The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-05-16
Our Financial Status.

from a long days ride, sat down to
rest few moments before retiring for
the night and soon lapsed into dream.
land. | found myself in d coach on
the main line of the Southern Rail
way without any knowledge of my
destination. l cast my eye over my
fellow passengers and was soon at
tracted by the unusual actions of
seedy looking individual dressed in
suit of worn black, and having the
general appearance of decayed
schoolmaster of Eye olden time" who
was rapidly taking notes OF something
in pocket book he carried. Being
somewhat amused by his half frantic
manner and desiring to know what he
was engaged in, | took vacant seat
near him, and, after excusing myself
for the curiosity l had displayed, |
asked what he was 80 busily engaged
in. 81 am" said be, "the commercial
census taker for Tennessee" He
stated that the government sent out
men every odd year to get the finan-
cial standing of the more important
towns IN each State, and that the con-
ditiop Of our commercial progress was
irawn from comparison of these
values.
Desiring to know something Of how
East Tennessee was rated, asked him
the condition of her most important
towns-Johnson City, Jonesboro, Knox.
vile and Chattanooga. johnson
City," said he, ais known as the town
of Three BIS. In answer to my look OF
amazement at this singular cognomen,
he stated that the letters were the mi
tials of the words Boom, Business and
Bust. He sail the town was visited
several years ago by numt er of men
known out West as town planters.
These men carry peculiar kind of
gas which affects the brains of those
who come in contact with it, making
them light and airy, and prone to en-
gage in visionary schemes. Places
they visit rise with mushroom rapidity
while these men soon became wealthy
and retired from business, and some
times from existence" "The town.
said he, "from being an ordinary sta.
ton town soon ranked among the
commercial cities of the nation. Gil
gantic factories were going up or
every hand, firms were organized
banks were established, and lots tina
before were valuable only as pas
ture for cows that lived upon the com
mons, we're soon quoted at fabulous
prices. Matters remained in this state
, for short time and then collapsed al
. suddenly as they rose, leaving the evi
dences nj great enterprises just begur
, and numbers Of buildings "to let"
| asked him what johnson City
chances Tor recovering her Lost groun,
were. He answered that financial
b she was looking up. II noticed" sal
he, that her banks have been reduce
in number, a number of busines
|, houses have either failed or sold GU
and now she is better able TO supper
by her trade those that remain.
also noticed that a number of til
atoretime valuable lots are being Gu
tivated in corn, ETC., so if she will col
tinue her present industry Johnso
City will soon become self supportin
town."
s Ne said that Jonesboro was know
d as the only completed town in Il
- United States, as it has grown none
fifty years; and that its principal pr
duction was great men, the~most ID
portant classes of which were lawyel
doctors and loaters. "The lawyers"
stated, shave become 80 numeror
that most of them live on the meri
of their profession" He especial
mentioned T. B. Hacker and S.
Keeiauver as men who had great O
portunities to rise in their professio
"The DOCTORS" he said, were necessa
~ in order to support so many dr.
~ stores, as there is three of these viii
W one is sufficient for town of that sia
M I asked him what the number of dc
M tors in the place had to do with
No He said that things had changed sin
10 he was boy: that fifty years al
DO people did not buy medicines unle
DO they needed them now the doctor pl
DO scribes, the druggist sells them, al
DO both are mutually benefited. He SO
/. that if R. L. Taylor was candida
~ for governor IN 1896, the people
to Jonesboro were going to match l
en- Warlick against him in telling lor
o. windy yarns and worn out jokes 2
- bono publico.
KNOXVILLE" he said, twas noted
- its production OF Natural Gas. t.