Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-26
NAsHVILLE AND NORTHWESTERN
RAILROAD


| see 10 the Banner of the 231 inst. an
article on the Nashville and Northwestern
Railroad Company, which is not only cal
culaied to mislead the public in forming
their conclusion as to the feasibility of the
lease Of the road to the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad Company, but reI
fleets in some measure upon our worthy
President, NJ. Burns, Esq, who has done
more to build up the road than any other
man in the State-even lending his per-
sonal credit TO large amount and advance
ing his personal capital to save it from de-
slruction and ruin.
1t is not my purpose to enter into an
elaborate discussion of the administration
of President Burns. 1t needs no defence
at nv hands. But insist that the Ban.
ner, as well as the stockholders and all
other benefciaries Of this road, should not
forget the services rendered and superior
abilities displayed in days gone by, by Mr..
Burns. Even while the government had
charge and entire control of the road, the
keen and watchful eye of Mr.. Burns fol-
lowed It's fortunes, and, by his tact and
energy, induced the government to COM
plete the road to the Tennessee river at an
assessed cost by the government of 81, O0O,-
600. All this was accomplished without
the cost Of one dollar 10 the State or
stockholders When he received the
road from the hands Of the gov
eminent, it was without roll-
ing stock and material, and
what was of scarcely less consideration,
without connections, Not daunted by the
situation" he established through his in
luence line of boats from st. Louis 10
Johnsonville as a feeder, and as soon as the
State was reorganiz,d, applied to the
Legislature for aid, which he obtained by
hisindomitable energy, to complete theroad
to the Mississippi river. After the compile
ton of the road 10 Hickman, il was without
depots or rolling stock, when application
was again made TO the Legislature for
$3.50, OG0 to equip the road and build
depots, etc. BY common consent of both
+ adicals and Conservatives, the Legisla.
ture lin consideration of the faith
full application Of the former loan
by Mr.. Burns) granted the loan to the
| company, as will appear by reference to
| the act Of 7lh December, 1867. But
Radical policy at that day demanded that
| the road be run in the interest of the party
| in order to make place for 'bummers"
and "scalawsgs," and thus the road was
/ WanlonIy and in violation OF law taken
| from the hands of the company and the
! appropriation by the State squandered
| Thus il is seen Mr.. Burrs has never haC
opportunity to show to the public whether
or not the company could successfully rur
our road since its completion. The Banner
gives US this much information to encour
age rs TO make the proposed lease, wheI
| il tells us "The road is IN such bad con-
dition that it can no longer run with safety
10 life or freight" If L remember cor
reclly the n. and C. K. r. received Ou
road in good order, as was stipulated II
the lease, and after running it year, W
are told that it can no longer run with
safety to life or freight"
All this is gotten up, in my opinion
by Georgia, South Caroliua, and few IL
interest here, TO get hold Of our road be
Z fore the Legislature meets, believing th
road will be plscsd in TIE hands of tn
company, whtr5 they can not control /
President Burns ard The directory receive
this road in worse condition and cred
than it now is, aud in my opinion, ca
: run il successfully and TO final redemption
The 100000 proposed TO be offered
simply expected 10 be made out of III
L. earnings of the Nashville and Northwest
: ern Railroad, as we know of no other II
: source from which to get il unless the
borrow it; and, in my opinion, "Oid Mike
T can raise it quite as easily as the Nashvill
/, and Chattanooga Railroad. The Banner
3 tells us that majority of the NashVil
and Northwestern Railroad directors al
: in favor of accepting the proposition
Now, who compose this majority? | kno
g of no one in West Tennessee, and dou
/ whether the Middle Tennessee directo
will vote for it after they understand d
\ question; but am encouraged to belieN
! that they will in the future, as they ha'
! in the past, sustain President Bnrns.
: In conclusion, will add, as my huu
Z bic opinion, that the Nashville and Mort
= western railroad will not be loaned
subserye interests outside of TenneFse
4 but that the Legislature in considerable
!, of the great wong heretofore, SUSTAIN
!. by the company, and in order that tn
4 NAV have the benefit of the act of DsceI
] ber7, 1867, in which II was clearly /
\ forth that "the company" should contr
,. the road for two years for conslc
|, ration, will take the earliest cpportunl
y 10 restore the road TO the company VIII
- we will illustrate TO the people OF ID
ls nessee, that We can run our road quite
'. successfully as il has been recently dc
at any rate. HUNTING DOG