Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-06


To the Editors Of the Union and American:
In your issue of the I'd inst. 1 notice a
letter from one NJ. A. Smith, General
Freight Agent of the ''so-called' Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, which ] conceive,
and believe is generally conceded to be a
poor attempt at an apology for the failure of
a deep laid scheme; an attempted display of
acquired knowledge and facts, and miser-
able imitation of Byron's English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers. After carefully perusing
the short and delicate epistle of the gentle
man who bears the beautiful and uncom-
mon name of 'Smith, am forced to the
conclusion that he, oppressed, would, though
reluctantly, admit that HIS great convention
held in Louisville on the 4th day Of Sep
temper last had turned out to be misera-
bic farce-an amour.
Although his letter has no address, save
the very common aud much abused one of
''Dear Sir" it is evidently intended for one
who is several rounds higher upon the lad
der of railroad fame than our incOrrigible
friend Smith; and its object most clearly an
apology for not being able to maintain eX-
orbitant rates at Nashville.
Having for long time been engaged in
the cotton business in this city, | can but
be posted as to rates, etc, and am fully pre-
pared to say that this "so-called" Louisville
and Nashville Railroad was the first line to
offer and issue its Bill of Lading at a cut
rate. 1t was also the first to give rate of
Csc on compressed cotton to New York.
1t was also first to cut
rates on cotton from
the South, when it car
ried cotton from Selma,
Ala, to Providence, r.
l., at. 81 20 per 100 lbs
Cost to get it to Nashville. 81 {"
Leaving from Nashville. 80 per 100 lbs
When according to his convention rates it
should have left S1.10 per 100 pounds.
Ofthese facts Mr.. Smith can but be cog
infant, and yet he ''has the impudence" to
attach the blame to the Edgefeld, Hender-
son and Nashville, and the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroads, to the agent of the
''so-called" E. I. Company, and to the
'scalpers" of the Mccoy genius, and even
goes so far as to compliment the sagacity Of
the cotton merchants of this city, when he
says that he desired to establish the fact
that the maintenance of any rate from
Nashville was possibility" Mr.. Smith is
aware that the maintenance of an exorbi-
tant rate would be to the interest of his
road, but to the very great detriment of
Nashville; and he, seemingly, forgets that
his road, since its completion, has been
operated in the interest of Louisville, and
to the prejudice of Nashville, and therefore
the animus of this city, in business point
of view, is against him, and that it is now
an acknowledged fact that when he is so
fortunate-or unfortunate-as to secure a
shipment of cotton it is only when it is alb
solutely so cheap that other all rail lines will
not take it. In this delicately perfumed
missive of Smiths he ingeniously asserts
that he "beliereS'' the cotton merchants of
this city "held a meeting and appointed
committee to wait upon the officers of the |
\. & c., L. & K. and Z. II. & n. Rail- |
roads, to urge them to enter into no agree |
ment with this company for the mainten- |
ance of rates" Did Mr.. Smith ever hear |
Of such meeting, or such a committee? !
Does he not kaor, positively, that the cot
Ton merchants of this cityf treated him aud |
bis great convention with silent contempt? /
Subsequent developments warrant the be- |
lief" Mr.. Smiths attempt to compel the
merchants of this city to ship their freights
over his road bordered on insanity, if not
diocy. He does not take into considera-
ion the fact that we have another all rail
inc, and several rail and water lines from
his point; and is entirely unmindful of the
act that whilst he has been altogether arbi-
rary in his business relations with
he shippers of this city, other lines
equally as good, and more prompt to settle,
ave always been exceedingly liberal. Even
he parties whom he makes war upon have
lever shown so little idea of business, and
Mccoy, with whom he seems to be greatly
ncensed has, indeed, and hopes still, with a
ew more inches in the mighty Cumberland,
o be our 'benefactor."
While we deeply sympathize with Mr..
,mith in his sad bereavement, we cannot
romise him cotton at equal rates. "Vox
'Opuli, Vox Del" We will do him the JUS
ice to say that his great error is simply at
ributable to his zeal to serve the interest of
lis company, and as he is well paid to serve
he interest of Louisville, not Nash
lille, we heartily commend him to
is superiors. His agent here has
t the solicitation of shippers, invaria-
ly promised to consign their shipments to
ny line at Louisville that they might des-
gnate, and has, in many instances, acted in
ad faith. For instance. A certain cotton
uyer in this market in giving lot of cot
On to the agent of the Louisville and Nash
lille Railroad, directed it to go by the Star
Jnion Line from Louisville, and after push
lg bis iaqui ies-the:e inquiries occasioned
y a serious delay-he found to his aston
,hment that his cotton had been given to
he Mail Line. Thus has Mr.. Smith acted
I bad faith to the customer. He promised
he Trunk Lines to maintain rates at Nash
lille, and he being the first one to cut them
e has thus acted in bad faith to these
mes; and worst of all to the officers of the
.ouisville and Nashville Railroad, and to
imself in so tenaciously clinging to so
elusive hope.
We vainly hoped that some "Railroad
Ian," some more able pen, would have
lken hold of this matter and have done
le subject justice. In conclusion, allow
he to thank you for 50 much space in your
alUable paper, and to assure Mr.. Smith
rat, personally, he has the profound con-
Olence, warmest sympathy and kindest
ishes of Low MIDDLING.
.