The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-17
the RAILROAD WAR,
The Bay Line Withdraws From the AS
ISOLATION ard Throws Down the
Gauntlet.

ISOLATION ard Throws Down the
Gauntlet
There lis another railroad war on
| hand. and it is going 10 be big one.
| The Baltimore Steam Packet Com
pany. owning THE Bay Line OF steam
ers, in connection with its ally, the
| Seaboard Air-Lne, has determined TO
make a big cut in freight and passen-
GER rates, and unless its terms are
complied with the transportation Sill
uation will he badly demorallZed
| These two corporations form one OF
the most powerful combinations III
this country. and can in measure
dictate terms to all OF the southern
lines The Seaboard owns nearly LOCO
miles of road, extending from lamp
ron Roads TO Atlanta, and to Winning
ton, y. C.. and the principal manutac-
turing sections of the Southern States.
Through connections it reaches Iha,-
tanooga, Tenn, and the Mississippi
river. Its connection TO Baltimore
and the North is by the Bay Line oper-
atng fleet of large and elegantly APP
pointed steamers on the chesapeake
Bay 1t form one of the principal
routes between the North and S0uth;
consequently the statement that the
Bay Line has Withdrawn from the Nlr-
ginia Freight Association fog main
tanning rates and intends making %
sweeping reduction, has caused gen
eral comment.
The following letter from Mr.. +. w.
Thompson, Traffic Manager, explains
the situation;
May goth, 1896
c. A. Chipley, Esq, Chairman Y. f. y,
Philadelphia. T.:
Dear Sir: The York River Line haN-
ing notified us of their intention to
occupy the territory long accorded this
company by ali transportation lines,
which action. in our opinion, being
an uncalled for attack upon our ter
ritory and revenue, we are compelled,
unwillingly, TO herewith give thirty
DAYS notice of our withdrawal from
the Virginia Freight Association.
We desire to express to the Asso-
citation, and our friendly connections
our sincere regrets that the action of
said company makes this move neccs-
sary for our self-preservatiOn. The
| traffic between Norfolk, Portsmouth
and Baltimore is only fairly renumera-
tive for our line, and il divided means
| loss TO both. We have made every con-
cesSion, consistent with honor, agreeing
| TO give them equal facilities and rates
with the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard
| Air Line, and the Norfolk and West
crn. treating them with strict impair
| tiaIity. as we have always accorded
our Southern connections.
In our attempted negotiations their
| excuse developed to be- That they did
| not care to place their through bust
ness, heretofore going via West Point,
| in our hands. At the suggestion of our
| president, the Merchants and Miners
| Transportation Company offered to
carry this business, giving all facili-
| ties etc, necessary. and at the same
time President Hoffman offered to re-
| lieve them of any expense already in
CURED. This was declined-thus prov
| ing their animus and determination
| to attack and deplete the revenues of
| this company The past history of this
corporation serves to confirm this, and
proves their intention of trying to con-
| troll all transportation lines south of
| Mason and Dixon's line, to the detri-
ment of all business interests in the
South.
There is but one thing for this com
pany to do, which is TO accept the posi-
| ton and protect our interests to the
best Of our ability; and in determining
| this question the future trade interests
| of Baltimore with the South have not
been overlooked.
This full explanation seems due to
your association. and to all our friend
| " connections, to the end that if the
revenue of their different companies
| be affected seriously, the blame can
be placed where it properly belongs.
Yours respectfully,
(Signed) f. w. THOMPSON.
| As will be noticed, Mr.. Thompson
does not mince matters, and it is evil
dent that his company intends making
a fight to d finish, in retaliation for
what it is claimed to be the aggressive
ness of the Southern. The Baltimore
Steam Packet Company have also de-
cded to put on a service between Bal
| timore and Richmond, by way of the
James river The 'Virginia,' one of
the finest and largest steamers cf its
fleet, has been selected exclusively for
this service.