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

Conference Of the supreme Grand

NAAG AAAA-kkDAD. TYCSONs-
Conference of the supreme Grand
-zas rH Lodge. fHe4A
Yesterday there were several railroad
men of prominence and power registered
at the Maxwell House. Among them were
Albert Fink and VIM. Smith, Of the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad, Henry Fink,
of the Virginia Air Line, Col. Z. G.. Sebree,
Of the E. & <. road, II. B. Hanson, Of
Saratoga, N. Y, VIM. Rutter and Thomas
Rutter, New York, Thos. A. Scott, Vice
President Of the Pennsylvania Central,
Hugh Pitcairn and Phelps Lasseen of
the Edgefeld and Kentucky railroad.
The assemblage in this city Of such well
known men naturally excited much inquiry
as to the
oBJItoT OF TRKIR MEETING a
and gave rise to rumor and gossip of
highly sensational character. In the first
place it was extensively circulated and by
many believed to be true that the object Of
the party from the North In visiting Nash
vile at this juncture Of railroad affairs In
Tennessee was to 81
LEASE THE NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD
and thereby gain competing line with the
Louisville and Memphis road. We are
party from the North that such is not true
it is denied that they have, as reported,
contemplated the purchase Of any road,
other than the Edgefield and Kentucky,
leading into or out Of Nashville; nor in
any manner proposed, as some limited, the
lease Of the rs
NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA ROAD
the principal officers of which held con-
sultaticn with men of the Louisville
and Nashville road and of the
AMERICAN CONTRACT COMPANY,
not for the purpose of leasing or purchasing,
but merely to arrange and agree upon
some freight tariff, subject of much
interest TO the citizens Of Nashville.
The American Contract Company is
composed of the following persons: Thos.
A. Scott, Vice President and j. NJ. Thomp-
son, President Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, M. Baird, Of the baldwin Locomo-
tive Works. Philadelphia; Z. II. B. Faren,
who is now engaged in the Hoosac tunnel;
Thos. Rutter, of New York; and Z. G. Sc
bree, Of Trenton, Kentucky. OF course
there are other parties who are stockholders,
but we are informed by reliable authority
that the above named gentlemen are the
largest stock owners and constitute the con-
trolling power Of the company. While
members Of this company are interested in
other roads to large extent, and especially
in the Pennsylvania Central, it is untrue that
either the Pennsylvania Central or any
other road owns the American Contract
Company.
Mr.. Thomas Scott and others of the
American Contract Company, which has
purchased the Edgefeld and Kentucky
Railroad, met Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Fink, Of
the Louisville and Nashville Road at the
Maxwell House yesterday morning. As
near as we could learn the
OBJECT OF THE MEETING
was TO make arrangements with the Louis
vile and Nashville Road to run through
freights and coaches for passengers via
Guthrie 10 Memphis. This has been
| accomplished and within ten days
We may have another through freight
line by the above route to Memphis; this is
done in orderio compete with the North
western road. AS to the results in reduc-
ton offreights it is for others to say. This
much we feel prepared to say in relation
thereto, that at present there seems some
what Of an antagonism in Southern aud
Southwestern freight interests, between the
Nashville and Decatur road on one part,
| and the Nashville and Louisville and Edge
field and Kentucky roads on the other; some
NAV think that the Louisville and Nashville
road is attempting TO saddle the Z. & 4.
road as pack horse, and by the agreement
| as to freights prevent competition TO and
from Nashville on the part Of the latter road.
Should such
A COMBINATION
be entered into by the two above roads it
would prove most prejudicial to our COM
mercial interests and block up every avenue
of liberal competition leading TO and from
Nashville north. We have not sufficient
evidence to suspect such a move, but are
assured by officials Of the Edgefield and
Kentucky road that such is in no manner
| designed. There are some, however, Of
railroad experience, and who have opportu-
mites Of knowing
WHAT MR.. SCOTT THINKS
Of his late purchase, the Edgefeld and Ken
lucky road. 1t is said the American Con
trac: Company are sincerely sick oftheirpur-
chase and would fain withdraw from the
contract. Why, as stated by our inform
ants? Because, first, it is 3 road that pays
but lttlelin its present condition and It will
cost more to repair and improve it than can
be realized for long while to come; second,
it cannot on account of its original construc-
ton and ''the ridge" be made fast through
freight route, without a considerable ex
penditure of money; and third, because it
has to withstand tie powerful competition
North with the Louisville and Nashville
road and in its only Southern connection,
outside Of the roads running to Nashville,
has to accept in mileage and passenger ar
rangements such terms as may be
prescribed by the Louisville and Nashville
road. But are these sufficient to prevent
tbs road assuming a competing dignity,
thereby compel the American Contract ]
Company to ''accept the situation" and
form the above limited coordination? We
are informed that such arguments are un-
founded and amount to nothing when con-
sidered in accordance with
THE FACTS IN THE CASE,
which are that the object of Mr.. Scott and
party in coming to Nashville was to visit the
road extending from this city TO Hen
derson. The party left here Satur
day, and after going over the road,
examining the coal mines in Kentucky and
other places along the route expressed
themselves
WELL SATISFIED WITH THE PURCHASE.
We are advised that the object of the
American Contract Company viii be to
make
NASHVILLE A TERMINAL POINT
in all through freights from st. Louis, Chi
cago and other cities West and East More
over this company desire to cultivate Nash
vile and gain the good will Of her mer
chants and the citizens living in those two
counties where the road runs. Having
asked the question,
WILL THERE BE DISSEMINATION
In any respect against Nashville, We are told
there will not, but that he rates to and
from our city will be the same as to other
points, and if any difference, it will be in
favor Of our city, which they regard as
kind of @gis in protecting their interests,
by giving the road liberal share Of the
large trade that must necessarily come here
from Northern cities. After a careful sur
vey of the road, its outlets north and south,
its connections, the country along the line,
the products that seek markets through its
facilities, the gentlemen connected with the
American Contract Company, which
now owns Thea Edgefeld and Kentucky
and the Evansville, Henderson and Nash
vile Railroad, (now consolidated,) to make