Today in Johnson City History, Monday, September 23, 2024
Today’s column is lengthy, but worth the time it takes to read. The smallpox situation continues, and there’s news about the upcoming Southern Exposition.
Saturday, September 23, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported news with a dateline from Johnson City and a date of September 22. Readers learned that “At the city council meeting last night, Recorder William G. Mathes tendered his resignation, to take effect at once, which was accepted, and the board immediately elected ‘Squire J. M. Martin to fill out the expired term. Mr. Mathes has filled the officer very acceptably and with great benefit to the town, and it is regretted that he has taken this step. He will go into the real estate and investment business. His successor, ‘Squire J. M. Martin, is a competent and popular man for the place.
“The board also elected Robert L. ReMine as chief of police. Mr. ReMine has been on the police force before, and has always shown himself efficient and able to copy with the situation. He is a terror to evil doers and those inclined to create disturbance.
“The matter of granting the East Tennessee Telephone company a franchise in Johnson City was postponed until the next meeting, two weeks hence. It is not believed here that the Nolichucky company has always acted fair toward its customers and is furnishing business telephones at $24 per year and residence telephones at $15 per year. The East Tennessee company asks for a franchise which allows them, if they are fit, to charge $42 per year for business and $30 for residence telephones. The sentiment in Johnson City is to stand by the home company.
Readers also learned that “The smallpox situation remains unchanged, three cases being all that has so far developed. Schools continue uninterrupted and there is no alarm felt.” Smallpox was first reported in this column yesterday.
Fifteen dollars in 1899 has the current purchasing power of about $569, according to www.in2013dollarws.com. This makes $42 in the same year currently worth about $1593, according to the same source.
Smallpox is caused by a virus; while most people recovered from it, many deaths resulted. Smallpox can now be prevented by means of a vaccination.
The Chattanooga Daily Times the other days of the week. It is now published online as the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Johnson City did not have a daily newspaper in 1899. The Comet, however, was published on a weekly basis.
Tuesday, September 23, 1924: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported exciting news for Johnson City. “That Johnson City, ‘The capital of the State of Appalachia’ will be represented in beneficial fashion at the Southern Exposition to be held in the Grand Ceneral (sic) Palace in New York, January 10th to 31st, is the determination of the far seeing people of the city and vicinity. A tremendous interest has been aroused by the Chronicle and Staff-News Exposition Fund, designed to secure the necessary co-operation for the establishment of a Johnson City booth at the exposition, where the resources and possibilities of the section may be presented to millions of visitors.
“Today a young boy, desiring to aid in the great porject (sic), and compete for the $100 cash prize offered for a suitable slogan for one for the exposition, divided his dollar contribution, with fifty cents on two separate membership certificates, each containing a suggested slogan.
“The Chronicle and the Staff-News started the subscription list with $100; Capt. John E. Riley, devoting his time to the project donated another $100; and has since offered an addition (sic) prize of $25 for the person writing the best advertisement to be used about Johnson City in the Southern Exposition number of the Manufacturer’s Record.
“Johnson City is, and what Johnson City can be, as the center of one of the most wonderful sections of this world, is to be shown in a Johnson City booth in the Southern exposition, which is to exploit the present activities in more than a dozen states in this region, and show this unlimited possibilities of further development. Scores of other cities of the South have secured space for exhibits, and Johnson City must, it is felt, take its place by their side, in order to maintain the high standard of progressiveness it has enjoyed as one of the leading Southern cities.
“Not alone the business and industrial interest of this section will be interested; but there is a strong appeal to every individual citizen with pride and interest in his home town and this section. Johnson City must maintain her place as the capital of the State of Appalachia.
“Space for booths has already been engaged by scores of other cities, in which the development and resources of their sections will be featured; and it is felt that an investment of $2,500 by Johnson City should yield returns a hundred fold, since this city is in the center of the most abundant resources in greatest variety, of any section of the South.
“The fund to insure these benefits is to be raised from every person in Johnson City and vicinity interested in furthering the advancement of this region. No specific amount is set for contribution by any one; but those who realize the wonderful opportunity at hand, will certainly lose no time in obtaining membership in The Chronicle and Staff-News Southern Exposition Fun, by filling out and returning the attached coupon with a subscription.
“Rental of space in the Grand Central Palace closes September 30th; and assurances that Johnson City will have an individual exhibit must be made by that date. The space will cost $3.00 per square foot; and other Southern cities, less than Johnson City, have already secured as much as 400 or 500 feet. The tentative plan is to secure not less than 250 feet; and to fit this up from a wealth of exhibits from industries, business houses and other sources, of a variety, beauty and interest which can be surpassed in no other region. To do this, it is estimated that a fund of only about $2,500 will be required for securing the space, preparing and installing the exhibits, arranging literature and souvenirs for distribution, and making announcements through national publications; one of the principal of which is to be the special Southern Exposition number of the Manufacturers’ Record, which will be read by no less than tw (sic) o,illions (sic) people.
“In carrying out the plan here to insure Johnson City a special booth at the exhibit, separate offices have been established for perfecting The Chronicle and Staff-News Southern Exposition Fund; these offices having on the first floor of the Former Evening News bldg., corner of Spring and Tipton streets (sic), which will be in charge of Capt. John E. Riley. Subscriptions and suggestions as to the slogan to be used in connection with the project, may be sent to that address or mailed to The Chronicle and Staff-News.
“Business interests will of course realize the vast importance of the project at once; and but little study of the facts will convince every citizen of the results to follow. It is to be a porject (sic) in which every one (sic) in this region may participate.
“In connection with the industrial advantages of the proportion, a cash prize of $100.00 in gold is offered to the subscriber submitting the winning slogan for Johnson City and vicinity, to be used at the Exposition, and to become the slogan of the region.
“This slogan, for which the $100.00 is here offered, is to be submitted by some one (sic) in this region, or by some one interested in its development. It is pointed out that the well known words ‘The land of the sky have made Asheville famous’ that there is a tempting sound to ‘The Sun-kissed Land’ that immediately suggests California – an immediate turning to Kentucky at the mention of the ‘Blue Grass Region’ and dozens of others. Johnson City and vicinity should have one as descriptive, as suggestive of its resources, possibilities, attractive features – boiled into just a few words. A cash prize of $100.00 is offered for the winning phrase.
“The slogan must be short and simple and expensive.
“It must be submitted on the attached coupon, by a person holding membership in The Chronicle and Staff-News Southern Exposition Fund.
“Date and hour of the receipt of each suggestion will be recorded, in order that the first person submitting the exact slogan decided upon by the judges may receive the prize, in the event two or more should suggest the same. If the slogan chosen is not the exact wording of any submitted, then the prize is to be awarded to the one suggesting the wording nearest to that decided upon, or the idea from which the slogan is chosen.
“Judges of the contest are to be secured and announced later.
“The exact time which this contest is to be decided in a few days; though it will necessarily be of short duration, since a definite order for the space must be secured by September 30th.
“Johnson City’s greatest opportunity is knocking at the door.
“Replies are to be brought or mailed to The Chronicle or the Staff-News, and will be received either at the main offices on West Main and Market place; or at the temporary Chronicle and Staff-News Southern Exposition fund place; or at the temporary Chronicle and Staff-News Southern Exposition Fund headquarters corner Spring and Tipton streets (sic).”
One hundred dollars in 1924 is currently worth about $1842, according to www.in2013dollars.com.
Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.
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