The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-06-04
JOHNSON CITY.
A Prosperous New City of
East Tennessee.
Eastern and Western Capitalists
Unite in Building a Manu-
featuring Town.
The Center Of the Steel District of
of the South.
CRANBERRY MAGNETIC ORES.


been hearing so much of late years,
while not confined to one part, has
undoubtedly been most pronounced
in the mineral districts of Alabama,
East Tennessee and Western Virginia.
In other parts the improvement has
been spasmodic, but here is rapid,
steady and important, and, based
upon the development of the great
mineral wealth, is growing in force all
the time. New capital is being invest
ed in mines, railroads, factories and
other reproductive enterprises
throughout this section: the popula
ton is rapidly increasing, new towns
are growing up, and there is an APP
pearance of prosperity everywhere.
All the enterprise and progress of
Tennessee seem to be in the eastern
portion of the State. There is a
great contrast between this and the
other divisions. Here the people and
the towns have thrifty, business
like appearance, so different from the
careless, lazy way prevalent around
Nashville, for instance, which strikes
Northern man so forcibly.
This bustling little town of
JOHNSON CITY
is good example of what is being
done in East Tennessee. 1t has been
long good country town, the center
of fine farming region, and the adj
joining counties brought all their
business here, as they still'do When
the country began to boom Johnson
City felt the effects and its bushes
grew rapidly. Then the investors
seeing the situation, came along and
laid out additions to the old town,
erected fine business blocks and resi-
dences, and gave shape and impetus
to the incIpitent boom. People were
attracted here by the growth aud
prospects of the town; new railroads
were built, opening up the resources
of the surrounding country and bring
ing new business to this thriving little
city. Today the population is about
$500, composed of citizens of nearly
every State.
Improvements are being made
in every every direction.
A great amount of grading has been
done in the newer portion of the town.
Preparations are being made to put
in water works and system of sewers
sufficient for large city, and a fine
plant has been erect by an electric
company, composed of New England
men, to furnish lights and to operate
a street car system, which is being
built. Every one of these enterprises
bear the stamp Of thoroughness. This
is characteristic of Johnson City. All
the Improvements are of solid, sub
stantial kind. The idea is conveyed
that the people here intend building a
city rather than booming land.
The buildings tend to leave the
same impression. Comfortable houses
meet the eye in every direction, and
in the business portion OF the town
substantial blocks of brick have been
erected.
Several fine blocks which would be
a credit to town of $4,000 are APP
completion.
The Hotel Carnegie, handsome
brick and stone structure of four
stories, will be open by the end of this
month. It is thoroughly equipped
and will be one of the finest hotels in
the central South, certainly the best
in East Tennessee. The 100 bed
rooms are large and lofty, all lighted
from the outside, and the parlors, of
fees, ETC., are spacious and comfort
able.
The men who are building johnson
City seem to have come from all
parts. The East and the West are
here united. The Carnegie Land
Company, with General Wilder at its
head, is largely composed of Western
men. Many Illinois people have in
vested in the town and have the pros
oect of making great profit. Among !.
hem are Governor Fifer, John r.
Tanner, Dan Hogen, DR.. Barnes, of
Col. F. V. Warner, of !
Clinton, Col. Tom Scott, of Fairfield ;
had the pleasure of meeting here I
Major A. Cantwell, of Springfield, also. ;
lie is now witt the Carnegie com
,any.
The Proctor Land Company, which +
WINS a valuable addition TO the town
s composed mainly of South h
IN men: w. E. Gibbins, Presi- 4
ent, J. w. Fletcher and A B. Bow c
nan are all East Tennessee, while
ohm r. Proctor, the well known State f
biologist, and others represent Ken |.
ucky. il
The Connecticut Land Company" a
I'd the electric companies contain a
mong their shareholders: Edmond n
'ay, of Seymour, Conn. J. L. Pier W