Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-07-15
4 GIGANTIC SWINDLE.



IL Monopoitze the Nashville Cotton
Trade.
One Of the most gigantic enterprises
ever inaugurated ia this city, aud one
which if carried into effect, will com
pletely destroy the custom trade of
Nashville, has Just been unearthed,
and great excitement prevails among
the cotton men In consequence.
1t has been discovered that for several
months past, The Louisville, Nashville
and Great Southern, and the Nashville,
Chattanooga aud st. Louis railroad
companies, backed 10y several Nash
Vile capitalists, have been quietly ma
turing plans for the erection of an inn
meuse cotton warehouse and sheds on
the Northwestern railway track, about
half way between Watkins school
house and the fair grounds, with
storage capacity OF SGT, 600 bales.
An agreement has been drawn up
and signed by the Nashv, lie, Chat
tanooga Il st. Louis Railroad Com
pany, toy which thai company binds
itself to receive no cotton at points
farther south and destined for Nash
vile, except with the understanding
that it be delivered at the proposed
warehouse. This agreement was sent,
last week, to Colonel Fink, at LOUIS
vile, to get the endorsement at the
Louisville, Nashville IL Great southern
Railroad Company. Col Fink made
some slight amendments to the agree
ment ana returned It to Nashville,
with the understanding that his road
would enter into the combination If
those slight amendments were agreed
to. This was done al once, and the docu
ment was again forwarded to Louis
willie last Monday, aud has not yet been
returned TO Nashville.
Monday afternoon the Cotton Board
of this city got an inkling of this little
| project, aud meeting of the cotton
men was held, which resulted in
4 Messrs. John L. Wheeless and Thomas
b, Sample being appointed "A commit
| tee to wait upon Maj. Anderson, of the
| Nashville, Chattanooga N St Louis
road, for the purpose of learning the
exact shape the enterprise has q.
The committee saw Mai, Anderson
| Tuesday evening, and were receives in
the most cordial manner by that gen.
tleman, who informed them that the
project was fairly under way; that
-four acres of ground had been purchas-
ed that the erection of n warehouse
had beeu contracted for that all cot
ton brought Ia the city would be taken
to the warehouse upon its completion,
and that in II short time the newly or
gained company would have the cot
ton business OF Nashville completely
in its power, as compress and all the
facilities for handling cotton, without
allowing ii to enter the city would be
provided.
With this startling information the
committee returned, and at a meetigg
held yesterday afternoon, reported "a
the cotton men the result of ther in
terview with Maj. Anderson. The re-
port waf received with great indigna>
ton, and several warm speeches were
made on the subject. After consider
able discussion, Messrs. Wheeless,
Hook, Parke, sample and Wilkes were
appointed Il committee to proceed to
Louisville and fully represent to Col.
Fink the disastrous consequences
would result TO the business interests
OF Nashville, If the proposed enterprise
should be carried out.
The committee will leave on the 10:
40 train to night.-NdshuiHe Union
and american.