The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-16
TENNESSEE CENTRAL RAILROAD.

Vile RAILROAD 10 the tennessee
Central.
From the Nashville Union and Americana
We failed to publish the speech of
Mr.. Cooper on yesterday in advocacy
of the transfer Of stock by this county
of the above road; but, as We regard
the enterprise in behalf of which he
has visited our city of very grave i'm
portance, we print this morning, for
our readers, who did not hear him, the
substance of his remarks.
After being invited to address the
court, Mr.. Cooper asked for the read
ing of the petition of the President of
the Tennessee Central road. This be-
ing read, he said, substantially:
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
County Court of Davidson-Allow me
to express my thanks for the kindness
shown me at this moment. To speak
at present, is not without embarrass-
ment, for | find the Court greatly
pressed with official business and the
time foraGournment closely approach
ing. l am not here, gentlemen, to
dictate to this enlightened and liberal
court, but come in the spirit of sugges-
ton and advocacy. And whatever
may be the conclusion reached on the
proposition | submit, no member OF
this Court will acquisecc more heartieS-
" in such conclusion than myself.
| acknowledge your esponsibility, and
beg of you that you hear me imparti,
ally and without prejudice.
How am here? | am before you
as one Of the Directors of the Ten,
nessee Central Railroad, duly commits.
stoned by the Board of Directors and
the President of the same, to advocate
and explain the proposition you have
heard read. The Tennessee Central
Railroad Company was first chartered
by the Legislature in the acts Of 1871
s; and again in the acts Of 1S69-70,
page 3S5. In this last act the old
charter with all its rights were reviv-
ed, and eight years additional time
allowed in which to build the road.
This road would have been complet.
ed, doubtless, under the first charter,
had it not been for the introduction OF
a certain omnibus railroad bill that
secured sufficient strength to defeat
it. This was IA calamity. For there
is 10 Tennessee road running central,
" through West Tennessee.
| will now speak Of the proposition
our company submits. 1t Is, that the
county of Davidson transfer to our
company the sum of 100000 OF
stock owned in the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad, on condition that
the Nashville, Chattanooga and st.
Louis roadfirst see completed the road
bed of the Tennessee Central from
Huntingdon to Trenton, a distance OF
thirtv-three miles, and without the
Use Of one dollar of the stock so asked
to he transferred; and greater still, on
the condition that it agree to iron and
equip the Tennessee Central from end
to end, a distance Of 81 miles, and OPP
crate the same without transfer at
Huntingdon-in this way adopting
our road as its own line. Lest | for
get later to do 50, let me now state
that, inasmuch as | find the road Col.
Vaughn Is here representing, Of which
| am flvorably impressed, asking for
the transfer Of a portion of the stock
we are asking for, and as | do not de
sire to antagonizc his enterprise, Twill
say that our company is very willing
to reduce the amount Of our applica-
ton from 100000 to s150,000.
Happily for us, since the Nashville,
Chattanooga and st. Louis road is
willing and ready to back us in SC
large way, | am relieved of the task
Of saying a great deal that might
otherwise be highly necessary. In
the proposition of the road, which is
a home road, and that has your
confidence, we have an expression
Of opinion as to the value OF
our road. Would this road throw
one million ofdollars on worthless
enterprise? This road has experience,
capacity and solvency and capital is
always sensitive, and unless the road
would prove paying road, the Nash.
vile, Chattanooga and st. Louis road
would not endorse to such IN extent.
But some one may say the Nashville,
Chattanooga and st. Louis road ought
to build, your road, as that company
is more deeply interested than any
other corporation or persons. Well,
Gentlemen, this reminds me of an ocur.
renee In my county Of Gibson.
Some Years ago Il certain individual
built Il mill on the old Macadamizcd
and beaten stage road from Trenton
to Brownsville, Oh a road that had
been road from time immemorial 50
to speak, and the public had kept up
The road. But no sooner had this in.
dividual built mill on this road
without injury Of any sort, than q
party formed against him to compel
him to keep up one mile Of levec and
bridges across the Forked Deer river.
He said, gentlemen, pay as one Of the
body-politic, and this is all you do.
But, as | have a larger interest than
amy other person | am willing to pay,
personally, several hundred dollars to
put this road in repair. Now, thi.
individual had a larger interest and
was willing to pay for it. This is the
status of Col. Coles company, if il
has larger interest. Can any one
after hearing this company's PROPOSE
ton read, say that it is not willing to
pay for that larger interest? But
neither in the one case or the other
does the existence of the interest OF
one party destroy the interest of erery-
body else. And surely, when we re-
member what the Nashville, Chat.
tanooga and St. Louis road has done
for its stockholders, as well as this
county and city, we can not charge il
with closcncss or littleness. 1t has
worked the value of Its stock up from
20 cents to IS cents on the dollar
since the war. 1t has bought and
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