The morning times., 1896-07-24
ANOTHER SLASH IN RATES
Eighty Pet Gent Cut in Freight
By ssa'hern Roads: :.
sEABoARD WILL NOT YIELD
--.s-4- :
Vice President 81. John Says They
: VIII Meet That and Go 1t a Little
j .Better-War' II On to the. Bitter
End and VIII Cost Millions Before
Truce Is Declared.
WILL NOT YIELD


Atlanta, Ga. July GA committee from
the executive board OF the Southern States
Freight Association had conference today
with Vice President st. John OF the Sea-
board Air Line in reference TO the cut rates
which that liue has put In force from Balti-
more to the South.
Mr.. st. john stated THAT he would he
pleased to hear any statement which the
committee had TO present, but that he
would ask the privilege OF making his re-
ply in writing later in the day, SO the coni-
mittee did all the talking.
1t was composed of President Thomas OF
the Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis;
President George c. Smith of the Atlanta
aud West Point Traffic, Manager W. l..
Guiladeau OF the Old Dominion Steamship
Company. Traffic Manager whitney Of tile
Merchants and Miners Steamship Company
and General Manager Scott OF the eorgia
Railroad.
ST. JOHN STANDS FIRM.
They asked Mr.. ST. John to withdraw
his cut rates, which threaten general de-
niora.ization and vast loss OF reye niue o all
lines in the South. In his written reply,
which was handed TO Chairman Thomas
this afternoon, Mr.. st. John recites what
he declares to lie The efforts of the South
ern Railway to crush the seatoard, with
the view to defeating competition.
He Concludes by asking: "shail i, be tic
withdrawal of the Southern's new line OF
steamers between Baltimore and Norfolk
and tie making of satisfactory through
car arrangements, easily TO lie accom-
piished, and the saving OF the revenue
thereby TO the Southern and other lines,
or shall IL lie the disruptiDg OF all rates
through thousands of miles OF territory,
and the consequent loss to it of millions OF
revenue, with u more speedy necessity
for the reorganization OF its 1.-THE Southern
system? The problem is theirs TO solve;
not ours. We do not fear either the prob
lem OF the Southern. Our cause is Just, and
sooner or later the right will prevail
BIG CUT IN FREIGHT.
After Mr. S.. Johns reply was read, the
executive board appointed a committee OF
nine To formulate a policy and report. The
Committee was in session for nearly four
hours 1t finally recommended a sweep
ing cut of so per cent on all classes OF
freight from Eastern points TO Atlanta,
except on grain. wheat, flour. inca and hay.
This will reduce the rate on first class
freight, such as boots, and shoes. from
Sill per hundred TO % cents. All lines
are to charge full local beyond Atlanta.
Intermediate points. such as Macon, Au-
gusta and Columbia, are to have COM
biDation rate based on Atlanta.
The seaboard OF the merchants of such
cities will promptly ask the courts to inter
fere aud prohibit a greater charge for .
short haul than fora long haul. Anrates
throug tout the South are bound to come
down very soon and rates from the Ohio
River gateways must be dropped, too.
The war viii cost oli siie railroads aud
steamship lines Of the South heavily. Mr..
st. John would not say what the Seaboard
will do. but 1t is understood that il will
meet this cut aud perhaps go a little better.