Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-12
DISSEMINATING AGAINST FARM
ERG

DR.. d. Lee, Of KnOx- county, in a COM
munication to the american Farmer, pub
lished at Baltimore, complains heavily OF
the manner in which the railroads of that
section Of our State discriminate against the
farmers. He says: DOOR
ave could send fat cattle and fat sheep
from the fine grazing lands of East Tennes-
see to Baltimore, with equal benefit to pro-
ducer and consumer, if the owners of in
termediate railways did not think it wise to
impose prohibitory tariff What with the
pOtting of croSs-ties, sleepers and bridges,
the rusting Of iron, the undermining of en-
bankments, and the uneven settling of the
track everywhere, to keep a public road for
ornament, rather than use, is not profitable
to stockholders nor to stock raisers. Both
cattle and sheep are carried from Texas
TO New York at less price than
we can send either from Knoxville to Bal
timore. Hence, we cannot send fat cat
tie and sheep from Knoxville to your city,
while both are sent from Texas to New
York by rail, at least from Kansas. We
have the finest grazing climate on the con-
tinent; while we have no market for neat
stock. SEE zE
Goods are carried through Knoxville from
the East to Nashville, at about tWo-thirds
the price charged when left at Knoxville.
1t is some $50 miles from one city to the
other. Virginia salt is carried through
Knoxville 30 miles TO Atlanta, Georgia,
and sold at dollar a sack less than | pay
for similar salt in Knoxville. In Atlanta
Liverpool salt interferes with this infa-
nous salt monopoly. In Knoxville the
restraint on exorbitant prices is very lit
u 4 T.f# TFas
This is to be regretted as the farmers
were the earliest and most steadfast friends
Of our railroad system, not only voting
cheefully in many counties for direct APP
preparation, but contributing from their
private means and supporting men for the
Legislature who were the strongest advo-
Gates for railroads. 1t is surely enough to
lose Their subscriptions and their
taxes in aid of railroads without
beng Disseminated against. We never
could understand the policy Of
railroads Of discouragiDg local trade. Eve
rything that will tend to multiply the pro-
ducts of The country will in the end swell
the profits Of railroads. We cannot see
why salt for example should be transported
by rail through Knoxville to Atlanta and
sold at a less price than the same can be
bought for in Knoxville. There may be
some hidden policy, some competitive in
fueDce, some ambitious desire TO
Outbid a rival, but we see no
justice or good sense in making the
friends of railroads pay for this luxury. OF
all corporations, that of railroads are the
most iyrsnnical and overbearing. 1t often
becomes dangerous monopoly, damaging
to the section through which the road passes,
as sculless as The car of Juggernaut, crush
ing aid mangling the property which it
was designed to foster, promote and pro-
tect. Our farmers, the prop and support of
the country as well as of railroads, should
see TO il that this state of things is stopped,
and should send men to our legislative
bodies who have the nerve to enact laws for
the cessation Of such unjust, ungrateful and
contemplate Determinations. EHT