Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-30
OUR RAILROADS AND ouR Busf.
RFGS VNFR2RGTS


roads, that should arrest attention and SCI
cure action on the part Of our people and
the Legislature. Among the specifications
of our contemporary are, that ihe business
men of Louisville, through the aid of the
Memphis and Louisville aud Louisville and
Nashville roads, are enabled to monopolize
the trade OF Middle and West Tennessee,
al the expense of the merchants and man
ufaclurers OF this State. This is done by
means of Determinations by the above
named reads in favor of Louisville mer-
chants and manufacturers. For example,
We are told that the Louisville merchant
or manufacturer can obtain from these
roads preference for his shipments, over all
others, both in respect TO time aud terms.
The shipments Of the wholesale merchants,
coming through Louisville from other
points, are postponed to give place TO those
of that city. They discriminate also in the
matter Of raw products and manufactured
ariicles-charging more freight for a bar
rel of -four from Louisville TO the Tennes-
see lire than is charged for wheat enough
to make two barrels of -four from Nashville
to Louisville, thus enabling Kentneky
millers to buy our wheat and undersen our
own millers. Like determinations, il is
alleged, are made in tobacco and other ar
ticles. The Register thus illustrates:
" Ask GAINESVILLE or any other mer-
chant along that line, why he buys his
goods in Louisville, and he will answer:
Because l read the Louisville papers and
keep posted on that market; it does not
take me long to make the trip; can ship
my goods without delay, and am not COM
PEELED to lay over, change cars or reship;
and freights are low. Can Won not buy
les. little cheaper, but it will not pay to
| go that distance TO buy a small stock; be-
sides, l would have to ship by way Of
Louisville and there they would be de-
| tanned at the transfer Office until those
merchants buying at Louisville could get
their goods shipped, and would have the
advantage in opening Well, then, why
| not bny in Nashville goods are az cheap
there as in Louisville, and much nearer.
| Nashville needs your trade. / would do so,
but Nashville wholesale merchants buy
| their goods in New York and ship by way
of Louisville; they are detained at the
| transfer Office in that city, consequently by
| trading in Louisville | can get my goods
sooner than the wholesale merchant at
Nashville can get his, and | am not de.
| tanned or put to the necessity Of waiting or
| laying over at the State line and transfer
| ing freight; and besides all of this, /
hardly ever see a Nashville paper, and
don't know what is going on there. Well,
| why don't you take the Nashville papers,
are yon notinterested in your State affairs
Yes, but they are two days old before can
get them; the morning train from Louis
vile brings the morning papers, and the
evening train from Nashville brings the
mail from that place, and it lies over at
| the State line for the Louisville mail train
next morning. saH r..it.
| We were in GAINESVILLE a short time
| since, and in conversation with one of the
| leading business men of that place, called
1 his attention TO an item in a Nashville
/ paper. He replied that he had not seen
| it; that very few Nashville papers reached
| that place; that they we're two days old
before they reached there, while the news
boys, on the streets, were constantly crying
| Louisville morning papers.
| regretted to hear this of GAINESVILLE,
| and it should not be So The Nashville
press has labored earnestly and unceasing-
| " for the interest of Tennessee-her cities,
towns, and the whole people. There is
| not more Ijberal class of journalists in
the United States, and they unquestionably
deserve the generous support of every true
| Tennessean."
The, Register thus presents the remedy
| Tennessee has full control of the Edge
| field and Kentucky and Memphis and
| GAINESVILLE railroads, forming junction
at the State line, Louisville controls the
| road from the State line to Louisville, and
| from Paris to Memphis, thereby controll
| ing the whole line for her benefit, and the
| breaking down of GAINESVILLE and Mem
| phis. Now it seems 10 us if our Governor
and Legislature are SO earnestly devoted
to the interests of Tennessee, her great cap
itsl and commerce; if they favor immigra-
ton, the building of schools, and giving
sid to her railroads, they would most cer-
tainly see TO it that her roads are not used
to the entire benefit of foreign cities and to
| the detriment of home.
Now suppose that the Edgefeld and
Kentucky and Memphis and Clarks7ille
roads (both operated by the State) were to
unite in forming running connection for
the benefit of Nashville and Clarksyille,
and the local trade ofthe country, positive
ly refusing to have anything to do with the
Louisville company. Would il not break
the connection between the tive roads con-
troled by Louisville, and force that COM
psny to come to the terms of the Tennes-
see roads. ...
But it will be said that the local trade
will not sustain these roads We say it
will. Let Nashville perform her duty in
the premises; invite the trade and support
of our country, and the people being re-
lieved from this railroad monopoly will
| ioyfully come to her aid and support, and
she will have valuable aid from the bor-
dering counties OF Kentucky, whose people
are also sensitive of the discrimination,
and complain of it. But what evidence
have we that the people will do this The
very best, There is a general complaint
all along the line. The people are tired of
The present arrangement, and want fair
| play again" F4.