Year: 1873

NO. XCN.


EDITORS CHRONICLE: a New York
gentleman having recently seen n commu-
nication of the undersigned in your paper,
setting forth the advantages of q cotton
factory in this city, wrote me letter of
enquiry concerning it, and requesting that
1 should give him fuller information on
the subject L will state that he is engag-
cd in the cotton factory business, is thor
Oughly informed as to its management,
and is prepared to invest some capital in
the enterprise here if he can obtain the
necessary encouragement. He is doing
very well where he is, but on account of the
rigorous climate of his section and his
pre-dsposition.t to pulmonary complaint,
he is anxious to change his location, and
seek a home in the balmy region of East
Tennessee. In this he has shown his good
sense. Why should he, or any one else, in
that unfriendly climate, remain there, en-
dure its dreary winters, and fall a victim
to consumption, while there is such n re-
gion as ours, into which he may escape,
and find an antidote for his ailments? L
L
can find no better climate for the disease
he speaks of than the climate about the
city of Knoxville. 1t is almost a certain
cure for asthma, consumption and kindred
complaints. | am little particular, on
this point, because his coming to this city
and investing his means, depends largely
upon the favorableness of our climate /
would not mislead him for the world, nor
any one else. He may, therefore, depend
upon the general statements l have made
touching the genial nature of our climate,
and its effects upon the character of COM
plains alluded to.


Now the Cotton Factory. He says, ~
would like to engage with other parties in
the erection of cotton mill.n From this
remark it would seem that he is seeking
the cooperation of our citizens in the
erection of such q MILL and, from other
portions of his letter, l am satisfied that
this is the case. 1t occurs to me that l
can safely pledge the aid of our enterpris-
ing citizens in this matter. In u recent
conversation with large property holder,
and live and progressive man, he gave
me to understand that he had already
moved in the incipent work of interest
ing a number ofgentlemen in the enter
prise. He is fully aroused upon the sub
iect, and feels its Importance. One thing
L know L can say, that the business men
of Knoxville would be vastly in the dark
profoundly blinded to their own inter
ests if they were to refuse such Il thing
AS / have often remarked, and now repeat
with augmented emphasis, there is no
greater need, in our city than a cotton
factory. 1t is matter of surprise that one
has not been established long ago. The
advantages of such an undertaking need
not be recapitulated in this paper. They
are palpable to all. / imagine the difficult
ty is that no one has taken the pains to
give the matter a moments attention. 1t
is hard to draw men out of their legitimate
channels of business and direct their
minds to new sources of wealth and pros
perity. If successful, they do not care to
trouble themselves about outside opera
tions. They are making money, and that
is enough.


But the time has come when there must
be change. Broader views must prevail.
Knoxville is becoming somewhat preten-
tiOus in her claims to Importance, and is
looking forward to a high degree of ad-
Vancement. To realize these laudbale eX-
pectatiOns efforts must be put forth COM
mensurate with all this, otherwise some
body will be sadly disappointed. Our busi-
ness men have been hit some pretty hard
licks in consequence of their apparent in
difference to the progress of KnoXville,a and
their failure to back up public enterprises
with their money. There is no need of
this. Business men who are proverbial fol
conducting their own enterprises With pru'
dence and success, may be set down, al
ways as the best, the truest and the most
solid friends of the city. If they don't act
as promptly as the most ardent and san
guine may demand, they, at least, will
step forward cautiously and therefore
build up firmly and securely. l have nc
fears, therefore, of our business men in the
end. To my own mind / can perceive 9
growing spirit Of public enterprise, and in
due time it will develop itself in some prac'
tical and efficient form. 1t is preferable
that cur enterprise should go onward some
what slowly, as, by this process, the foun-
dations of our city will be the more secure
ly laid and more genuine and substantial
structure thrown up.


Taking this view of the question / am
prepared to give our New York friend the
most earnest and positive assurance that
if he will visit our city, survey the ground
make the acquaintance of our capitalists
and give them the exact measurement Of
himself, he can succeed.


ALONZo DANTE.