Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-09
A GIGANTIC SCHEME.
The Railroad Companies Combining to
MOnopOlize the Cotton Trade
Of Nashville.
Four Acres OF Ground Already Pur-
chased and a Mammoth Ware
house Contracted For.
General Indignation Among Handlers
OF the Staple.
Col. Fink to be Interviewed by a Cot.
ton Board Committee.

One of the most gigantic enterprises ever
inaugJIrated in this city, and one which II
carried into effect, will completely destroy
the custom trade of Nashville, has just
been unearthed, and great excitement pre-
walls among the cotton men in conSe-
quence.
Ii has been discovered that for several
months past, the Louisville Nashville and
Great Southern, and the Nashville, Chat
tancoga and st. Louis railroad companies,
backed by several Nashville capitalists,
have been quietly maturing plans for the
erection of AN immense cotton warehouse
and sheds on the Northwestern railway
track, about half way between Watkins
school house and the Fair Grounds, with
storage capacity of $4,000 bales.
An agreement has been drawn up and
signed by the Nashville, Chattanooga and
st. Louis Railway Company, by which that
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 COL
Fink, at Louisville, to get the endorsement
of the Louisville, Nashville and Great
Southern Railway Company. Col. Fink
made some slight amendments To the agree
ment and returned il to Nashville, with the
understanding that his road would enter
into the combination if those slight amend
mepts were agreed 10. This was done at
once. and the document was again for
warded to Louisville last Monday, and has
not vet been returned to Nashville.
Monday afternoon the Cotton Board OF
this city got an inkling of this little pro
iect, and a meeting of the cotton men was
held. which resulted in Messrs. John r.
Wheeless and Thomas Ii. Sample being APP
pointed a committee TO wait upon Maj.
Anderson. of the Nashville, Chattanooga
and st. Louis road, for the purpose OF learn
ing the exact shape the enterprise had as
sumed.
The committee saw Mai. Anderson Tues
dav evening. and were received in the most
cordial manner by that gentleman, who IN
formed them that the project was fairly
under way; that four acres of ground mad
been purchased; that the erection OF a
warehouse had been contracted for; that all
cotton brought to the city would be
taken to the warehouse upon its com
| pletion, and that in a short time the newly
| organized company would have the cotton
| business of Nashville completely in Its
| power, as a compress and all the facilities
| for handling cotton, without allowing 1t to
enter the city, would be provided.
With this startling information the COM
! mittee returned, and at meeting held yes
| terday afternoon, reported to the cotton
men the result of their interview with
Mai. Anderson. The report was received
/ with great indignation and several warm
| speeches were made on the subject. After
| considerable discussion, Messrs. WheeleSs,
| Hook, Parke. Sample and Wilkes were ap-
pointed a committee TO proceed to Louis
| Vile and fully represent to Col. Fink the
| disastrous consequences which would re-
| suit to the business interests of Nashville
if the proposed enterprise should be carried
| out.
The committee will leave on the 10;4O
train tonight.