Business Conditions.— The three rail roads in Knoxville haul over 1,524,000 tons of freight (in and out) annually. Knoxville has 50 lobbing houses doing a business of $50, 000,000 annually, while its manufacturing ap proximates $30,000,000 annually. The coal handled by Knoxville jobbers runs around $20,000,000 annually. Knoxville's marble brings in $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 annually, while the zinc, aluminum and copper industries in the Knoxville district do a volume of business run ning well up into the millions. Money for all legitimate business purposes is available at all times in Knoxville.
Financial Strength.— Owing to the geo graphic location of Knoxville in relation to inexhaustible quantities of economic and natural resources, and of the diversification of interests in the Knoxville district, this city is always the last to feel any sort of business depression. At the beginning of the World War in 1914, Knoxville was the only city in the entire South to show an increase in bank clearings, and one of the five cities in the United States to show an increase in clearings during that period. During the first six months of the war —a period of lowered financial vitality — Knox ville showed decreased bank clearings of less than 5 per cent, as compared with decreases at other important points reaching as high as 35 and 40 per cent. The figures given below show that as a financial centre Knoxville is stronger than ever before in the history of the city. Its rating in bank circles throughout the country is high. There are now 12 financial institutions in Knoxville, of which six are national banks. Both banking capital and deposits have materially increased in the past 10 to 15 years. The banking capital of Knox ville and the surplus and profits are now $4,090,036.13, while the deposits total at this time $19,902,589.13. In 1901, the banking capital and the surplus and profits were only $1,256, 205.81, and the deposits $4,152,220.08. In the past 18 years, therefore, the banking capital and surplus and profits have increased over 300 per cent, while the deposits during that time show an increase in almost equal propor tion. The combined resources of Knoxville's banking institutions are approximately $24, 000,000. Bank clearings in 1901 were $32,496, 361.73, while in 1917 they were $125,097,419.84.
Government.— Knoxville has a commis sion form of government, consisting of a mayor and four commissioners, elected by the people for a term of four years. The assessed
value of property for taxation is $45,000,000 which is not exceeding 75 per cent of its actual value. The bonded debt of the city is $3,942,283, most of which was created for constructing sewers, building bridges and other public im provements. The city is supplied with pure wholesome water from the Tennessee River, by a municipality owned plant. The lighting plants, gas and electric, are owned by private corporations. Practically all telephone wires are underground. Everything is sightly. The main business thoroughfare has all the wires— electric light, telegraph and telephone — in underground conduits. There are 28 miles of paved streets in the city. The city fire depart ment is a striking example of efficiency, it being partially motorized. The street clean ing department and police department are motor-equipped. The traction company has 53 miles of track in operation and 136 cars in serv ice. Cheap electric current and gas are avail able. The city operates a splendidly equipped free public library. A marble post office, with seven sub-stations throughout the city and suburbs, ensures prompt mail service. Youth ful violators of the law are tried in a juvenile court. While awaiting trial they are kept in a detention-house instead of being sent to jail. Charities are looked after by a central organiza tion known as The Associated Charities, which is conducted under the auspices of the city and other dispensers of charities.
Knoxville is headquarters for the Third Regiment of the National Guard of the State of Tennessee. Knoxville's chief benevolent institu tions are the Industrial School for Juveniles, sustained at the expense of Knox County, ca pable of housing and giving instruction to 200 girls and boys; the Home for Aged Women and an orphanage. The Knoxville General Hos pital was erected at a cost of more than $50000, and is one of the leading institutions of its kind in the South.
The City city market is unqualifiedly the best in the South, where the housewife can find, at reasonable prices, a wide variety of foodstuffs. A rich agricultural coun try surrounds Knoxville. Truck farming is practised on a large scale. Supplementing the market, farmers' wagons each morning bring their produce to town. The wagons flank both sides of the market house, and sell direct to the qonsumer. This makes for cheap living con ditions, and, being under the supervision of the city, is excellently managed.