NP, NUA 2/3/1861

From the Nashville Union and American
 
February 3, 1861
 
River News
Reported by H. H. Harrison, Steamboat, and Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Agent
  
A Word to Shippers and Boats
   The Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Company are now cropped: every place they have available around their Depot is literally crowded and jammed; they have had to cast about and rent warehouses in the city for the reception of their freights consigned to them. This last experiment has cost them not only extra exertions but put them to extraordinary expenses, which their low rates will by no means justify, in consequence of which, they have to resort to notification through their agents, and the prints, that on the 31st day of January they will receive no more at their Depot. This must remain so for a week or more. Boats that have received and are now in transit, before such notification, the toad will protect and receive from. After this they will require boats to pay half storage and drayage before they will receive. At first blush this may seem arbitrary and unjust, but it is not so, when we consider all the circumstances surrounding. The road doing all her rolling stock will admit of, as well as otherwise, providing for the unforeseen contingency. We would say then to boats, if such terms will not remunerate them under the present low rates to boat and road, why they had better cease receiving and tie up, but should they conclude to continue, the road will receive on the terms specified, yet each party, in justice to consignor, should notify the shippers in their bills of lading, that such freights must be subject to city storage, and leave in regular turn, without extra expense to consignors As it is, it is certain, unless a mutual concession is made between boats and roads to share these extra charges, the carrying trade in this line must cease for the present; as it would take the entire portion of the roads' freights to meet their extraordinary expenses. True, it might be obviated by a mutual advance of shippers. This, under the present want of bread and meat, would be hard upon the consumers. We speak understandingly upon this subject, and all parties may rely upon it, therefore, without leaving it to road, boat, shipper, or consignee, we advise some mutual arrangement.

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