Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-20
From Chattanooga TO Bristol - The
"Hills, aud Dales, and Valleys Free
Knoxville, its Hotels and
DepOt-What It 4014l
Needs.
The Cholera in the Mountains an Inter
estlne Study-Polities in Vir-
giRiG and Tennessee
"A J.'s'' Move
ments.

/
Observations" enough for at least 8
hasty "note of travel" especially to one
who, like your humble servant, finds
nothing better here TO do during the few
extra hours he must be kept waiting for
the next eastward tram. Gliding pleas
antly up the great valley Of East Ten
nessee, over the smoothly-running road
of the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia company, one cannot fail to be
struck with the charming nature OF the
country through which he is passing. To
my mind, there's not more interesting
region, in its physical aspects, than the
vast valley, or congregation of valleys,
lying between the Cumberland and
Smoky ranges, and known as East Ten
nessee. So often have the pens of edmir-
ing tourists pictured the general coun-
tenance Of this region, that 1 need say
no more than that now, burdened with
one of the most promising crops
that ever solaced the heart of the hus-
bandman, it presents to the eye of the
journeying beholder a scene that con-
firms its title to be still humored in the
habit of styling itself the "Switzerland
of America" From Chattanooga to
Knoxville there was no stopping place
for your correspondent, save for a
breakfast spelIn at Cleveland, where no
cholera has left Its traces, and the table
of the hostess does not disappoint an
early appetite. Charleston, Calhoun,
RieevilIe, Athens, Sweetwater, Loudon,
Concord, the principal villages along the
lower East Tennessee railway, all appear
to be thinking and looking forward to
the "good time coming" Reaching
Knoxville, although the appearance Of
multitudes Of new-looking residences,
and the smoke and noise of roll
ing mills and machine-shops had
given me notice that l was
approaching the metropolis" l could
hardly realize the fact that l was within
the confines of a CREST city, when /
looked around upon the magnificent
open air accommodations that every
where salute the weary traveller as be
steps from the car, finds no canopy
above him, bnt wstery or brOiling sky,
as the case may be-there being not so
much as a respectable passenger-shed
within view. The conductor assures me,
however, that this is to be q sin Of short
omission, since arrangements have al
ready been made for the erection of a
grand establishment. But Knoxville is
certainly not lacking in outward hotel
enterprise, ifthe energy displayed by
the porters about the railroad stop
ping-place be any indication.
Whether the honest and earnest
assurances of these super-serviceable
friends Of the stranger be based upon
the eXcellencies of the establishments
they represent or are intensified by the
necessities of guestless landlords, it is
not for this deponent TO say.
HARD ON KNOXVILLE.
But for young metropolis, or at least
not full-grown metropolis, the din of
these Ethiopian drummers which this |
correspondent encountered as he stepped
out TO take hasty glance at the skirts |
of town he had not seen since he |
looked at ii f ON the outside of its breast |
works In 1858, was truly appalling. And |
yet, in spite of the annoyance, the |
wrangle was not without its features of |
interest. "Lamar house, sar;' "Dis
way to the Atkin house; best house in !
the city; step this way to the Atkin
house, sar. only place to get a good
meal" Franklin house, sar; Frank
lin house; take a bus to the Franklin |
house" 'What for you hollerin' Frank
lin house, nigger?n exclaimed a wrathful
Ethiopian, whose hat was placarded, |
Franklin House Porter" as he turned
a fearfully staring look upon his dusky
competitor in the uprosr, "What for you
kollerin' Franklin house, l say?"
" Cause drums for the Franklin |
house, " was the triumphant reply, whose |
commanding tone seemed to produce an !
instantaneous lull in the storm. "What
Franklin house yoU drummin' for, mig
ger?" shouted he Of the placarded hat, |
with look that showed he intended to |
vindicate his sole authority, and that he |
meant business. "The Moll Franklin |
house, drums for, you blasted fool |
pilots for dollar head" Slowly lifting /
the side Of bis hat with one hand and /
scratching his wOol-covered pate with |
the other, modulating his violence and
casting a half-frieDdly look at the |
source Of his disturbance, he Of the pla-
csrded-hat, with slow and measured
emphasis, and in a semi-cenfidential |
tone, spake thus to his rival: "See
here, Niger, you better lie down on dat
L /
home and ketches you interferin' wild
his business dat way be glib you HI"
The sensation that followed among the
bystanders, indicated that "thereby
hangs a tale.n but what the special
narrative may be leave to the happy
TO understand and enjoy,
for, be il known, had no disposition to |
incur the risk of dropping into the |
wrong Franklin House, 50 l needed |
the tap of the bell, stepped aboard and
passed on.
FROM KNOXVILLE TO BRISTOL
the country is no less interesting than |
that from Chattanooga to Knoxville.
this section has been scOuTged |
by cholera, with especial violence at
and Jonesborough, of which |
full accounts have been published /
though am assured that many deaths |
have occurred at remote points, "in the |
hills and hollows" that have not been |
reported, not being within reach of the |
news-gathereT. The course of the chol- |
era in upper East Tennessee has been |
such as to upset many pet theories on
the subject The doctrine Of "local |
causes" has been here effecnally re-
futed. Also by divers demonstrations it |
has been proven that the disease Is con- |
tagiousi ano Is as certainly eommuni- |
cable as smallpox or other like disease. |
1t occurs to me, after hearing what 1 /
have at this point, and along the route.
that our medical scientists would find !
the history Of the pestilence in this re-
markabiy healthy region an interesting
and profitable study. Science must deal
with facts, and not speculative theories.
BRISTOL
is not an insignificant border town. I'll
is doubtful, however, whether being the
property Of two States has con-
tributed to its advancement. Pos /
sibIy an undivided Jurisdiction /
would be found more advantageous. |
There Is but little activity in political /
opinion in East Tennessee, though on
the Virginia side the notes of prepara-
tion for an intensely hot campaign are
already heard. Both parties viii do their
utmost, being headed by their strongest
leaders. Intimate friends Of Ex-Pfesi-
dent johnson say he has not the
slightest idea OF being candidate for
governor. They all intimate, however,
that they would Ike TO see him In the
senate. But the political situation Is s
problem which 1 am glad it IL not Ia my
province 70 solve.
The hosse-shoers Of Brooklyn are on
strike I