The Lambertville record., 1888-01-25

much in and about this city that is of in
terest here, that to boil It down and write
only that calculated to interest outsiders
| is no easy matter. Geographically, we
are four miles from the Georgia line and
little greater distance from the Ala
Chattanooga seems surrounded by noun
tains North and west are seen different
ranges of the Cumberland mountains,
while three miles east lies the famous
Missionary Ridge, which extends about
ten miles nearly north and south; the
southern part near this city being that
best known, though the battle which
took its name from the Ridge ragged for
several miles. South of the city, about
three miles distant, stands Lookout Noun
tain, which is simply the northern end of
a range of mountains extending seventy
or eighty miles southwesterly through
northern Georgia and into Alabama. This
bluff is very precipitous-about 800 feet
high-against which the Tennessee river
strikes SO squarely as to be compelled to
almost double upon itself for several miles
until finally 1t breaks through Walden's
Ridge towards the west.
From the brow of Lookout the view is
very tine. The city seems to lie almost at
its feet. The river can be seen folio wing
its very circuitous route for many miles.
But 1t is not until you raise your eyes and
scan the horizon that the wonderful pros
pect is appreciated. 1t hardly will seem
credible, but from this mountain may be
seen parts of seven states, Georgia, Ala
bama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virgins
North and South Carolina. Taking it all
10 all the view from this point is excep-
tioDaily fine. Access to this mountain is
much easier now. than in 1868. An in
cline railway--with stationary engine
makes the ascent very pleasant. abroad
gauge road winding crcuitously up the
mountain is now nearly completed. This
mountain is already a great summer re-
sort and is yearly becoming more Of one.
Chattanooga bad in 1860, $500; in 1870,
6,000; in 1880, between $4,000 and IS, 900,
and now fully 10000. Over 1900 resi-
dences were erected during 1887. From
August, 1886, to April, 1887, occurred
what is known as the Boom Intense
excitement instead OF cook thought SEEM
ed to pervade all, and real estate advanced
to figures not dreamed of before. Dur.
ing the "Boom" $l3, 900, 900 worth of pro-
perty changed hands. The strangest part
of this whole affair is. that although the
excitement finally came to an end, the
boom prices remained, and of tho many
pieces of property sold at auction hero
this fall and winter, not one has been sold
for the boom price but Mt an advance of
from 10 to rs per cent. above the price
paid at that time. To northerner prices
here seem high. A good building lot on
any fairly desirable street, is worth from
| $3, 900 to So, 600, while business lots in
desirable locations, bring from 5000 to
$500, or even moro per front foot. Rents
of course are high.
There are about 800 manufacturing in
terests here and fully 900 firms engaged
10 mercantile business. A great many
Wholesale houses are here, for this is the
natural distributing point for large area
of country. Tho manufacturing interests
are varied--not like some cities, largely
in one line. Our mills cut last year from
the logs, 33, 900, 600 feet Of lumber. This
did not, however, comprise all of the lum-
Der handled by our dealers-in fact was
not one-third, for they handled 110, ,000,-
600 feet during the year. Our furniture
manufacturer shipped 422 car loads of
furniture, besides all sold here. One of
onr iron mills turns out 140 tons Of steel
rails daily. Another turns out 80 tons Of
plates and castings, daily.
| Business of all kinda is prosperous.
Failures are very few; last year only eight
failures occurred, with net loss of less
than $1,000.
Educational advantages are fairly good
A thorough common school system from
the primary to the high school; many
private schools institutes aud academies,
the University with its beautiful build
ings and grounds, worth 100000, and
within year we expect to have the Mary
Sharp College here. Surely illiteracy
ought to disappear.
But you will ask, hasn't the "Plucky
City" any disadvantages? Yes. one, mud.
Any other? Yes, mud, and II should
write 1t fifty times should fail to give
you an idea Of the amount of mud we
have here. They say it is worse this
year than usual, for we are spending
about $50, 900 on sewers and this digging
up the streets adds largely to the mud.
But the muddy season will now soon be
over, for in February Spring Is here and
gardens are planted and farm crops put in.
Seven railroads center here. We have
several lines Of horse cars, about 40 miles
of Belt road, over which dummy engines,
with trains, pass about every half hour.
This Belt road connects different parts OF
the city, also extends to several suburban
towns, also to Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge. A 5 cent fare makes
these roads popular.
4 We haveai churches, 8 daily papers
and 20 weekles, monthlies, &C., 0 banks,
public library (iu enbryo), Chamber
Of Commerce, Board of Trade, Real Es-
tate Exchange, So, &c, But enough.
AS said at first, these things are Of less
interest to outsiders than to us here. But
I want you to got this idea, that this city
Is thoroughly wide awake, and when II
has had time to attend little more to
| the nice points, especially street paving,