Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-14


vile monopoly. l can appreciate your
anxiety, yet l do not consider your case
at all desperate. l. is 9 long lane that
hiss no turn, and q great success that
meets with no obstacles. Give Lou
isville rope and she win hang her
self. She has been somewhat a
success in borrowing money, and
in their Peanut Policy fighting al the
railroads in the South and West, that will
not dump their freight at, and compel
their passengers to stop 10 see the Won
derful city, or buy clothes of her slOp
shops, and peanuts from her stands. Lou
isville is an old city and a small one, and
with this policy she cannot grow and
prosper.
We have felt the force of her preju-
dice and narrow minded policy in her OPP.
position to the Cincinnati and Chat
tanooga railroad, but in this she only
cripples herself, by trying TO prevent the
expenditure of $40, 900, 900 in opening up
that very SITE and country from which
she must eventually draw her trade. l
think it right for cities, counties and
States, to assist IN the construction of
railroads, with the view of encouraging
and building up the general prosperity OF
the whole country, by chespening trans
portstiOn and charging the facilities for
general trade. If l were citizen of Da-
wilson county, would advocate the pur-
chase of the Edgefield and Kentucky
road, and make it IS free to all CONNER
cial interests as circumstances would
admit. Nor would Iun it in
favor of any SIS against all other
interests. l would invite trade over
it from everywhere to everywhere,
and would as soon think of selling out
the county itself, as allowing this road TO
get into the hands of any monopoly, to
dis criminate in favor of Louisville OF any
other place. The great railroad system of
the South, points to, and must eventually
center at Nashville, as the great Northern
system points to and centers at Gin
cinnsti.
Keep Nashville from selling cut, and
we will circumvent the little dog in the
manger city, and make connections that
shall not only unite Nashville and CIncin-
natl, but the entire West and South.
Now, sir, in conclusion, | trust the
citizens of Nashville will not regard our
manufacturers, merchants and business
men, as indifferent to the interest of
your city OF the South. We could not be
so. If we would, Cincinnati, with an
annual product in manufactures, embTac-
ing almost every conceivable article of
utility or comfort, and amounting annu-
ally to one hundred and twenty. seven
millions of dollars, with q commercial
interest exceeding any other city in the
West and South, knows too well the
importance of constructing roads to the
South, for the ready and cheap distribu-
ton of her merchandise and the products
of her industry.
While our hands are tied against invest
ments in our corporate capacity, our citi-
zens are constantly taxing themselves
Individually for almost every public en-
terprise, and l am glad to say that your
city has not been overlooked. We have
just concluded q subscription of two
hundred thousand dollars, which, in al
dition to assets previously secured, form q
capital of half million Or more, as the
UdSlo VI COulpauy VI EooH4A~N GIN 81
work in the construction of The Cincin-
natl and Southwestern Railway, with d
view of connection with your city VIA
Ohio and Mississippi Railroad to Mitchell
or Loogootee, ROckpOrt, OHersb0ro and
Russelville, thus desiring to carry out a
scheme which, with your cooperation,
and that of the Greensboro and RussellVlLe
Railroad, we can complete in twelve to
fifteen months, and which, though TWEEN
ty-thIee miles further than by Louisville,
the grade being much easier, Can be run
in less time than it takes to reach you by
way Of that city. Then lot Davidson
county purchase the Edgefield and Ken.
lucky Railroad, for if il Is worth $500,
600 in cash to The Louisville end Nash
vile Railroad, TO make 4 further monop-
oily, it is worth twice that amount to
Davidson county, to keep it open to the
free trade of the West and South.
am, yours very respectfully,
JOSIAH KIRBY.