Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-21
CINCINNATI's GREAT ENTERPRISE
From Knoxville TO CtncinBati Over the
southern.
The Monster Banquet and Other DE.
mOnstratiOns Of Welcome.

mOnsfrattOns of Welcome.
The people of Cincinnati are Justly
proud of their latest achievement.
They have accomplished, in the con-
struction of their Southern road, what
no other city of equal population in
ancient or modern times, had the
pluck or the enterprise to undertake. e.
1t has taken millions of their money.
but they believe it was well spent, and
IL their most eaDguine expectations
are realized, the whole continent ought
to rejoice over their success. We have
just had the pleasure OF passing over
their road, with its twenty, seven tun.
nels and it's scores OF bridges, one of
them the highest in the world, and
can bear our humble testimony to the
general excellence OF the entire line.
Leaving Chattanooga at 4:30 q. M,
we cross the Tennessee river, and day
light fluids US dashing at rapid speed
up the beautiful valley on the north
side of that river. At sunrise we are
at lockwood. where the smoke rises
from the largest blast furnaces in the
south. Soon we are at Emory Gap, and
then in Keagan's tunnel, after which
we reach and pass for miles along the
banks OF the Emory, and feast our
eyes on the romantic mountain
scenery, the grandest, in some respects,
weshave ever witnessed. The roads
bed for miles is cut through solid
limestone. The river was considerably
swollen, and the billows rolled and
dashed over their rocky channel like a
thing of gigantic power, restless to es-
cape from restraint. Unlike the
Tennessee, the waters of which
were turbid, the Emory, although
much swollen, is almost ss clear as
crystal. On we 60 then for 80 miles
through a wild region sparsely popu-
lated and with little TO encourage the
owners OF this great enterprise that
they can ever expect much in the way
Of local freights.' Just before reaching
Somerset we cross the high bridge, a
wonderful structure, wonderful for
strength and beauty. Time and space
f0rbids at this time anything like an
attempt TO describe the many points of
interest along this great thoroughfare.
AT Somerset we change engines and
At Norway we have an
excellent dinner, and in short
time find ourselves speeding along
through the fsr.famed blue grass
region of Kentucky, region
that comes up to our ideal OF an
earthly paradise. At Danville Juno.
ton we begin to experience trouble
with hot journals, and our progress is
much impeded. At every station the
boxes need doctoring, aud the most
efficient man on the train appears to
be- the newsboy. The passengers grow
weary and impatient at the delay, and
the conductors good nature is put TO
a severe test, but he Is equal to the
and gains the good opinion
Of all. At Ssdieville, sleeper is
switched off, on account OF hot
Doxes," and the passengers are sand
yiched into the other already over
cars, which was unavoidable.
Time hung heavily and we arrived
n the Q1een City four hours behind
Inc. There the supply Of omni-
1usses and hacks was far below
he demand. The writer with his
better half got into rickety old We
licle, which looked as if it might be a
.elic OF the late war, in which we
olted over the rocky streets, two miles,
t appeared five, to the Gibson house,
" here, through the kindness OF a
riend, pleasant quarters had been en-
ragged, aud soon we were in the arms
If Morpheus, sleeping the sleep of the
npocent.
Passing over two days OF sight
Ieeing, we come to the great event OF
he occasion, the banquet at Music
lall. Our readers already know what
t was in general way, and we will
lot particularize here. 1t was the
,randest affair Of the kind ever wit
lessed on the continent. Those
Who were fortunate enough to secure
ickets were admitted to the corridors
outside the main hall, where hats and
,vercoats We're checked aad slowed
way, and then the doors leading to
he main hsll were opened. so per-
ect were the arrangements, that the
nearly eighteen hundred guests were
eated with little confusion, and then
to discuss the viands,
,olids and fluids, that were placed beH
ore them in the richest profusion.
The linen was snowy white. and the
cutlery and china all new. The wait
,rs were attired in white jackets and
aprons, and drilled until all went like
piece of perfectly regulated ma
l linery.
The toasts were not proposed |
mill after midnight, and were
to, as has already
Ippt,ared in our dispatches. The music
vas excellent, above criticism. The
udie uce was orderly, aud the pleasure
f the occasion was not marred by inn
frequently exhibited on