Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-24

IN Tennessee that connects with Nashville;
yet according to the official statement of the
officers Of the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road Company, those in charge Of our roads
here have seriously provoked them to go
round us in every way that they can. They
state in their report that they have for the
last year had serious trouble in shipping
through our city, and are still unable to ef-
feet any satisfactory arrangements with the
officers Of the Chattanooga road, by which
their cars can be run on said road except at
ruinous rates, and give that as one reason
why they seek other routes 20 the Southern
States. How all these charges that are
made against the Chattanooga and North
western Railroads are, l do not know, but If
they are as stated in said report, it is GER
tainly due the citizens Of Nashville and Mid
die Tennessee, that those who manage the
affairs Of said roads in Tennessee should
make a full and frank statement of the facts,
and show how it is, and if untrue, expose
the authors Of the charges before the public
as unworthy Of credit in their official state
ments; but if true as stated, admit them and
abide the disgrace that will attach to their
conduct as unworthy public servants. Sir,
do not undertake TO decide the question as
to whether the statements made in the re-
port are true or false;but if true, it seems to
me that a greater outrage could not be per-
petrated upon our cOmmon Interests.
have no desire to quarrel with any one,
much less our own people, but | feel that |
have public duty to perform, and that l
cannot do that, without in this report call
ing the attention of the officers and stock
holders of the Chattanooga road to thestate-
ments Of the officers Of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Company, that they may
have an opportunity to say TO their stock
holders and the citizens generally that the
charges made in the report as printed are
either true or false. Sir, IT, is known to you,
and generally 10 the public, that there is a
railroad track from the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad Depot to the Nashville and
Chattanooga Depot about one-half mile in
length that was built during the war; and is
now in complete running order, but how it
is used except as appears from the report Of
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany | do not know. They say Gin the en-
deavor to establish satisfactory connections
at Nashville, through which shippers would
be enabled to send goods through to Atlanta
and points further South, with dispatch and
at low rates, we haye hiterto been unsuccessful.
The Nashville and Chattanooga and the
Nashville and Northwestern railroads being
under the same management, freight from
Jacksonville is sent through Nashville
without break of bulk or charge for transfer,
while this company is compelled to reship
at Nashville, and pay at the rate of $40 per
carload for the use Of the half mile on
the road between the two depots Thus, for
example, the charge Of $40 per carload Of
frwl Oh e IF la IL
shipped South for passing over one-half
mile Of road through Nashville is equal to
the cost Of transportation over forty-three
miles Of the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road. 1t would lead too far here to specify
in detail the difficulties which are now, and
which very likely will be at all times, in
the way Of establishing satisfactory through
connections at Nashville, but the subject is
Of sufficient Importance TO seriously engage
the attention Of the directors and stockhold-
ers Of the road, as well as that of the bust
ness men at Louisville generally"
Now, sir, if the statements made in the
foregoing extracts be true, then, in the face
Of the public law Of the State Of Tennessee,
there appears to be a toll-gate or barricade
across one Of the great commercial thorough
fares Of the community for the benefit of the
Chattanooga road. II there is a charter for
said track from one depot to the other, then
the charge Of $40 per car load is in direct
conflict with section ], l20 of the code of
Tennessee, which reads as follows: Every
railroad company, when required, shall re-
ceive on its roads and branches the full load
ed freight cars Of all other companies, trans
port them to their destination, and return,
without charging for the transportation OF
the goods, wares, merchandise and produce
therein, any greater rate Of freight than they
charge for similar transportation in their
own cars" If there is no charter for said
track, then It must be private toll-gate for
the benefit Of some one or more individuals,
who receive the fees, and are not subject 70
account for the same TO any one. These are
grave matters, in which our community have
a deep interest, and upon which they oughi
TO be Informed, but how they are l shall not
undertake 10 determine, but shall leave theil
solution 10 those who control and manage
the affairs Of the Nashville and Chattanooga
and Nashville and Northwestern railroads, L
explain and show by what authority they
| exercise such extraordinary powers.
1t is not my purpose sir, to argue the shor
sighted policy both 30 our roads south of u:
and our local interests, TO attempt in thu
way stated to control the commerce Of thi
country beyond our business, trade and CAPT
tai for ! believe that the commercial bust
ness and trade Of a great community car
only be influenced and turned 70 good &C
count by those who invite it by such enter
prise and policy as will make il the interes
of all the trading world to deal with then
as far as they have the ability to supply thei
wants. IL Nashville has the means Of sup
plying sll the various wants Of the peopl
south Of her, there would then appear Z
some minds good reason why there sho1iu
be a blockade upon all trading through iron
South 10 North, and rice Versa; but II sh
does not possess snoh means Of supply, thel
il must appear unreasonable and unjust I
other communities 10 be taxed for passin
through her to supply themselves with sue
things as she cannot furnish, and If thu
forced 10 pay tribute, will naturally seek
avoid us altogether, and draw their supple
entirely through other channels Of trad'
which they believe more Just and liberia
The true policy is, | think, 10 open all tn
avenues Of trade with as for what We hav'
and after looking round and finding We car
not supply their wants, offer them all th
facilities to ship the supplies we cannot farr
ish over our roads, thus making ont Of on
positionall that can be made with what trad
aud capital we have The foregoing are
few Of the suggestions that present then
selves 10 my mind on this subject A
which is respectfully submitted, October 81
/, 1866. JAMES WHITwORTH,
Tnu, and nrnxv