The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-10
AN IMPORTANT r.. r.. CASE
THE SEABOARD COMPLAINT WITH
THE COMMISSION.
Says the Southern States Passenger
Association Dscriminatea Against
Citizens of This State.

Citizens of I his State.
The Seaboard AIRLINE has flied com
plant with she North Carolina Railroad
Commission: setting forth that they are
denied, by the Southern States Passen-
ger Association, which association con-
trolls the different systems OF roads lead
ing from New York TO Florida points,
the privilege OF through passenger rates
and passenger trains, thereby discrim-
mating against the Seaboard system
which is not member of the Associa-
ton. This complaint is filed through
MIR. i. j. Anderson, General Passenger
Agent, and alleges that the Southern
States Passenger Association not only
discriminates against it and all other
lines not members Of it, but against the
citizens OF this State
This complaint is based on an attempt
Of Mr.. Anderson, during the month of
October to make arrangements by which
he might run a personally conducted ex-
cursion from North Carolina to Florida,
same to leave Raleigh or Charlotte about
January 10th. The correspondence ac-
companying the complaint shows that all
the intermediate lines were in favor of
this excursion and yet the combination
known rs the Southern States Passen-
ger Association refused to allow these
intermediate roads to make such rates
as would permit the running of the ex-
cursion.
In his complaint Mr.. Anderson says,
among other things:
My reason for bringing this matter
TO your attention is that Tbs request is
nothing new; it establishes no precedent,
but it is simply what has been done for
years. The Pennsylvania Railroad and
others roads in the East operate person
ally conducted tours to Florida every
winter, running as high as three and four
of these excursions directly through the
Southern States. Passenger Associa-
TONS territory, and all the lines at in
terest agree to handle the trains and even
solicit the business from the initial line.
The rate from New York to Jacksonville
for thase personally conducted tours is
$1,000: per capita This includes trans
portat:on each way, sleeping car accom-
modatson each way, and meals each way
while: ION the special. The sleeping car
rate for one person, double berth, from
way, $500 for the round trip; the meals
on the Dining Car, placing them at the
lowest price sold on a dining car-75
cents the meals would amount to $500
each way or 5000 for the round trip.
Now deducting $1,000 from $4,000 we
have.left $31.00 for transportation The
distance from New York to Jacksonville
is 9sS miles or 1906 for the round trip.
s31.e0 per capita for this distance es-
tablishes rate on one and 55-100 cents
per mile, using short line mileage. If this
rate; is operated by any Of the longer
routes, OF course the rate is shrunk,
working down as low as one cent per mile
on j pro-rata per mile pro-rate. Now the
rate, as you will note by the correspon-
dence, for the North Carolina tour was
$1,000. The distance, short line mile
age, from Charlotte to Jacksonville is
800 miles; this is on a basis of one and
o2e100 per mile, which is nearly II cent
per mile more than the excursion referred
tossbove. This rate was suggested on
transportation basis, simply because the
people of the South have not the means
to- travel In fine Pullman tourist cars and
eejoy the luxury of diner, but were
satisfied with day coaches and meals at
stations or where they could be had con-
vseniently. There is no reason for our
request being tabled, but as the lines
forming the Southern States Passenger
Association cannot participate in any
Fate or rates unless said Association an
prove same, of course, the excursion will
have to be abandoned unless your hon
brabie pody can come to our relief and
she relief OF our patrons in this particular
and ascertain why the Seaboard Air
line cannot afford its patrons of North
carolina, South Carolina and Georgia the
Same facilities as lines in the East are
allowed through the very identical terri
tory over which the Seaboard Airline
desires to carry the citizens of North Car
olina, South Carolina and Georgia"
This complaint is also fled with the
South Carolina and Georgia Railroad
Commission. 1t contains some 30 type
written pages OF kilograms and cores
pondence touching the matter complained
OF.