Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-05
THE CONDITION OF THE N.
& n. w. RAILROAD,
cara from superintcndcnt Thoma

Card from Superintendcnt Thomas.
NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA r. R.,
SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE, NASHVILLE,
Dec. q, -"Creditor" is respect
fully informed that it is not usual
to hold outside spectators respon-
slble for the correctness of asser-
tons made by members of the Legisla-
ture in their speeches upon the floor of
/ the House, and no matter how absurd
their assertions may be, visitors are not
| allowed to answer them, and the fact that
such incorrect statements are made by
members in the presence of parties that
are not allowed the privilege of answering
them does not prove the correctness of
the statements. 1t is inconclusive for
''Creditor" to argue that his assertions are
correct because like assertions are made
by members of the Legislature, when,
doubtless, the members obtained their in
formation from Creditor himself.
What are the assertions made by Credi-
tor which I stated were unfounded in fact
and incorrect in every particular?
l. He states that the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad Company reported
that there were fourteen Nashville and
Northwestern engines in good order in
September 1868. We made no such re-
port, as at that time there were only seven
Nashville and Northwestern engines in
running order.
2. That we reported only FIVE Nashville
and Northwestern engines in running
order in September, 1869. We made no
such report, for at that time there were
eight Nashville and Northwestern engines
in actual service upon the road.
5. That we report SO, 900 expended in
repairs of engines We made no such re-
port, for we had expended only $24 900
upon the repair of engines, and the amount
he states includes wages for engineers,
firemen, wipers, cost of oil, tallow, waste
and fuel, consumed by all the engineers
upon the Nashville and Northwestern
Railroad
4. That we have wrecked and de-
stroyed ''God only knows how many
cars, when, in fact, we have rebuilt or
replaced all the cars wrecked upon the
Nashville and Northwestern Railroad,
with the exception of two, which were
destroyed by fire.
5. That we have sold iron belonging TO
the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad
Company, when we have never sold
single pound of iron belonging TO that
company.
So far as the claims of the unpaid en-
ployees are concerned, l think the State
should pay them in full. Since the Nash
vile and Chattanooga Railroad Company
have had charge of the Nashville and
Northwestern Railroad all employees, and
all purchase bills, have been paid monthly,
and because Receivers have failed to pay
their Indebtedness incurred before we took
charge Of the road, is poor argument to
show that the statements made by the
officers of the Nashville and Chattanooga
Railroad Company are unreliable. In this
matter Creditor" is simply misin-
formed, and he is again respectfully
requested to call and examine our books,
TO inspect the vouchers, and be satisfied
that we have not defrauded the Nashville
and Northwestern Railroad Company or
the State; and not continue, for the
want of proper information, to assert that
our reports are incorrect. Conscious of
the reCtitude of our course, the fairness
and liberality of our dealings with the
Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, we
do not fear any investigation, even though
the investigation is made by those opposed
TO US.
With this article, bid adicu to Creditor,
unless he will come out over his own
signature and attempt to maintain the I'M
founded assertions which, for the want of
proper information, he has been led TO
make. J. w. THOMAS, Sup't.