Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-09
TIRE CINCINNATI SOUTHERN RAILROAD.

The discussion of the projected Southern
railroad from Cincinnati to Chattanooga
continues in the former city without any
abatement i'll interest. At the adjourned
meeting of the Board Of Trade held last
Thursday night the discussion was con-
tinued upon the proposition of Mr.. Wal
sin to give up the project, as provided for
in the Ferguson act, and to postpone all
business III the enterprise until amend
ments could be secured to the Constitution
of Ohio, 10y which the city of Cincinnati,
instead of building the road herself, would
have authority to contract with other par
ties for its construction upon such terms as
would protect her business men in ship
ping freights, and at the same time save
millions TO the city.
The debate was warm, but elected no
new facts in regard to the merits Of
the two projects. 1t would seem
from the numbers and character of
the speakers in favor of building
the road as a Cincinnati en-
terprise, that the majority of the bust
ness men of the city want a Southern
road. built and operated in their interests.
They want it operated so that they shall
have the control of all shipments of freight
both as to price and priority. Some of the
speakers claimed that now freights from
Cincinnati sent by way of Louisville were
not only onerated with higher rates but
were always detained so as to give prefer
T re n
come this trouble Cincinnati shippers pro-
pose to build the Southern road to give
them the advantages Louisville merchants
now enjoy in their Louisville and Nash
Vile road. They propose to have the road,
therefore, no matter what it costs or wheth-
er it pays after it is constructed or
not. They demand it as a prOtec-
ton to home institutions. They base their
arguments for the road,upon the principles
put forth in favor Of a protective tariff. In
this view it is, of course, very natural that
business men and manufacturers of Gin
cinnati shonld favor the road.
1t is claimed by them that the road can
be built complete to Chattanooga for ten
millions of dollars and that it can be
equipped for another million. They claim
that it can be operated to secure protection
to Cincinnati shippers and at the same
time be made TO pay.
The opposition to the road as at present
projected, comes from some very wealthy
influential men, and claims to represent
the present uicacS of the mGOrity Of the
Taxpayers of the city. Theodore Cook,
formerly President of the Chamber OF
Commerce, and Colonel Lem. AFFAIRS,
former Mayor of the city, seem to be the
active talking men Of this party.
They profess to want the road, but say
thew do not want to be taxed to build
a railroad that will cost far more than ten
millions and that when once completed
cannot be opened so as to pay upon the
policy proposed by its friends. Mr.. Cook
put the views of his class in the following
style:
There seemed to be benevolent idea on the
part of some gentlemen that this railroad wa:
TO be built and run directly IN the interest OF
Cincinnati, but no sensible man believed thai
there was anything in this. All railroads were
built with a view of making money for thu
builders. Mr.. Bishop had stated in his remark;
at the previous meeting that he was satisfied
this road could be built for ten million dollars
and that the profits would pay an interest Of
seven per cent. on the COST thereby preventing
the road from becoming burden upon the tax
pavers of Cincinnati. In reply to that the
speaker desired to say that if the Trustees
would guarantee personally sEch result, he
would find the men within two weeks wht
would agree at once to commence work on tht
road and build it. [Applause;l He would fur
Their agree that the, Trustees should dictate tn
r ties Of freight and passage to be charged, or
n other words, control the road. But he dit
not believe that when the Trustees came to con
slider this matter seriously, they would agree t
do any such thing. If low rates Of freight wer
established so that goods could be shipped t
Chattanooga cheaper than Louisville or an.
other competing city could ship them, then tn
road was bound to lose money. The manufac
tarers and merchants might get better mar
ket for their goods, but the road was bound t
suffer. On the other hand, if high rates G
freight were established, then the merchant an
manufacturers would not make anything, III
idea that Cincinnati could build railroad an
run II for bar ovon benefit was not credible.