Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-05
TEE EEGUlasEON OF RArzzo ADS.

IL VIII bc bJtiErQ from our morning
dispatches that both houses Of the
Minnesota Legislature have by a two
thirds major. ty repealed "the onerous
railroad legislation" of last winter.
The Minnesota laws were very strin-
gent, amounting almost to condscation
in their bearings upon the weaker
roads, already embarrassed by the pam
ie, aud some of them premature and
proftless enterprises at the best. We
are not cognizant Of the provisions of
the Morse lav, now enacted in lieu,
but the tenor Of the telegram indicates
that it deals with the subject on
much more liberal basis.
The idea Of a railroad stopping busi-
ness entirely, and being abandoned like
IN old country road, has perhaps oc-
CURED to very few Of our readers.
Railroads are not plentiful enough in
this latitude to render such a contin-
gency likely. Yet the Ne,0 York Tri-
JpHeof Monday last records such a
case, remarking editorially:
The endorsements Of the in-stalred
New York and Oswego Midland Rail
way have culminated in q suspension
| Of traffic for tie present. The last train
was run on Saturday Inability to pay
the taxes on the property and indis-
/ criminate and excessive seizures made
/ by tax collectors have brought the road
to this unfortunate pass. Much misery
/ to many people is sure to follow, and 1t
/ seems very unfortunate that some re-
/ lief could not have been given to the
( embarrassed line, the receivers ofwhich
! appeared 70 be maintaining a hard
/ fight with adverse circumstances IN en-
deavorng to meet the Obligations Of
the road and to keep IN employment
men who had just claims for cOnsidera-
ton.
These facts suggest the wisdom Of
fastening slowly in the matter Of rail
way regulation. Our Tennessee sys-
TEN is by no means complete, and we
have nothing to gain by acquiring the
unenviable reputation Of Wisconsin or
Minnesota for adverse legislation. Not
a dollar Of new capital can be obtained
TO invest in such property in those
States, and it viii take years to restore
TIE old confidence.
At present, Nashville Is looking for
ward with expectancy for two addition
al outlets to the North. The Cumber-
land and Ohio, which will give
US a line to Cincinnati by its con-
nection with the Cincinnati South
ern, Is already under full Roadway.
The Oweusboro and Russallvile
road, now bankrupt and soon to besold
at a sacrifice, must go into the hands
Of new men, whose interest it VIII be
/ to complete 1t. We understand that
| Nash nile parties are on the alert, and
vii, If possible, carry out the original
! design Of bringing 1t here. To attract
these and other projects in this direc.
ZION, our crying need Is more Southern
1 outlets, either by building new roads Of
doubling the tracks Of those we have
which would quadruple their capacity
Either plan calls Tor the investment u
| fresh capital IN Tennessee raj roads
/ which ANYTHING savOring Of hostile leg
islation would retard. Every road
reaching Nashville from the North
should have equal facilities with
any other IL forwarding it:
Ersigh5s further South, and rice rersa
/ Combinations either way, in favor o.
some and against others, should b
carefully guarded against. AT tn,
same time, differences IN the status
and so,vency Of different companies
cannot be ignored, so long as through
bills ofElading make ali the roads con
cerled a partnership firm, any one O.
which Is held responsible by the courts
and commercial usage for the negh
geuce Of any other. Under such cir
cumstances, legislation can hardly Q.
50 far as to compel a solvent road t.
enter into partnership with bankrupt
one. On the other hand, as abov,
shown, any railroad seeking L.
from the South or North
must have some guarantee tha
whom 1t reaches Nashville, It can for
ward freights on the same terms as AM
rival, ana lot be Disseminated agains
by any combination Of older roads. L
seems to Us that the interests of al
could be best served by a general pro
vision that all shippers and iOrwarders
individual or corporate, shall be treat
ed on the same terms, when they occu
py the same footing and proifeT til,
same guarantees against loss. tn,
/ Justice or injustice Of each case thai
might arise could be more safely deter
mined on its own mer is by the courts
than by any Legislative attempt to de-
fine in advance what would be just and
hat unjust.