The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-05
ON RAIL AND CROSsTIA
Local aud General Gossip in Railway
Circlea

General Manager Belknap Of the Central
railroad left for Columbus last night, to be
absent a day or two.
The Rome and Decatur road is now open
for business from Rome to Decatur, dis
lance Of sixty-two miles.
The southern passenger rate COMPUTES
will meet tomorrow to fix the rates Tor
tourist travel to southern points.
| Road Master Marvin Of the Central rail-
road, who sent bridge gang up to Louis
vile two weeks ago to work on the trestle
of the Louisville and Wadly railroad, said
yesterday that the gang is making good
progress and the breaks will be repaired
within the next ten days.
1t is stated that Sol Haas has withdrawn
his resignation as traffic manager OF the
Richmond and Danville, which was ten
dered to go into effect Nov. l. 1t has beep
predicted that Mr. Haas would not leave
the Richmond and Danville. 1t is now
stated that the election of Col Talcott TO
the first vice presidency and the probable
| consummation of the East Tennessee deal
are the two principal causes for the with
| drawal OF his resignation.
The claim is made by an exchange that
locomotives increase rainfall There are
over 10000 locomotives in use in North
America, and it is estimated that from them
alone over $4,000, 100000 cubic yards Of
vapor are sent into the atmosphere every
week, TO be returned in the form OF rain.
Estimating the number of other nou-con-
densing engines ia use as eight times the
number OF locomotives the total vapor thus
projected into the air every week in this
country amounts to over 470, 00Q, 600, 900
cubic yards. IAN that goes up must come
down, and we know that the engines send
up vast quantity of water in the form of
vapor.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has
requested the general managers of all the
railroads in the country TO appoint some
specified time for the purpose of agreeing
upon uniform freight classification, the
object of such q move being to Pc
duce the number of classifications,
so as TO simplify the matter. At
present from six to eight different styles
OF classfications are in use by the various
railroads The large number employed
causes the matter TO become complicated.
The commerce commission has called the
attention of the railroad managers to this
fact several times, and has recommended a
change in the classification, but thus far
nothing has been done. 1t now looks rs
though the commission will compel the
railroads to make the change.
The railroad commission has Just prepared
its decision on the petition from the Griffin
pcNA "a "a oioNtOy dehtuS W VIC pliCctL OIl buS
same footing as Atlanta as regards rates
on bagging and ties. The principle in
volved is an important ard intricate one 1t
is rendered more difficult of fair interpreta-
ton and impartial ruling by the operation
of the long and short haul clause of the in
terstate commerce law. The official circu-
lar which was issued by the commissioners
yesterday is as follows The board of trade
Of Griffin vs. the Central Railroad and
RQnkinp ('Op1 IF HaNrnria ttThfc 10
application from the board of trade of
Griffin to be allowed the same rate on bag
ging and ties as Atlanta receives After
careful consideration of the application,
we find the following facts Between
Charleston, Savannah, Port Royal, Bruins
wick or New Orleans, to Atlanta, Albany,
Athens, Cedartown, CHATTANOOGA, Dalton,
and Montgomery or Selma, the rate on
bagging and ties is 20 cents per 100 pounds.
Between either of the first-named points
and Macon, or Milledgeville. the rates on
bagging and ties is Is cents for 100 pounds.
Between either of the first-named points
and Augusta the rate is IL cents The
commission cannot give such rates as the
railroad companies make under the act of
congress to regulate commerce.
are competitive, and many of them we
consider far from being 'just and reason
able The state law under which the COM
missioners act requires them to make rates
that are Just and reasonable II the
commissioners should not recognize Savan-
nah and Brunswick as points which should
be placed on an equality with competing
points outside the state, then the state of
Georgia would be deprived of the natural
advantages of the harbors at said points.
The state, in her legislative capacity, GER
tainly did not intend to cripple her com
merce, thereby placing her railroads and
her citizens under such disadvantages in the
matter of local traffic. This petition is
therefore deniedn