The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-05
Wherefore the plaintiffs demand

That it be submitted to jury to
determine the question whether the
said Wilmington, Columbia and Au.
gus.a Railroad and Cberaw and Dar-
liogson Railroad. or any other two. or
more of the aforesaid companies pro-
posed to be consolidated are, or own,
parallel and competing lines; and in
case any Of said roads should be de-
cided by the jury to be PARALLEL or COM
pesiDg lines that the said Act, as to
them, be declared Unconstitutional,
aud that perpetual injunction be
granted to prevent sueb consolidation Of
said parallel or competing roads.
Al the hearing the following evil
deoce was taken.
Mr. ] r. Kenly. general manager
Of the Coast Lin.. stated how the roads
were operated. No regard is paid to
the feature Of competition they are
not considered competitive roads.
All are operated as one road They
are practically one road, through the
expense accounts are kept separate. It
would be impossible for one road to
compete against, another, as the COM
pany can't compete against itself
The total mileage in South Caralina
is between $50 aud 600 miles. Three
roads run into Sumter, three into Flor
ence and two into Darlington.
Mr.. T. M. Emerson. traffic manager
Of the Cast Line. testified that 20 two
Of the reads are competing 10 any sense
Of the word. The shor;sst or more
conveoien, line gets business without
competition from the other line 1.-THE
consolidation is effected there would be
no change 10 competition. There is
none now and would be uooe then. It
would result in reducing some Of the
rates
President W. G. Elliott testified tha,
consultations grew out Of the fact that
while the roads we're controlled by one
system, yet they were operated as sepa-
rate corporations. The Legislature
passed an Act requiring all railroads
under the same ownership to make a
continuous rate. Uoder our system.
when shipments we're made over TWO
roads. the rate vas local rate on both
with reduction Of 2 per cent. The
Commissioners called our attention to
the Act and We protested that these
roads actually had to depend CO their
owo revenues for payment Of expenses:
If one road dida't make expenses, the
other vas not drawn on to help it,
The continuous mileage Act would be
q serious reduction of our revenues.
The Railroad Commission suspended
She enforcementof of the continuous mile
age rate uo.il an Act was passed by
the Legislature allowing consolidation
aud giving the company 40 opportunity
of curtailiug expenses. He testified d
that the company could not consent to
9 consolidation until the Constitutional
isJ of the consolidation Act was passed
upon, as too greet interests are invol
we'd.
Mr.. W D. Evans testified that Mr..
Elliott bad testified correctly as to the
history of the transaction, and gave
some.further details as to rates, speak-
ing more particular by Of fertilizer rates
He showed that by the consolidation
lower rates would be obtained.
The jury was out only short while
aud returned verdict that none Of the
lines were competing, which settles the
matter. and the consolidation will pro-
ceed forthwith. Several of the lines,
BY reason Of being ruu as separate roads.
have ha' separate presidents and other
officers. but under consolidation they
will be relieved and the salaries paid
for figure heads will be abolished, it is
said