Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-14


all who enter her gates.
An American traveller writing re-
Gently of one of the remarkable
things observed by him in Europe,
stated that certain will lges still
charged fee for allowing one to en-
ter their gates, and he also observed
that wherever he found one of these
Misunderstanding cities it was noted
for its backwardness.
l cannot understand on what prin-
ciple of business or financial reason
GAINESVILLE could refuse the PROPOSE.
ton submitted by the county and
private citizens to furnish twO-thirds
of the cost if she would furnish the
rest in building this new bridge. l
cannot understand on what principle,
either, she still maintains these toll
gates at her entrance. A business
man who should charge admission to
his store would doubtless soon fail Of
custom. In vain would he argue to
the ever credulous people that it was
to his and their mutual advantage for
them to pay this entrance fee. 1t
might fool few, but not many. And
yet, this is what GAINESVILLE does
every day. She invites people to
come and bring their produce and do
their trading, invites them to visit
and commune with her people, but
she charges them when they enter.
Your committee mentioned lack of
funds, and l have heard the same
argument advanced for maintaining
your toll.gates. This is but poor
excuse. II they had the right deter
minatiOn and will in this matter
there would be no such obstacle in
the way. If GAINESVILLE is so ham
pered in her means of raising the
revenue necessary for executing her
proper governmental functions, the
sooner this state of things is changed
the better. No need of the modern
municipality is 50 elementary and
necessary as proper bridges and
highways. 1t is one of the first
duties of all cities to supply them be-
cause they subserve one of the most
natural and cOmmendable desires OF
man as a social being.
In many respects GAINESVILLE is sit.
uated similarly to Kansas City. We
are in the fork between the Missouri
and the Kaw Cor Kansas) rivers,
while you arc between the Cumber-
land and the Red. The rivers are
similar in size and Probability. But
the Cumberland is better for naviga.
ton than the Missouri. Your city is
surrounded by magnificent agricul-
tural and mineral country, just as
ours is, and you are about the same
distance from Nashville as we
are from st. Joe, the two
nearest large towns respectively.
Why is it then, may ask, that, al
though GAINESVILLE was well estab-
lished and furnishing town before
the name of Kansas City was ever
written on the map, yet she now has
less than one-twentieth of our popu
lation, less than one one-hundredth
of our business, less than one .fiftieth
of our revenue, and less than one
tiftieth of our wealth ? / think the
answer is that because in this town
the people have been actuated by a
liberal public spirit and endowed
with an abundance of energy, while
in yours they have been always con-
tent to "let well enough Alone"
never even taking the trouble to in
quire as to what "well enough" con-
sisted in. They have greatly mis-
taken the meaning of "Well enough"
Business men or capitalists seeking
investments always look carefully
into the possibilities of the place.
The means of exit and entrance con
stitute with them all a most vital
point. / have no doubt that your
city has lost many great business en-
terprises, employing hundreds of
wOrkmen, by the limited and ham,
pered condition of her means of en-
trance and exit.
Let me urge upon you, and
through your valuable paper, upon
the people of your city, the great ne
cessity of prompt action in this mat
ter. Now is the time when inves-
tors from all over the world are seek
ing new fields for investment. Dis |
satisfied with the West, the North |
and the East, they are looking to-
ward the South, and with proper en-
enlargement will make GAINESVILLE
great in less time than your most |
visionary inhabitant would dare pre-.
dict. II. Nj. M.
They All Failed.
The following letter from w. A.
Thomson, of Columbus, Wis. il ne