The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-14
RAILROADS IN GEORGIA.
A Plea for the Security Holders as
Against the Railroad Commission,


Against the Railroad Commission.
Thomasville, Ca, Oct. 13.-Editor
Morning News: On July 20, 1885, Capt.
w. G. Raoul then president of the Central
railroad, addressed an open letter to the
Hon. f. H. Colley, then chairman of the
railroad committee in the Georgia senate.
In the present deplorable condition of
the Central it might be interesting if not
profitable, for those concerned in the
welfare of Georgia to read that letter. l
ask you to publish few extracts. Among
other things Capt Raoul said this:
a careful analysis of the stock lists of sew
eral leading roads in Georgia. whose capital
stock is a feature in the monetary affairs of
the state, to wit: The Central Southwestern,
Georgia and Atlanta and West Point, devel-
ops the following facts:
Aggregate capital stock. 10 OBS 600
Owned in Georgia. ...... ........,.. IL 49,, 500
Amount held by persons who own
over 900 shares. ............ ..... 1888 600
Amount held by persons who own
less than 900 and over 500 shares 1,9l6800
Amount held by persons who own
less than 800 and over 100 shares. 1881 800
less than 100 and over 80 shares 2,8lS5Oo
less than 50 shares .,,.......,... 1929 200
charitable institutions. -. 1856 600
dents of Georgia ................. us
Of Georgia .,...................... 1926
I give the above information that you
and the public may have some data upon
which to form your own opinions as TO
the probable motives that these condi-
tions and circums tances would likely
prompt l give it that the public may re
alize the defenseless condition of a great
number of people in our own state, in
whose behalf ! am appealing, yet only
for those principles carried upon thesfair
escutcheon of Georgia, Wisdom, Justice,
and Moderation" and against whose
property Maj. Wallace is waging a relent-
less warfare in the commission chamber,
in the public prints and before the legis-
lature. | say Maj. Wallace, because he
has led in all these oppressive measures,
often without the knowledge or advice of
his associates, and to such an extent that
a formal resolution l am told was passed
by the railroad commission some months
ago, restraining him from promulgating
any more of these oppressive edicts, with
out the formal consideration and action
of the board.
Mai. Wallace has become committed to
a theory of low rates. He is endeavoring
to sustain his theory.
Under the specious plea of protecting
the people, he is seeking the applause Of
those who are using the railroads, while
he must know that the price he is paying
for that applause, is the sacrifice of over
IS, OO0, coo OF property belonging to WON en-
and children of Georgia, who are defense
less against the spoliation. This was
prophecy in 1885; it is history in 1898.
Women and children all over Georgia are
to-day crying for the bread which has
been taken from their mouths in the ruin
of this once splendid Inheritance Let
the reader look about him and see if he
can't locate some such in his own town or
city.
Let him look, too, at the rates in force
on the Central when the commissioners
were appointed and now. Here they are:
RATES CHARGED BY THE CENTRAL RAILROAD
rnNp NV PED 100 pnI-Nnc