Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-16
EDITORIAL CORREsPoNDEEcE.

and culture. The place has changed
wonderfully in the last few years, and
without losing its identity or char
acteristics, las assumed the air.
Of a thoroughly modernized city
I have spent the day here anC
could wish that it had been a week
although a cold rain has been falling
since morning, and there is an absence
OF activity and the promenadlng beauty
usually seen on the streets. Knoxville haI
always been the commercial metropolil
of East Tennessee and always will be
The gradual accumulation of wealth hal
brought corresponding refinement, taste
and elegance. There are more fine resi-
deuces here than in Nashville or Mem
phis. The money made here for genera
tons has been laid out in improve
ments or kept invested ia Legitimate
business. The more costly residences,
of which there are so many, are usually
situated 10 the midst Of handsomely laid
of and highly cultivated grounds, re
minding the visitor Of the choice subur.
ban portions Of Boston, where long &C.
cumulated wealth and tastes are shown
of to the best advantage. Through the
courtesy Of q gentleman who is related
to all the descendants of old settlers
here, I was introduced at several
of these places to-day. The people
are glad to have visitors look
through their grounds, yet it would be
almost a violation Of private hospitality
to mention names or to particularizs.
At the risk Of doing social penance in
the future / will mention Mr.. Perez Dick
inson, a philosophical, retired gentle
man who has the means and the i%nclina.
ton TO dispense 8 generous hospitality.
His city residence fronts on a fashiona-
BILE street, and in the rear q terraced
garden faces the river and commands q
full view Of the most picturesque land.
scspe in America, in which are blended
in harmonious effect mountain, forest,
river aud cultivated slopes. But Mr.
Dickinson's great pride is his island
farm, four miles above the city, near the
confluence of the Frenchbroad and
Holston rivers. 1t embraces several
hundred acres Of the richest bottom
land, and is more like a grand garden
than a farm. Money is lavished on it
without regard to returns OF expectation
of profit. Hundreds Of strangers visit
this model farm every year, and always
carry away the most delightful and last
ing impressions.
Knoxville has the only streetcsr rail-
road in East Tennessee. 1t has a single
track with q terminus on Gay street
near the river, the other somewhere out
in the country, north Of the depot. The
track crosses the depot on a bridge
which spans ell the switches and railroad
tracks. This isa new and striking fea.
ture, which is the finishing touch of a
metropolitan mountain city. The GUS
tom-house here is a medsl Of symmetry
and architectural elegance. Il is built
of East Tennessee marble. remarkable
FOR its wilderness and hardness. What
pressing necessity an interior city of
$1,000 inhabitants has for a custom.
house which cost half a million dollars |
really would not like to elucidate without
collecting facts and information as yet
rather hard to dig up. But Horace
Maynard secured the appropriation, and
Knoxville has the custom-house. Mr..
Rule, q very clever gentleman OF the
Republican persuasion, who is Ipostmas.
ter and also editor Of the Chronicle,
holding two posilions-the same as
Thompson of the AvslaDche-was kind
enough to show me through the custom
house, and to express a wish that the
little town of Memphis might some day
have cause to rejoice over q similar in.
stitution.
There are two daily newspapers here,
the Chronicle and the Tribune. Franc NJ.
Paul, formerly Of the Chattanooga Rebel,
and afterwards Of Memphis, is the editor
aud principal proprietor Of the latter.
The paper is doing well in his hands.
Indeed / must say they are both marvels
Of enterprise and good management.
Colonel John NJ. Fleming, editor Of the
Tribune, is likely to be a candidate for
governor. He seemsto be 10 good health
and spirits, and to be aware that his
friends will look after his claims before
the convention without his personal ef
forts. Colonel Alfred Caldwell, who was
in Memphis last week, lives here, and is
spoken Of as a suitable candidate for
governor. The LEDGER has already
alluded to his claims aud sslid worth as
q lawyer and as a gentlemSp. Colonel
Moses White, formerly of Memphis, has
been back here four or five years, and
seems likely to WELD a large influence in
future political affairs. Very recently
his name has been mentioned ia connec.
ton With the gubernstorial race. There
is a coed deal Of local feeling
here in regard to this matter
/ mean the coming contest for
governor. There are SO many wheels in
Knoxville politics that the outsider who
puts in bis finger may be pretty sure be
will gSt we'll pinched; but the man going
of for the summer and not a candidate