The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-30
TALK Of THE TERMINAL.
WHAT RAILROAD MEN THINK
ABOUT THE PROPOSED BELT.

|
savannah Business-DOes Not
Think 1t Would Handle Through
Cars-Says Let II Come If IT Is n
Good ThIng-Mr. john NJ. Esan
Says 1t Would Not Pay-TaIks of
the Terminal Chnrges-NO Cues
ton of the Roads Hight to River
street.
The projected terminal belt line was free
ly discussed yesterday in railroad circles.
! officials take somewhat varying views of
the matter, some saying that 1t might be
a good thing for the city, while others see
no possible benefit that could result from
its construction, and say that to enter up
on such an undertaking would be ruinous.
"IH bet my head against a two-cent
piece" said one of the gentlemen whose
ideas do not coincide with those of the
promoters of the plan, that if such a line
is built here it will be in the hands OF a
receiver within a year from the time it
is completed"
Another official who heard him seemed
to feel no doubt that the speaker was
correct in his estimate of the undertaking,
as he volunteered no contradiction.
Mr. d. f. Jack, freight traffic manager
of the Plant system, one of the lines di-
rectly interested in the question Of trans
fer facilities at Savannah, says that he
would see no objection to the establish
ment Of such a belt line as is projected,
provided it would prove of benefit to the
business interests of the city. Il do not
think" said Mr. Jack, that the line would
get very much, or any, in fact, of the
through business that is interchanged be-
tween the Central and the Plant system.
This would continue to be transferred at
Southover junction. 1t would probably
represent cost of some 800 a day to the
| Plant system to transfer its cars shipped
through from its own tracks to those of
the Central if it should be done by a belt
line company in the city.
1.-THE present terminal charges do not
regard as exorbitant. They are embrace
ed in the rates that are given on through
! business. think that if they were low
cred the merchants could either make
| wider profit on their goods or that these
| prices would go down some, and the peo-
pie would reap some advantage from the
| reduction in charges
Mr. Jack stated that 1t might help many
| of the merchants If the tracks of the COM
! pany were so arranged as to enable the
| freight to be delivered from the cars at
the places of business. This would save
considerable In the way of drayage. 81
would favor such a line" he said, 'if it
could be shown that it would conduce to
the interests of the city. There is a large
volume of terminal business handled by
the Central, and River street is busy
one"
! Central does not believe that the project
would prove profitable.
What do you think of the plan of ex-
| tending the track down River street in
the event it is opened through TO the Plant
system property?" he was asked.
without knowing the views of others
| who are interested and of the officials of
the Central of Georgia railway, I am not
averse to extending the track. There may
be good and sufficient reasons for not do
ing this, consequently l am not able to
talk about the matter until l can consult
with those who are familiar with the his
tory of the road"
what do you think of the benefit that
may accrue from the establishment of a
| belt line?"
well" Mr. Egan replied, at might
prove of advantage to the owners of prop
! erty in certain quarters. / have had con-
siderable experience with belt lines There
|
capital invested and I do not know of one
that derives enough revenue to pay oper-
| ating expenses and interest on its bonded
| indebtedness. unless the railways have an
interest in it and furnish all the business
to it that they possibly can. Savannah is
most advantageously situated regarding
some OF its railways and its citizens owe
debt of gratitude to the projec-
tors of the Central for coming into the
city on an embankment that extends so
high above the street level. feel like TAX
ing Off my hat every time 1 look at it or
hear the name of the party who located
it mentioned"
What are the lines that would be
interested in a belt line?"
There would be the Plant system and
the Central. These two would be the only
ones. The Florida Central and Pennsular
and the Georgia and Alabama use the
terminals of the Central and all the switch
ing is being done for them by the Central.
At present all transfers are made around
the city. If the rails on River street con-
nected the Plant system and the Central
in that locality, | am of the opinion that
there would be but little transferring done
there. To do more work than is now being
done on River street would discommode
very materially the parties who have
tracks connecting with that on the street"
1T is said, Mr.. Egan that the charges
made for the facilities are exorbitant."
with regard to that he answered, Il
can say that the shipments of freight TO
and from competitive points by any of
the railways that lead into and out OF
Savannah have the switching or transfer
charge absorbed by the railways that de-
rive the revenue from hauling the freight.
There are a number of industries located
on the Central railroad, ana also a num-
Der of parties that have tracks of their
own leading to their places. When freight
is forwarded by the Central or received
over its tracks there is no switching
charge for doing that business If the
construction of belt line would enable
ii to do this switching for less than our
charges, which are nothing, l think the
establishment of such line would be a
good thing.
What l say Of the Central with regard
TO this service is true as well of the
Florida Central and Peninsular and the
Georgia and Alabama. Where tracks are
placed to accommodate those who have
places of business on River street small
switching charge is made, and this does
not more than cover the expense Incl
dent to the work. The time employed now
in transferring cars from the Plant sys-