The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-10-23
"The MISREPRESENTATION.

articles in some of our exchanges i'll re-
gard to a hitch,2 ordelay in the trans
portation of through frcights over what
is called the "Air Line"--meaning the
line of rails which connects Norfolk,
Virginia, with Memphis and Nashville.
Since the revival of this paper last De-
cember we arc frank toVconfcss that we
have given but little attention TO rail-
road matters, though feeling a common
interest in their management and sue
cess, particularly those of East Tonnes
see. ..'. '''r'- .fI'rf 'r.'.s. 49,
In the last number of the Nutiondt
Union, published at Greeneville in this
State. we find a letter from General MA
HONE, who, we believe, has charge of
several railroads in Virginia between
Observation-Disclosures and the city of Nor
folk. This letter is expansive and COW
ers good deal of territory. Though
not remarkably clear and frank through
out, it is sufficiently so in places to ena-
bic the reader to see the object in view,
which evidently is to impress the pub
lie mind with the belief that the $ Air
Line" is all right till it reaches the rails
of the East Tennessee and Georgia Road
at Knoxville, and at that point there is
something seriously wrong on the part Of
the management ofthe latter. The letter
makes several issues of fact with Presi
dent CALLAwAY, which we presume
that gentleman will promptly meet over
his own signature, though We think a
controversy through the newspapers,
between the managers of roads whose
interests are to considerable extent
intimately and inscparably blended,
can only result in mutual harm and in
jury by furnishing capital for compel
ing lines to work with. We suspect Gen.
Malone is pretty sharp man, whose
weakness is stationery, and disposition
to spread. Thus much we judge from
his letter in which he seeks TO COM
promise the President and Superintend-
ent of the East Tennessee and Georgia
Road. Those gentlemen have been
largely interested in that enterprise from
its inception to the present time-they
are known far and near as sound, prac-
teal business men, and not likely to do
anything that would injure either the
public interests or their own. Though
not specially advised in the NATTER, /" we
will undertake to say" that simple eX-
animation of the times of the depar
turc of through freights from Norfolk,
and their arrival at and departure from
Knoxville west, would put Il very diff
ferent location to whatever evils exist
from that intended to be given by Gen.
Mahone's letter. We believe, too, that
the condition, workings, equipment, and
general management of the East Ten
nessee roads will compare very favora-
bly, with the Virginia lines under that
gentleman's special charge.
But we did not set out to defend the
management of the East Tennessee and
Georgia Railroad. They are able to
take care of themselves. 1t has been
suggested that General Mahonc-"t the
Railway King" as the Virginia press
sometimes style him-has grand
scheme OH hand: nothing less than a
consolidation of all the railroad lines
between Norfolk and Memphis under
one management, with himself at its
head. Whether the Generals recent
letter was intended to have any bearing
upon this project, we are not prepared
even to surmise. At any rate, it is G
stupendous conception, a big thing Oh
paper, but not practicable yet awhile
1t is too soon by at least ten years
There are great many things to be
done before that can be did. But were
it practicable now, we don't think Gen
Malone, granting him all the ability
his friends claim, would be the man to
put at the head of it. Indeed, we think
he already has his hands full, and thai
the railroad interests of Virginia would
not suffer materially if his energies and
resources were still more concentrated
And this without any desire to depre
ciate Gen. Malone, who is said to be {
gentleman Of good deal of capacity
and able to manage road of ordinary
length, say hundred miles or so, quite
satisfactorily. ......'.
While we believe that Gen. Mahone's
scheme is impracticable and unadvisa,
Bile, we certainly think the East Ten.
nessee and Georgia and East Tennessee
and Virginia Roads should be CONSOLE
dated at once, or at least as soon as the
necessary arrangements can be entered
into and perfected. The advantages TIC
the stockholders, to the public and to
all interests concerned from such step
are so plain that it is unnecessary to
mention them. The two lines consoli.
dated under one management, the ex.
penses could be largely reduced, and
most of the local causes of complaint
real and imaginary, would disappear