Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-02-26
NASHVILLE CORRESPONDENCE.
Important sifit.

NASHVILLE, Feb. 10.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: Hon. Il. G.
Houk has just presented to the House a
very important bill, and think it will un-
doubtedly become law. 1t is to the effect
that the President and Directors of the
Eastern Division Fair he authorized to
sell that portion of the grounds belonging
to the State and to re-inyest the proceeds
at more eligible point, if they should de-
sire TO DO SO. One provision requires them
to complete the matter in two years.
was, myself instrumental in causing
this bill to be prepared, believing that the
| interest of the concern demanded it. For
one have never been an advocate of To-
eating the fair grounds where they now
are, and shall always believe great blum
der was perpetrated in putting them there.
Four-fifths of the citizens of Knoxville
and of East Tennessee would so decide if
submitted to them for their decision. 1t
is this very reason that has superinduced
such profound apathy on the part of the
stockholders in relieving the institution
from its present embarrassments They
have oiuterest in it whatever, and will
take none. There is no use to "kick against
lllS VI ~ pIbotNubC an LII
BILE undertaking. You can never
make II success of the present fair
grounds if you work at it for the
next hundred years. The barriers in the
way are insuperable. Every one knows
how announcement and expensive it is to
get there. First, you tax the people on
the railroads to get to Knoxville. Then
you subject them TO hotel bills, which are
fearful, and, finally, you compel them to
pay from fifty to seventy-fve cents a day
to the livery men to get out to the grounds.
No people can stand this for any length of
time. These complaints, bitter and pro-
longed, will reach every valley and noun
tain gorge in East Tennessee. We have
never yet held fair but what this was the
case. A great many think that the whole
object is to throw money into the pockets
of the citizens of Knoxville.
Another matter. / contend that we can
take the grounds belonging to the State
and sell them at figures that will place the
institution upon much souuder financial
basis If judiciously laid off into small
lots of an acre or more, they could he sold
at fair prices, and thus sum sufficient
could be raised, not only to purchase new
grounds, but to erect all your buildings
and to consummate all your improvements.
/ know of property on the Knoxville and
Ohio Railroad, about two miles and a-half
from the city, admirably suited to the pur-
poses of fair, which could be reached
every half hour at cost of ten cents the
round trip. There is where the concern
ought to GO, and will go if you let the
people act in the matter.
AGRICULTURAL BILL.
This bill passed the House to-day by a
very marked majority. 1t provides for an
appropriation of ten thousand dollars for
the purpose of completing a thorough and
accurate complication of the agricultural
and mineral statistics of the entire State
and of putting them in proper form for
circulation, outside of the State. 1t is an
admirable measure, and the House deserves
great credit for its passage. 1t has yet to
go to the Senate where, have no doubt, it
will meet with the same generous fate.
This begins to look like business. There
is no telling what amount of actual bene-
| fit will accrue to Tennessee by the passage
of this important measure. 1t has been
our misfortune that we could not inform
| the world of our agricultural resources.
We have never had any aggregated facts
with regard to this mater. All this will be
obviated by the bill in question.
ADJOURNMENT.
To-day, there was good deal Of excite
ment in the House upon the question
of adjOurning from next saturday until ter
| days thereafter. After considerable ma
neuveriug it was carried. 1t is thought
the Senate will not concur. The members
are to receive no pay, and the ten days ar,
not included in the seventy-tive.
THE CENTENNIAL,
Thursday, the Goth, the Centennial Elk.
ecutive Committee will meet at II, NJ, a
the Capitol. Bailie Peyton will delive
an address on the occasion. The object o
it is to inaugurate measures whereby Ten
nessee may be fully represented at tn
Centennial gathering at Philadelphia. w
, can not overestimate the Importance q
this movement, and our people Throughout
the State ought to take profound interes
in it. Your correspondent has the dis
8 tinguished honor of being Chairman {
q the Executive Committee of East Tennes
see, and as soon as he returns to Knox
vile, he will Immediately call the mem
e bers together and proceed to organize fc
:, work. ALoNZo DANTE.