Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-25
INSPECTING THE ROADS.
THE LEGISLATIVE SUB-COSTNfIT-
FEES AT WORK.


Thirteen Hundred Miles of Road Trav-
eled over and Inspected in Five Days
The Central and SavaU nah, Florida
and Western Terminal Facilities to be
Investigated To-day and Tomorrow
How the Committees Travel.
The legislative subcommittee from the
Senate and House, appointed at the last
session of the General Assembly to in
spect the workings Of the railroads in the
State pending legislation to modify the
RAILROAD commission laws, arrived in the
city yesterday morning from Jackson
vile. The legislative party is composed
of Senators F0lligant, Maddox ana john
ston. OF the Senate subcommittee, of
which Capt. Fslligant is chairman, and
Representatives Gustin, Gordon, Hawkes.,
Fason and Dart of the House. President
Raoul and Major Shellman Of the Central
Railroad, and general manager Haines
and Col. Z. ID. Owens of the Savannah,
Florida and Western, accompanied the
committee. The party is travelling on
special train oil two Pullman cars, one OF
which is a hotel car, and Col. Hanes' pri-
Vate car, from which the inspection Of the
country through which they run is made.
The PARTY started from Macon last Tues
day and has Travelled nearly 300 miles,
making a thorough Investigation or All
the roads over which it has gone. The
first trip was over the Southwestern Rail
road from Macon to Columbus. Al
Columbus the offices, yards, and all the
facilities OF the road were closely looked
into. From there the party went over the
10 ri IL
taHla Railroads TO Eufaula. and thence 10
Albany and Blakely over the Southwest
ern. Starting from Albany on Thursday
the Savannah. Florida and " esteru TO
ThOmasVIllo and Waycross was inspected.
From ThOmasvilie return trip to Al |
hauy was made over the brunswick and
Western, thence To Macon and
brunswick over the East Ten
nessee Virginia and Georgia |
and from Brunswick to Jacksonville and
Savannah over the Brunswick and West |
ern and Savannah, Florida and Western.
After five days continuous travelling and
labOri0us work the party upon its arrival
here Was thoroughly i9tigued. Senator
Johnston left Immediately TO spend sun
day at his home in Graham. Messrs.
Gustin, Eason aud Dart also LETT for their
homes. Senator Maddox and Represent
atiVes Hawkes. and Gordon were the only
members of the committee in the city
yesterday, Senator hi addOX being the
guest of Capt. Failigant. To-day and to-
morrow viii be spent IN inspecting the
terminal facilities OF the Central and Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western systems
here. Senator Johnston and Representa- !
tyes Eason ana Dart will arrive this
morning.
The whayes, yards, shops and Offices of
the Savannah, Florida and Western Will !
- xFlftal and tho xyor Efups of tho rad I
carefully investigated so far as the time
allotted will permit. Tomorrow the com |
mittee will give its attention to the Cen |
tral and on Wednesday morning will |
leave for Augusta, going thence TO /
Atlanta and vla the Western and Atlantic |
TO Chattanooga, thence via the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia TO Austell |
and Blrming ham, returning TO Atlanta on /
Sunday. Ga Monday the party will leave /
Atlanta for Tallulah Falls. The entire |
trip will cover upwards of 900 miles, |
and il was expected, would occupy about |
two weeks. lt Is made upon the invita- 1
ton OF the railroad officials representing |
the various roads.
Its object is TO put the committee in |
possession OF such information as viii
enable IL TO report understandingly to the |
Legislature. The railroads believe that
the present laws are oppressive. They
sible facility for obtaining information !
The Railroad Commission was also invited |
to accompany the committee but de-
clined.
The work OF the committees thus far, |
while it has been in some respects I'M
pleasant, owing to the heat and dust of |
travel, has been perfectly harm oni0us. 1t I
is impossible, OF course, to iOrestaH the |
report OF the committees, but from |
all that can be gathered it is likely that |
important changes in the law will be rec
commended. The members OF both the SEN
ale and House committees are tar-sighted
men. thoroughly alive to what is going
ou, and who are determined to investigate
fully the workings of the roads over
witch they travel.
The officers Of the various roads over
which the committees travel have thus
far accompanied the party and have given
such information in regard to the general
features of construction, the condition of
Eoad-beds, bridges, trestles, and the terri
tnry from which the road derives its traffic
as may be desired.