Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-03
UNION AND AMERICAN.
CONCERNING RAILROADS.
A Healthy Reaction fn Public Senti-
Q ment-What Hostile Legislation Has
Done In the West.
Knoxville Press and Herald.

unent-What Hostile Legislation Has
Done In the West.
Knoxville Press and Herald.
Communities, States, and even nations
seem, from time TO time, to select al
especial victim upon which to vent the az
qrepated spleen. Our community, Oul
Slate, and our nation, are not exceptions
When once the public animOsity selects
the victim it is usually pursued with unIe-
lenting energy until it either has bee1
crushed, or until a more liberal and dis
passionate view Of the subject creates a
resolution in public sentiment, and the
object for which, but a short time previ-
.ouslv. no term Of opprObrium was suf-
dcientIy severe, IS then looked upon with
some degree Of allowance.
For several years past the railroads OF the
country have been the theme for abusive
comment from all classes Of the cOmmU-
uitv. The aid Of legislation has been
sought against them, and above all, the
urpiudices Of iuries excited, until finally
4 suit against a railroad company on any
pretext, no matter how fimsy, has become
a road TO fortune more certain than the
gpiDas Of California. Originally, suits for
hundreds were fought and won; then the
litirauts were embroidered, and suits fOI
thousands were tried and won, and al
length suits for half million are heard Of.
Now there seems TO Us no good motive
for this onslaught on the railroads; the only
reason Of il IS to be found in the excite
ment in the general public mind with re-
card to s.sOulless corporations And yet
It is certainly true that railroads have de-
veI0ped the country. added to the value OF
property. and enriched, in many instances,
she men who are disposed to Cypress them,
One especial sCTieuse charged against
raih Dads is that Of-eLumes they discrlmi'
nate in freights, that where competition
renders it necessary they carry freight for
an amount below that which they charge
whore such competition does not exist,
tlat in other words. they charge more
where thew have 10 load and handle In de
p0ts. with all the expense Of the same, than
when the goods are delivered in sealed cars
and hauled over the entire line without de.
Law or handling Of any kind.
The great hue and cry against railroads
yEas started in the West, and 1t IS there
that the first signs Of reaction are evident
Raurassiye enactments are being repealed
and public sentiment has undergone
wonderful reactiOn-always the case atJel
tyr.at excitements. Yet in the days Of hos
IiIity to the railroad interests Of the West
GREAT injury was done, and the public have
suffered. Roads that are hampered anc
moor are ALWAYS in bad condition, aud uu'
able to supply the demand OF prosperous
s,guDtry. Still. 2s we have said, healthy
reaction is taking place. \ trivial Inclden'
illustrates public sentiment, 4 gentleman
connected with a railroad informed us
few DAYS ago. with much evident saJlslac
ton. that his company had succeeded
short time previously il sending negro L,
the penitentiaTy for clear case Of steallns
whereas six months before the jury Wouil
have considered the railroad company as
verv proper victim indeed, and therefore
acquitted the prisoner
The weeks Of disturbed railroad com
vgu1,ication, and interruption and delay o.
business in consequence Of the recent
floods. brought to thinking people the re
'Facfion that there is a vast existing neceS
eify for r4iIrOads-gOCd. wellmaHaged rail
-rogds-and there is iIHPoIcy IN a causeless
war mon them. Railroads are private
uToDertv. The State has given them char
iarS. and right to condemn and pay 10
certain lsnds-fOr which, Utmost instances
a Good round price had TO be paid-s1lll'
a drunken man. a COW, hogOr horse tres
mass on their property, and get hurt o.
killed. the railroad is required IN every III
stance to paw large damages. Is II not iai
To sss1ne that as the stockholders IN ran
roads have invested their money IN theS
enterprises. they may have a right to man
ace and enjoy their property under iheI
charter. are entitled to the same protection
from the Legislature and the courts, as /
extended 10 capital invested in merchan
disc or anything else?
Our own line Of communication Win IN
outside world-the East Tennessee, vi
ginis and Georgia RailrOad-atter mos
iiscouraging battle with the elements,
acsiu open for travel and transportation
For weeks the road has suffered loss ate
goss. until the damages can be estimate
5DtO the hundred thousands Of dollars. y
dividends can gladden. the eyes OF its stoch
holders Tor some time to come. II Is 10
moor to excite even the Cupidity OF pen
iurv. Then let the public be lement VII
it, and. regarding it as AFTER all preJt
GOOD road, very well managed, resolve I
make no unjust war against 1t, but give
another chance to recuPerate, and thus benz
fit the common interests Of the public.