Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-06
SPECIAL EXCURSION RATES TO
THE MASONIC FAIR.
Action of the Savannah. Florida
N Western Railway.

1t will be seen by the following commu-
nication from Col. H. s. Haines, General
Manager of the Savannah, Florida and West
ern Railway, that with the usual liberality
which has ever characterized the manage
ment, they purpose to accede to the request
made by the Masonic Committee on Excur-
sion rates, and will endeavor to arrange a low
rate for the benefit of parties living along
the line Of the road who desire to visit sa-
yannah and attend the Masonic BsSar and
Fair. The letter explains fully the position
of the company;
SAVANNA, FLORIDA AND WESTERN RY. Co..
SAVANNAH, GA, April 2, 1881.
MeSsrs. j. II. Esias, q. A.. Wel, d. G.. Purse,
Committee, Savannah, Ga:
GENTLEMEN-Yours of the 25th ulto, was
duly received in relation to especial Excur-
sion rates to the Masonic Bazaar and Fair"
Since the establishment of the uniform
passage tariff by the State Com mission 1t is
doubtful Whistler railroad companies can or
ought to consent to depart from 1t for fairs,
conventions or classes of persons.
1t is contessedly an experiment of tie
Commission to prove that under
this tariff the public will have
h1ofS auQ the rOa0S
more revenue than under the tariffs
before In use. The old tariffs were based on
four and five cent rates, but those rates were
not much more than a basis. There were so
many mileage and Communication tickets,
and clergymen's tickets, special rates for
excursions to watering places and parades,
conventions and fairs, that it was very
natural for the State Commissioners to be-
lieve that, with the same amount of travel
at an uniform three sent .atS, the railroads
would not lose much, and there could be no
complaint of discrimination.
In many cases these reductions were made
more to please people than with the expec-
tation OF profit. Under this stats of things
| am called on to reply to your letter, and
my answer to you must govern my answer
to a number of similar communications now
awaiting reply.
Ought we to comply with your request or
not? If we do, it will be a departure from
the uniform three cent tariff, not only in
your case, but whenever people want an
excursion, or a fair, or a convention, and
then what becomes of the experiment of
the Commission? 1t will prove nothing
unless 1t has a fair trial, and If the roads con-
tinue to give special rates under the three
cent tariff lust as they did under the four
and five cent tariffs, why not experiment
the same way with o two cent tariff
lou eau sec luaG Important maGGeTS Q6-
pend upon my reply. l have felt 1t my duty
to lay the matter before the President and
Board of Directors. While they admit the
force OF the argument l have advanced in
this letter, they are very reluctant to depart
from our old policy Of giving the people
along our line pretty much what they ask
for where pleasure or amusement Is con-
cerned, without much regard to the profit
to be derived from it. And again, If they
4-- FafH1z n ~ rrry OVrk a. 4~oAo{1a31-- -
experiment, they fear that their course may
be miscopstrued. Already, the company is
charged in the newspapers with the inteD-
ton Of "making the Commission odious,n
because it put their uniform tariff uniform
ly in effect, and if the uniformity is applied
to fairs, conyentione and excursions, its in
tentions may be yet more unfaForably eriti-
eised.
The board has therefore determined tenn
porarily to continue special accommodation
on such occasions. How long this policy
will be continued will depend upon its effect
upon public opinion. If it be considered as
sufficient ground for still further reduction
In the general passage tariff, it cannot last.
If it should be the means of persuading the
public that within certain limits . railroad
management is competent to meet the re-
qulrementso OF the people for railroad trans
portation, fairly and reasonably, it will be
continued, at lesst, Vntil the Legislature
at its approaching session shall have had
the opportunity to pronounce upon 1t.
Our General Passenger Agent will be in
structed o-confer with your committee in
relation to the special accommodations re-
CURED OF US, and to arrange for them in ac-
cordance with the policy of the conpan as
above expressed.
Pardon the length Of this letter. l regret
so much explanation should be necessary as
much as l do the causes which call for it.
very respectfully, 4. 9. HAINEs,
General Manager.