The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-15

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----------------------------r
a competitive line at Macon which it (the
Southern) does not control"
The Georgia railroad reaches Macon
and is used actively and comparatively for
traffic between Macon and the east by the
South Carolina and Georgia and Clyde
Line.
The Central railway reaches Macon
from the west through Montgomery and
Birmingham and Atlanta, and every one
familiar with the movement of traffic in
and through the state of Georgia will tes-
tify to your commission that the Central
railway continues to exchange business
on as favorable terms as at any time in
its history with the Louisville and Nash
vile system at these three points.
There is not now, and never has been,
the slightest diminution of competition by
the Central with the Southern railway in
and out of Macon, either locally or in the
exchange of business with any of the Cen
trails western or eastern connections. The
Central exchanges Macon business at At
lanta to-day with the Western and At
lantic road and the Louisville and Nash
Vile system to far greater extent than
it exchanges with the Southern at that
point.
The Georgia Southern and Florida rail-
way, extending from Macon to the south,
is not controlled by the Southern 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 OFT of
Macon for all points as they were before
the Southern owned any interest in the
line.
Mr.. st. John says: at is a well-known
fact that the financial powers which DOM
mate the Southern railway, likewise con-
troll the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company"
That statement is wholly and entirely
untrue, and has not the slightest founda-
ton in fact.
Mr.. st. John says that "the Southern
has absorbed, by stock ownership or
otherwise, the Macon and Birmingham,
the Georgia Southern and Florida,
Georgia Midland and Gulf, and it is said
controls the Columbus Southern"
The Southern Railway Company has
lawfully leased the Georgia Midland, but
it does not own a share of stock, nor does
it control the Macon and Birmingham
road 1t owns an interest in the Georgia
Southern and Florida, as above stated,
but not control. 1t does not control the
Columbus Southern, which road is in the
hands of receiver.
l may say that in my opinion the South
ern would have perfect right, under the
laws of Georgia, to own all of these rail-
roads if it so desired.
From these statements your honorable
commission can judge as to now far the
sensational and incendiary statements
made in Mr.. St. Johns communication
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 you believe
are endeavoring to infringe them, and as
sole champion of that competition which
the constitution and the laws of Georgia
guarantee to her citizens, he is as little
entitled to your respect and confidence as
are his utterances above quoted
He claims your support and that Of the
people of Georgia in his reckless efforts
10 destroy property, on the ground that
such support is necessary TO the continu-
ance of lawful competition.
He would have you believe that the pres
ent havoc in revenues, and the general
disturbance of business relations, whether
or otherwise, throughout the
state and the entire south which his com
pany has inaugurated and is still con-
tinuing are but the manifestations of his
desire to protect the people Of Georgia |
from threatened monopoly.
On the waters of Chesapeake bay he
and his associates, the managers of the |
Bay Line are the avowed enemies OF
and they Ego to war" to pun
ish those whom they describe as "intrud- |
ers upon our (their) domain"
While he advocates and demands mo- |
..1Ix a1a inns
domain" in Virginia and Maryland, he |
subjects himself to suspicion |
and discredit when ne displays such un- |
necessary and apprehensive zeal for COM |
petition in Georgia.
But this 10 not all.
Mr.. st. John says in his cry for your
aid and countenance: "A majority of the |
stock of the Seaboard Air Line and of the |
Bay Line is in hands where IL cannot be |
purchased by the Southern railway"
The fact is that a little less than six |
months ago the majority Of the capital |
stock of the controlling company of the |
Air Line was offered to me and |
was not accepted.
Mr.. St. John says, the seaboards fix !
ed charges are much less per mile than |
those Of the Southern railway, while It's |
dead roads include an infnltesimal mile |
age. Much of the Southern's mileage will |
not much more than pay for its operating |
expenses on a low basis"
A statement of fixed charges per mile |
means very little unless coupled with that |
Of earnings per mile.
The earnings per mile OF road Of the Sea- |
board Air Line for the year ending June /
30, 1895, the last year for which the COM
pany has reported. we're:
Gross .........................
Net, after adding miscellaneous in
come .''''.s..'..,''..s'ss.s.''. W.