The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-18

IL you have not made some sort of honest
settlement with the present lessees. A cor
poration that will probably he one of the
most worthy and able competitors for the
new lease is largely interested IL this settle
ment. 1t is represented here oy an inteili-
gent and able attorney, who is vice president
of the company. He has seen this whole
struggle. 1t is his du'y 10 give honest ad-
vice TO the company he represents. know
not what that advice will be. | have no
lntmation from him on the subject, but
do not see how he can advise hi, company
to deal further with the state on the line of
continuing the relations Of lessor and lessee,
when the state has shown palpable dis
regard of the rights of the company 10
represents.
But this is not all Suppose the Louis
vile and Nashville and the Richmond ami
Danville, with the companies represented
by the Louisville and Nashville and Of tho
Central and East Tennessee systems, now
controlled by the Terminal company, should
determine to make no bid for the lease OF
tie Western and Atlantic railroad, and
suppose they should unite in sending everv-
thing which they send from the west 70 the
south over the East Tennessee line from
Chattanooga to Atlanta, and everything
they send from the south to the west il
ike manner over the East Tennessee line.
What company could afford in that case to
pay the $500 a month as the minimum
rental for the Western and Atlantic rail
road, or what company could afford t. pay
$4,000 a month for It, The road would
then be only short link between the cities
of Chattanooga and Atlanta, with strong
competitors on either side OF it throwing
the business Off the road before it over
reached its terminals by sending it over the
competing line. | apDreheud no judicious
combination of capitalists would assume
any such liability as $4,000 per month or
the half Of that as rental for the road under
such cirt.,. instances
L know nothing of the purposes of these
corporations, but | know they are repre-
sented by shrewd and able men who watch
their interests, and if they see that the state
OF Georgia deals unjustly and unfairly in
her settlement with her les eas, they may not
be fascinated with her practices and they
may conclude that it is easier to ii yht her
by bringing their compettion to bear than
II Is TO pay her an exorbltant sum for tine
use OF her road. There are already several
competitors, and this legislature has granted
Charter for another, one Of the most
formidable OF the whole lot, tho Marietta
and North Georgia rail, Dad. which is to run
very soon between Atlanta and Knoxville,
Tenn.
Gentlemen, beg you to think before you
act. This question of the leass of the
Western and Atlantic railroad was one of
the most important submitted to your
decision by the people of Georgia. You
have already consumed part of the time of
the session in November upon the question
OF the lease OF the road, and you have now
consumed large part Of the 100 days or
more OF the extra session of 1889 If, when
you have consumed, as you will, quite an
additional number of days, you bring forth
bill under which the road cannot be
leased except at decided disadvantage, |
fear the people Of Georgia will not hold
public meetings and return you their
thanks for your ability and your states
manship.
Suppose it were the purpose of the pres
emit Western and Atlantic Railroad Com
pany TO take little revenge for the in
justice which they may feel that they have
received at your hands. 1t is in their
power to do the state In a single winter
more harm in legitimate manner than it
would cost the state to pay our claim for
betterments l do not say that they will do
it. lt is not their purpose to make any
threats on any subject connected with this
business, and they prefer to suffer an
injustice rather than be guilty Of an
injustice.
Business is prosperous this winter The
chances are that it will be fer another year
| probably so to high degree. Whenever
| that is true, it becomes necessary for rail
| road company wanting fifty engines or
| 1000 cars to give the order from six TO
| twelve months ahead, or the shops cannot
| furnish them. Now suppose you pass an
act under which you lease the road to some
| other company; but that lease does not
| take place until some time in next year, or
iJ is in a shape where the legislature whom
| it meets next November year is to finally
pass upon it or approve it. What then is tue
resulta The heavy winters business is upon
the new lessees. They cannot buy engiues
and cars to do that business in time to pre-
vent its loss to the company. II we should
as the present lessees return to the state
every car and every engine we received
from her in as good condition as when we
received them, or other cars in exactly the
same condition and character there would
then be less than half enough to do the
winters business on the Western and At
lantic railroad. What would be the result?
The new lesseeS would be put TO q great dis
advantage OF competing with two or three
other lines with which it would have to deal,
and it would find itself so crippled for want
Of rolling stock that most of the busine s
Of the line would be turned over to the East
Tennessee. or some other one of the COM
petitors.
II may be said that the state or the new
lessees could buy the other half of our roll
ing stock, on which the state has no claim.
Suppose we should concl Ide to sell it TO
somebody else and not to the new lc sees,
and they could not get other rolling ct 1ck
sufficient to do the business. The result
would be substantial loss of the first win
ter's through business over the Western
and Atlantic railroad in its fight with its
new competitors. What would follow?
When business is once turned off the West
ern and Atlantic, and it becomes accus-
toned to the other lines, it will take
struggle of years to get it back, aud with
the great competition you will not be able TO
do it to anything like its present extent.
The result would be a depreciation OF al
most one-half IN the value Of your road.
The Pc ple of Georgia are therefore
deeply Interested in making an honest and
fair settlement with the present lessees,
that thev may have their influence with all
the other competing corporations to aid in
getting the best bid in their power for the
ne lease Of the road.
The opposite course settles the conviction
among railroad companies that the state Of
Georgia will not deal honestly with its
lessees, and the result will necessarily be no
lease at all, or a lease at price greatly less
than the road might bring under other and
more favorable circumstances. In other
words, if the state observes the rule that
honesty is the best policy and makes fair
aud Just settlement with the present
Iessees, it will greatly elevate her character.
and she will much more than get back the
amount paid US in the increased rental
which viii be paid for the road for the
next twenty years by the new company,