Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-25
THE soUrHERs CHAUTAUaUa.

Prof.. MoHatt, OF Mont Eagle, Tenn, Will
address the people of Memphis this evening
At O'Clock, at the Court street Cumber-
land Presbyterian church, on christian
Wc-k" He has a national reputation as
lecturer OF great ability and eloquencs. But
apart from this he ought TO have 4 large
audience OF the representative people OF the
city, as he Gomez in the interest OF an enter
prise which ought to secure the hearty gym
pathy and cordial CO. operation, not only of all
religious people, but also of every patriotic
citizen of the South. The establishment of
a grand central, recreatiVe educational and
religious health resort, similar TO that of
Chautsuqua, Ocean Grove, and other sum-
mer resorts North, which attract thousands
oil the best families from the South every
summer. The APPEAL was the first secular
paper TO urge the necessity for such an en-
terprise, not only as a means Of moral and
intellectual culture, but also as an economic
measure for retaining hundreds of thous ands
of dollars annually expended in long trips
to the North, which might be expended in
locations equally as attractive, cool and
healthful on our splendid mouutsiu plateau.
We expressed our faith tina. in the South we
had the talent to make such resort at
tractive and profitable TO visitors. We yes
te1dsy had an interview with Prof. Moffatt,
and were glad to learn from him that
the enterprise is so far advanced that the as
sembly will be opened for the reception Of
visitors next summer. Mont Eagle was Sc
lected by committee appointed by the con-
-yeutiuu that WEE Observation-Disclosures isst
August. This committee was composed of
represeutative men from several Southern
States, who spent month in investigating
the merits Of the locations nominated,
and met at Atlanta, Ga, on the 18th OF Sep
TENDER last 1t was generally supposed that
Geergia would secure the location, but after
due consideration they decided upon Mont
Eagle as the place possessing the advan-
tages Of central location, high elevation,
good water and beautiful scenery. Already
a great amount Of work has been done.
Permanent contracts have been made with
the Louisville, Nashville and Great South
ern and the Nashville, Chattanooga and 81.
Louis railroads for very low rates OF travel
one and a half cents per mile, or three cents
for the round trip. In addition to this, the
Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis rail-
road donates TO the assembly one-third OF
all the income from tickets sold to its meet
ings for FIVE years, 10 aid in the improve.
ment of the grounds. Besides which about
$4,000 have been subscribed by private par
ties. Prof. Moffatt donated 100 acres of land,
and gives his services free for the season in
working up the enterprise. The grounds
have been laid out by landscape painter
o. national reputation. We have been
shown the plan, and have no hesitation
in saying if the people come up literally,
40 that the work can be carried out &C.
cording 10 it, the South will have an as
sembly ground of which she may be proud
1t will rival, if not excel, any OF the resorts
of the North. The grounds adjoin the
property of the Mont Eagle Springs Compa.
nv. who have a magnificent hotel with
100 rooms in readiness for guests. Thii
company have placed their resort under
the moral control of the trustees OF tht
assembly, and it will be valuable ad
iunct 10 the enterprise. They propose "a
cooperate in every way possible TO make
the assembly success. Wefurther understand
that it is the design TO make the expenses
as low as possible. The maximum rate a
the hotel will be as low as any other of i'll
class, while they will also have large first
class restaurant, where comfortable board
can be got as low as seventy-6ve cents day
for those who lodge in tents or cabins. Th'
estimated cost of preparing the grounds anC
erecting the public buildings is 100000
This is a small amount when we consider
the magnitude of the enterprise, and that
is an institution for the whole South
Owned not by aDy private corporation, hu
held by trustees, for the benefit OF the peo
pie. it will be strictly nonsectarian in it
character, as the trustees are to be composed
of four representatives, Of each religion
denomination represented on its member
ship list. Memphis has a large interes
in this enterprise, as a large portion Of il
citizens spend their summers at some resor
The round trip from Memphis to Mont Eagl
and return will only be about SO. Prof. MOI
fatt will give full details OF the plan this aftel
noon at the close OF his lecture. We hop
he will have a large audience, and that h
will secure the cordial cooperation OF tn
religious people Of Memphis in this impol
tant enterprise.