The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-15
THE CITY MAY FIX RATES.
CAPT. PURSE SAYS 1T CONTROLS
THE RIVER STREET TRACK.

Fix the Charges for Service on the
River Street Track of the Central
Railroad and Submitting His Rea-
sons for the Request-The City Has
Full Power TO Do This, He Holds,
Under a Special Act OF the Legis-
lature Passed in 1866.
Capt. D. G. Purse. commissioner OF the
freight bureau. will not wait for the Geor-
gia railroad commission 10 pass upon
the question Of transfer and freight
charges by the Central railroad on its
River street track. but has decided TO Pc
tition the city council to fix schedule
of rates.
Il will make President Conner and Maj
Shellman open their eyes pretty wide
when they see this, and Il will be a big
surprise 10 a great many other people,
railroad and business men especially, that
the city council has any authority in the
matter whatever. Nevertheless. this l.
what Capt Purse claims for II, and he IL
said to have made very strong argu-
ment before the committee.
What is more, several OF the aldermen
have expressed themselves as very favor
ably impressed with Capt. Purses view
and the law cited by him. At to-nighrs
meeting OF council Capt. Purse viii pres
sent ile HEt4lADn as EUlullAAcsANAttA u AAit
freight bureau. requesting action by the
city on the matter Of rates on the River
street track. II is possible that a
schedule OF rates may be introduced. ana
If so this is likely to prove the most in
teresting event Of the session excellins
in interest even the discussion OF asphalt
versus vitrihed brick for South Broad
street.
Capt. H. c. Cunningham, senior men,
Der of leading counsel for the Central
railroad, was in the clerks office at the
exchange before the committee met, ana
inquired II there was to be a meeting Of
council or of the committee Of the whole.
II it was to be a meeting OF council Capt.
Cunningham said that he desired to be
present. He was informed that II was
only a meeting of the committee of the
whole. which is private.
Capt. Purse was seen after the adjourn
ment OF the committee meeting by a Morn
ing News reporter. He said he did not feel
al liberty 20 state what transpred at the
meeting, but did not object TO giving a
general statement Of his position in the
matter As stated in the Morning News
several days ago, Capt Purse has pre-
scented to the Georgia railroad commission
q case of what he considers the worst kind
trai railroad, Mr. c II. Dixon being the
complainant. Mr.. Dixon states in his COM
plant 10 the freight bureau that until re-
Gently ne was allowed to trans-shiD coal
from his wharf on River street TO the
city Waterworks, crernatory and other
points similarly situated, at the rate of
s.. but that he had been given notice by
the Central railroad that such shipments
VIII hereafter be subject to special agree
ment and that the charge for this service
VIII be g cents ton.
Mr.. Dixon complains that this charge is
simply prohibitory and that ii is made for
the purpose of forcing him 10 buy his coal
from the Alabama mines and have il shipp-
ed 10 Savannah via the Central railroad
and states that as much had been init
N a IN i'm NflA. Ia +
ter enphatcaliy denies that he ever made
any such intimatfOn 10 Mr.. Dixon and
states that the shipments OF coal from Mr..
DNons wharf TO any point in or about
the city is not a transfer but an original
shipment, and subject TO the charge fixed
by the railroad commission for the ship
ment of coal to the nearest station. Mr..
Dixon receivisg his coal at his wharf by
vessel and loading il on cars there. Mr.
Conner holds. makes il impossible to con-
slider IL as a transfer. To do this. Mr.
Conner, said. would be to discriminate d.
reetly against the Central railroad in IA
Vor OF the ships bringing coal here from
other ports. The railroad authorities win
doubtless have a good deal more TO say on
this line when the matter comes up. II is
probable that President Conner or Capt
Cunningham or both. will be present at
the meeting Of council tonight.
Since bringing the matter to the atten-
ton Of the railroad commission, Capt
Purse has been studying the city ordi-
nances, and believes that he has found
there proof that the River street track is
being conducted by the Central railroad
In violation of the ordinance permitting
its construction and other ordinances,
regulating railway traffic in the city of
Capt Purse POUNDS his claim
partly upon sections 43, A.
IS and 4s of MacDonelrs code,
relating TO the construction and use Of
street railways, in which the city as
sumes full power, not only as to the con
struction of such railways, but to fix the
rates both for the carriage of freight and
lions must have been overlooked when
the street railway fight was on and fares
were run down to cent. President Col
Inns. II is claimed, might have appealed
to council under these sections to fix the
fares and this might have saved the Elec-
tFic , railway IRON gong t,d INTO the hands as
the legislature of 1866, and not ordinances.
They enter specifically into questions of
streets Of the city. The act Scientifically h
prohibits the use of steam by any such
railroads. and this is an interesting point
likely TO be used pro and con by both
sides.
Capt. Purse also claims that the in
tention of the ordinance of council adopt
ed in January, 1885. giving the Central
railroad or the Ocean Steamship Com
pany or such corporation as might be des-
ignated by the latter the right 10 con-
struct track on River street, was that
the track should be completed to Bilbo
canal and that the company was al
lowed TO terminate the track at the lower
rice mill only on account of the obstruc-
ton offered by the mill. This obstruction
being now removed, ne nolds that the city
can require the Central 10 continue the
River street track to the Bilbo canal
which would be of great advantage to
the business houses on Bay street.
Capt. Purse takes the position on the
general ground that the River street track
was permitted TO be constructed solely
for the convenience and benefit of the
and for the purpose of enhancing the
value of the property on River street and
the north side of Bay street, and not for
the private advantage of the railroad COM
pany.
The council will doubtless hear argu-
ment from both sides before taking any
decisive steps in the matter.
ron THE GRAND .TIrRy IN SIEDr