The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-28
From the n. o. Times. !
FROM Ihe n -. lines
OFFICE OF THE n. o., j. & G. Mr. r. Co,
New Orleans Feb 10Th 1866

| OFFICE OF THE n. o., j. & G. Mr. r. Co,
New Orleans, Feb 10Th, 1866
To the Editor Of the Ne,c Orleans Times
Ny attentio II has been called to an article in
your paper of the 18th inst. in relation to
our connections with the Mississippi Cen
trail Road, and the transportation of their
freight over our road.
1t is our desire that the course which has
been pursued by the New Orleans, Jackson
and Great Northern railroad, in this connee-
ton, should be properly understood by the
community, with this view, | addressed to
the General Superintendent letter on the
18th inst, from which | take the following
| extract:
Son yesterday forwarded to you the pub
lished card of f. d. Frost, Esq, Superin-
tendent of the Mississippi Central rail-
road, in which he excuses his action for
turning the cotton on the line of his road
via Memphis, to New Orleans, instead of
permitting 1T to come by New Orleans, Jack
son and Great Northern railroad, the usual
route. Will you be good enough to let me
know what has been the action of our road
since it was opened to Canton with ref
erence to the transportation of freight and
our capacity to transport from Canton to
New Orleans, any cotton Mr.. Frost might
deliver to us at that place for New Orleans.
An answer is desired for the purpose of
placing ourselves properly before the pub
lie"
On the reception of his letter by the Cen
eTal Superintendent it was referred to his
assistant, who replied, under date of 18th
inst, as follows
No amount of cotton has ever been de-
livered at Canton by the Mississippi Central
Railroad Company that we were not able to
bring away. and it has even received the
preference over cotton shipped from Canton,
though at less remunerative rates to this
road.
The heavy freight on the New Orleans,
Jackson and Great Northern Railroad and
their limited rolling stock" as advertised
by the General Superintendent of the Mis-
sissippi Central Road, and which he pub
fishes as plea for turning cotton via Mem
phis to the Mississippi River to reach New
Orleans, 50 far from representing our real
condition, we can even afford to lend or
rent the Mississippi Central Road fifty
box cars, as long aS there may be any cot
ton on that road seeking New Orleans for
market, and we Will guarantee that there
shall be no delay at Canton, as we now and
will continue to run a daily freight train
| from Canton to New Orleans
Cotton, by the new arrangement of the
Mississippi Central Road with the Memphis
and Charleston Railroad and the line of
steamers from Memphis to New Orleans, is
charged, from Goodman and Durant Stations
80 per bale. By the joint tariff existing be-
tween this road and the Mississippi Central
road cotton is charged So so from Good
man, and s. IS from Durant per bale, thus
showing a saving of fifty and twenty-five
cents respectively, from these two stations,
not to speak of the saving of time and
and handling, also improved condition of
bales when they reach New Orleans. We
are prepared to bring 400 to 500 bales of
cotton daily from the Mississippi Central
Railroad.
b. II. GREENE, Asst Sup't etc
This response of Mr.. Greene was returned
to me by the General Superintendent, with
the following Endorsement:
l fully coincide with Major Greene, in
charge of the transportation department of
our road, in the views expressed by him.
We were prepared on the first instant-the
date of Mr.. Frost's ungenerous and uncalled
for notlce-to transport from Canton all the
cotton which was or might have been
brought there on the Mississippi Central
Railroad for this city: hence his assertion
| relative to the |" limited rolling stock " of
| this road is not supported by the facts i'll the
/ case.
(Signed) G. 7. BEAUREGARD,
! Genl Supt. etc.
From the information thus derived from
| the General Superintendent and his assist
ant, it would appear that the blame for the
non transportation of the cotton on the line
| of the Mississippi Central railroad to New
! Orleans, via our road does not belong to the
management of this company. In this con-
nection it may be stated with propriety, that
the action of the Mississippi Central railroad
| in exacting the prepayment OF their portion
of freight on cotton shipped here by the New
Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern rail
road, when the direct and opposite rule was
! adopted by the same company with refer
ence to cotton shipped via the Memphis and
! Charleston railroad, plainly exhibits desire
! on their part to turn the trade from that
I Af s,l y-lr h.
! longs to New Orleans-to Memphis.
Why or what reason induced the man.
ayers of the Mississippi Central railroad to
| adopt this policy, thus discriminating in IA
vor of the Memphis and Charleston road,
| adverse to the interests of the New Orleans
| Jackson and Great Northern railroad in
which Mississippi has large interest, may
| in time be placed before the public.
| 1t has ever been the wish of the managers
of this road, to preserve the most friendly
relations with the Mississippi Central; and
for the purpose of advancing the interests
of both roads, joint schedule for cotton
| over the two roads was agreed on about the
9th of October, which was just and eqult-
| able for both roads,
Abont the middle of October, the first
shipment of cotton from the Mississippi
Central was received here, and, about the
| LIST of November, the discriminating order
requiring prepayment from shippers over
| our road (Which was not exacted if the cot.
ton was forwarded to Memphis) was made
the effect of which was to compel the own
ers of cotton, who had not in hand the
means sufficient to pay the charges of the
Central road, to ship to Memphis, however
| much they might desire their cotton to
reach New Orleans, via our road. The facts
in this communication are made in answer
to the numerous complaints which have
reached as privately, as wen as by the pub
lie prints.