Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-02
CUMBERLAND AND OHIO RAIL
ROAD.
Guild, Judge Phillips. J. 8.
GolIaday and Others.


Appointment of Committees, etc.
Proposed Routes Discussed.
Pursuant to announcement number of
citizens and those interested met at the
Criminal Court room at the Courthouse at
IL o'clock yesterday, to consider and take
action upon the location, building, termi-
nus, ETC., of the proposed Cumberland and
Ohio railroad. On motion of Mr.. y. 81.
French, DIR. g. Z. Winston was called to
the chair and W. L. Barre, of the UNION
AND AMERICAN, appointed Secretary. On
taking the chair DR.. w. explained very lu-
cidly the object of the meeting, forcibly
alluding to the vast Importance of the road
and the plain necessity of immediate action
with reference to its construction, elo.
Col. Turner stated that he knew that the
Presidents of the North and South railroad
and of the Nashville and Decatur road
were in Louisville, and in conference with
the Louisville and Nashville road with re-
ference to the negotiations for the sale of
these roads. That he had been unable to
ascertain to what exact extent the negotia-
tons had been pushed. He had Just re-
ceived intelligence that a full meeting of
the Directors of the Louisville and Nash
vile road had been called at Louisville on
the second day of May, and that he knew
enough to say that negotiations had been
pushed to an extent necessitating this call
of the directory. There was no doubt
that the negotiations were pending.
John G. Thompson, Esq, stated that
Louisville was, according to the original
contract in the construction of the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad, bound in good
faith to run the road in the interest of both
cities. Now having made her fortune out
of the war she was monopolizing this and
all of our Southern roads and connections
like cormorant. 1t was all-important 10
Nashville to have an independent road, the
connections of which would not be con-
trolled by a rival city and monopoly
Judge Guild regretted that so few were
present at a meeting possessing so much
general interest to the people OF the city
and to the State. He did not so much
blame Louisville. She foresaw the advan.
tages of these roads, and as city, having
q right to secure whatever advantages pre-
sented themselves in her expansion and
development, she had seized upon them.
It beheoVed us to counteract monopoly BY
independent lines and connections and by
exhibition of energy and public spirit
1t was now clear that Cincinnati was de-
termined to pierce the South. If, as had
been proposed, she tap the Chattanooga
road east of us, securing our Southern con-
nections, unless we arouse ourselves to
immediate action, Nashville will be isolated
and cut off as a second rate city. He
urged that in securing the contemplated
Southern connections, it was ID the inter
est of Cincinnati, and to all, 10 connect
with the termini OF these Southern rail-
roads at Nashville. We should then bestir
ourselves if we would not have the backs
of other cities turned upon US and be left
out in the cold. The stock would be q safe
investment 1t was no chicken road, lead
ing off into the woods and stopping. We
had the opportunity presented of connect
ing with great commercial highway, lead
ing and converging to and from the great
cities of the country and uniting us with
the great rivers and commercial empori-
ums. 1t waSof the last importance to
Nashville to have independent connection
with Cincinnati at point above Louisville
The road will be built. Cincinnati, as
the great commercial rival of Louisville,
was determined that it should be built
These Southern connections she loiU have
If we, thinking that what is everybody's
business is no ones business, lie supinely
upon our backs, and lose the opportunity,
by letting the connection be made east of
us, then JUS. as certain as he was address,
ing this audience the prosperity of Nash
vile was gone forever He was clearly of
the opinion that we should unite with Gin
ciunati in this project. The interests of
the city, of the people and the State, i'm
peratively demanded that we should do SO.
The proper feeling was COW aroused in
Cincinnati, and much, as regarded our
future prosperity, depended upon the ac-
ton of this meeting. Let us act, and act
at once.
Judge Phillips, of Wilson county, stated
that there was not much difference between
himself and Judge Guild as to the i'm
portance to the interests of the city of
Nashville of this road. But he appeared
as a citizen of Tennessee. He Rckuowl-
edged the prosperity of Nashville, and be
was proud of it. He would add to it, and
not detract from it. She WAS the capital
of the State, and the people of his county,
and all the counties, were interested in her
growing and continued prosperity.
Two lines were proposed. One was by
way OF Gallatin; another was through the
counties of Wilson, Macon and Trousdale,
and on with the Cincinnati connection
The first question, Will it, can il be built?
He understood that Davidson county pro-
posed $500, 900 in bonds, and that Sumner
county proposed $500, 900, which, sggre-
eating 500, 600, would, on the market, be
worth in cash value near 5000, 600. With
this it was proposed to build 80 miles of
railroad He did not think If could be
done: and this was all the stock, outside of
private subscription, he had heard Of
And even this stock was problematical, as
he did not think Sumner county would
vote it. Col. Turner was present from
Sumner. The speaker remarked that he
CCol. T. } being a stakeholder in the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad, WIS in favor
of this line, although a conflicting one
with the Louisville and Nashville Road
He suggested that when the bonds of
Davidson aud Sumner and other counties
became vested IN this new road, might not
the Louisville and Nashville Road secure
these bonds and stock and thus become a
double monopoly. The speaker dwelt
at length upon the practical con-
siderations the construction Of the pro
posed road inVoIved. He stated
that the counties of Trousdale and
Macon, both rich in resources,
and unbending in energy would each give
$500, 600, besides private subscription to
secure the location of the route and con-
nections for which they had been striving
for years. Davidson county already has
$500, OC0 in the Tennessee and Pacific
Road. He did not think that she would
be so blinded to her own interest as to
assume $500, 600 more in another route
which would kill the interest she already
had in the Tennessee and Pacific Road
1t was to the evident interest and the pros
perity of Nashville to extend her protect
ing arm to the country around and ad-
iacent to it. He stated that it was but 16
miles from Gallatin to Lebanon, at which
point he proposed to connect with the
Tennessee and Pacific Road. Col Turner
explained that it was twenty miles shorter
by direct route to Nashville, inasmuch as
by Lebanon two sides of an acute triangle
would have to be traversed, whereas by the
other there would be bus one. Judge
Phillips contended ably for his route, re-
ferring to .Neshville's interest in the Tenne-
see ape Pacific Road, and to the fact that
wilson, Trousdale and Mason would glad
nv take hold and contribute literally to its