Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-24

MessrS. Thomas g. Pointer and others, committee
Of the Chamber Of Commerce, Nashville. Tenn;
Gentlemen: / had the honor Of receiving yours
of the 18th inst, on the 18th. in answer to mine OF
the 10th. wherein requested that any grievances
the Chamber of Commerce had in reference to
the railroad. of which have the honor TO be
President. might be stated in writing.
The grievances appear in your communication
Of the 1lth inst. as follows:
First. The utter refusal to give Nashville and
Tennessee merchants through rates south OF u.s.
when YOU have given through rates from St.
Louis and other cities 10 the same point
In reply 10 the above, ] would state that the
Nashville and Tennessee merchants have the
same rates Of freight over the Nashville ana
Chattanooga Railroad as all others. no matter
where from; and the same advantages as those
North and West Of as.
Second. by entering INTO bonds with other
transportation companies by which rates are es-
tablished that discriminate largely against Nash
vile. and refusing to ship goods for Tennesseeans
at the same rates that you ship the freight OF non
residents Of the State for"
In answer to the second complaint will say
that no bond has been entered into with any par
ties or company whereby they get better rates
over the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad
than Others All freights are transported over the
road alike in distance and classification.
Third by closing your doors on your freights
and refusing to ship goods for the citizens Of Ten
nessee, when hundreds Of ears laden with freights
was passing US. thereby injuring materially the
trade Of Nashville"
In reply to the above, / would state that Nash
willie has had a larger number Of cars than it was
entitled to. in proportion to the business of the
road, AS the records will show.
And the doors were only closed against shippers
when our large warehouses were full, and were
opened as soon as the accumulated freight could
be forwarded.
II is well known to those who have taken the
pains TO arrive at facts that the Western and At
lantic Railroad leading from Chattanooga to At
Ianta is unable to take all the freights that the
Chattanooga road offers them, thereby OBTAINING
the loaded cars Of this road for days, and some
times weeks, and that the Chattanooga road has
from one hundred to two hundred cars loaded
daily on side tracks waiting transportation there
by compelling the company 10 make warehouses
of their cars for the benefit Of cOnsigners, and
keeping the company out Of the charges they
have advanced for freight to shippers of Nash
Vile and elsewhere, besides the freight on goods
so shipped b Chattanooga, and accommodating
the merchants by making advances to them, In
fact. acting AS their bankers.
In order to relieve the company's cars of the
freights thus stored in them. was compelled to
resort to the expedient of running trains TO At
lanta and other points South of Chattanooga,
thereby enabling the company to deliver the
freight and have the cars returned to Nashville
promptly.
Finding no remedy for the detention of our
cars at Chattanooga, made arrangements with
the Louisville and Nashville and N. n. W.
Railroad 10 run their loaded ears to Chat
tanooga, and deliver their freghts to the con
signees as they could, thereby relieving the
Nashville & Chattanooga Of freights to that
extent, and ~ these two roads have chartered
rights to deliver their froights in this place, as
well as others. and seeing the difficulty as it ex-
sted, they agreed to run their cars on the Nash
vile AZ Chattanooga railroads, paying the com
pany the same freight other shippers, and they
charging usual rates for use Of cars.
II these two roads should insist on delivering |
their freights to the Nashville Chattanooga
railroad at this point. in addition TO the vast
amount already offered. indeed merchants might
have cause to complain.
In reference TO using the n. K C. X. X, stock
for the benefit of the n. * n. W, r. R. would
tate that the latter road has the most rolling
,tock in proportion to its length, and the mileage
recount shows balance Of 81, $50 miles in favor OF
Inc N. &N.W.R r., for distance run by their |
ears over the N. & C. X. r.
Fc nth. I'VE complain that you are vlO-
ating the laws of Tennessee by discriminating IN
he above way against the business of Nashville |
md other points in Tennessee"
In reply will say. that my answer to your other
complaints answers this. no not admit your as
umption that any law has been viOlated and as |
me Of your committee has thought proper to re- |
ort to the law for redress. l am willing TO abide
he decision Of the courts.
In conclusion. gentlemen, fatter myself that |
ave met your objections in plain and truthful
manner. and appeal to the records of the Compa-
" to sustain me. and will further beg leave to
tate that have neither the time nor the inclina-
ion to enter into any controversy with the Cham
,er of Commerce or others, as my duty to the in
erests of the stockholders and patrons of the
Dad occupy my whole time, and as long as / have
ne honor 10 control the interests entrusted to my
are-and which was unsolicited by me- will do
ny duty ms understand it. regardless of the de-
One word to those merchants who intend pur-
hasing goods in this market: that promise you
will get the ,ame rates of freight the Nash
lille & Chattanooga road as parties purchasing IN
,ther markets. and viii see that the goods Will
&c forwarded promptly from this place. other re-
,orts 10 the contrary. My whole interest is in
Nashville, and will do nothing to injure Its in
erests. On the contrary, | will do all in my
,ower to foster it, and do this without injury
o the companies which represent.
Mistakes and delays may have occurred. and
hose things occur on other roads, and the par
les aggrisved do not ay to newspapers with their
complaints.
Trusting that we may exercise mutual forbear-
nee, will pledge myself to correct any just
-rieyances % soon rs my attention Is called to
hem.
Twill call the attention Of the Chamber of Com
nerce TO u resolution unanimously adopted at
Meeting Of the Board Of Directors of the Nash
lille and Chattanooga Railroad. held at the Office
4 the Company on the 18th inst, after full in
-estigation Of the complaints Of the Committee
f the Chamber of Commerce.
This communication was written several days
ince. and would have been sent to your last meet
ng. but Us charges were preferred, | deemed it
,etter to have the action Of the Board IN the mat
cr
The Western x Atlantic railroad went into the
hands Of Major Wallace, who is displaying such
mercy that feel confident that in a very short
line the detention Of freight in Chattanooga will
ease. and if so, the Nashville & Chattanooga
airoad will forward freight rs fast rs offered.
am. gentlemen, your ob't scrvt,
NJ. BURNS,
Pres. n & c and n h n W X r Cos.
Alta regular meeting OF the Board of Directors
II the Nashville h Chattanooga railroad compa-
~ at their Office in this city, on the 18th inst, the
blowing resolutions were offered by W. 5. Hug
Rms, Esq. and passed unanimously:
Rcsolred. On he Directors Of the Ndshpite d
Chattanooga ruiiroad c0mpdRR. That we have
cad the list Of grievances of the Chamber OF
Commerce, addressed TO the President of this
Dad and investigated them, aud in our opinion
A