Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-10
OUR RAILROAD SITUATION.
A supiee. worthy Of AtlensIoa.


The subjoined communication, written by
one of our wide-awake merchants, is wor-
thy of perusal and serious consideration
A WORD OF WARNING.
The completion of the Louisville Railroad
to Montgomery, while it opens to Nashville
new field for trade, should remind us that
we nS lsngsF saI, Eemain unconcerned at
any efforts of rival cities to grasp the trade
we now enjoy, but that the passing from
our control of this and other roads leading
here has opened the door for determinations
and advantages adverse to our interests that
already begin to be felt by our merchants.
This important route controlled by Louis
vile, and the Edgefeld and Kentucky hay
ing been passed over to st. Louis and Evans
vile, IL becomes us to at once turn our az
tention to the two roads pointing in this
direction, which not only promise to be-
come valuable feeders and outlets for the
commerce of Nashville, but will serve at
once az foils TO every effort to ignore Nash
vile as a competing point, and compel a
lust acknowledgment of our rights IN any
influences as against our business interests.
1t seems hardly credible, but the fact ex-
lists that two of the most important roads,
the Cumberland and Ohio and the Ovens
boro and Rockport railroad, have within a
few DAYS, changed their intention to make
their S 1dthern CONNECTIONS throggh Nash
vile, but at the invitation of the wlde-a-
wake people of Sumner, Wilson, Ruther-
ford, and Marshall counties, will go around
this city, and tap every road leading to this
place, from the East aud South, beyond and
below us, and thus with the Memphis
branch, via GAINESVILLE, on the North and
West, and this new route, via Gallatin,
Lebanon, MIrfreesboro, Lewisburg, Pulas-
ki, etc. on the kast and South, Nashville
will remain city of branch roads, her 81
premacy as a railroad centre gone, aod her
hands tied, the result of an insrtness, fatal
to any hope of future position OF prosper
ity among commercial cities.
The county Of Sumner having noted
$500, 100000 TO the Cumberland anc ONO
road, sent commission here to invite
CO oper alton; thrice did they approach but
each time failed. The OwensboFe road,
built under the auspices of Cincinnati dur
ing the excitement attendant upon the
loss of control by our city Of the Decatur
road, met no response to their applications,
aud recently joint application FOR 9 div
sion of aid was not only denied but those
entrusted with the negotiations were
treated with such indifference and GOODNESS
that they were compelled in self respect
to turn away from city SO unwillingly to
accept such princely boon at so low
price, to another point and the result was
a prompt subscription of S300,000.OO more
by Sumner county to bring the Greensboro
road by Gallatin thus diverting both roads
from Nashville and creating new interes Is
elsewhere TO draw away business.
Now, what was the amount asked for TO
bring to this city channels for trade and
commerce and contributors to build up our
manufacturing interests? S150,0O0 each
from the city and county, to be divided be-
tween them-S9, 900 per annum each!-an
amount, which is stated by the highest Off
cial in our city, as smoked away in tobacco.
Can it De that the palatial edi1ces now De-
ing erected will maintain these pretensions,
when those who should visit tiaem are tnus
to be exposed to the temptation OF gong
round them? Is it not well known Iact
that each of these roads would on reaching
here at once begin to look below for feeders,
thus giving rs connections south ana west,
and that instead of Marshall county giving
S3O0,0G0 to go away from us, we would
have road to us. Already the Duck River
road promises to turn from us to st. Louis
much of the truck of that rich valley, tend
ing to build up other cities not our own,
and no hand is reached out to draw them
here.
1t may not be too late for Nashville to
arouse and offer to these two roads a ter
minus here. A bold and determined effort at
once before vote is taken in Sumner may
vet enable US to recover what our folly has
nearly lost. Railroads are not built in the
interest of those who take no interest in
them but will follow the route of those
who want them and pay their share. It is
time our people should know this and that
ifthey want Nashville to be located at the
confluence of highways each of which is
destined to bear upon it much greater
commerce than the Cumberland river, they
must eagerly seize upon an occasion when
it can be done at so little cost.
Ponder well and deeply before throwing
away two roads costing so many millions,
when they may yet be obtained by the ex-
penditure of so small a sum, already more
than realized out of similar enterprises.
+. II. T.