Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-28
THE MANUFACTURING CENTR1
Knoxville Compared with Chatta-
nOOga.


We admit, frankly, that the ad-
vautsges of Knoxville and Chatta-
nooga, for manufacturing, are so
nearly balanced that il is hard to
tell which way the scales may in
cline. Both have great natural adj
vantages, and both, undoubtedly,
will become, in few years, impor-
tant manufacturing points. Very
upimportant matters may, however,
settle the question as to which shall
be the leading point, while the
newspapers are still discussing the
question. While Knoxville is dis
cussing this question, and claiming
the superior advantages, Chatta-
nOoga is day by day, and week by
week attracting strangers and cap
ital to her midst, and, with an ar
dent zeal and generous iberality,
combining her capital, and pushing
her enterprises into every depart
ment of manufacturing. While
Knoxville complacently talks of
what will be in the flu
ture, Chattanooga seizes the
present, and makes it its
golden opportunity for laying the
foundation of future wealth, growth
and supremacy. Thus, while we
delay and talk, the prize is passing
into another's hands. Will not our
people soon awake from this delu-
sive dream in which they have so
long INDUCED?
AS we stated in a former article,
Chattanooga has the start of Knox
vile; has at present greater rail-
road facilities, and her people have
more enterprise, more liberality, in
this respect, and more unanimity or
oneness of feeling. If any other
advantage can be claimed for it, we
do not know what it is.
This start which Chattanooga has
in manufacturing can easily be
overcome by the same energy, lib
erality and enterprise ON the part
OF our people which has been dis
played there. But nothing less will
do it. If we continue to wrangle
over politics and personal matters;
if politics are to absorb all our
thoughts and energy, we can
scarcely hope for any great pro-
gress. There must be harmony,
liberality, combination of capital
and a general waking up and reali
cation of our situation, on the part
of all our citizens.
AS to the advantages possessed
by Chattanooga, in railroad facili-
ties, are they not quite as much
imaginary as real? We assume
that the Louisville road is already
finished, for 1t will be in few
| weeks. We will then have dire Ct
= communication with Louisville
: and almost direct communication
with Cincinnati; and both by
: shorter lines than from Chattanoo
, ga by the East Tenn, Va. & Ga
road. We have communication will
8 every part of the South, just al
. Chattanooga has. By the sam,
j, road we have communication witt
9 the East; and by the Western
/ North Carolina road, we have com
8 munication with North and Soutl
: Carolina.
3 But it is said there are no com
: peting lines, and that these road
s are all owned by the same com
q pany. We admit the force of thi
: objection. But we assum
= that this company is con
J, trolled by men of sense
who understand and will try t.
It promote the interest of the com
d pany; and if so, they will know tina
j iberal-a very liberal policy tt
l. wards infant manufacturing estat
d lishments is the wisest policy, an
Il that illiberality on their part woul
+ only turn such establishments
It other points, and give the freight
Is to other roads. We know that
the past this company has offere
10 liberal and satisfactory terms I
n one or more companies proposin
d to embark in busin esS, and we b,
d lieve they will do so with all.
4. AS to the superior liberality an