Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-27
IN THE RAILWAY WORLD.
ANOTHER LIVELY RATE WAR
NEAR AT HAND.

The Georgia Trzfic Association Cutting
from Knoxville 20 Competitive Points
With the Il. r., V. & Ga.-The Outlook
for an Interesting Fight Complete
Generalization of Rates Predicted.
The recent heavy cut made in passen-
ger rates out Of Knoxville by the Western
and Atlantic railroad and associated
lines, to all competitive points OF the
East Tennessee, Virginia aud Georgia
railroad, il Is stated in Atlanta, is making
things lively from Knoxville 10 the Geor-
gia and Florida sea coast, and threatens
to be more interesting within the next
few days.
Some weeks ago the Georgia Traffic
Association, which consists Of the
Western and Atlantic railroad
and the Central system, opened
ticket office in Knoxville. Soon after
the doors VI the Office were opened 1t
was announced that the object was to
hghS the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia system at every poiut and in
every direction where cut rates would
have any effect In controlling business.
The first cut made was on business to
Western points. For instance, "a passen-
ger would be ticketed from knoXW le
over the East Tennessee road u Chatta-
noOga and then sent by way OF the Louis
Vile and Nashville to the Vest or, if for
some point in southern Texas, by way OF
Chattanooga. Atlanta, and over the West
Point railroad to New Orleans by the con-
nectiOns of that line. This character OF
travel the East Tennessee system claims
it did not fight to control, relying on get
ting its share on the ground 81 being what
IL calls the short line TO MANY of the
points. tue business of which was sought
TO be controlled by rate cutting.
A few days since the Knoxville agent
and bis assistants were instructed by the
Georgia Traffic Association to make an
other cut, this time into Georgia. The
following rates were then hung out in
front OF the office:
Knoxville to Atlanta .........,.......s3 50
Knoxville to Observation-Disclosures so
Knoxville TO SaVannah ........,......... 30
knoxville to Brunswick ......-.......... 90
The published rates showed that the cut
to some of the points was fully one-third,
while TO others twO-thirds. For instance
tue regular fare from Knoxville to Bruins
wick, $l5, was cut to 50.
Upon all tickets sold by the Knoxville
agent TO points in Georgia The East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia road is said
to get its local rate of SO 80 from Knox
vile to Chattanooga, and the lines over
which the ticket Is sold divides up what is
left. In this way the Western and At
lantlc's portion Of ticket sold from
knoxville TO Atlanta for So % is 25c.; on
ticket to Macon the Western and At
lantic and the Genital railroads. il is said,
get soc. to divide between them, and on
ticket to Savannah 81 to satisfy the West
ern and Atlantic and the Central. In
Atlanta circles it is pretty generally
believed that the East Tennessee, Vir-
gInla and Georgia railroad will meet the
cut If, after making an investigation, the
officers OF that line discover that they are
lOOsing business.
From what IL regards a safe source of
information the Constitution learns that
the Western and Atlantic will make the
rates still lower If the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia meets the cut al
ready made. From all sources of infOr-
nation that were probed there came an
expression of belief that in a few days
passenger business will be completely de-
moralized by a disastrous rate war, which
will involve all Of the leading lines in this
section.