Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-26
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MECHANICsvILLE ANNEXATION.
Communication from an Influential Dem.
ocrat,

Dealing Some Vigorous Blows at the So
Called Democratic Organ, 81
Showing Up to RidieuIe Their Opposition
to the Question.
The following communication was read by
Alderman Brooks to the City Council last
night:
To His Honor the Mayor and gentlemen of
the City Council of the city of Knoxville.
GENTLEMEN 1 address you in behalf
of the citizens of Meehanicsyine, to ask at
your hands the annexation of our part of
the city to your corporation. We held an
election in the district named to ascertain
the will of the people, and although that
election was illegal, SO far as the prelimina-
ries were concerned, we do not regret it, for
before applying to your honorable board as
the law requires we should do, we can tell
you truthfully that two-thirds of the voters
tory above mentioned are in favor of an
nexation.
The so-called Democratic Daily Tribune,
better known for its romance literature than
its advantages to the Democratic party,
cries out aloud for the Demo
cratic city of Knoxville to
take warning; that its ever watchful
eye has discovered gigantic scheme of the
Radicals to turn the city over to the Re
publicans by the annexation of Mechanics
vile.
There never was a more gigantic false
hood heralded to the world than the above
charge This is the third election that has
been held in Mechanicsville to ascertain the
will of the people on annexation. The first
election was held about ten years ago the
second election was about four years ago.
And turn to the files of the Tribune then.
1t did not discover that it was scheme of
the Radicals. Oh, no. Such minds as
ruled the editorial columns of the Tribune
then were not capable of seeing through the
great political schemes as the tribune of to-
day Is. But the people voted 1t down each
time before, because they said the city owed
large debt, and that it would be years be-
fore we would be able to get any return for
The taxes we would pay into the city
treasury. But now the people have
ence OF twelve or thirteen years
niclpal government to live under, it is an
impossibiiity to have a system of public
improvements and system of pubic
schools; for where is there an instance
where public schools are as affective outside
of cities as they are in the cities? And
those are the reasons why the people of
Mechanlcsviile have at last Consented to
annex to Knoxville and share their proper
ton of your present debt and any debts
that you may make IN the future, building
water works or any other pubic improve
ments. We dc not ask to be admitted with
any conditions or stlpulations. We do not
ask to have all the money that comes from
Mechanicsville spent there. Spend 1t first
where it viii be of the most benefit to the
city at large. We do not ask to be relieved
of any of your present debt, but tax our
property the same as your own. We are
willing to pay our proportion, in order that
We may have a system of schools, if moth
ing else. And We are satisfied that
wnen we are a united to the city, that we
will not be prescribed on account of our
geographical position, or our political COM
plexIon, which seems to be the great stumb-
ling block that we now have to crawl over.
What objection can the city make to
accepting US? Is Knoxville finished?
the city should become larger? Some say
the city has no money. " Ill an increase
of several thousand dollars worth Of taxable
property decrease the revenue of the city?
Some say the city will be liable for dam
ages-perhaps thousands of dollars. Well,
that is the first time ever heard that argu-
ment used against corporations. What
would the people of Knoxville think of
giving up their charter in order that they
might avoid those damage suits that all cor
porations are liable to have? 1t is certainly
good for US that the founders of the city of
Knoxville were SO short sighted (if we
might call it so) or we would not have
our proud mountain city to day.
Where Is taere a place In Mechanicsville
to-day, that the city would be liable for a
damage suit, that l cannot point to two
places in the city equally bad for each one
in Mechanicsville? Some say that now we
have our streets finished, and you want US
to take our taxes and build up streets in
Mechanicsville. Well now [ will answer,
that in the affirmative. Yes. For a man
that cannot see any further, that would
seem strange, but let us take Gay street
for instance; that street is about finished;
the value of property is higher there than
in any other art of the city, and that
strange for that property to be paying high
taxes, and the money being spent trying to
level down East Knoxville, as was attempted
few years ago, or spending it out N the
sedge fields, where there was no houses as
was claimed at the time. Well, now that
I claim was benefit to Gay street prop
erty, and all the city of Knoxville.
If Knoxville had population
of forty thousand inhabitants, how
much more value would all property in
Knoxville be compared with it's present
value. 1t would be doubled in value. Now,
the present corporate limits is not capable
of holding forty thousand as comfortable as
people like to live. Gentlemen, are you
going to say that Knoxville is finished, and
that you will not extend her limits or IN
crease your population when the only plusibfe
reason that can be advanced for such action
is that it may make the city Republican
Has 1t come to pass that mans citizenship
in Knoxville depends on his political faith?
No. The political complexion of Knoxville
IN tho future depends largely upon the con-
duct and administration of the ciry's aft ,irs.
If the Democratic party mana.es the affairs
of the city more satisfactory to the tax
payers than the Republican party, SO long
will the Democratic party rule the city, But
when the Democratic party fails to elect
men who are capable of administering the
city government for tie best interest of the
city of Knoxville, and not for political ends,
then will the Democratic party fail
TO rule the city longer. /, as Democrat,
am sorry to see such an objection made to
the annexation of Mechanicsville as has
been made by the Democratic journal of
Knoxville, and then to see none except
Democrats in the city council opposing It,
That policy is not democratic; and / am
glad to know it is not the policy of the
Democratic party of Knoxville, for if it was
it would be sad day for Knoxville when
she would proclaim to the world that she
refused to increase her population or her
wealth on account of political creed. But
l take the liberty to say it, and viii be
sustained by the Democratic party of Knox
vile, that it is not the case and Knoxville
welcomes every one, from all parts of the
| globe, irrespective of creed or politics, to
our proud mountain city. No CITY in the