Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-09-23
been, and never could be considered a
competitive line for such traffic.
Mr.. st. John States
ssthat fh oro IL ,, m a co,,,rsl...,.

that there is not competitive line
at Macon which it the [Southern;
does not CONTROL"
The Georgia Railroad reaches Macon
and is used actively and competitively
for traffic between Macon and the East
by the South Carolina & Georgia and
the Clyde Line
The Central Railway reaches Macon
from the west through Mon tgomery and
Birmingham and Atlanta, and eyery
one familiar with the movement of
traffic in and through the State of Geor.
gia will testify to your Commission that
the Central Railway continues to ex.
change business on as favorable terms
as at any time In its history with the
Louisville q Nashville System at these
three points.
There 10 notnov, and never has been.
the slightest diminution of competition
by the Central with the Southern Rail.
way in and out of Macon, either 10.
cally or in the exchange of business
with any of ffs' Centrnl's Western or
Eastern connections. The Central ex
changes Macon business at Atlanta to.
day with the Western & Atlantic Road
and the Louisville & Nashville system
to a far greater extent than it ex.
changes with the Southern at that
point.
The Georgia Southern & Florida Rail-
way, extending from Macon to the
South, is not controlled by the South.
ern Railway, and proof of this fact has
for weeks been lodged officially with
your Commission. The officers of that
Company will. am sure, testify to
your Commission that they are doing
business as freely in and out of Ma.
con for Gil points as they were before
the Southern owned any interest in the
line. 'N'
Mr.. st. John says:
lit is a well known fact that tn.
financial powers which dominate
the Southern Railway, likeu ise con
troll the Louisville & Nashville
Railroad Company.
That statement is wholly and entirelv
untrue, and has not the slightest foun.
dation in fact
Mr.. st. John says that
the Southern has absorbed, bv
stock ownership or otherwise, the
Macon q Birmingham, the Georgia
Southern q Florida, the Georgia
Midland & Gulf, and 1t is said con.
trolls the Columbus Southern
The Southern Railway Company has
lawfully leased the Georgia Midland,
but it does not own a share of stock
nor does 1t control the Macon & Birm.
ingham Road. 1t owns an interest in
the Georgia Southern G. Florida as
above stated, but not control. 1t does
not control the Columbus Southern
which road is in the hands of Re.
ceiver.
may say that in my opinion the
southern would have perfect right.
under the laws of Georgia, to own ali
these railroads If it SO desired.
from these statements your Honor.
able sommission can judge as to how
far the sensational and incendiary
statements made in Mr.. st. John q COM
IifaIffcation are entitled TO acceptance
by yourselves or by the citizens of |
Georgia.
: In the general attitude which he as.
sumes as self constituted defender of the
laws OF Georgia, and as public censor
OF those whom he would have Won be-
lieve are endeavoring to infringe them.
and as sole champion of that competi.
tion which the constitution and the
laws of Georgia guarantee to her cit,.
zens, ne Is as little entitled to your re.
spect and confidence as are his utter.
ances above quoted.
lie claims your support and that of
the people of Georgia in his less eff.
torts to destroy property, on the ground
that such support 10 necessary to the
continuance of lawful competition.
lie would have you believe that the
present havoc In revenues, and the gem
eral disturbance of business relations
whether competitive or otherwise
throughout the State and the entire
South which his Company has inaugu.
rated and Is still continuing, are but
the manifestations of his desire to pro.
tect the people of Georgia from threat.
ened monopoly.
On the waters of Chesapeake Bay he
and his associates, the managers of the
Bay Line, are the avowed enemies of
competition, and they ''go to war; to
punish those whom they describe as
'intruders upon our theirl domain. -
While he advocates and demands
monopoly, and claims proprietorship
Of domain Virginia and MARYLAND.
he necessarily subjects himself to aus.
picion and discredit when he displavs
such unnecessary and apprehensiye
zeal for competition in Georeia.
But this is not all
Mr. ST. John says in his cry for your
aid and countenance:
IA majority Of the stock of the
Seaboard Air Line and of the Bav
Line is in hands where It can not
be purchased by the Southern
Railway"
The fact Is that little less than six
months ago the majority of the capital {
.tock of the controlling company Of the {
5eaboard Air Line was offered to me ,
md was not accepted. :
: Mr.. st. John says :
"the Seaboard's fixed charges are !
much less per mile than those of !
the Southern Railway, while it's 4
dead roads include an intinitesimal :
mileage. Much of the Southern :
mileage will not much more than /
pay for It's operating expenses on I
low basis.
A statement Of fixed charges per /
nile means very little unless coupled !
With that of earnings per mile.
The earnings per mile OF road of the
Seaboard Air Line for the year ending !
lune 30, 1895. the last year for which i
he Company has reported, were; !
iross ,j... ..........,,.,..,, ....,....., sS245
Net, after adding miscellaneous in s
come, .........,. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, COZ | a
Nlxed charges and other deductions
from income,.,,. .,.,,,............ 10
Vet deficit per mile of road. ...,,,,,, Ida @
Those of the southern for the same year !
we're; .
tross .,,,..,,u"., .,",,,..,,.,.....,....., $il3l y
Vet, including miscellaneous income, i,2i2 \
Fixed charges and other deductions
from inoome.".., ..,",,,....,....,,. -, l,02 .
Vet surplus over all charges. ......,..,, 2iT Q
While the fixed charges and other I
leductions from income OF the Southern Q
we're 33 per cent. greater than those OF |
he Seaboard Air Line, the total net ?
nCOme of the Southern for thu aa p,a