The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-28
THEY WANT A LOWER RATE.
THE MILITARY WEEK COMMITTEE
AND THE RAILROADS.

The Committee Thinks a Rate of 1
Cent n Mile j. Necessary 10 Make
the Celebration Success-A Re-
port viii Be Made Just a. soon a.
the Railroad People Are Heard
FrOm-Subseription 20 the stock
Already Amount To $500, and
Many Others Are Promised.
Savannah's military week and rifle con
tests viii depend largely on what the rail-
roads will do i'm the matter OF rates for
transportation. The rates which have
been granted by the rate committee 81 the
Southern States Passenger Association are
not looked upon as entirely satisfactory,
and those who are interested in the ceie-
bration are seeking TO get a rate Of one
cent per mile within the territory Of the
association.
The gentlemen interested in the forma-
tion Of the Military Interstate Association
OF Savannah held a meeting in the long
room OF the city exchange yesterday az
ternoon for the purpose of discussing the
situation as regards railroad rates. Among
those present were: Messrs. a. AicC. Dun
can. Jos W. Jackson, J. p. Williams. y.
f. Jackson 5. +. Theus. Chas. L. Graham
- . AkltiAiIUAafls IL As W lAH0Ais T. " mas
=. a. StovaI, John r. Young, J. G. Shaw,
J. NJ. Dixon. W. J. Watson. B. II. Levy. S.
Krouskoff. b. J. Apple. J. N Solomons,
A. Fax J. G. Nelson, Maj. Edward Ka-
row. Capt. w. W. Williamson. Col. VIM.
Garrard Capt. W. s. Rockwell, Lieut. w.
J.. Blois Capt J. ID. Johnston, Capt. J. c.
Postell, Maj. A. r. Lawton. Jr., Col. J. II.
EstiIl and Col. W. w Gordon. chairman,
who presided at the meeting.
Col Garrard. chairman Of the steering
committee, read the report from the rail-
roads with regard to rates, which came in
the shape Of a letter from Mr.. J. G. Halle,
general passenger agent of the Central
railroad. The letter stated that from
Athens, Columbia. Wilmington and inter-
mediate points, the association had al
trip which Is rate OF IL cents mile.
From all other points rate of one-fare
plus s. was allowed and for military COM
panies, rife teams and bands in parties
of ten or more, on solid ticket, a rate
of one cent per mile, Travelled, the latter
tickets TO be sold from May TO II and
limited returning to May Is. The other
tickets were 10 be sold from May 30
"A and limited returning to May IS.
There was some question raised as to
whether the tickets would be good on any
train, II being the impression that such
tickets had on former occasions been good
only on special trains. Mr.. Shaw stated,
however, that such would not be the
case, but according to the rules of the
passenger association such tickets when
sold would be good on any of the regular
passenger trains.
Col Gordon said the question to be de-
cideu was whether the affair could be
made a success with these rates. Unless
the rate was a satisfactory one, he said
the celebration might as well be given up.
The adVisability OF having the steering
committee see the railroad people and en-
deaVor TO get a rate Of one cent "a mile
was then considered.
The question then arose as to whether
there would be time enough to get anoth-
er report from the railroads and then 20
ahead with the organization of the assO-
citation. Some of those present thought
IL would be hard matter to secure a one
cent rate while others believed that such
rate would have TO be secured before
the matter could be gone into with a view
~ making II an entire success. Mr.. s. h.
Theus then made a motion that the mat
Ter be referred back TO the steering COM
mittee with a request that it get another
report from the railroads, securing, II pos
sible, one cent fare for the occasion.
the motion was discussed at some
length. 1t was believed that 1t would take
TOO long time as the matter will have
TO be referred to the commissioner of the
Southern States Passenger Association
Mr. VIM Bailey Thomas, and he will have
to confer with the representatives of all
the railroads in the association and get
granted.
Lieut.. BlOlS explained tndt II was an inn
portant matter that the military week eel
ebration should be given this year if it
was intended TO have 1t again another
year. because now the military has the
prestige. especially after the recent sue
cesses at Sea Girt. After Col. Gordon had
explained the manner in which il is ex-
peeted to organize the association, Col
Estill stated that he thought the price of
the stock should be made less than $10O
as $40 for instance, so that smaller sub
scriOers who might want to be members
OF the association could come in He stat
ed, however. that he did not understand
all the reasons why the other action had
been taken as his absence from the city
for so long a time had prevented his be-
ing present at the meetings. He said, how
ever that he personally would subscribe
his full share, his only idea being to give
those chance who were not able to sub
scribe more than $40. He agreed with 9TH
ers that the celebration could not be made
a success without satisfactory railroad
rate, and he thought il should be one cent
a mile.
Mr.. Theus motion, with several amend
ments, was carried. The steering COM
mittee is requested to confer again with
the railroads and see if a rate Of cent
a mile cannot be secured, and is requested
to report back to the meeting as soon
as possible. 1t is to be clearly understood.
also, that any rates granted are to be
good on all regular trains. and a meet
ing is 10 be called just as soon as the
railroad people can be heard from.
There has been subscribed about 800
already, and so far there has been no
canvass for stockholders. as the associa-
ton has not yet been Incorporated. Other
subscriptions have been promised, and
there Will be no trouble whatever in get
ting the $4,000 or $4,000 that has been cal
culated upon as necessary to carry out
the plans in view. The only other requi-
site for success is a railroad rate which
viii bring the people, and this the com
mittee hopes to secure.