The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-14
RAIL AND ORossTIR.

An interesting story and one generally
believed, says the Atlanta Journal, is
afioat concerning the recent action of the
executive committee of the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association in
reference to the Seaboard Air Line.
AS will be remembered the Seaboard
was charged by Commissioner Stahlman,
of the Southern Railway and Steamship
Association, with violating an agreement
with the association, and 1t is under
stood that boycott was threatened.
The Seaboard was not a member of the
association, but had agreed to abide by
it's rules, rates and regulations. 1t was
therefore virtually a member.
Commissioner Stahlman charged the
Seaboard with procuring more of the cot
ton movement than it's allotted share,
and called upon the officers of the rail-
road to explain their action.
A committee of three was appointed
from the executive committee of the as
ISOLATION and it had a conference with
Maj. Winder of the Seaboard at Balti-
more.
AS Mr.. Sam Spencer, a member of the
committee, remarked afterward, he was
able to get no satisfaction out Of the Sea-
board. The inference was that the Sea-
board held a pretty stiff and independent
lip in the matter, and gave the committee
to understand that it was not so anxious,
after all, to be a member of the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association.
The report of this committee was given
to the late meeting of the executive COM
mittee in Atlanta last week, and there
the Seaboard question was taken up
again.
The result of whatever discussion took
place was the announcement by Com
missioner Stahlman that the Seaboard
would not be boycotted.
There was something back of this,
however that has not yet been made
public. From good authority it is learned
that the Seaboard people said that they
did not care to be member of the
association as long as Commissioner
Stahlman was at the head of it. They
had nothing against the association, per
sc. but did have against Commissioner
Stahlman.
The Seaboard announced that since cot
ton seemed to be the bone of conten-
ton, they would be willing to remain in
the association if a cotton commission
err with Independent jurisdiction, were
appointed. The Seaboard position, it is
said, was regarded as so strong, that
the proposition of appointing this cot
ton commissioner was seriously consid-
cred. The outcome may be the an
nouncement of the appointment of such
a commissioner. According to this story,
which is told by too good authority to
be doubted, the Seaboard seem to have
come out considerably ahead in the quar-
rel.
The Arcadia, Gulf Coast and Lakeland
railroads interests passed under the ham
mer by order of the court at Braidentown,
Fla, this week. 1t was bought by James
King of Rome, Ga, for 500, 800 but the pur-
chaser has to pay prior claims to the
amount of 1923, 900. besides. George B. Nor
ton of Boston, who has been in charge Of
the project from the first came down to
be present at the sale. What will be done
with it now is hard to tell, but sensible
people are not apt to throw away $4,000
Just for the fur of the thing. On Monday
of last week the Plant party, including
Mr. Flagler. went to the Manatee coun-
try, ostensibly to look after the Plant in
terests down that way, but knowing people
shake their heads and say there is some
thing in the wind. 1t is limited that COM
bine is to be made and a road built from
Lake Worth via Fort Myers, Punta Gorda
and the Arcadia, Gulf Coast and Lakeland
railroad to Tampa, thus circumventing the
scheme of the F. c. & p railroad to reach
the phosphate fields and an outlet at deep
water.