Evening star., 1896-09-11
Effect Of the Injunction on the Con.
testing Lines.
IT MAY BE FAR REACHING G
Judge Speer's Action is GENERALLY
Approved.
THE THERN ROAD

There have been no new developments in
the war between the Southern and Sea-
board Air Line railway companies since
tie publication in yesterdays Star Of the
report Of the Injunction issued by Judge
Speer of the United States court for one Of
the Georgia districts.
While the immediate Jurisdiction of Judge
Speer extends oaly over the southern part
of the state Of Georgia, the orders issued
ty him will. 1t is believed by railroad men,
be obeyed throughout the entire system of
both Companies irvolved.
Up to late hour today Vice President
Baldwin Of the Southern, who was seen
by Star reporter in this city, had received
no information on the subject beyond a
brief telegraph dispatch, stating what Judge
Speer had done, but he expected he said to
get further news relating to the matter
during the day
The Eject.
The action taken by Judge Speer may
have far-reaching effect on the rate war
between the competing roads in the south.
The injunction will bring about special
meeting OF the Southern States Freight AS
sociatton. This step Is in line with that
taken after the PRONUNCIATION Of the inJunc-
ton OF Judge Simonton of South Carolina,
VINO dlssolved his injunction for want Of
probably be issued to all the roads COM
prising the organization tomorrow The
railroad officials are not prepared to say
What the enect OF the injunction will be
untll the order Is received and the terri
tory to which 1t applies is defined The
slgnincance OF the mandate depends of
course. largely on the Jurisdiction of Judge
Speer..
Both the principal contestants operate
lines within that Jurisdiction, but 1t is
thought the order will affect the Southern
10 greater extent than the Seaboard
Vice President Baldwin of the Southern re-
ce1Ved brief telegraphic announcement
OF the Injunction. and yesterday afternoon
talked the matter over informally with
Vice President Andrews They said the in
Junction would be obeyed, and that no
steps would be taken by the Southern pend
ing the hearing Of the injunction.
Generally Approved.
Railroad and business men in this city
who have been interviewed on the subject
OF the latest Injunction are inclined to the
Opinion that the action of Judge Speer is
entirely proper under all the circumstances,
ana as necessary to prevent decentralization
OF railway and steamship rates, together
with the destruction Of many business in
terests throughout the country.
Since the present rate war began financial
men and others who have the welfare of
the masses a heart have given the affairs
OF the two principal companies at war
much thought, and there has been a pretty
,horoush examination of reports of both
Ines as to their income, etc, and the con-
ciusion has been reached that it is not for
the best interests of either line that the
fight EoW on hand should continma .ny
longer
A gentleman who is not identified with
either company, but who is in a position
Where he can keep himself thoroughly in
tcrned on these matters, says The Seaboard
AR Line has made no report of its opera
tlcns as system since 1891.
Inc balance sheet of the various rail-
ways composing the ;stem show, how
JuLe 30, 1891, there was a profit of s:l2l :
4s6; in 1892. profit of s44,3G5; in 1888, a
less OF $S37, ,493 in 1894, a loss of more
than s61b,oo0, and in 1885, loss of over
$1S9,OoO; the total in the years named be-
ing more than 81 100000.
These figures are thought to demonstrate
that during the last three or four years
there has been a steady falling off in the
receipts Of the company and the Question
| is frequently asked, what do the Seaboard
people mean by cutting rates and thus re-
ducing their revenues, when at the full
| tarlr rates 1t has, according to it's official
reports, been unable to earn as much as is
necessary to meet expenses and fixed
charges.
The Southern Railroad.
The Southern Railway Company makes
no secret of the fact that a reduction of
| rates means great loss of revenue to It,
IL Is yet III ltS INFANCY, Delng but about
| two years old, but by wise management
President Spencer, aided by the liberal
expenditure of money the part Of its
| stockholders. principal Of whom is Mr.. j.
Pierpont Morgan, has succeeded in making
1t one of the finest systems in the United
States. 1t Is, however, laboring under an
enormous debt, most Of which is carried at
per cent interest, and this cannot be
earned, 1t is said by those who are In q
position to know, If the rate war, now tenn
porarfly brought to a close by Judge
Speers injunction, Is resumed.
Vice President Baldwin of the Southern
railway said this afternoon that the action
| of the road in reference to the injunction
issued by Judge Speer of the southern
district Of Georgia is now in the hands of
the legal department of the company His
opinion Is that the roads may continue to
carry at the reduced rates up to the lines
Of the district presided over by Judge
Speer.
The Southern States Freight Association
today filed with the interstate commerce
commission its new schedule to go into
effect September IA, reducing its rate on
first-class freight from New York to At
lanta from 81 IA to Il cents. Atlanta is the
central point, but other points also come
under the reduction. The rate from Proyi-
dence and Boston to Atlanta is reduced to
| 80 cents, and from Philadelphia to Il cents.
The Seaboard Air Line also filed its sched-
ule of rates, to go into effect September
| Il, reducing the prices from New York to
Atlanta via the Old Dominion line of
steamers from 81 IA to Il cents on all points
reached by the Seaboard.