Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-10


Mr.. Harris said that he Thought the |
question should not be submitted to a vote.
He considered the present Owensboro and |
Russellville Railroad Company to be in a |
bankrupt condition, and that all their cred |
itOrs are waiting for it TO get something in |
addition to the $4,000 which has already |
been expended upon the road. He was sat |
isfied that the road will be completed |
through by other railroad companies when |
ever the proper time comes, without any |
aid from the tax payers of Davidson |
county.
Gen. QuarleS addressed the court in
favor OF submitting the question to the peo-
pie of the COUNT, arguing that the court
has no moral or legal right to refuse them
that privilege. He was not in position TO |
say, at this time, that he would vote for the
proposition, but he claimed his right to
vote either for or against it. The only wav
to beat down high rates is TO have COMPETE |
ton. The Louisville and Nashville road
has enjoyed monopoly for many wears
and it is alarmed at the prospect of being
sandwiched in between the Evansville,
OwenSboro and Nashville and the Cumber-
land and Ohio road, as it will be if these
propositions are accepted.
In answer to statement made by Gen.
Quarles, Mr.. Harris stated that he does
not own a dollars worth of stock in the
Louisville road, and never did.
Gen. Harding being called upon said
that he would show that the question has
two sides. Gen. Quarles seemed DESTROYS
of taking from the County Court their
power to protect the interests of the county.
Under this view, every question coming
before the court should be submitted to the
people, no matter how insignificant it
might be.
The speaker had heard many brilliant
speeches on the railroad question and many
promises made of the good to result from
the construction of railroads, but these
promises had never been carried into effect
Ii had been said that if the people would
not assist the Louisville road, at the time
it was projected, it would not be cOmplet-
e. but he was now satisfied that the road
would have given $4,000 to the people of
Davidson county for the privilege Of conf
ing here.
Just here the speaker was interrupted by
Gen. Jackson, who asked if Gen. Fink, of
the Louisville road, had not stated, after
the 100000 stock Of that road had been
taken by this county, that the people of Da-
wilson county were
for the company would have paid half a
million dollars for the right 20 come here
rather than be shut out, which question
Gen. Harding answered IN the affirmative.
The speaker said that fine could keep the
road in question from coming TO Nashville
he would gladly 10 it, rs he felt they would
iniure Nashville instead of beneftting her.
lie was strongly opposed to the matter be
ing submitted to the people of the county,
principally for the reason that the railroad
company would employ eloquent speakers
TO represent their interest, while the inter
est Of the people would not be advocated
by any one.
A PROvISO
4 motion being made that the PRAYER of
the petitioners be granted. Justice Bas-
kettle offered the following as a prOyisO to
said petition:
Provided the OwensborO andRuSSellville
and Cumberland and Ohio Railroad Compa-
MES paytOthe hOldersthe observation-disclosures
together with the interests and coupons is
sued to the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road Company by Davidson county before
the transfer Of the stock of Davidson coun-
ty to the said road, as asked for by said
companies.
Gov. Neil 5. Brown in response to 4 call.
addressed the court, saving that he was de-
cidedly in favor Of the proposition being
submitted 10 a popular vote. All power is
| in the people and the Legislature intended
that all such questions should be left 20 the
| people to decide. He had been paving
taxes for number OF years and while he
was not fond of it, he preferred TO pay taxes
rather than do without the improvements
and advantages resulting from these taxes.
| He had no charges 10 make
| against the Louisville road, but
he is a believer in competition, and
with another line III inning north the Lou
| isyille road would be held in check. The
| speaker was not prepared to say that he
would favor the proposition at the polls,
| but he wanted a chance TO vote ON the
| question. As an argument in favor of the
road, he would state that the projected
roads would open up the finest coal cOun-
| try IN the world. thereby causing a mate
| rial reduction in the cost Of hat cOmmOd-
/ ity TO Nashville consumers. The building
| Of those roads would add to the thrift and
general prosperity of this section of country
/ The main feature of the proposition IS that
/ You part with nothing until the road is
built; but the enterprise will be greatly
I benefited by its being submitted TO the
people. even il it should be rejected al the
polls.
Justice Steele moved the previous ques-
| ton. The yeas aud NAYS being demanded,
| the roll was called and the motion was lost
| 10y vote Of 81 TO u.
Justice BaSkette said that he had offered
his prOviSO because he wants to prOtect the
interests Of the county. He objected to
giving the money arising from the sale Of
our railroad stock to the OwensbOrO and
Russellville railroad, or any other road, I'M
til the present bonded debt Of the county
is paid. Last wear. county bonds to the
amount Of $4,000 fell due, and is yet
unpaid; and in addition to this, S246,OOO
fall due this month. and the county has no
other way Of paving this debt than by the
sale Of the $4,000 of stock the county has
in the Louisville and Nashville, and Nash
Vile and Decatur roads, which stock is
worth only IS cents on the dollar.
Justice MaXey agreed that the County
Court has a perfect right to refuse to sub
NIT the matter to a popular vote. He said
there was an obligation with the Louisville
road, by which the county agreed that the
stock of that road, held by the county,
should not be disposed of until ali the
county railroad bonds had been redeemed.
lie was strongly in favor of the county's
present Indebtedness being paid off before
any further Indebtedness is inquired.
Justice Meacham said the proposition
was not in shape to suit him. He was per
fectly willing to transfer the stock the
county owns in the Louisville and De
catur roads, rs the county was
receiving no dividend on that stock and
wOuld not for the next ten years. If the
stock were sold at say One-fourth its value
and take the amount Of the proceeds in the
OwenSbOro road, the county would be enti- |
tied to a greatley reduced number of votes
rs a stakeholder.
Col. Beyier said that he had been au-
thJrized to say that his company would
take the railroad stock owned by the coun- |
ty at par, allowing the county the number
of votes it would thus be entitled to.
Adjourned TO meet Monday morning, at
10 O'Clock.
THE COTRTS