The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-05
A TONNAGE POOL IN DIXIE.
RIVAL LINES TRYING To AGREE ON
4 DIVISION OF FREIGHT.

Representatives of some of the
Roads SkepticaI Of the Success of
the scheme, But All Appear TO BE
Willing to Give II TriaI-Wait-
ing on a Supreme Court Decision.
New York, May 4.-The Mail and Ex-
press this evening says: THE lines in the
Southern States Freight Association. af-
ter eight months labor, have virtually
completed pool OF tonnage to southern
competitive points from this territory, and
although all the details Of the agreement
are as yet incomplete its prime movers
nope that before many weeks it will be in
IuH operation. The acton OF the Joint
Traffic Association in drafting an agree
ment for the regulation and maintenance
Of rates, and the fact that IT has been
a marvellous success since its inaugura-
ton last January, have been
watched and noted by the general rail-
road interests of the country, hut nowhere
mas II been so 1ealously regarded as among
the more conservative lines in the southern
territory. The Southwestern traffic pool
Just organized among the Texas lines was
q result Of the eastern agreement, and,
While the lines N the Southern States
Freight Association have tried TO emulate
their northern and southwestern colleag
ues, the conditions prevailing IN the
southern territory have made progress
rather difficult.
"A committee of traffic managers of the
the purpose Of agreeing on a basis of OPP
erations, and while their labors have not
been wholly productive Of the desired re-
suits they have reached an agreement
that only requires general ratification. A
number Of meetings have been held by
this committee Statistics have been tabu-
lated, showing the business carried from
TINS territory and general basis of di-
vision of the tonnage decided upon. In
furtherance of the agreement, the general
eastern agents of the interested lines have
been called into garVinh and "A a meeting
to be held in this city next Wednesday,
these officials will endeavOr to complete
the details in the shape OF recommends
THE agreement, as far as completed,
appOrtions the business among the inter-
ested lines. The Seaboard Air Line, which
has heretofore declined to cooperate on
rates, VIII, il is said, participate in the di-
visions, and the various steamer and rail
lines VIII receive a share of the tonnage on
the basis that they have heretofore car
ried. 1t is understood that this special
agreement will be looked after by Com
missioner Haines of the Southern States
Freight Association, and an office viii be
located in this city 10 insure the proper full
hllment Of the same.
The southern lines have often expert
mented with agreements. Many compacts
have been entered into and speedily
broken and some of the interested officials
are very skeptcal as to the successful
operation of the new contract. The fact
that the legality of the joint traffic agree
ment is now being examined by the Unit
ed States courts has been a cause of the
slow progress of the proposed measure,
and some Of the lines have gone so far
as to insist that nothing can be done
until that agreement was legally passed
upon.
We maintain said a prominent vice
president to-day, that a pool Of tonnage
is legal. What we would like to have is a
pool of earnings, but the law stops us
We have reached a stage in the new meas
ure where we are ready to finally pass
upon it. Certain representatives do not
believe we will succeed with the measure,
but we will trV' -