The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-24
RAZOR PUT % RATES.
Greatest Railroad War in the
South Begun.
CUT OF EIGHTY PER CENT.
The Association Now In the
Fight.
ST. JOHN SEEKS A STRUGGLE.
Southern Claimed 10 Be After Sea-
boards Scalp.

The SenbOards Head FncetiOusiy
Hints That Reorganization OF ths
Southern VIII become a Necessity
If It Tries TO Down His LIne-Am
Rates Throughout the South
hound TO TumbIe-Merehants ON
the Atlantic Coast sure 90 Kick for
some of the Pie.
Atlanta, Ca. July 23.-The COMMITTEES
from the executive board OF the Southern
States Freight Association, had a confer
ence to-day, with Vice President st.
John OF tho seaboard Air Line in refer
ence to the cut rates which that line has
put In force from Baltimore to the south.
Mr.. St. John stated that he would be
pleased TO hear any statement which the
committee had TO present. but that no
would ask the privilege Of making his re-
ply IN writing later In the day, so the
committee did all the talking. It was
composed OF President Thomas Of the
Nashville, Chattanooga and 81. Louis;
President George c. Smith, Of the Atlanta
and West Point Traffic Manager w. l..
Guilladau. of the Old Dominion Steamship
Company; Traffic Manager whitney, OF
the Merchant and Miners Steamship COM
pany, and General Manager Scott. OF the
Georgia railroad. They asked Mr. ST.
John TO withdraw his cut rates. which
threaten general Generalization, and vast
loss OF revenue TO all the lines in the south.
In his written reply. which was handed
10 Chairman Thomas this afternoon, Mr..
ST. John reeites what he declares TO be
the efforts Of the Southern Railway to
crush the Seaboard with view TO defeat-
ing competition. He concludes by asking
shall II be the withdrawal OF the South
erns new line Of steamers between Baltl-
more and Norfolk and the making OF sat-
isiactQiy through car arrangements, easi-
ly TO be accomplished, and the saving OF
revenue thereby to the Southern and other
lines, or shall 10 be disruption of all rates
through thousands Of miles Of territory.
and consequent loss TO II of millions OF
revenue. With more speedy necessity Cor
a reorganization of It's (Southern) system.
The problem Ss theirs 70 solve, not ours
We do not fear either the problem or the
Southern. Our cause Is just, and sooner or
later right will prevail"
After Mr.. St. Johns reply was read.
the executive board appointed a commit
tee OF nine 70 formulate a policy and re-
nearly four hours. 1t finally recommends
ed sweeping cut of 50 per cent on ali
classes of freight from eastern points 10
Atlanta, except on grain wheat fiour
meat and hay This will reduce the rate
on fourth class freight, such as boots and
shoes, from 81. per hundred 10 q cents
All lines are TO charge fun local beyond
Atlanta. intermediate points, such as
Macon, Augusta and Columbia, are 10
| have a combination rate based on At
lanta.
The Seaboard or the merchants Of such
cities will promptly ask the courts to in
terfere and prohibit greater charge for
snort maui than Tor long haul.
All rates throughout the south ara
bound to come down very soon, and rates
from the Ohio river gateways must be
dropped. too.
The war will cost all the railroads ana
steamship lines Of the south heavily.
Mr.. St John would not say what the
Seaboard Will. do, but II IS understood
that It viii meet this cut, and perhaps
90 II a little better