The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-21
oraanlzatI0n AaaIns. railroad MonopoIy Necessary.

(From the Atlanta Journal.J
The consolidation all the railroads OF this country into
few organizations which dominated by small number
spirits perhaps the dangerous of all de-
velopments Of aggregated wealth
1t affects interests than any other combination of
capital and putocrac in that aims at and has al
ready large extent, accomplished the control of the
transportation facilities privileges and in the whole
country.
The has long passed when individual resistance
could avail against the aggresson and exactons of the rail
roads.
As they have beer welded together in gigantic conbina
tons it has become absolutely necessary commercial and
industrial interests and whole communities combine
tor self-protecton
The people of Nashville giving to some other cities an
object lesson in the wisdom of concerted to defend
their common rights and interests.
That city ha3 been long the power OF railroads which
were combined as monopoly to bottle up" that was
greatly reoiced the prospect OF competition which the con-
Sructon of an independent line held But soon as
this line began operations became evident that the combined
railroads had determined do their utmost to crush it.
Two days after the first train Of the Tennessee Central
railroad the new line entered Nashville tb old I th
Louisville and Nashville Chattanooga Nashville and
St Louis railroads announced that they would not do bust
with the Tennessee Central the terms accorded 10 the
other roads connecting with them.
This proclamation OF fixed purpose prevent railroad
competition and keep Nashville bottled up aroused the bust
ness interests OF that city and they began to take
steps for sclproteoton great mass meeting which met
IN pursuance Of call issued by Mayor Head declared its
ue,eronaon 10 devise II possible means prevent the
public injury thus threatened and protect the public rights
thus assaled.' ''s
committee Of prominent citizens headed h., Mo,,or
Head was appointed investigate the subject and take sc
steps they thought best the prevention Of ns ara
es determinations against railroad which the peoDle
OF Nashville had agreed to invest for the purpose
OF securing the competition freight rates for the lack NJ
winch they suffering severely This committee b
ISSUED an address to the people of Tennessee in which thew
MAKE very strong case against the railroad monopoly thev
arc opposing They have organized vigorous carp.; ~
t OF what they consider the rights of their COM
Y lhey VIII appeal to the railroad commission Of Ten
nessee and the protect not only the interests
Nashville in the Tennessee Central railroad but the rieb
OF the public IN all similar matters" e
charges, facte+
N"ses growth IN population business has bccn co
ey nampered by the railroad conditions with which sb.
mas had to contend for many years past and that he %
nope OF real prosperity and substantial growth lies in e,
Ion he railroad monopoly that Expresses her II IL
au mat IN the item OF coal alone the new railroad viii; s
Nashville more than 100000 a year The conn,i,.. saw
tnat 'he railroad monopoys overchargcs on coal aio d
"hat would have been fair freight charges ~ 'e
mere was general surprise over the revelao, :, A. .
less rat M LAST census mat Nashville had grown at much
from 1890 TO 1900. The committee attrbr,r
ne railroad monopoly that held the CITY in is % 'et 10
senS an Impressive table which shows th,. II pre-
IN per cet IN population in the decade referred US
NHoNNle IS per cent. Montgomery 40 per cr1t I TO-
IT nashville population increased barely pcr ct
Mo'rer strong showing is that which sets tor,b he @
ParstVey very slow growth Of railroad m conf
a production IN agriculture and other industries - o gen
"HGIe railroad monopoly has had stronger boiL
most other parts OF the South 's'i Ho'a than in
Railroad development and the increase :; .ho ,
1890 t:Y VI ~. khaS has been very much more ,ar,I o
ana the southern States generalv thai =; aINed IN
during the past twenty five years man IN tennessee
h b romollons mat Nashville is now facing arc t t,
y e' transportation committee in wav that ' iorth
81 provoeaton Of this uprising OF the bushes. the
common conse o. msshvle certainly have reason to male
upon them hard '"'Poy mat bears down
nesse centra AGREES Sh;o mr. ee Baxter president of tn. r
ref of railroad competition put the ne much
present lines Of n; sqnarely the issue of whether th
power so ana raise positively the question E @
under its nuenee s ovdfrsnadowng that the courts are 5
aher control legislation ~ ney are at last beyond
In the light of the railroad a..
development and situation in many other cities
Gted to any merely local applica question can not be
II relates to of the ere,ts. ~
the problems before the people Of this V eoun e very greatest