The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-06
THE KNIFE TO THE Hit
The War Between the Southern and Sea-
board Will Be to a Flnlsh.
SOUTHERN is NOT AFTER THE N. & W
II Is Announced Tint tho Southern
People Arc Not Now, Nor Have
They Ever Been Trying TO Pur-
chase the Norfolk nnd Western,
As II Is Not Needed.
Baltimore News.]

Baltimore News.5
ihe southern Railway Company has
accepted the gage of battle thrown
down bv the Seaboard Air Line and an
nounces that beginning Tomorrow II
VIII lower its freight tariff to meet the
reductions made by the latter. II will
Also Gu, passenger rates 90 per cent. but
rs the necessary three days notice of
such intention was only filed with the
Interstate Commerce Commission to-
fore Monday
The Atlantic Coast Line has also
loineu the fight and on and after to-
morrow will accept freight to Scaboard
competitive points at 33 1-3 per cent un-
ner tne OLD rates. Notice of reduced
freight rates OH the Southern was filed
with the Interstate Commerce Com
missioner yesterday. The rates which
mis- company will quote on and after
Tomorrow will be the same as those an
nouhced pV the Seaboard Air Line but
Will only apply from Baltimore to Attn
ems. South Athens and Atlanta, GA. and
Carlisle. Clinton. Eberton and Green
| wood. S. c.
The schedule was prepared by the
Southern States Freight Associate ion
| ana was arranged in such an ambiguous
manner that the Interstate Commerce
Commission does not know whether the
maximum rates apply to intermediate
points or not
Auditor Smith of the Commission.
nAs- therefore. written To the Southern
Ior information concerning this import
ont fact. This inquiry was fastened NV
telegram from Richmond (VaD Cham
her OF Commerce. which desired to know
IL the Southern had ignored the fourth
cause OF the act regulating the filing
| of notices OF reductions, which relates
to long and short hauls, or intermediate
points. 1t is believed that the South
ern's reduced rates are applicable ONLY
| to points In the Southern States Freight
Association which are touched by the
Sea aboard Air Line.
President Spencer. of the Southern
railway Company, commenting on the
situation. is quoted as saying: while
the Southern States Freight Association
does not consider the Seaboard Air Line
a dangerous antagonist, yet we feel we
must do something in order to compete
with it. On Wednesday the Scaboard
Air Line. in accordance with the law
lied n notification of reduction in the
freight rate between Atlanta and Bal
| umore. which affects the present rate
| from 80 to 80 per cent. Immediately on
| learning of this we placed on file n
similar notification of reduction, which
VIII go into effect on Saturday."
30 far as known no definite steps
toward compromise have heen taken.
nv appoiHliHent OF an afDltr0ttOn COM
mittee was suggested. but this was
abandoned when the Seaboard Air Line
announced that it had nothing to com
promise. and that it would not listen to
any overtures which did not include the
withdrawal of the Southern's steamboat
line plying between Baltimore and Nor
| folk and the withdrawal on the part Of
the Southern of its objection to the Sea-
board Air Line arranging with the
PennsVlVania for through passenger
service from Atlanta to New York The
Seaboard people claim that the objec-
| ton of the Southern has prevented the
contamination of this arrangement
settlement of the differences is an
parentlv as far off as ever and the jndi-
cations are that the fight will continue
until one or the other of the companies
cries enough" or the security holders
ask the courts To intervene. There has
eeen considerable talk OF action on the
mart of the owners of the properties
who view with alarm the tremendous
loss of revenue the companies must sus-
thin as result of the war.
Nice-PreSident and General Manager
ST. John. of the Seaboard Air Line. ar
| rived from Portsmouth last night and
Spent TODAY in consultation with Pres
ident HOFFMAN. Mr.. St John said that
ms company would take no further ac-
ton until the reduction made Nv the
Southern became effective. While he
would not say positively that his COM
panV contemplated making additional
cuts. he intimatcd that bottom had MOI
been reached. and that there would he
merry time before the trouble was
settled.