The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-15
THE TELEPHONE RATE
Complaints Made to the Rail-
Road Commission.
\ REDUCTION IS ASKED
MATER TO BE INVESTIGATED Al
NEXT MEETING.
puRus DEPOT COMPROMISE
Officials of the Cape Fear ard fadk'n
Valley Ask Permission to Raise
Their Freight and Pas
senger Rates.


Their Freight and Pas
senger Rates.
The State Railroad Commission held a
lively meeting yesterday and several I'M
portant matters were disposed OF. Ut.
Abbott. the new Commissioner. sat for
the first time with the Commission, ana
a number of attorneys and railroad Of
ticials were present.
The most important action OF the Com
mission was the issuance OF notice TO AL
the telephone companies in the Stare 10
show cause why their present rate should
not be reduced. Formal complaint has
been lodged from q number OF towns In
the State that the rental is too high ana
asking that they be made lower. AT the
next meeting of the Commission the au-
thors of these petitions will have chance
to show why their prayer shouu ce
granted and the opponents of 1t to gave
reasons why it should not be.
Another important case on the decket
was a petition from the Cape Fear ana
Yadkin Valley Railroad, asking that TINS
road be allowed to revise its freight
and passenger tariffs and make then
rho same as similar tariffs now applied
to the Carolina Central Railroad. Inns
wauld he a slight increase on both freight
and passenger rates.
~ This netition was filed by Col Geo. NJ
Rose attorney for the road; j. w. Fry,
General Manager, and w. Z. Kyle, Cen
eral Freight and Passenger Agent. These
gentlemen appeared before the Commas
SION in behalf of their petition, claiming
that their present tariff hardly allowed
them msre than their operating expenses.
The General Manager and General
Freight Agent also filed statements OF
the roads earnings, expenses, &c, ana
k,ompared them with the earnings OF the
other roads in the State. Mr.. hose.
the attorney. made lengthy argument
setting forth the roads claims for me
necessity of such a reduction.
s1,be Commission reserFed its decision,
announcing their desire to take the mat
fer under adyisement and fully invesu-
gate the arguments and facts on botn
sides
Another interesting case that came
before the Commission was a petition
from the citizens of the town CT Puryls,
in Robeson county, asking that the VIII
mington and Weldon Railroad be re-
ouired to establish depot at that sta
ton. There were several of the peu-
tioners from Purvis present. They were
examined touching the matter, as were
also the citizens of Elrod, a station two
miles from Purvis. The latter protest
oh against the discontinuarce OF the
depot at their place in case the depoa
was granted at Puryis-it having been
intimated that this might be done. Judge
Roykin and Mr.. Armistead Jones appear
ed for the petitioners and Mr.. Il. .. Bur-
ton for the plaintiff Mr.. Burton thought
the road ought not to be required te
build two stations SO near nogether In
order to compromise the matter the peti-
u TONERS proposed to furnish the lumber
for the erection of the depot at Purvis
3; and all the land necessary fer depot pur-
poses. provided the Railroad company
would erect the depot and establish aa
- agency. With this understanding the
Commission recommended to the railroad
%. the acceptance of this proposition. II
the proposition however, rs not saCsIaG
I tory to the authorities Of the railroad,
they are ordered to appear before the
Commission at the next meeting on Aprli
9th and show cause why they should not
be compelled to accept it. 81
4 { Two citizens, Messrs. Cox and Jack
son, OF the town Oh WihleIfhi At"'
county, appeared before the Commission
and filed a petition asking for the cree
. ton of freight and passenger depot
at Winterville, on the Scotland Neck
branch OF the Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad. The matter was continued
for hearing until April 9th. r
There was also complaint from clfl-
Vi szens Of Asheville and other points ask
ing for a reduction Of telephone rates.
The Commission decided to take into con-
sideration the matter of a thorough revl-
sion of telephone rates at all points III
the State and have cited all companies
TO appear before them on the 9th to
show cause why it should not be done.
The Aberdeen and West End Railroad,
+he Carthage Railroad, Moore county
Railroad and the Aberdeen and Rock
Fish Railroad filed with the Commission
their respective contracts with the South
ern Railway and the Seaboard Airline
and asked the Commissions approval OF
the same.
There were some fifteen or twenty
other cases Of minor Importance consld-
4srad at this session. Most of them wete
for determinations or over-charges and
most Of them were discontinued for fur
Their investigation.
The petition of Mr.. w. e. White for
new depot at Mebane was continued an
iii the next meeting-Apr1l 18th, Sor
further investigation
THE NUGGETS WILL BE HERE.
The rehearsal of the Midgets yesterday