New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-03
PROGRESSIVE TENNESSEE.
MORAL AND MATERNAL GROWTH.

lNtEEAnlNG OIPOSillON ~ lhi irINDiaiiV-'
sCHEME-MPoRTANT CANCELLATIONS IL Thu
SOUTHERN RAILWAY sYsTEM-THE MINERAL
RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF CHAT
TANOOGA-POIITICAL GOSSIP.
tFROM AsTAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 19.v-I have q few
hours time between trains to spend Chattanooga
tO-daylong enough TO see that it is the same strag-
Cling, dirty, busy place il was when / first saw 1t
seven years ago on the occasion of the triangular
debate between Andrew Johnson, Horace Maynard
and General Cbeatham, who were then pressing each
other closely for the Office Of Governor long enough,
too, to notice that the gaps in the broad
business street have been filed up with
substantial buildings. and that the ragged
outskirts of tie town have crept over the hills o
mile So and to learn from acquaintance that the
industries of this ambitious Southern Pittsburg are
in a fourishing condition. The population has In
creased twent y-iye hundred since President Hayess
visit in 1877, and is steadily growing. If the South
is ever to have great manufacturing city, Chatta-
nooga seems destined to be the place. Ii is sur
rounded by rich deposits of coal and iron, andls the
centre of railway system reaching out to all points
of the compass Great hopes are based upon the
Cincinnati Southern Railway, which is to be opened
early in January and which not only affords a short
line to the North, but brings within reach of Chat
tanooga vast undeyeloped stores of mineral wealth.
Speaking of this new highway leads me TO note
the fact that there is great activity in the South
just now in the way of making railway combinations
and opening routes, the purpose being to secure
trunk lines from the Northwest to the South Allan
tic seaboard The Nashville and Chattanooga
Railroad constructed by h. NJ. Cole las just leased
the Western and Atlantic, generally known as the
State Road, which belongs 10 the state Of Georgia
and runs from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Mr.. Cole
is building line from Nashville to
Evansville. Indiana. and has inst bought n
road from Evansville to 81. Louis. South
of Atlanta. he works with the Georgia Railroad,
running to Augusta and Port Royal. With his new
road and his connections he will control line from
ST. Louis to the seaboard. His principal rival DIR.
Slandiford. of the Louisville and Nashville Com
pany. Is not idle lie is building line from Deca-
tur, Ala, to Atlanta. From thence TO Savannah he
Will probably work with the Central Railroad. Ho
has already 81. Louis branch, and when his new
road is completed will have complete trunk line
from Louisville and 81. Louis 10 the ocean at Savan-
nah He has also got possession OF the Mobile
and Mont omcry Road, which gives him
an mbrokcn rOute to the Gulf All this
looked bad for the Cincinnati Southern, which
seemed likely to be shut ont, b. hostile combina-
tions, of the trade south Of Chattanooga, il was
built expressly TO serve The directors Of that com
pany have. however. made an alliance with the
Alabama and Chattanooga Road, now called the
Alabama and Great Southern. which is in the hands
of its English bondholdcrs, and thus secure a
operating hne from Chattanooga 10 Meridian, Miss.
from whence they can reach Newt Orleans, Yicks-
burg and Mobile. They are negotiating for the
construction of branch line from Chattanooga to
Carrollton, Ga. which will give them an indcpen-
dent route to Atlanta where they can tap the rail
way system Of Central Georgia. and perhaps get
equal terms with one of their rivals for conncc-
ton TO Savannah or Port Royal. This remark able
general improvement In business. the advance IN
tie price of cotton. and the tendency, felt all
the country. towards the formation Of trunk lines
by the consolidation OF short roads and the con-
struciOn o. links.
From information gathered here aud East Tonnes
see. learn That there - a difference OF opinion
among Republicans ~ to the best course to pursue
IN the Gubcrnat0rial contest next year Some
favor making straight party issue and nominating
Horace Maynard or Dir. Rule, the Editor of The
hnorriUe Chronicle. Others think the fight should
be.nade solely on the question Of paying the State
the Democrats Who are hostile to rcpndiati0n, In
the event Of this policy being pursued Postmaster
General Key Will probably he the nominee. There
is 50 much opposition among the better class Of
Democrats TO the population performances of the
present Leg stature that Judge Key would have a
good chance Of being elected II he should run on the
one simple issue OF TcdeemIng the honor of the
State.
the lowest point of decentralization last Winter
Since then there has been steady gain in the
direction of honesty! some of the Republican rep
resentatlycs from poor mountain counties then
voted for Reputation, but now the Republican
party i'm the Legislature is solid the side of paw
ing the debt. The Repudators themselves are
ashamed OF the title winch belongs TO them and call
themselves the Low Fax Party" They can take
whatever name they please, but the rascalitv
of their conduct will be none the less
conspicuous. From tho hcalihful change which
has already taken place ia public opinion |
tblnk the holders Of Tennessee bonds may feel con-
fdent that the compromise they offered a wear agn
will be accepted before long. The Legislature Is
now IN session. but u Is limited by the terms of the
call for q special meeting to The one matter of
enabling Memphis TO levy tax for sanitary pET-
poses. II IN canvass Of the members. IT should
be found that there Is now a majority of debt
PAYERS it is not Improbable that another extra
session will be called on the heels Of this TO CON
slider the debt question.
On the question of the presidency Republican SEN
timent III Tennessee appears 10 favor Grant first
and sherman next Among the Democrats can
discover no decided preference rs 10 a candidate
but there is positive dislike OF lIden, which finds
ready expression In conversation. number OF in
telllgcut Democrats have told that il the race il
between Grant and Ilden they shall vote for Grant
have been sceptcal as To the existence OF Grant
boom IN the south, but i get fresh evidence ev-
cry day that the hOuOrs showcred upon him on lls
trip around the world have created feeling of admI-
ration for him in the Southern mind always prone TO
reverence military heroes. and Uniformed desire
among many people, who are not politicians to see
him reelected President by movement outside the
old parties. these people forget the strong parti-
sanshp OF General Grants two terms, aud imagine
that he is superior to party prejudice aud il the
one National representative man VINO can do Justice
to all sections They are not afraid of the strong
government spectre On the contrary, they say they
believe III . powerful central authority. OF course
these are not the State Rights politicians OF the
South Ihoy are as rule, business men, who care
little for politics, planters who have been left
ont in the cold by the rings controlling the Dem
ocratc party IN their states. E.y.s.
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