The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-20
TO CHECK THEIR POWER.
A New Southern Organization Against
the Railroads.

A Movement to Organize an Associa-
ton for the Protection Of Commercial
and Business Interests Against the
Power Exercised by the Railroads
South of the Ohio River-Savannah
Asked to Cooperate With Other Cities.
There is a movement on foot to organize
in the south an association for the pro-
lection of the commercial and business
interests against the power exercised by
the united railroads south of the Ohio
river in the Southern Railway and Steam
ship Association.
The transportation committee of the
Louisville board of trade, it seems,
has been giving the matter serious
thought. The object is to organize
southern transportation association for
the protection of southern commercial in
terests, just as the National TranspOr-
tation Association is organized for that
purpose in the north. The following let
ter from Mr.. John J. Telford, secretary Of
the transportation committee of the Louis
vile board of trade to President d. G..
Purse of the Savannah Board of Trade
will explain what it is proposed to do;
Louisville, Ky, Nov. Y, 1894. Dear
Sir: After several years consideration
adjustment of what we shall call in This
letter the Southern Transportation As
ISOLATION is necessary for the protection
of all shippers in the south
You are aware that from a transpor-
tation point of view, the country north
of the Ohio river, and that portion of it
south of the Ohio and east of the Mis-
sissippi might as well be different coun-
tries. The lines north have their various
railroads and traffic associations; and the
lines south have theirs separate and dis
tinct on the other hand shippers north
of the river, have, for their mutual bene-
fit and protection, their National Trans
portation Association, composed of a
representative from each board of trade
a member thereof.
I'VE south of the river have no protec-
ton at all other than what we are able
to obtain in an adequate sort of way
through our freight bureau boards of
trade, and chambers of commerce, each
working by itself as best it knows how
and often pulling opposite ways.
Since the establishment of the South
ern Railway and Steamship Association
the railroads have lost to very great eX-
tent their individuality and on very many
important matters they receive and obey
instructions from the Southern Railway
and Steamship Association without ques-
ton; and shippers making complaint in re-
gard thereto are respectfully referred to
the association for redress. Those of US
who have been in that position know the
sort of redress we have been in the habit
of getting.
1T is not necessary here to enumerate
the hundred and one most important ques-
lions of general public interest in the
south, that are standing monuments Of
injustice and irritation to shippers
Concerted action on the part various
boards of trade and chambers of commerce
fg he, sNr,1xr
handling these matters satisfactorily and
this committee wishes to know from your
chamber whether or not it would be will
ing to join such an organization laid down
upon the lines of the National Transpor-
tatiOn Association embracing only South
ern territory south of the Ohio and east
of the Mississippi river. In a few words
it is intended that the Southern Trans
portation Association shall be organized
to take action in the interest of the COM
mercial public upon questions which exist
now or may hereafter arise between public
and common carriers. The expense would
be comparatively light In fact we he
lieve, practically nothing compared to the
| benefits that would be derived from such
an association.
please place this communication before
your board and advise the result. Yours
very truly, John J. Telford.
Secretary Trans. Com.
n. a
As Capt. Purse was preparing yesterday
to leave for New Orleans to represent
Savannah at the sessions of the south
and west trade congress which begin there
tomorrow he did not reply to the com
munication as fully as he win do later
He stated, however, that the Savannah
| Board of Trade would gladly cooperate
with Louisville in any effort of this kind
and that he would be glad to see such an
association organized as early as possible
This seems to be an extension of the
freight bureau idea to the entire southern
section south of the Ohio river A sim
liar communication 1t seems have been
addressed to the various commercial
bodies throughout the south and from
the indications seen every few DAYS of the
manner in which the strong organization
of the railroads is looked upon there is
little doubt that they viii be ready to
act IN harmony In effecting such an or
ganzation for their own benefit