Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-28
rsE EMORY GAP ROAD.


Important Facts and Valuable Suggestions.
The CHRONICLE: The recent agitation
concerning the Emory Gap Railroad-the
high price of fuel, Notwithstanding our
close proximity to the purest coal field in
the South, and the fact that prompt action
will secure the construction of that road,
during the coming season, induces the wri-
ter to make the following suggestions:
l. The question as to whether or not the
city should take, say $3.50, 600 stock in the
road, ought to be submitted to the qualified
voters of the city on the day of the MUM
cipal election, by direct vote, Subscription
or no subscription"
2. AS preliminary to this there ought to
be called citizens meeting, to be held at
the opera-house, Tuesday evening, January
It'll, 1883, to prepare memorial addressed
to the Board of Mayor and Alderman, ask
ing that proper ordinance be passed relative
to such submission. The same meeting
could appoint committees to solicit private
subscriptions.
8. The capital stock of the road should be
| fixed at say S4O0, 900, with which sum, and
bonded debt of $4,000 to SIS, 900 per
| mile, the road could be built.
4. The $50, 900 of private subscriptions
can be secured without serious difficulty.
Every merchant, manufacturer, and coal
| consumer, even for domestic purposes,
| would have an interest in the road sufficient
to warrant the taking of stock from 800 to
$4,000, according to their respective in
terests in coal consumption
In this way the city would have control
of the road, and it should be thus held in
perpetuity. The Knoxville shareholders
would have decided interest, holding the
minority stock in having it SO held, and as
the road would have direct connec.
ton with, and become an important
feeder to the Cincinnati Southern,
the Changer syndicate could no doubt be
induced to place the bonds. The road, as
built, would have fixed charges of less
than 90, 900 per mile, including 6 per cent
dividends to its shareholders, while the
Cincinnati Southern prospers under fixed
charges of more than So, 500 per mile.
The Cincinnati Southern is limited by it,
charter to l cent per ton per mile, (at
which price coal and ores can be handled
at profit to the carrier) and a similar rate
would bring Poplar Creek coal to Knoxville
for 30 cents where Coal Creek is bought a
present for 81. 90. Coal for domestic use
would then be delivered for IL cents, and
to manufacturers for 8 or 9. The mere
naked saving in the cost of fuel would pay
the city's subscription in ten years, or less,
and in few years, if thought desirable
to lease it under proper restrictions, il
could be made part of great system, ant
become as means of support to the city
what the Southern is to Cincinnati, or the
Western and Atlantic to the State of Georgia
Cannot you formulate some plan, if tn,
above ideas are not worthy of adoption
which will secure this great end. Now il
the time to STRIKE With steel rails at 81
per ton, and labor and supplies bountifu
and cheap, no time like the present SEEM
SO propitious.
Make the call for the meeting. -Sugges
an ordinance and resolutions. Accomplish
the purpose and the people will cali yo'
blessed. Respectfully, EMORY GAP.
December 26, 1882.