The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-22
TO Observation-Disclosures
SaVallah'S Business Men EnthuSi-
aStiC Over the Project.

the ana ETOY1u-
ing for Expenses-Cspt. Purse Ex-
plains the Workings of the New
Orleans, Kansas City and Other
Freight Bureaus-A General Feeling
That Savannah Needs One.
Savannah's business men are enthusi-
astic over the idea of establishing a
freight bureau. as was evidenced by the
meeting held at the city exchange at noon
yesterday for the purpose of discussing
that subject.
The matter is now in the hands of a com
mittee which viii report to an adjourned
meeting of the business and commercial
men of Savannah. The meeting was
large and enthusiastic one, and showed
that there is a deep interest in the matter
in Savannah. A good number of Savan-
nAh's best known business men were pres
ent and they listened intently TO the ex-
PLANTATION of the workings of the freight
bureaus Of New Orleans, Kansas City,
Louisville and Cincinnati, as given by
Capt. ID. q. Purse.
MAYOR NJ DONoUGH CHAIRMAN.
President w. G. Cannot the cotton ex-
change opened the meeting by nominating
vote electing him was unanimous. Mr..
f. E. Rebarer was elected secretary
Chairman McDOnOugh stated that the
meeting was called for the purpose of,cOn-
sldering the advisabilitY of establishing
freight bureau, to present facts and tig
ures in connection with it, and to see
what could be done in that direction. He
said Capt. d. G. Purse president of the
board of trade, had some facts and fig
ures to present to the meeting.
Capt. Purse said at the outset that the
number of papers before him did not Sig
nifty that he was going to occupy as much
time as the junior senator from Georgia
had done on a recent occasion. He read
an invitation which he had from the
Georgia railroad commission to appear be
fore it in the matter Of some discrimina-
tons which had been charged against the
Central railroad in favor of other points
as against Savannah. The invitation is
as follows:
Atlanta. Ca, Sept. 30 1s94-Mr. D. G.
Purse, President Board Of Tr ade, Savannah,
Ga Dear Sr-I am directed to notify you
that your complaint against the Central Rail
road Company will be considered by the
board on the 25th inst, at 10 0 clock a. N.
Yours truly, A. c. BEIsCOE Secretary.
DETERMINATIONS AGAINST SAVANNAH.
Capt. Purse went on to state what had
been done and what protests have. been
made with regard 10 the Determinations
that exist against Savannah. He said
the work practically began in a Joint
meeting between Savannah and Charles
ton about year ago, but at present the
question of cotton differentials alone, he
said, was not being considered.
Finding that these determinations e&-
listed he said he had correspondent with
the heads of the freight bureaus in New
Orleans, Kansas City, Louisville and
Cincinnati, and had been informed what
hat1 1fgl,a I,Tr ~,
way of the removal of determinations
which existed against those cities He
called particular attention to the CORE
spondence with Mr.. A. J. Vallandingham,
showing the cost of maintaining the Kan
sas City freight bureau and the basis on
which it was organized. This was given
as information with regard to the manner
of organizing and the cost of such
bureau. The substance of this correspon-
dence has already been published in the
MORNING News.
The Kansas City bureau is supported
by the commercial organizations of that
city and the executive committee consists
of members of these organizations.
WHAT IT COSTS IN CINCINNATI.
Capt Purse then read letter from F.
b. Wilson, commissioner of the Cincin-
natl freight bureau. The expenses were
divided between the trade organi cations
and a number of patriotic citizens who
were interested in it. The cost of main
tanning the Kansas City bureau Is about
$4,000 per annum.
MIR Wilson stated in his letter that ex-
cessive freight rates were not the only
thing that had operated to the disad-
vantage of Cincinnati but that bad man
agement and improper handling of
freights had been almost as great an evil,
and in many instances had to be cor
rected.
Capt. Purse gathered from the reports
of the Cincinnati bureau that It's expenses
were about $1,000 annually. Among its
other purposes was the giving of advice
TO merchants with regard TO rates and
claims which were to be collected. The
information from the Louisville bureau
was also read. The most important work
1t said, that was done in the bureau re-
lated to rates of freight from competing
points and maintaining them on a Just and
equitable basis.
Capt. Purse next took up the New Or
leans bureau. Circulars explaining this
bureau and its purposes had already been
distributed by Capt. Purse, and they
have been extensively read by many of
the merchants The cost of maintaining
this bureau is about $4,000 per annum.
REASONS FOR ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
Capt. Purse said he had given the
status of the bureaus with which he had
communicated. He said they had grown
IN Importance to their cities each year.
The question was whether Savannah
needed freight bureau. There was no
question, he said, that determinations
existed against Savannah, and that was
the best reason for the establishment of
such bureau. The worst discrimina-
tons, he said, came from the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway, in such a
shape that the railroad commission could
not touch them. 1t was matter for the
interstate commerce commission. He re-
ferred to the transportation of phosphates
and fertilizers into Savannah's territory
from Charleston at the same rate given
10 Savannah. The same is true Of Nor
folk coming into Charlestous territory.
He spoke of other rates discriminating
against Savannah, but, being interstate
matters. the Georgia commission, he said
could not touch them.
TAKES SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS
Capt. Purse read number of compar-
alive rates from Savannah and Norfolk
showing determinations against the for
mer port. 1t takes the most expert scien-
lists, Capt Purse said, to figure out and
interpret rate tariffs, as they were now
50 intricate and complicated. For that
reason Savannah wanted, he said, a man
OF the highest intellect and most complete
knowledge of railroad matters to take
charge Of this bureau He brought in the