The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-06

where it was greatly needed. and various
other improvements, aggregating, as the
ommissionireports, say three-quarters OF a
million of dollars. Now, will any reason
able man say that the state has the right to
take all this benefit of expenditure of our
money in the Improvement of its property
and appropriate it without paying US any
compensation whatever! Is it just, is it rea-
sonable, is it honest between man and mans
We claim that we are entitled to reasona-
BILE compensation for our expenditures and
Improvement of the states property greatly
beyond what was agreed to in the contract,
and we are willing TO arrive at the amount
by submitting the question to any just trl-
bunal that the state may designate. We
think the proposition we have made is fair
and just one, as to the manner of selecting
proper tribunal. But. if that is not sat
isfactory, we ask the representatives of the
state to suggest falrer mode; or, If they
are unwilling to leave the question to arbi-
tration, then we will consent to take the re-
port made by the commission appointed by
the state, where we had no voice in the APP
pointment. and no representative on
the commission; where they simply
represented the state and not the West
ern and Atlantic Railroad Company, aud
we Will settle by their report.
The principal objection | have heard
urged against the payment by the state for
betterments, is the fact that the leSsees have
made money out of the lease This they ex
pected to do when they took it, and had
there not been a reasonable prospect of
making money out of it. it would have
been unreasonable to suppose that men of
the business ability and character of the
lessees would have had anything to do with
the lease of the road, or would have given
bond in eight millions of dollars for the
faithful discharge of its duties by the COM
pany. There has probably never been in
the United States combination of better
business men or of more railroad experience
in charge OF any line than the lessees who
took charge under the lease of the Western
and Atlantic. There were a number of
railroad presidents among the lessees.
Thomas A. Scott, the most distinguished
railroad man in America, was Que; Hon.
John P. King, SO long and favorably known
to the people of Georgia, was another.
Also, belonging to the same class,
were Gen. William S. Holt, of
Macon. president of the Southwest
ern Railroad Company; Andrew j.
White, president of the Macon and West
ern RAILROAD Company; Edmund w. Cole,
president of the Nashville and Chattanooga
Railroad Company; II. B. Plant, president
of the Southern Express Company, and of
the Coast Line route; Thomas Allen, presi
dent of the st. Louis and Iron Mountain
d.
president of the Adams Express Company,
and H. l. Kimball, president of the Bruins
wick and Albany Railroad Company. In
addition to this | may add others who were
largely interested in railroads as directors.
Such men as William B. johnson, William
T. Walters, John T. Grant and several 9TH
ers. In fact, there was not man connected
with the lease who was not an OK
perienced and able business man. | had
FL, oir in,
agement of the W estern and Atlantic rail-
road. and the Jesse es did me the honor to
elect me president of the company. l have
given a good portion of my time to the
management of the road during eighteen
years of the best part of my life Now, /
respectfully submit that such a combipa-
ton of business capacity and ability as was
pos 'essed by the lessees of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad Company is seldom
found. and that no one could reaso nably
ask that such a combination of business
talent take charge of a railroad in the c1u-
dition in which we found the Western and
Atlantic and manage it for the state Of
Georgia for twenty years without the pros
pect of making handsome profits.
Such a combination of practical business
ability can command large salaries. or large
profits, in any enterprise that they will
agree to engage in, in any part of the coun-
try.
The question is not what the company has
made by able management and watchful
care, but has it, in honest, good faith, car
rid out its contract with the state, kept the
road in as good condition as when it re-
ceived 1T, aud paid into the treasury of the
state promptly, in accordance with its
agreement, the rental of s25, 900 month?
The records will show that this has been
done promptly and faithfully, and, as al
ready stated that the cofnDsuY has paid
into the treasury s., $50 900 in cash az rental
for the use OF the rosd. This is larger
sum than it would cost to build and equip
shorter, and a well-ocated road, between
Atlanta and c lattanooga, as will be seen
by reference to the report of the commits
sion appointed by the governor.
JOSEPH E. Brown. President.