Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-20
SHORTENING THE RATES.
OUTLOOK FOR A RAILROAD
PASSENGER WAR.

The Central and East Tennessee, Nir-
Rinia and Georgia COmpetition-Ehec'
of the Josup short Line-A Feeling OF
Uncertainty in Railroad Circles-Fear-
ing the RaiIroad Commission,
What may be termed a very active COM
petition in passenger traffic is now being
maintained between the Central Railroad
and the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia system. Within the past year
passenger rates have undergone won
derful reduction. Formerly the price oil
round trip ticket from Atlanta to savannah
was SIG 80 and from Macon Sll 30. Now
round-trip tickets from the above points
TO Savannah are sold for So and "a respec'
lively. This reduction OF about 20 per
cent. has been brought about after several
cuts. The Central claims that the other
side is the aggressOr, and that 1t is only
meeting lie reductions of its rival and
never has cut below its rates. The East
Tennessee. Virginia and Georgia officials
declare that they are not making war,
but have lowered local rates simply to
stimulate local travel. Their explanation
is that at this season Northern travel is
very dun. and that as the trains must be
run anyhow 1t pays better to carry
number of passengers at low ngure than
not to carry them at all. They also
naivelv say that they have found that
these low rates by increasing travel have
increased commercial business.
Local passenger rates throughout the
State are evidently demoralized, and the
feeling OF uncertainty is affecting all the
systems in Georgia, and is extending TO
points In adjacent States, as, for instance,
Charleston and Jacksonville. A railroad
man said yesterday that he would not be
surprised to hear of war being declared
at any moment. The matter is, however,
quiet for the rest Of this month. MAJ.
Fink has announced that the "popnlar
rates viii remain rs they now are until
June 1. The CentraFs policy being to
meet the opposition, it VIII not be the
first 10 interfere with existing figures.
The Presidents OF the lines affected and
Mai. Fink are said TO be in correspond
ence about the trouble, and the probability
is that a passenger rate war VIII be
aYerted. The receiver of the East Ten
nessee. virginia and Georgia has one or
more points to score, however, before he
Will give up. one of these is said to be
entrance into the Union depots at Macon
and Atlanta, from which the last named
read is shut out.
Being in the hands of a receiver, the
road Will suffer the least in war, for
dividends are not to be paid anyhow.
The line is being put in better condl-
tlon, the old iron rails being replaced
with new steel rails, and the roadbed and
rolling stock are also being improved.
Reports concerning a cut in freight rates
are conflicting. The best information,
however, is that they remain unchanged.
When the road passed into Mr.. Fink's
hands il went out of the pool, and he is
now independent. If SO disposed he can
cut rates below the figure fixed by the
pool, and can make things very lively for
his competitors.
Some fear is expressed that if a halt is
not called soon in the reduction of pas
senger rates that the Railroad Commits
sion viii come in and fix rates lower than
they now are. The employees are also
watching the course things are going.
Stocks are dun, and the effect of the low
ering Of fare has had a tendency to still
further depress speculation.