Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-04
KING WADLEY.
The New Hallway Monopoly In GeOr.
gia.

The New Hallway Monopoly In GeOr.
gia.
Atlanta Constitution, Feb. 2.
1t is well for the business men of upper
Georgia to clearly understand who in
spired, who is the master spirit of, the
combination that will be apt to paralyze
the cotton trade Of this section unless we
can avoid its terms. The nan is none
other than Col. Wadley, who is pOpu-
larly brown as the railroad king Of
Georgia. The combination is more Stric Is
the offspring of the necessities Of his road.
Col. Wadley's sagacious railroad brain
early took in its peculiar wants. He
knows that its route from Savannah to
New York is destitute Of way stations,
and that the land part passes through a
country which contains very few cOnsid-
cradle towns. Its chief dependence
must, therefore, necessarily be upon
through business. To earn dividends,
that business must be highly remunera-
tive. The Central really cannot afford
to carry through freishts at ordinary rates.
Realizing all this, as he fully does, Col.
Wadley has lOTg sought the formation Of a
combination to control freights, and he has
at length grasped victory, if he can make
his compact stand the bullets Of actual trial.
If he succeeds in doing this, he will have
accomplished more than the Eastern rail-
road managers have succeeded in doing.
Perhaps we should say his Eastern imita-
tors, for Col. Wadley tried to organize 4
similar combination many months ago.
What remedy is left US? So far as At
lanta, Dalton and Rome are concerned, the
combination can be partially check
mated. 1t has put the rate on cotton to
New York at Sl.1O, but the rates to the
Gulf ports are not included in the alli-
auCe, and are carrying the heeCy product
at about sixty cents. If the cotton that is
handled by these three mentioned COM
petitive points should seek an outlet in
that way, the allied roads would not wax
fat in carrying North Georgia cotton even
at their own arbitrary rates. It would per
haps be prudent in them to raise the en-
barge that depriTes us Of the director routes
10 the sea before commercial ties are form
cd in the gulf cities that cannot be easily
dissolved.
As to s%outhbound freights, there is still a
ray Of hope left-the Virginia and Ten
nessee Airline, which refuses to pool its
business of this nature. 1t claims the light
TO carry ali it can get, not only to Dalton,
but to all other southern points. The
State road lies between Atlanta and
General MahOne's line, but We do not be-
iieve it will attempt to COerce th5 latter
road into an arrangement that strikes at
the pockets Of almost every consumer in
Ge0rria. Nor do we understand that it
has the power to compel the submits
sion Of General MahOne's road. The
Virginia and Tennessee Airline may
not carry at rates less than those of the
allied roads, but if it gets q large share of
the southbOund business, Colonel Wadley
and his associates will soon realize the folly
of their combination. And were 1t not for
its connecting link with Atlanta, we be-
lieve the Atlantic coast line would stand
out against the scheme that emanaled from
the pressing wants ~ofrOutes that are nearly
barren Of local traffic.
It is claimed that the meeting on SatUr-
dav riveted our claims, aud that the COM
bination can now dictate its oWn terms.
We shall see. The Western railway
managers thought their compact was
also inYiucible; but the present week
witnesses the %jOlliest railroad war that
the Western people have ever known.
It NAV be that Col. Wadley can hold his
associates up TO the work, while he reaps
a harvest that his road would otherwise
miss, but We do not believe he can. How
ever, We will wait for the result. We trust
our merchants appreciate the situation and
will unilediy act as the emergency de-
mands.