The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-09
TOOK UP THE TOURIST RATES.
COMMISSIONER PURSE TALKED
WITH NORTHERN LINES.

Found Them All Ready to Grant Sa-
vannah's Request Except the Penn
syIvania Railroads.&c. Was Invited
to Appear Before the Trunk Line
Association COmmittee-Mercha
and Miners Steamers to Be Bonded.
Col. Lester Working on the Gov
ernment Building Appropriation.
Commissioner d. G. Purse returned last
night from Philadelphia, Washington and
New York city, where he has been for
the last ten days, in the interests of Sa-
vannah, from a transportation stand
point.
When he arrived he found awaiting him
a telegram from Commissioner Farmer
Of the Trunk Line Association, inviting
him to go before the passenger commit
tee of that association tomorrow at $50
o'clock, to make a statement with regard
TO the question of tourist rates for Sa-
vannah.
Capt. Purse has been working on the
matter Of tourist rates for the last three
or four days, but such an invitation was
more than he expected, as this associa-
ton rarely hears anyone on matters such
as this which are to come before it.
Capt. Purse has assurances, neverthe-
be taken up by the Trunk Line Associa-
ton and fully considered. He fully eX-
pected to leave for New York again to-
day, and would have done so had his
train arrived on time. Owing to wreck
on the Atlantic Coast Line, however, in
which car load OF oranges was over
turned and scattered far and wide, the
train was delayed about five hours on it's
arrival at Charleston. The regular train
for this reason, did not wait for 1t and
he did not get here until o'clock last
night.
Capt. Purse discussed the matter at
length with Commissioner l.. p. Farmer
of that association, General Passenger
Agent Scull of the Baltimore and Ohio,
General Passenger Agent J. r. Woods OF
the Pennsylvania railroad and also with
representatives of the Lehigh Valley ana
Philadelphia and Reading railroads. He
found every one of them in favor of grant
ing the tourist rate asked for with the
exception of the Pennsylvania railroad,
by the officials of which, ne was Informed
that they were opposed to all tourist
rates, and excursion rates in any form.
Mr. Wood informed him, however, that
he had no particular objection to giving
Savannah tourist rate and would be
glad to do so, but for the fact that other
cities, such as Augusta, Columbia, VIII
mington and others, would all fall in line
and make the same demands.
The Baltimore and Ohio Reading and
Lehigh Valley people were all in hearty
accord with the movement, and told him
they would do anything in their power
to secure the rate desired Commissioner
in the matter tomorrow. He thinks that
the rate will be secured in time, If not
very soon as the matter is being pushed
with all the roads interested for all it is
worth.
Commissioner Purse went to Washing
ton particularly to go before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission with refer
ence to rates on fish, which were in
creased from S96 to to $500 per car
load from Tampa to Savannah. Before
he went before the commission with the
matter, however, he received a telegram
from General Freight Agent F. d. Papy
of the Plant system stating that the old
rate had been restored. This action on
the part of the railroads made it IN
necessary for him to take the matter be-
fore the commission, though he had pre-
pared his brief and read il to the MEM
bers of that body.
The commission, he says. will hold
session in Savannah in January In case
he should ask for it. He stated certain
facts to ii with regard to freight dis
examinations against the city, which they
stated they were ready 10 take up al any
time on due notification. Capt. Purse says
these matters VIII be brought to the at
tenticn OF the railroads at once, and If
the determinations are not removed the
commission viii be asked to hold ses-
sion in Savannah at that time.
When in Baltimore he met Traffic Mana
ger Whitney of the Merchants and Min
crs' TRANSPORTATION line who Informed
the steamers of that company bonded
so that goods could be imported from
aDIOau ana DROUGHT 10 savannah directly
before II viii be necessary TO pay the
duty. This action. he says, viii be taken
by the company very shortly.
Capt Purse saw Congressman Lester
when he was in Washington, and he says
Col Lester IS now IN position to take
up the matter Of the Savannah public
building and ask for the extra appropria-
ton necessary to put it IL marble al any
time. This, he says, is due to the fact
that the additional appropriation has been
recommended by Secretary Carlisle, and
il is not thought it VIII be necessary to
await the passage Of the general appro-
priation bill
MATILDA DIDN'T TALK.