The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-22
DIVIDING The COTTON.
The Traffic Men Did Not Agree on All
the Competing Points.

Matters Of Difference to Be Referred
to the Board of Arbitration-The
Divisions Made on a Percentage
Basis, but Just How It is Done, is
an Association Secret-The Savan-
nah Lines Expect to Bring All the
Cotton Possible to This Port.
Traffic Manager w. F. Shellman of the
Central railroad, TRAFFIC Manager C. d.
Owens of the Plant system and Division
Freight Agent F. b. Papy Of the Savan-
nah, florida and Western railroad re-
turned yesterday from Atlanta. where
they went to attend a meeting of the
traffic men of all the southern lines called
for the purpose Of taking some steps to-
ward apportioning among the lines that
portion of the cotton crop received at the
junction or competing points. The meet
ing was in session about three days.
The agreements reached, it is under
stood, were not altogether satisfactory to
all those interested, and with regard to
some of the points there was no agree
ment at all. The cotton is apportioned at
these points on a percentage basis, but
just how much each line gets, or how the
thing is managed after a line gets it's full
share and then wants to take more, is
one of the secrets of the Southern Rail-
way and Steamship Association, which
never slips out and never reaches the
newspapers.
TWENTY-FIVE COMPETING POINTS.
There are about twenty-five competing
points in Georgia, and satisfactory agree
ments were reach ed with regard to the
appOrtionment of cotton from all these, 1t
is understood, but two, Atlanta and Co
lumbus. The cotton received at these
points, however, is comparatively small
in amount.
The question of main interest in this
section is as to how this apportionment of
cotton is liable to affect Savannah's re-
ceipts, as it would seem that after the
lines running into Savannah have received
their full share, the cotton would be car
rled in another direction, although Sa-
vannah might be entitled to the receipts.
ON A BASIS OF FORMER YEARS.
1t is understood, however, that the ap-
pOrtionment is made largely with regard
to what the various lines have carried in
previous years. This apportionment, too,
affects only a comparatively small por-
tion of the crop, as most of the cotton is
shipped direct from some interior point
not competing point to the port. If the
lines running to one port get their full
share of cotton from the competing points
the other lines are, as a general thing, al
lowed to catch up by the operations of
the cotton differential and the shipper is
not put to any disadvantage.
With regard to those competing points
upon which the traffic men could not
agree the board of arbitration of the as
sociation will be asked TO act and decide
what is proper apportionment. A num-
Der of other matters came up at the meet
ing also, which will be referred to the
board of arbitration.
TO BRING COTTON HERE.
Representatives of both the Savannah,
Florida and Western and Central rail
roads say they are going to do their best
to bring a good portion of the crop into
Savannah this year. They are entitled
TO good share OF that from the
competing points through which they
pass, in addition to which they gather
a great deal of the staple from
non-competing points along their lines.
The receipts are now piling up every day,
and the Central is hauling into Savannah
daily average of about $500 bales. This
is pretty good showing for the begin
ming of the season, and there is no telling
what it may be bringing when cotton be-
gins to come with a rush