The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-12-05
KNOXVILLE.

pared with its present enlarged area
and its commercial Importance
when it numbered only about three
or four thousand souls, and when it
seemed TO have no future except
, that of a small interior town, iso-
lated, shut up between two great
mountains and doomed, apparently,
to n somewhat unknown town, rest
ing quietly upon the hanks of the
HOlstOn river.
How marked the change now |!
How rapidly has it grown into a
city of wide dimensions In 1865
there was scarcely a house left in
North Knoxville, or that part of it
north of the railroad. 1t was an
sold field, grown up with sedge
grass and bushes, an eye sore,
Stunned by everybody and only
utilized by hungry COWS and hogs.
How now2 Commence at Depot
street. Pass on TO Park and from
thence TO Fifth avenue, one of the
handsomest streets in the city.
How dense the population? How
many scores of beautiful residences
attract the eyel Then look away
beyond, far out towards the summit
of the hill overlooking the city.
Broad street laid off aud adorned
by commanding residences, thrift
", pushing, driving population on
all sides. Who would have thought
it fifteen years ago? What magic
has producedthe marvellous change?
We stand aghaSt in establishment
IS we contemplate it. 1t is far, far
beyond our most sanguine expecta.
tons.
But the march of improvement is
no less marvellous on Gay street
Is il not more so2 We can well
remember whom there was scarcely
building north of Clinch street
This was the case as late as 1865.
One old shanty stood between Clinch
and Union. Beyond that towards
the depot was a blank on both sides
of Gay street. The old Curry
property, now occupied by the East
Tennessee National Band, stood
alone in its solitary Loneliness.
How is it now? What a superb
panorama presents itself! Building
after building has gone up, and the
most Of them imposing. On both
,.dcs of Gay street their attractive
ronts meet the astOnished eye
That wide, yawning gap between
The drug store of Sandford, Cham
Ders aud Albers and the McGhee
block is about closed up, or will be
IN a few days. Only one lot re
mains and that, no doubt, will soon
DC filed up. When that is accom-
Plished Gay street will be solid
from one end of it to the other.
The southern end of Gay street,
in consequence of the removal OF
the principal business houses tow
ards the depot, was greatly damaged |
thereby. The first to make the
move was the we'll known house of
Cowan, Dickinson x Co. This was
the signal for a general move in the
indicated, and it was not
long till every house Of any note
followed suit. A. Barton, o sue
cessful dry goods merchant, was the
last Ito pull up stakes. The old
confectionery establishment of Ber-
~ 4 Mcdaniel stented it out and
to battle with fate until
quite recently, when it succumbed
10 the inevitable. We learn, how
ever, that that portion of the street
is beginning to show signs of re-
turning vitality Not a few per-
sons predict that il will vet become
as robust and active as il was in its
PALMER days. The old Cowan &
Dickinson corner, one of the historic
localities of the city and whose ca
reer was marked with almost unex-
lmpled prosperity, has recently
been purchased by S. II. Akin at a
cost of S1l 900.
One of the striking evidences of
knoxville's prosperity is its COM
Announcements Its jobbing
houses are not only numerous but
and prosecuting an inn
nense trade A decade ago they
,ould have been counted on two or
hree fingers. Now they are num-
,ered by the dozen. 1t is surpris-
NJ how they have multiplied and
till more surprising how they have
such vast sections of the
Nor can any other city
f the south or of the nation boast
a more honorable ana scrupulouS-
= Just class of merchants.
There is a proud future awaiting
MS beautiful city of the mountains.
/ is destined to take high rank and
} command the admiration of all ut
II familiar with its social, educa-
Onal, commercial and moral ad-
antages and attainments. Its DOp- !
Iation is increasing at the rate of
ore than 1000 per annum and
ore than 800 houses were erected
st year. J
One thing il is deficient in-its q
ok of manufactures. These are :
W and far between. All IL lacks I
crown il as one Of the foremost :
ties of the South is the up-build p
g of WOODEN and cotton mills, of
asst furnaces, foundries and rolling
ills This. more than ANYTHING