Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-04
LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
washington and ChattanOOga-Remi
iscencss-A Rapid DevelOpment-Ten.
nessee POIittcs-The Debt Issue, &C.
pecial Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR.

Special Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR.
CHATTANOOGA. TENN, October Q.
Alter having lived in Washington for nearly
Iour years, 1t seems rather strange to return to
this driving city Of Chattanooga, Nesting here
among the hills OF East Tennessee. From Wash
ington, with Its magnificent. broad clean av-
enues and streets and well-kept parks, to Chat
tanOOga, with Its one business street and no
place OF public resort, the transition is marked.
Here, however, the music of the wheel and
spindle and the rush Of commercial enterprise,
IN measure compensate one for the loss Of
congressional artillery and legislative thunder.
We have our blessings as well as other
places, and 1t Is the part Of wise people
to make the most Of them. Chattanooga has
promise OF brilliant future, and her citizens
are therefore buoyant and hopeful. As the seat
OF Important military operations during the
war, Chattanooga commands great historic in
terest. Situated at the base Of Lookout noun
tain, that silent sentinel of its peoples destiny
1t Is within short distance Of the famous bat
tle-nelds OF Ch1ckamauga, Mission Ridge and
Lookout mountain. These holly -contested fields
are inscribed in blood In the annals Of the ma
ton. The name Of Gen. Garfield, as soldier,
is inseparably linked with the bloody work on
the led OF Chickamauga The withdrawal of
the confederate Gen. Bragg from his command
was the result OF his clumsy operations at Chat
tanOoga and Lookout mountain. Mission
Kidge, where the confederates met such disas-
trous defeat. Is easily discernible from one of
our NILS In this connection am reminded of
description OF the engagement at Mission
Ridge BY a confederate soldier, who occupied
position in the first rank on the brow of the
hill. The Union forces who were stationed at
the base of the hill, at the order to march. came
steadily up the ,undulating slope, their bright
arms gllstenlng in the glorious sunlight and
alo not latter once, although they were march
ing TO almost certain death from the leaden hail
would be mown down, its place would be rap
ldly nlied, with scarcely a waver in the ad-
Vancing army. And thus the federal forces con-
tinued to advance until the confederate army
was nying pell-mell down the other side Of the
hill. These things and many others of similar
kind are called to mind at the mere mention of
Chattanooga.
THE CHATTANOOGA OF TO-DAY
can scarcely be recognized Us the offspring of
the muddy little railway station Of war times.
except by its location, which was designated by
nature for the establishment ola great city. The
principal part OF the city now lies between two
great hills, to the east and west, the Tennessee
river to the north, and Lookout mountain to
the south. The Tennessee river almost entirely
surrounds the town; the only outlet being Dy
way OF Lookout mountain. During the
great floods of 1867 and 1873 we were wholly
hemmed In by water and had to perch ourselves
upon the high hills and patiently wait for the
waters decline. The growth and expansion of
the city are now encrOaching upon the majority
OF the hills, and numbers of handsome resi-
dences are now seen dOtting the highlands
Many soldiers of both armies who were here a
year ago at the reunion Of the Army ofthe Cum
Derland and had not seen Chattanooga before
since the wal, expressed themselves as delighted
and astonished at the scene that met their ewes
from the brow of Cameron hill, where they were
encampea Cameron is the largest hill in the
vicinity, situated at the west side of the town.
and the view from its summit is at once COM
handing and beautiful. During the war the
batteries stationed upon this hill were COM
plete protection to every available entrance to
the town. From here, stretching to the north
and east, enchanting views can be had of the
tennessee river winding among the distant
hills like silver thread. The river flowing on
washes the base of Cameron hill at the
edge OF the town, and dashing on to the west
ana south, lashes the granite foot of Lookout
mountain. The view from that portion of the
Nashville and Chattanooga railroad that sweeps
around the base of the mountain is grand
From Cameron hill the now thriving city of
chattanooga lies to the south and east, and
forms marvellous contrast to the shabby mis-
carriage of a town that Bragg's soldiers gazed
upon from the cloud shrOuded summit of Look
out To the east of the city Fort Wood, General
Grants headquarters for some time, is located.
only few years ago 1.-TWO or three perhaps.)
the very stump on which General Grant used to
sit while smoking his cigar was pointed out to
the curious visitor. Even stumps of trees were
Injuries in those hostile days. and often formed
capital resting places for the weary soldier.
Whlie the memories OF the war are an important
feature in the history Of Chattanooga. they do
not form the only interest that attaches to the
place.
THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT
of the vast mineral resources of East Tennessee
is boon to this the most important city and
railroad center in this section of the state.
Manufactures Of every description have sprung
up here in the past few years, and the good
work still goes on. We are struggling for pre-
eminence, and will doubtless gain it in the
course Of time. The opening of the Cincinnati
southern railroad is bringing the wholesale
trade along its line to Chattanooga which is
rapidly becoming wholesale center
Everything is made here now, from q nall to a
pipe organ, including aldermen and candidates
for the legislature and Congress. We have even
had a member of the Cabinet. who unassum-
ingly lives among us now, as If he had never
seen Washington and the Cabinet
TENNESSEE POLITICS.
And that reminds me that although we have
many blessings for which 1 hope we feel duly
thankful, still Tennessee and Chattanooga have
not escaped politics and the politicians. You
can find candidate for governor stuck around
with more noise and fewer PRINCIPLES.
than any one on record. Two wings of the Ten
nessee democracy insist that they (each of
them) have the only true edition of a demo-
cratic candidate for the governorship. They
call each other respectively. the readjusters and
the boilers, with very small ':r's" and :b's. -
and each wing maintains that the other has no
platform and no principles, and that they indi
vidually are fighting for the only true prin-
ciples upon the only genuine democratic Plat
form.
Amidst all this strife and confusion the re-
publicans quietly smile and go about electing
their man, whom they allege can see all the
other candidates and go them about ifty ner
cent better in the matter of platform and prin- |
clples. The republicans really have the inside |
track and will no doubt elect their candidate |
who occupies the gubernatorial chair at present. |
The greenbackers, not to be outdone, come out |
az big as anybody and say that they Will have a |
candidate too; candidates bein' cheap.n al |
Artemus Ward would say. The greenbackers |
hold kind Of little-dog- laughed
sport position with reference to the others in |
the field.
THE DEBT ISSUE.
That faction that proposes to settle the debt |
unnn tho hasia aorood unnn NTH %ho ...s..