it is
to have the Norfolk and Great Wes-
tern-that's another fact almost fixed;
and other railroads proposed and in
process of construction. feeders TO
those just named, will make of Bristol
another Atlanta. But even without
these present and prospective advan-
tages, the energy and public spirit of
the citizens would make it place of
first importance. believe those peO-
pie could make city in the Sahara.
| spent a week with them, and go
where would the sound of the ham
mer and the saw would fall upon my
ear. and the cries of the workmen for
"mOre mort" would greet me at eve
ry corner; and after night, if you can
walk one square without going head
foremost to the bottom of a new cellar,
or getting knee-deep in a bed of fresh
mortar, stumbling into bank of lime
or breaking your nose against scaf-
fold, you will be luckier man than
was. Those BristOlians have building
on the brain, and a monomania on the
subject of town lots and graded
streets. On the streets, in the stores,
in the lawyers and editors offices, in
the banks, it is all the same. You
can't get them to talk about politics,
religion, or even insurance Ito the sat
isfaction of your correspondent. Ev-
erybOdy is building, or going to build,
or just done building. This spirit of
Improvement is telling, and it is catch
ing, too. 1t requires more than Ordi-
nary firmness for a man to stay in
Bristol and not buy lone of those cheap
lots, will be right in the heart of the
city," and go to building and planning
like the rest of them These good
people are determined to have a city,
and a city they will have-all their en-
ergy and labor and capital goes in that
direction, invested in lots and streets,
in brick and mortar, and tin, and
whatsoever goes to make up a thrifty
town. 1t was a wonder to me where
the two flourishing banks in the place
got their money from; but money
they have Though it would seem the
working men get it all }, and most gen.
tlemanly and obliging officials to lend
it to you To buy lot or a new house,
and at no big price either. In conclu-
ding this subject 1 would say that If
any of your readers should be on the
lookout for an investment, or a loca-
ton of any sort, let me advise them to
give Bristol GoOdson a call and while
they will find everybody busy and in
tent upon their projects, individual
and public, they will take time to
show them around, give them all the
Ioints, and extend the courtesies of
the town after the real Old Virginia
style, if half of them arc Tennessee
ans