Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-18
nrn RAILROADS.

,,..,,,,.r ysetitsoB On 1he Question Of
-rrausferring the Louisville and
EashviEIe 90 Ghe Evansville, Hender-
sos and Nashville Railroad.
10 he Honorable Board Of Commissioners Of
Daridson County:
We, the undersigned citizens and prop
erty holders Of Nashville and Davidson
ooHnty, would most respectfully represent
70 Won, that however much we may desire
the early completion Of the Evansville,
Henderson and Nashville railroad, as an
extension Of the Edgefeld and Kentucky
railroad, in which Davidson cOunty is in
terested TO the amount Of 100000,
we are wholly unwilling TO invest our
capital in this enterprise until we can
clearly see and understand fully the terms
and conditions upon the investment il TO
be made. We think in the first place a
consolidation Of the two roads should be
agreed upon and settled.
The Edgefeld and Kentucky railroad,
built with Tennessee capital, TO go into the
consolidation at its fair and proper value
aud the actual cost to the present late pur-
chasers Of the work done in Kentucky, on
the Henderson end Of the line, should be
out into the consolidation at its fair and
proper value. And when these terms
shall be fairly and equitably arranged,
agreed upon and settled, and the man,
agement and control Of the whole road
be put under a Board of Direction, in
which Tennessee shall have just and fair
proportion, we think ii will then be early
enough 10 call upon us to send our money
out of our State and over into the State Of
Kentucky to build her part of the road.
That in all great undertakings requir-
ing a large investment of capital, it is but
due that each of the parties TO such under
taking be upon equal ground, and more
especially in our case, when we consider
our obligations tc pay, within the next
seven years, not only the annual interest,
but also the principal Of near million Of
dollars for investments Of this kind already
made under much more favorable auspices
than are embraced il the present PROPOSE
ton and that nearly three-fourths Of said
Investments, from present indications, are
likely to prove wholly unselfsustaining.
That in the present embarrassed condi-
ton Of our peoplo-groaniDg under the
heavy burden Of almost insupportable tax
ation-it would, in our opinion, be bad
economy to largely increase these burdens,
upon terms so uncertain, unequal and I'M
lust. We are apprehensive that, ere we
are aware, the Edgefeld and Kentucky
road may be subjected to forced sale, and
we may become SO heavily embarrassed that
our Kentucky friends, if thus fostered and
built up at our expense, may obtain and
exercise the power TO buy up the whole
road at mere nominal value, and then
operate it in defiance of our wishes and in
terssl to build up at Henderson a flourish
ing city TO which Nashville may become
tributary without any equivalent whatever.
And TO thus squander away one-half of the
only investment which is paying or likely
to pay, for mere stock in this new enter
prise which cannot yield US any equivalent
Tor some years 10 come, e ever, we think
would be ruinous and suicidal policy.
Aad entertaining these views we most
respectfully and earnestly protest against
the adoption of the pending proposition
until it may be modified 30 that we can &C
cept it on just and equitable grounds, as in