Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-28

A large and intelligent audience assembled
last evening opposite the City Hall, Edge
field, to hear the arguments for and against
the construction Of free bridge over the
Cumberland, before voting on the subject
to-day. The meeting was orderly and at
tentiye, and was principally composed of
taxpayers, who realized the importance Of
the interests at stake, and had assembled to
weigh the question well before casting their
votes.
Judge Guild opened the proceedings by
stating the purpose for which the meeting
had been called. He referred to the vote
which would be taken to-day on this PRO
position which was of such vital import
ance to the community. No doubt there
were disagreements as TO how the great OBJ
ject should be accomplished, but these diff
ferences of opinion were natural, and while
they had all the one great object in view,
all should unite to promote it. He himself
was in favor of levying a moder-
ate toll say ten cents for each
loaded wagon and efrom two to
three cents on each carryall. This
would give sufficient to keep the bridge in
repair and create sinking fund of about
$4,000 per year towards extinguishing the
debt. Others, however, thought different
", and were in favor of a free bridge.
Rather than see the project fall through,
he was content to accept any reasonable
plan to carry it out. On the vote which
was to be taken on this subject depended
whether the people were to have bridge
in competition with the existing monopoly,
or to continue for the next ten or
fifteen years to pay extortionate prices for
the privilege of crossing to the capital Of
the State. On this vote depended the fu-
ture of Edgefield, whether it was to expand
into city or remain forever village. At
the present extortionate rates, they were
paying every ten years enough to build a
new bridge. But he was met with the
statement that this bridge was for the bene-
fit of the rich man. Under the constitu-
under 81 900 of personal property paid no
taxes. How then were the rich
to be benefited more than the
poor? The rich would be taxed to pay for
the work, and the poor would be benefited
by the increase Of employment through the
establishment of manufactures and in
creased prosperity in Edgefield. The ex-
penditure of the $4,000 required to build
the bridge would of itself be a benefit to
the laboring classes. The burden would
fall on the taxpayer; but would it not be
better to pay one mill in the dollar than to
pay the extortionate rates exacted by the
existing monopoly. He concluded by ap-
pealing to his hearers to vote for the new
bridge.
Mr.. Peach expressed himself in favor of
a new bridge, but was opposed to the bill
before the people, because, under its pro-
visions, the tax payers would be obliged to
pay $4,000 per annum to meet the debt
which the bill proposed to create. The
taxable property of Edgefield did not exceed
two millions, and such a tax would be
disproportionate to the amounts expected
from the county and from Nashville. If
such a sum was required from
Edgefield it would be better to expend it in
internal improvements, in grading and me
cadamizing the roads; and if, after that, it
was proposed to build bridge, they might
then take the matter under consideration.
He did not see any movement on the part
of large landed proprietors on the outskirts
of the village to take stock in the new
bridge. 1t was asserted that the present
bridge was a monopoly. He would not
argue that question, but the people
who had invested their money in
it, did so at a time when bridge was
badly needed, and now it was proposed to
interfere with their vested rights. because
their investment was paying handsome
profit. This project of a new bridge came
at bad time. Money was scarce and the
people could i'll afford to pay the taxes
which the expenditure of this $4,000
would entail on them. Among those who
had capital invested in the present bridge
were the orphans of the late Gen. ZOIlicoffer,
and the construction of free
bridge would at one swOOp take
away their principal means of support. He
was for acting fairly towards all, and he
would vote against the bill. If there was
lack of manufacturers and progress in the
community it was owing less to the want of
a bridge than TO want of enterprise and
capital. Those who possessed money did
not care to lend it, and those who would
make it benefit to the community could
not get it. He would prefer to see this bill
defeated and then capitalists and large pro-
perty-holders who now felt certain that a
bridge would be built whether they aided
in its construction or not, would find
it to their interest TO come forward
and offer the assistance which was required
to build the bridge without placing a heavy
burden of taxation on the people.
A voice-"Then poor Zollicoffer's children
will go up the spout" Laughter.)
Mr.. Peach concluded by hoping this bill
would be defeated, and called on his hearers
to vote against it.
Ex-Goy. Brown, in an eloquent speech of
length, argued that great works,
such as this bridge, cannot be
had without determined effort.
on the part of the people. II they wished
TO get rid of the monopoly from which they
had so long suffered they must make an
effort, and must expect to be taxed for it,
but that tax would not exceed a mill and
a half in the dollar. The construction of
the bridge would bring with it an increase
Of population and consequent
increase of prosperity, and so far
from increasing rents, as some of
the opponents of the enterprise predicted,
It would diminish them. He did not say
that the scheme before the people was the
best that could be submitted, but it was
merely a suggestion, and if the vote of the
people should be in its favor it would bean
tdIucSG W INC City anu Tile county
that Edgefield was ready to do her part.
But if this bill were defeated, he could i'm
agine how the bridge company would
rhuckle Overt it and how they would "stick
it on" to the Edgeield people, for he took
it they were like the rest of humanity
no better and no worse. He would not trust
any one with unlimited power The
speaker concluded with an eloquent
appeal to his audience to give
heir support to the enterprise.
Mr.. G. S. Newsom spoke at considerable
ength in opposition to the bill, on the
ground that when Edgefeld was incorpo-
rated a distinct pledge had been given to
he people that no heavy taxation should
be imposed on the people. He could not
1--WE his consent to measure which would
place a debt of $50, 900 on the village.
Major Thompson spoke in support of the
measure, and Alderman Marks, having
made most eloquent appeal TO the tax
layers to vote for it, the meeting dispersed.
Life I'm Turkey.
Hon. J. NJ. PEBBLES, late Z. S. Consul TO