The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-16
FREIGHT MEN TO MEET HERE.
THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION COM
ING To SAVANNAH.

"
The Next Rate Meeting VIII BE Held
Here in February-An Important
Gathering OF Traffic Men-The Talk
About the Southern Railroads Max
ing a Barrier Against Western
Trade RidicuIed The Trouble
With western Roads.
The next rate meeting OF the Southern
FREIGHT Association VIII be held in Sa-
vannah the second Tuesday In February
General Freight Agent F. B. Papy Of the
Plant system. returned yesterday from
Richmond. where he attended the meet
ing Of the association 2Ir. Papy made
a special effort 10 secure the next meet
ing for Savannah. in which he was sue
cessful. He was backed up by a tele-
gram from Mayor Myers urging that the
meeting be held here.
The late meeting of the Southern States
Passenger Association was held IN Sa-
vannah last week. The passenger agents
have held their meetings in Savannah on
several occasions. The freight agents are
e much more important crowd, however,
SO far as business is concerned, including
the traffic managers and general freight
agents Of the Southern Freight Associa-
ZION. There are twenty-five railroads IN
the association all OF which VIII De rep
resented al the meeting.
The association has never held meet
ing in savannah said Ny. Papy 70 a
Morning News reporter at the De SOTO
last night, and on that account was
especially anxious 10 get IL here. IL IS OF
importance to Savannah that the men VINO
direct the traffic Of the southern rall-
roads should be we'll acquainted with her
facilities for handling business. My idea
in bringing them here was TO make tneIn
acquainted with the opportunities ana al
vantages which Savannah possesses Tor
export trade and our facilities for hand
ling business of every character. me
meeting cannot fail TO be OF advantage 10
Watson & Powers have rendered
the banquet room Of the De soto
Tor the meeting OF the freight men
Mt Papy was asked ab9 out tne ~
other western cities that the southern
railroads have built up freight wall
against the western trade which makes
the Ohio river an almost lmpassaDle
barrier TO the west. This statement was
made by members Of the Chicago South
ern States Association on the occasion
of its recent visit TO Savannah, was re-
peated by speakers al the recent meet
ing Of the association held in Chicago,
and has been published and discussed
in the newspapers there and elsewhere
Mr. Papy was asked what foundation
exists for this charge.
such talk is all claptrap." said Mr.
:
trade with the south in competition with
New York There is no peculiar cOndi-
ton Of freight rates which creates a
barrier at the Ohio river on the part OF
the southern railroads. The facts are
simply these. The southern railroads
prorate whatever rates are made from
the Ohio river south, while the western
railroads affiX the arbitrary rates north
of the Ohio river. II there is any reduc-
ton in rates il will have TO be on the
part Of the western roads. The rates
prevailing over the southern railroads
from Ohio river points are already very
low, averaging about one-half cent per
ton, mile. If anything, the rate is a lit
lie less than one-half cent per ton
mile. We would rather not handle the
business at an than TO take Il at a lower
rate. The high rate between Chicago
and the south, il any such exists, is
caused by the western roads adding their
local rates to the rate made by the south
ern railroads.
The western people win have to begin
their fight for lower rates at home, Mr..
Papy said, as the southern railroads
cannot afford to make any lower rates
than those existing at present.