The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-15
AUGUSTA TO LEASE STREETS.
THREE RAILROADS TO PAY THE
CITY 100000.

If the Cash Is Not Paid the Roads
VIII Pay the City $1,000 Per An
mum as Interest on the 100000.
The Southern, the Central and the
Charleston and Western Carolina
the Roads So Far In the Agree
ment-The GeOrGia and south
Carolina and Georgia Roads May
Come In Later.
Augusta Ca, Oct. 1.-Augusta had a
very important conference to-day and one
that resulted very satisfactorily 1t ter
minated in a contract between the city and
three leading railroads, by the terms OF
which the latter acquire the use, OF cer-
tain of the clty's streets for thirty years.
and pay 100000 therefor.
There were present at the conference
in the city council chamber Mayor Young,
City Attorney Carroll Chairman Null
herin OF the railroad committee and Chair
man Howard of the finance committee,
representing the city; President Conner
and Traffic Manager Shelman, represent
ing the Central; Vice President Finley and
Traffic Manager Culp, representing tho
Southern railway; President Cleveland.
Supt. Anderson and G.. T. and p A. Craig,
representing the Charleston and Western
Carolina; Manager T. K. Scott and Attor-
ney J. b. Cumming, representing the Geor-
gia railroad; President Jackson, repre-
senting the Augusta Southern, on the part
Of the railroads, and large number OF
mill presidents and merchants represents
ing the commercial and manufacturing
interests of Augusta.
The conference was In the nature OF an
informal and free discussion, in which all
the interests involved took part. 1t lasted
the larger part of the day, and through
two or three sessions. The point that
provoked most discussion was the ques-
ton of local transfers Of freight and de-
livery by one railroad to a warehouse sit
uated on the line OF another railroad. In
the past this has been done by the local
transfer company, the Augusta and Sum-
merville railroad. This company's char
ter expired last March, but was renewed
under the general law. In a recent de-
cislon Judge Galloway held that the re-
newal Of the charter continued the cor
poration's life, but did not carry with II
the right to use streets in Augusta with
out the citys consent. The company has
appealed to the supreme court, where tho
case remains to be heard, but In the con-
tract entered into to-day the city is pro-
ceeding on the assumption that the sy-
preme court will sustain Judge calloway's
decision and that the Augusta and Sum =.
merville railroad has no longer any rights
in the premises
Much Of the discussion to-day between
the railroad men and the Augusta mer-
chants was whether the railroads should
IL. ~ H. t..-t, 81. a.1 l,
livery Of freight. or whether there should
be local transfer company. The ver-
diet was against a local transfer COM
pany, and the railroads entering the con-
tract with the city, became responsible
for the local transfer business.
1t is stipulated In the contract with the
city that the maximum charge for the
delivery of freight TO any mill or mer-
chant. shall be 81 per car. The three
railroads contracting with the city are
the Southern, the Central and the
Charleston and Western Carolina. The
Georgia and the South Carolina and Geor-
gia did not enter the contract to-day, but
it Is expected that they will do 50 later
on
The contract Is for thirty years from the
date of the expiration of the Augusta and
Summervilles charter, March 1880, and
for the use of the streets and the trans
fer franchiseNthese railroads agree to pay
SlVD,vVu anu . per cent inleTeSL per dunuIu
until paid. They can pay either an annu-
ity or 5000 for the thirty years, or they
may at any time during the thirty years
discharge their obligation by paying the
$4,000.
The contract is regarded as equitable by
both sides, and Mayor Young Is specially
gratihed at its consummaton, as 1t will
give him the funds for proceeding with
his pet scheme of giving Augusta new
water works and pure water supply.
This is railroad day in Augusta, and in
addition to the foregoing, Col. J. c. STAN
ton, the promoter OF the Augusta and
Chattanooga road, and his associate. J. w.
Coffin of New York, arrived in the city
this morning. The gentlemen are from
Chattanooga, where they have been at
work for about two weeks Col. Coffin
stated that the people Of Chattanooga
were highly enthusiastic over the propos-
ed building of the road from that city to
Augusta, and would do great deal finan-
cialy and otherwise to further the pro-
ject The contemplated road will extend
from Evansville, Ind, to Augusta via
Chattanooga. and will shorten the route
between Chicago and this city about 175
miles. The idea Is also entertained ~or
building the road to Savannah and thus
shorten the present route by about rs
miles. Col Stanton is a man Of extensive
experience as a railroad builder and seems