Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-02

WIEN ILLS great enterprise IL plf-
scented; it is side issue TO bring in the
Tennessee and Pacific road to Lebanon.
Cincinnati wants connection with Nash
vile as the railroad center of the State,
and the termini of the southern railroads,
and not with Lebanon. He commended
further that according to the assessments
the counties of Trousdale and Macon could
not constitutionally, in their combined ga
pacitles under the provisions of the inter-
nal Improvement laws, vote over $780,
600; so much for the promised 300, 900
from those counties, and that Wilson
county could not shoulder and iquidate
more railroad responsibilities than she has.
The idea of that route opening up great
country was all stuff 1t is already opened
up. The freights of these sections by the
Cumberland and the turnpikes already
reach the depots of the Louisville and
Nashville road as they viii those of the
proposed new road. These little local
considerations amount to nothing as af-
feoting this great enterprise. The ques-
ton is do you want great through road
from Nashville to Cincinnati; one that will
compete with the Louisville and Nashville
railroad without branching off to the east
ward, to Decatur and to other points
He STAGED that committees had been sew
eral times to Cincinnati and Louisville in
conference upon those great railroad cor
nections. There they always met live,
energetic men, vigilant and and ac-
tive to these important measures.
Here in Nashville our people are
asleep, dreaming we are a great railroad
center. They were idle and lethargic
Well, as certain as there is God and an
eternity, if we sleep much longer, and
allow the chances now present 70 slip from
us, the grass will grow in our streets, and
we will have no business to attend to. All
our railroads and connections will be in
the hands of other cities. and monopolies,
and such determinations will be made
against Nashville, as will enable them, if
they choose, to convert our city into a
pleasure park, a way station, or what-not.
The next three months must decide. II
Nashville wants this road; if she wants
this competing line, she must act, and act
n0D. She must act before the second day
of May. He urged that both routes be
surveyed, and Immediately; that would
settle all bubbles as to distance and choice
of routes. He stated that money to secure
the grading, building. ETC., would be &C.
cured.
Col. Jacob S. Golladay spoke to the
meeting, deprecating the personal feel
ings exhibited by Col. Turner, and the
disposition to taunt others. Refer
ence had been made to him (Gol-
laday) as Kentucky importation, hav-
ing no interest in the enterprise, etc.
He would have the gentleman understand
that there were motives exaltedas his OVID,
which he had no right to question or i'm
pute. He (the speaker had always been
taxpayer of Davidson county. He felt
that the discussion had assumed an extra
ordinary range and latitude. He did not
understand this to be a war between Viii
son and Sumner, Lebanon and Gallatin.
This was a great enterprise in which the
people of the State were interested from
the standpoint of dollars and cents. The
gentleman (Ool. Turner had affirmed that
if the route he had advocated were not Sc
lected and the aid given as asked, then the
road would be built anyway. This meant
that they would build it to Nashville
through connection with the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad if it meant any,
!! thing. We must lop off extraneous con
siderations and see what is best to be done.
Louisville is mono IohZing our roads, dis
eliminating against US in freights, control
ing our commerce. We must do some
thing. Louisville is not going to do it for
Us; Cincinnati is not going to do it for us;
we must help ourselves. As to the dis
crepancy of distances as between Gallatin
and Lebanon al objective points, it was G
small matter when the vital importance
and the magnitude Of the contemplated
enterprise were taken into the count.
Col. Turner here explained the distances
in favor Of the Gallatin route, by actual
surveys previously made.
Col Golladay blamed no mans
zeal in behalf of his preferred
route, but it was the facts most ben
efcial to all which he wished to arrive at.
In referring to the location of the road,
conceding to all their claims, he wished to
arrive at the correct and best policy for
Nashville to pursue. He stated that We
had the benefit of State aid; the privilege
of the Tennessee and Pacific road, with
chartered privileges, already con-
structed to Lebanon, and with
a sure guarantee of 100000 each
from Macon and TroUsdale counties. The
advantages that route secured should not
be lost sight of; the consideration that it
was an hour or two out Of the way was
minor one. Ths road to Lsbanon was
already completed, equipped and ap-
pointed, and in complete running order
The. advantages of this road should be well
considered. 1t was to the advantage of
Nashville in the location of the conteRl-
plated road to open up every foot and acre
of country and make it tributary to Nash
vile that is possible. These considera-
tons appealed to the interests of every
payer By the Lebanon route the vast
resources of Macon and TrousdaIe counties
were opened up to Us, with fine oil region
included.
On the conclusion of Col Golladay's re-
marks, Col. Turner said that he hoped the
discussion would bring about tangible re-
suits, and moved that committee of bust
ness men be appointed to take active
measures in reference to the enterprise,
and report to future meeting. The me-
ton wss so amended that the Board of
Trade at its next meeting appoint the COM
mittee to procure all the f@cts, statistics,
etc, and advantages of the proposed
routes. The meeting then adjourned.