Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-01-26
WHAT WE HAVE TO SHOW
FOR OUR DEBT:

We do not insist that all the ex-
penditures Of our State govern
ment have always been wise, judi
cious or economical. We have
always admitted that unwise and
extravagant appropriations were
made since the war in aid of rail-
road enterprises. We have never
denied that improper and corrupt
means have been used to secure
such appropriations. We know
nothing of the facts, but such things
have been alleged and the allega-
tons are not without foundation.
But the acts Of the Legislature
were the acts Of the people, and all
the acts granting State aid to the
railroads have been recognized as
valid by subsequent Legislatures,
and are consequently binding.
But while these appropriations
were unwise and injudicious in some
instances, we do not agree with the
conclusion reached by Gov. Marks,
that we have nothing to show for
our debt. The following able edito-
rial from the Nashville american
is a complete answer to the Cover
nor's narrow view of this subject:
The Constitution directs the Legisla-
ture 10 iUsteT internal improvements.
A welI-reguiated - stem OF Internal
improvements II calculated TO develop
toe TesUuI Ces Of the state and promote
the happiness and prosperity OF her
citizens, Therefore il ought 10 be en-
couraged by Tue General Assembly.
Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 10
Ii II sometimes difficult To- perceive
blessings which are like the air we
breathe, not noticed until they are alb
sent We enjoy them ANONYMOUSLY
Is we DO pure AIR, and only notice de-
rangement and ImperrecuOn. Sill it
can o. shown that our ancestors were
wise "a their broad and statesmaDilke
policy for the progress of Tennessee.
The enlightenment, refinement, Cul-
tuIe, mora! progress, due TO close con-
tact with the world and close sympa-
thies with the great thought aEd SEN
tIment of The world around US,
through closer communion may be
d!ITiuuit 10 estimate. We think clear
sight Viii uut fail 10 see them.
Let one for moment imagine
Tennessee without rail communion
ton within and extending without.
Il would he bad enough if the rest OF
the country had similarly stood still.
But imagine The rest of the world
closely connected and Tennessee alone
relying upon wagon and stage, and it
c4u be seen that morally, intellectual
Iy, socially and a. .teTIalIy We would
nave gone back Waia. The State would
be IN business prey 80 the live world
around. Rather THAN such a cOndi-
non, We would pray 20 pay double the
cost Of the railway system. An effort
10 Imagine such Is condition will give
the mind some faint notion of how the
reality would be and of how much we
owe TO this wise policy OF our unces-
tors which We enjoy, but which has
not cost Us q great deal. Instead of our
schools and colleges, educational in
stituliUus all over the state, witH stu
dents bringing money, creating cau-
tiers of enlightened thought, W. - lid
DS sGuuilE lilS rev WIZ CGAlI - 10
our own SONS 10 other , ates.
"rheTe are other considerations,
however, which show more clearly the
material beu, MT conferred in positive
wealth, comfort, convenience, faciIi-
ties which IennUaseean5 now enjoy
anu which belong 10 them, not to the
bOBdhOiders, the Federal Government
nor the railroads. In summing up the
partial statistical indications of this
progress The Iaiileuce of this system
of internal im proyements in pTeserv-
ing the Stale from the consequences
OF war upon q community without
such communications are 10 be con-
sldeTed. The cOGss quenceS OF tue war
were disastrous enough, a. best; they
would have set Us back fifty years, had
we been as We were iii 1910, without
close connections with the world and
it's markets, and, consequently. the
means at once TO set about repairing
the waste through production. The
war interrupted TIE Tide of prosperity
brought about by this wisely created
system, but the roads mitigated the
disastrous effects of war and enabled
society more rapidly 10 recover.
~ The Comptroller in his report
Table II, page 5O) shows the taxable
value OF the lands of the State in
1852, when the internal Improvement
act was passed, S97, 100 537, or So 81
per acre; value OF town lots SIC .623,-
O52. In 1871, before toe shrinkage of
all values, and especially OF lands, be-
gan, the assessed value of lands was
SOS, 3S6s777-SS'39 per acre; value of
town lots S72,5lS .243. To tabulats:
Value of Value of
Is52.........s. s5'5s9'.39 ss,e2t052 sII4S92:ss