The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-07-30


Col, Charlton in the Knoxville Tribune.
Your correspondent left this city on
the morning OF the 18th inst, destined
for Elizabethton and Tayl0rville'
Johnson county. My route, Of course
was via Johnson City, where / took
the narrow-guage road leading to
Cranberry.
JOHNSON CITY
Here is live, kicking, growing
town, and destined to attract large
share OF public attention. A few years
ago it was dull plodding village
with no apparent incentives to active
and energetic enterprise. 1t has al
ways had an intelligent and moral
population, but having no special
inducements, as suggested, to clear
'the deck for vigorous prosecution of
business, the citizens were centent to
accept the situation an do tie best
they could, 1t wasnotlong, however,
till they were aroused from their rev.
enes and woke up to the fact that
agencies were at work that would
eventually revolutionize matters, and
place Johnson City on the highway
to aiiiuence and prosperity.
GEN. A. PARDEE, JR.
Johnson City is indebted to this gem
tlemm and associates for all she is
and for all she will be in the future.
He is resident OF Philadelphia, Pa,
possessing large means and business
qualifications of u high order. His
attention was called to the celebrated
Cranberry magnetic iron ore and he
was so thoroughly impressed with its
value and Importance DIS factor in
the iron world that he at once pro-
ceeded to inaugurate negotiations for
its purchase and succeeded The
transaction was the largest ever known
in this country, comprising the pur-
chase of an immense area of mineral
lands and involving the outlay OF fabu-
lous sums of money. He thus secured
the most valuable iron property on the
continent, and demonstrated his wis
dom in doing so. Time will show this
to be true, to say nothing of the fact
that it will lead, as it has already done
toimportant results in the near future,
E.T.& W. n. c. ROAD.
When this huge transaction was
concluded the next step was, to reach
this vast iron deposit by rail, the very
thought OF which was calculated to
stagger any one but the most daring
and determined. To reach it required
careful engineering and the expend-
iture OF fabulous sums of money. In
deed at one time Gen. Pardee and
associates had about abandoned the
idea OF constructing the road, on ac-
count of the rugged section through
which it would have to pass, and, but
for the fact that Col. Thos. Z. Matson,
an able and experienced engineer,
gave it as his deliberate judgment
that it could be built more than likely
there would have been no road lead
ing to the Cranberry mines. Col.
Matson took hold OF the gigantic pro-
jeet, surveyed the route and put the
enterprise through. His indomitable
energy and determination, however,
was subjected to a severe test. In press
ing his way along the edges OF precip-
itous mountains he often found it diff
ficult to plant his feet OF to steady his
instrument. Through the gorges of
the mountains he extended his survey
till he reached Cranberry. The de-
lighted traveller, as he now sits COM
fortably in a we'll furnished coach and
sweeps along on solid and thorough
ly equipped road is amazed at the stu
pendous undertaking and the skillful
engineering required to locate and
build the road. 1t is now Col Mat
sons monument. "The gorge, "as it is
fifty called, can't be excelled in sub
Unity and all attempts to describe ii
would be futile 1t is one Of the mar.
wells OF the age
THE KEY NOTE.
This was the key note, the future Of
Johnson City, But for the construc-
ton of this grand highway, it woulC
have remained an insignificant town
1t impaired to it new life and infused
into its arteries vitality that is nov
stimulating it and pushing it on to re
vived exertion.
JOHNSON CITY FOUNDRY AND MACHINl
WORKS.
Hero is one OF the legitimate fruit
of this road, and never would hav
been heard of but for it. 1t is a com
pletely organized enterprise and start
: out upon career of success and pros
perity. Thos. e. Matson is president
]. c. Hardin, secretary and treasurer
and Sam. Simcox manager, Since
is a Knoxville man and. for lon
time was connected with the machin
/. shops of the e, t., Va. & Ga. Railroad
He is live man all over. No bette
man could have been put in charge {
these shops, The proprietors conten
plate manufacturing casting, &c. TIL
] building is 100x175 feet, two storie
high and metal roof. 1t is immediat
!, ly on the broad and narrow gaug
" roads and is thoroughly equipped wit
= the latest improved machinery
t Mr.. D. T. Nevin, late of Shipper
: burg, Pa, isputting machinery in th
! second story OF the building to mani
facture bent wood work, such as fe
' loes and the like.
WATAUGA TANNERY.
# This is one Of the largest tannerit
in the country, tanning oak sole leatl