Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-11-01
RAILROAD, BUILDING.
How 1t Is Affected By Commissioners.
Nashville American.

IlOh III 1S AnOCOCu ny OOAAAAAAo9AViASAos
Nashville American.
s'I notice that you are still build
ingsyour road the Indiana, Alabama
& Texas, from GAINESVILLE northwest
Notwithstanding the severe tinan-
cial depression through. which the
country is passing" said an Ameri-
can reporter to Maj. E. G. Gordon
last night.
eyes, we have completed linear
ly to the Tennessee end Kentucky
State line, and have a number OF
miles additional graded in Ken
lucky ready for the surface struct-
ure, and expect to complete the
road to Princeton, KY, about the
first of February next-a distance OF
81 miles from GAINESVILLE. OF this
distance, about 45 miles will pass
through Kentucky" }gf9
"When do you propose to extend
south from GAINESVILLE ?"
AnsWer-'That is somewhat in
definite. It is impossible to build
railroads without money. 1t takes
a great deal of il, and we are largely
dependent upon Eastern and Euro.
pean capital to build up these great
highways OF commerce-these de-
velopers OF the country's resources,
and | state to you what / know to
be fact, that capitalists who would
otherwise gladly invest large
amounts in this state in the con-
struction.of railroads, and in -devel-
oping and fostering our vast min
eral, agricultural and timber inter-
ests, are held back by the existence
OF a Railroad Commission, which
means that when an investor puts
his means In railroads constructed
in this State then and theresh he
ceases to control his own property.
II means that the virtual power OF
confiseation and wreck and ruin to
private interests, to the amount OF
many aggregated millions, shall be
lodged in the hands of these citI-
zens Of the State, whose edict is law,
however irresponsible, inefficient or
designing such Officers might be.
You think I speak earnestly on
this subject. Well, that is true, /
speak earnestly because ] realize
the fearful mistake the people Of
Tennessee are making on this SUBJ
ject. For years my best endeavors
have been expended in efforts to
develop our Southern country and
to bring our resources to the atten-
ton of Eastern capital. If l have
succeeded, even to a limited extent,
it has not been without unceasing
effort. / may be also allowed to
say that /, to some extent, have had
the ear of capitalists, and either
directly or indirectly have induced
the investment of large amounts of
money in railroad construction In
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and
Mississippi within the last, five
years; but now when I go to a cap
italist and propose for him to put
money in a railroad in Tennessee,
the reply is, I'VE don't want to put
money into state where they pro-
pose to control by a board of their
citizens our property and dictate
how it shall be managed and limit
its earnings" .Tg. ..t $50. "A
"Do you find capitalists more dis.
posed to invest in kentucky than
in Tennessee ?"
Undoubtedly 1t was only this
very day that had communica-
ton from a man of means, who has
had extensive experience in railroad
stating that one of the
most encouraging features of our
Railroad enterprise was
that most of. the distance between
and Princeton was in
the people of which State
having wisely concluded that the
Railroad Commission was detri-
mental to the public welfare and
nave practically dispensed with it,"
"But why is it that SO many
niles of railroad have been built in |
Georgia since the establishment of
he. Railroad Commission in that
State ?"
"Well, am glad you ask that
question. 1t gives me an opportu-
lily to state the true cause, which |
has been not at all understood. The |
,nly roads OF any consequence
which have been built in Georgia |
or many years are first, the Geor-
Z Cincinnati, running from Macon
via Atlanta to Rome, and built by
he East Tennessee, Virginia &
Georgia. This line was absolutely
to the success of the. East
tennessee system to enable them TO
each the Atlantic, other connecting
ines leading to the seabOard being
Ontrolled by rival lines. The road
rom Macon to Brunswick on the
Atlantic was purchased from the
state; the purchase was coupled
With an obligation imposed by
nactment of the Legislature re-
uirlng the company to build from
1acOn and to Atlanta and so great
vas the necessity of the East Ten
essee to get an outlet to the sea-
oard that they bought the Macon
Z Brunswick. and built the interven-
ng gap between Rome and Macon,
Ot as an independent road, but as
ecessary outlet to big line already
uilt. Secondly, the Georgia Pacific
vas built virtually by the Rich
1ond d Danville system as an out
IT westward for the 1000 miles of
Dad eastward belonging to that
ystem. Neither of these would or
Ould have been built as independ-
Mt lines, with the Railroad Com
lission threatening virtual corlfis-
alton by an absolute control of /,
ates. AS a further proof of the
of my position, you
annot point out a hundred miles of
bad built In the State since the
reatiOn of the commission except
lch as have been necessary extern
ons OF long lines already estab-
shed. / feel very sure that very
w, If any, additional roads will be {
instructed in Tennessee until a
lajority of people consent to allow
of railroads TO control
leir own property by abolishing ,
ia Railroad Commission ~