The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-19
Mr.. ST. JOHN TALKS.
Vice President of the s. A. l..
Answers Some Questions.
IN REGARD TO RATE WAR
How Hostilities Between the
Two Lines Began.
ABOUT AN OPPOSITION BAY LINE
Declares that the Southern Is Trying
to Freeze Out All Its Com
petitors and Secure
a Monopoly,
a Monopoly,


petitors and Secure
Monopoly,
In view Of the fact that the war now
going on between the old Bay Line and
the new Bay Line, which was recently
put in operation by the Southern Rail
way, is regarded with an unupsual de-
gree of interest, a representative of the
Star this morning sought an interview
with Nice-President ST. John, of the
Seaboard Air Line, with a view Of as
certaiuing the status of the case from
the standpoint of the latter road. Mr..
st. John readily submitted to an inter
view, and the scribe opened on him as
follows:
MIR. st. John, the Star is aware that
your personal and business relations
with the Baltimore Steam Packet Com
pany are intimate and harmonious.
You are doubtless in a position to
know the precise nature OF the causes
which have aroused The antagonism of
the BAY Line towards the Southern
Railway ginating in the establish
ment by the latter of a line of steamers
to compete for traffic between Ports
mouth and Baltimore. \ statement
from you, therefore, in regard to the
matter would be considered of great
Importance and would be read with
the liyeliest interest by our patrons
and the public"
Mr. St. John-"It is true, as you con-
lecture, that | am fully cognizant of
the reasons which have compelled the
baltimore Steam Packet Company to
assume the strong defensive position
it now holds, to repel an unprovoked
and unjust attack on it's business and
property rights. Hostilities began
when the Southern Railway, regardless
of the obligations of duty or courtesy,
established wholly unnecessary and
uncalled for line of steamers to par
abel the Bay Line between Baltimore
and Norfolk.
Question But hasn't the Southern
the right 10 run a line OF steamers of
it's own on the bay, if it chooses to do
SOP"
Mr.. ST. John-CertainIy any man
or corporation has the technical right
to do so, when the object is 10 serve
the public interests, or even their
| own; but in this case the Southern
seems actuated by no such motive. /
say this boldly and advisedly. The
Southern proposes to destroy, rather
| than build up. Before ut can even hope
for success it must cripple and annihi-
late the prestige and traffic that has
| accrued to the Bay Line during fifty
ears or more of faithful public service.
| The business created and carried on by
| the Bay Line is now only moderately
profitable. A serious diversion or alb
sorption of it's traffic means for it
nothing less than irreparable loss if
not utter ruin. 1T is the manifest duty
of the Bay Line to spare no effort to
minimize or avert the impending dis
aster. Nor can friendly connections
afford to stand idly by mot knowing
whose turn will come neXt) and permit
the depreciation on corporate rights
and destruction of property contem-
plated.
Question--But has not the Southern
been refused such facilities of trans
portation as it requires, and thus for
ced, as a matter of necessity, to estab-
| lish an independent line of it's own?
Mr. St. John-The claim by the
| Southern that it cannot handle its
business through any other than its
own line is prepOsterOus. Equally hoi-
! low is the preteXt that other establish
ed lines cannot furnish all the facilities
! it could possibly need for scores OF
| years to come. The correspondence
Of President Hoffman with the South
ern officials fully demonstrates the
folly Of such assertions. In his letter
4 OF April to Mr.. Spencer, president
Of the Southern, he thus tersely sums
up the case: Il regret to know thai
YOU do not intend to use the Mer
chants and Miners Transportation
| Company as your connection between
baltimore and Norfolk, instead of a
line of your own, which means that
YOU have determined to make
an attack on the Baltimore
Steam Packet Company and the
Seaboard Air Line for the pur
pose of attack Therefore YOU mus
assume the responsibility for the de
liberalization and loss Of revenue to al
lines which must follow. Both tn
baltimore Steam Packet Company ant
the Merchants and Miners Compan.
have done all in their power to pre-
serve the peace by offering the service
of their lines on terms of perfec
equality with all lines as your con
Injection, but it seems that it is you
UeSlI6 10 ulSI upb TIE GliblAC 0IAuehOlpl
for a purpose. Your proposed add
tional line cannot by any possibilit
pay you while it can only tend to dc
stroy the revenues of others SO Ion!
as it continues to run"
The purpose" the real animus o
the Southern, is revealed in the sen
tence last above quoted. 1t does no
even court competition on legitimat
lines. Its aim is to reduce the Ba
Line to subordinate position as
carrier of traffic between the Mort
and the South, or drive it as a cor
testant from the field altogether an
usurp its place. 1t cannot expect o
care to do a profitable business in tn
struggle for supremacy it invites, bu
hopes to infict greater damage o
others than it will receive. TIL
Southern, it argues, has nothing t
lose, but everything to gain froI
such conflict while the direct cor
verse of that proposition is true a
regards the Bay Line.
Question-But in what way and t
what extent are the interests Of th
Seaboard Air Line involved in th
struggle between the Southern an
the Bay Line?
Mr.. St.John-The Bay Line, althoug
entirely Independent of the Seaboar
Air Line, is and always has been a clos
ally and friendly connection. Nor
than that, the Seaboard Air Line i