Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-04

Tor years has moved 1t over the Mecklen-
burg line to Richmond and York river.
I'm addition to stating that Norfolk is
the natural terminus Of the system.
mentioned above. I may also say that
freight can be moved much more cheaply
over the low-grade line from Greensboro to
that point than over the high-grade line
from Greensboro northeast to West Point.
This matter was carefully looked into
before decision to use Norfolk was reach
ed, and one Of the controlling reasons for
gong there was the economy of moving
freight.
inc Starting of the Steamboat Line.
"As to the steamboat line: The Rich
mend and Danville Company has for years
controlled q steamboat line on Chesapeake
bay. 1t owned and the Southern stu owns
extensive terminals in Baltimore. SO long
as the traffic Of the Southern railway was
hauled to West Point, the steamers ran
from that place to Baltimore. Now that q
large part of the traffic is turned to Nor
FOLK, some of its steamers must naturally
De : started from there for Baltimore. 1t
would be useless to run all the steamers
70 west Point. now that the traffic which
the Southern used to move VIA that point
Is turned to Norfolk. to which change. as
l understand, the Seaboard at first made
no opposition and. on the contrary. pro-
posed that 1t should be accomplished by
the use Of its tracks, an offer which would
nave been accepted had not the Southern.
b
ownership in the Norfolk and Carolina.
From all that 1 can learn there Is no
dissatisfaction by any other competitor of
the Southern Railway Company regarding
Its action In this matter; 1t being generally
recognized that the change of the steam
boat line to Norfolk was the necessary
consequence of the adoption of that point
q terminus.
Whatever differences have existed in
late years between the Seaboard syste n
and that Of the Richmond and Danville
arose from the fact that the Seaboard Air
Line. which was heretofore a local ,om-
pany in Virginia and North Carolina. de-
liberately set to work in the year 1890 and
the way to Atlanta. At that time the to-
tai lines of the Seaboard were about $50
miles. including all branches.
This paralleling involved the construc-
ton of 277 miles of new main line. and its
only possible result was to secure business
which heretofore had belonged to the
Richmond and DanvIlle. Since this was
done the Richmond and Danville and
Southern have really maintained a very
pa ssive attitude, seeking simply to develop
about means of hauling 1t with the utmost
economy, and to put themselves In posi-
ton where they could defend themselves
II further attacked.
to maintain rates. and whom the Seaboard
a year or two ago cut passenger rates in
two the Southern did not follow, but rig
idly maintained the old rates.
There seems to be an impression on the
part of some of the general officers Of the
Seaboard that the general officers of the
Southern are inimical to the first named
company. Such Is not the case. The de-
sire of President Spencer Is to cultivate
the most friendly relations with the Sea-
board and. for my own part (although not
an officer or directory, l am ready to do
anything to promote the same end