Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01
A BROAD HINT TO NASHVILLE MER.
NHANTS

The dull season is at hand and the bust
ness men of Nashville are beginning to have
time to think over future prospects. The
idea has been preached that to secure the
commercial prosperity of this city, we must
discourage railroad enterprises North and
ende2yor 10 monopolize the trade at all
points with which we have a direct South
ern railroad connection, and TO exPend our
means exclusively in increasing the number
and extent Of those connections. If this is
not nonsense, it is impracticable. With pro-
per prescience and energy Nashville may
become the grand center ofexchange for the
commodities Of four hundred thousand
square miles Of territory, and one Of the
principal marts Of supply to one half of it by
manufacture and production. On this point
We propose TO treat on another occasion.
Every intelligent observer has witnessed a
steady and constant decline in the business
of this city since the lst day of June, 1865.
1t was perfectly natural. The close of the
war, and the withdrawal Of large number
of temporary residents, and large quantity
Of business that sprung up in the wake ofmil-
itary operations, would necessarily produce
this result; and Nashville must now, in as
summing her normal position among the
business points Of the country, rely upon the
energy and enterprise of her permanent
population TO extend her trade and increase
her dimeneions TO a great city. We have
not now, and cannot possibly have hereafter
a monopoly Of any branch of trade by dis
couraging free communication with any sec
ton of the country. 1t is perfectly absurd
10 try TO build roads South and obstruct
speedy communications Northward. The
primary law of trade is petition-a
no individual, or corporation, or locality, in
this age of progress and enterprise, can hope
to build up its fortunes by attempting to
hide its head in the sand. Any effort at ex-
clusion will be resisted at both ends of the
line, and would meet as determined opposi'
ton in the one quarter as the other. Upon
this point the Atlanta Inteligenoer gives a
hint to our business community worthy OF
serious meditation. 1t says:
We have long labored to open the eyes of the
merchants OF Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati,
and st. Louis TO the Importance of securing the
Southern trade We have done frequently
since the war closed. 1t is not railroad facilities
they have required to secure this trade. These
they have at their command. The only obstacle
the great obstacle, in their way, is Northern and
Eastern enterprise. more than Northern and
Eastern capital. Of capital the Western cities
have enough TO compete successfully for this trade
We fear, however. their merchants lack that
spirit of accommodation and enterprise which Is
essential TO their successful competition for the
Southern trade. Our good wishes are with them.
We would rouse them up to their interests. Now
that the Savannah route Is opened, they must
not sleep upon their oars
The Southern field Of trade. they must now re-
member, is open TO the North and East. II
was closed for time, but the agents from the
Northern and Eastern cities, are now traycrsng
Georgia and Alabama, and the western cities
must not fail having once been over the track, to
enter upon II again. For the past twelve months
they proved successful upon it. If they would
improve upon their past success they must perse-
we're in their well doing, and not give up the held
TO their enterprising competitors. The western
full allies. Ii is TO their interest that they should
be so, and this is sufficient. We have shown the
way to secure the Southern trade, will Nashville.
Louisville, st. Louis and Cincinnati or the mer-
chants thereof, heed our admOnitiOnp
If Nashville possesses a location and re-
sources that will enable her to compete with
her rivals for the Southern trade, she will,
upon a proper Use of them, secure It-and
not otherwise. To talk of her shutting out
all competitors by refusing to encourage OF
aid in the construction of roads North as
well as South, is nothing but nonsense.
Common sense would say, supply the most
immediate and pressing wants first; but
never weary in well-doing. Open up as
speedily as possible all lines Of rapid and
certain communication, and in the mean
time demonstrate your superiority and avail
ability by pressing your interests by con-
slant and energetic individual and public
exertion. No community can rely, at this
hour Of the day, upon public monopolics OF
any sort, for they cannot and ought not to
be obtained and enjoyed.