Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-19
RAILROAD DETERMINATIONS.
Facts worthy of ConsIderation.

| Facts worthy of Consideration.
To the Union and American:
In your paper to-day, writer informs US
| We must submit TO the present railroad
| freight Determinations, against us, or fare
worse. If such is the prospect before us,
"Good Lord deliver u.s." a1-
Perhaps the public generally does not
know the extent of these freight discrimi-
nations, and how much Nashville and all
| other points along the through lines in
| Tennessee, are paying our railroads for the
| privilege Of doing business over more fav-
ored Northern points beyond the State. |
would like TO state some pungent facts:
The rate Of fifth class freight over our
railroads from st. Louis to Charleston,
Savannah, Wilmington and other sesboard
towns is roc per hundred pounds. From
Nashville TO same points Coo per 100 pounds,
just Zoe less. But should merchant of
Nashville, or a manufacturer OF flour,
starch, meal, whisky, chairs, furniture, or
c0tinS, wish to make a purchase Of raw
materials in st. Louis, instead Of paying
10c per 100 pounds to Nashville he is
charged 34c per 100 pounds, and then, if he
should afterwards, desire to send his
grain or manufactures to Charleston he
Is charged zoe per 100 pounds, or
81 cents per 100 pounds, from st. Louis TO
Charleston. Thus, the Nashville merchant
or manufacturer pays the railroads forty
eight dollars per car load more than the st.
Louis merchant, because he undertakes to
do business within the bounds of Tennes-
see, making, on 100 car loads A, 800 dollars,
en- amount more than three-fourths of the
merchants or manufacturers of Nashville
make in a whole year. 1t makes no differ
ence what point you happen 10 strike in the
north or northwest-Cincinnad, lndianap-
oils, Louisville, Evansville, Cairo, Chicago,
st. Louis, or any point 80 miles Off the
same discrimination in freights against
Tennessee prevails, ranging from $4S down
to $40 per car load. This discrimination,
so far as Nashville is concerned, circum-
scribes her within a radius of so to 70
miles; within this territory Nashville may
hold, perhaps, equal advantages, as a ship
ping point, perhaps not. .-er..
If you talk to contracting agent, pro-
testing against the heavy discrimination on
all local freights, he win tell you the old, old
story, the greater the distance the cheaper
the freight; but [ think can show, some
times this argument is too thin: In
the great "railroad system" the rule is,
where there are railroad crossings or rail
road communications, no arrangements
will be made to screen Line" with steam
boats; that is to say, railroads will n OF pro-
rate with Nashville steamers, except from
points where there are no railroad commu-
nication, such as Shawneetown, Golconda,
points on the Cumberland river below
Cl2rksville, and points on The Mississippi
river above Cairo. At such landings steam
ers may load for points in the South be-
yond Tennessee, and on arrival at Nash
vile, cargoes being consigned to our roads
will-he taken TO their destination at cost
averaging sbopt twenty dollars per car
load the advantage over tie Nashville NOR
chant or manufacturer, who wishes TO for
ward his goods from his warehouse here.
Now if the contracting agent can show me
wherein there is greater labor in forward
ing my car load OF freghts from ms ware
house in Nashville, than in forwarding the
ShswneetoYn merchant his car load from
the river landing, should like to have him
rise and explain, and conyince nae, should
be happy man, because 1 sm obliged to
pay only $40 per car load more than the
Shawneetown merchant.
We talk of making Nashville a great man
ufacturing town. But how can it ever be,
when such burdensome Determinations are
made against every thiog a manufacturer
must use, amounting in many instance to
more than $4,000 for a single manufac-
tosy. ] pray heartily that the present
"rdttrOdd SystenN ElEy Re changed before
we are alllutterly ruined. TENEEgsEE.