The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-10-26
g. ATLANTIC RAIL ROAD.

We are hlghiy gratlhed al the appointment OF
Commissioners to agree upon and recon-
mend some Legislative action that will relieve
The Western g. Atlantic Railroad from an-
moving law suits in Tennessee. But while
we concede that i: is right to protect our
Georgia friends from annoyance in Ten
nessee, and contend that like protection
should always be extended to the East Ten
nessee road in Georgia, we are of the oPin-
ion decidedly that the evil complained of can
not and never will be remcded by any action
on the part Of Tennessee, or Tennessee
Legislature. At the same time, we do believe
it is altogether in the power and within the
province Of the Legislature Of Georgia to
furnish the remedy. The Western a. Atlan-
tic Railroad is a single stem, receiving from
either end, and by the wayside, an amount of
tonnage far beyond her capacity to transport.
From this fact, all delays in the Transports
ton of freights are properly chargabe at her
door, and every one must see that it is right
to hold her responsible and liable to dam
ages, so long as the State Of Georgia ne
elects or refuses to equip her road sufficient
to meet tho demand for transportation. 1t
may be urged, and truly too, that the pre-
sent products of the country are unusually
large, and could not have fairly been antici-
pated. But it is equally true that this rond
has never had ample equipment, and we do
not think the complaint now is any greater
than it has always been. 1t may be seen by
reference to the Card of Maj. Jackson, Su-
perintendcnt of Transportation East Tennes-
see and Georgia Railroad, that his Company
feels that they are in condition to fully sat-
isfy all demands OF shippers, if they could
only get clear of their frcights when deliver
ed at Dalton, and we have no doubt but that
this Company have engines and cars sufficient
to carry of all the freights that may be Of
fered in such time rs would satisfy the most
unreasonable, if il was so arranged by the
State Of Georgia (who is nothing more than
other common carriers,) to receive her
freights MS fast as delivered Mt Dalton. These
remarks will apply with the same force to the
Nashville and Chattanooga road, MS we are
Informed she has ample equipment.
Now we respectfully suggest TO our Geor.
ga friends, whether it would not be in better
taste, and more just to themselves, to equip
their road with engines and cars sufficient TO
meet the demand, and thereby do away with
the real cause of so much complaint and
occasional law suits, than to ask an intcrfcr.
encc by our Legislature, which, if granted,
would materially affect the rights of our own
citizens. This talk about State Sovereignty,
and the petty annoyance to a great and mag
unanimous State like Georgia being sued in
Tennessee, is all gammon and fam in this
particular connection. Georgia has become
common carrier, and just as long as she re-.
mains in that position, why of course she
must expect to submit to the laws of the
land respecting common carriers. If she will
own railroad let her equip and work it in
manner worthy a great State, and she will
need no other laws than those already in ex-
istence to protect her from annoyance. Let
her own Legislature correct the evil, and not
complain to ours.
We wish it distinctly understood, however,
that the East Tennessee and Georgia Rail-
road Company have no complaint whatever
MS to the management Of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad by its officers. On the con.
trary, we have frequently heard both the
President and Superintendent express the
opinion that all was done that could be done
to facilitate shipments from their road; but
that the difficulty lay in want Of engines and
cars We repeat, then, let Georgia fully
equip her road, and keep her equipments on ii,
and it will soon be demonstrated whether or
not the fault is in her or the connecting roads.
In conclusion, we would beg leave to call
attention to the important fact, that the Fast
Tennessee and Georgia Railroad was intend.
ed to DO n participation in the benefits to be
derived from granting the right of way and
other privileges in Tennessee to the Western
and Atlantic Railroad Company-a fact that
has frequently been lost sight of by Georgia,
who seems, somehow or other, to have for.
gotten that she had any connection to make
other than Chattanooga, or other rights to
respect than those concentrating ut that
point. Although the State Commissioner
(Col. Whitesides) is Chattanooga man, we
know he is too much of Tennesseean and
too skillful statesman TO submit or agree to
any adjustment that will not fully recognize
the rights and claims Of the East Tennessee
and Georgia Railroad Company, and the va
ried interests Of the citizens of the rich and
highly productive territory their road drains.
These rights and interests ought not to be,
and cannot DO dsregarded in amy arrange.
nent that may be made. The first are too
well defined 10 admit of question, and the
last too large and important to be overlook
ed.
STEAMBOAT LAUNCH" AT KINGSTON
They have had Steamboat launch" over
on the Tennessee, ut Kingston. The last
number of the livingston Weekly Eagle,
and Southern Literary and Art Gazetteer"
contains highly glowing and brilliantly dc.
scriptive account o; the affair, which want of
space alone prevents us from transferring to