Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-07-02
OUR FUTURE INTERESTS,

A community that looks abroad for men
and money to build it up can expect to
| wait long time to realize its dreams of
prosperity. Men who cannot or will not
| help themselves have no right to expect
| Others to aid them. 1t is only men who
show a capacity to take care of and make
good use of what they have that have cap
ltal and chances to make money offered.
The thrifty, prospecting, enterprising man
can generally get all the money he wants
to push his business. The shiftless, incom-
petent man of business has trouble to Get
help from others. The same rule applies to
communities. Cities that are languishinr
and lifeless, that show no enterprise or
thrift on the part of their own citizens are
the last to attract capital and labor from
abroad. The best way, then for q city to
get help from abroad is for its own citizens
to take hold and show that they have faith
in enterprises in which they ask strangers
to embark. a correspondent whose DOsi.
ton enables him to know of how strangers
feel, sends us some sensible remarks on
this subject. In writing of our future in
terests, he says:
MANY of those who have visited lis have
spoken encouragingly of our present con-
dition, and that of the future before us.
Knoxville and the surrounding country
has grown substantially, and what has been
done is monument to the energy and enter
prise of the people, as the war left MANY of
them on the verge of poverty. Our citi-
zens have done well and if the same care
full management is brought to bear in the
future as has been manifested in the mast
there is no telling what may be accom-
plished.
1.-THE resources of East Tennessee are well
known to all, and it can be heard on every
side that we are blessed with everything
that makes communities wealthy, and,
too, we can hear citizens say, 1 do wish
we could get capitalists to come here and
develop these great resources of ours
there is plenty of room and we will lend
a helping hand. The helping hand, to a
certain extent, has not met the aforesaid
capitalist with a cordial greeting. This
show of hospitality is not enough. There
should be something more. The people,
or rather those who have money and en-
terprise, should go farther, as no capitalist
or manufacturer is going to invest or locate
without there is first local announcement.
Capital is timid and seeks only those To-
calities where there is security of safe in
vestments.
1t is well enough to talk a out what
the Switzerland of America" possesses, but
If our capitalists, land owners and the peo-
pie do not begin what others are told can
be done in our town and section, we NAV
wait until the locks of the youngest citi-
zen becomes tinted with the silvery token
OF age before foreign capital and skilled la
Dor will find a location with us.
Necessity, speaking plainly, compels
the people of Knoxville to take hold of this
matter-the future of our interests.
"Those who have had the privilege of
passing over the Pennsylvania Central
Rail way, probably remember Johnstown. |
There you can see town built up by a
simple manufacturing company, and
where you Will find unanimity of senti- |
ment in favor of home industry, The |
of the place and its business, |
and the simple influence, under which it !
has been built up can only be appreciated |
by those who visit the town. There you |
will find a population of some thirteen |
thousand people, deriving their sustenance |
directly from the Cambria Iron Company, |
whose mills are located at this point The |
puddlers, rollers, coal and |
ore mines, and laborers being directly en- |
ployed, and the merchant, the banker, |
the mechanic and operators at large, re-
celving support in town from these fabri-
cations of iron and their assets.
"A community ofthis extent, with fine, !
large, and well improved town for its COM
fort, with'gOod schools, fine churches, gas
and water works, substantially paved |
streets, and all the auxiliaries and ele-
ments of city, usually develop through a |
diversity OF influences, indebted to q sim
gle enterprise for its existence, is worthy
Of visit. This company was not begun
by foreign capital, as those in immediate
control were citizens and commenced upon
I, small capital. The present capital au-
Lhorized is five millions
Local enterprise and influence stimulate
and carry forward any mandatory that
may be brought forward. This can be ac-
1omplished if the people will lay aside
.heir expectations of foreign aid and 90 to
work. Our desires are not going to bring
rs wealth and independence. A unanim.
ty. OF purpose, of home industry is the
only means by which prosperity can be
)urs.n