The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-07
BURIED THE HATCHET
SeaboaTd All Line and the Southern Rail-
way adjust Their Differences.
REPORTED AGREEMENT IS AUTHENTIC
CONFIRMED In This Csty-vicc Priests
dcni 81. John Abscnt-The un>is %,
nm asrecmcns which VIII rnye n
F"r-Reacpins Effect on the Rail.
why Situation I'm Tic south.

The statement THAT the Seahoard Air
III and he Southern Railway have
adjusted their differences which have in
Ehe past caused rate wars and other
complications with which the public is
Familiar, caused much surprise In the
city yesterday.
The report which ~enlanatea from Bal
timorc. appearing In the Sun. Of that
City, yesterday, is pronounced To be
authentic by panties who know; al
though Nicc-President and General
Manager 81. John is out OF the city ana
could not be seen. lie will return this
morning.
The Suns repor. says:
The controversy between the South
crn Railway and the Seaboard Air Line
mas been settled. Ii 10 un7fici1lly an
no'nced, on n fasis satisfactory to both
sides. and thai the war of rates between
The two systems will saon come TO an
end.
"ifumors that negotiations were pend
Ing and that conferences had been held
between accredited representatives Of
D9th systems have been afioat for q
week. 1t ia known thilt V!ce-Prcsidcnt
Finley, of the Southern Railway. and
Vice-President st. John, OF the Seaboard
Air Line. have of late had 4 number Of
conferences. Other conferences haye
been held in New York and in the South.
ana no one Supposes that the reprcsen-
tativcs of the two reads which have
been waging such a bitter war aginst
one another. have been meeting for
special pleasure.
BASIS OF SETTLEMENT.
"TE1c basis of the reported settlement
Is n subject OF general interest. II is
said that the first consideration Is an
agreement to maintain rates. This
would mean that: the c~ut-ra:es from
Baltimore to Norfolk would he aban-
doncd. The fight on the bay has OF late
been practically the only open warfare
waged between the two systems. or
course, they have harrassed each other
on The rail situation, but The water rates
were the only ones that were n7t affect
cd by the injunctions, which were an
important instrument in waEing the
light. The York River Line. which is
the connection of the Southern Railway,
and the old Bay Line, which is the con-
nection of the Scaboard Air Line. have
made big cuts in both passenger and
rreigh; rates.
zone of the features Of the fight was
the establishment CT n line 10 Norfolk
by the York River Line. This provoked
the establishment OF n line Of steamers
from Baltimore to Richmond by :he old
BAY Line. NCrfolk, Portsmouth and Old
Point were places 10 which the old Bay
Line ran for years undiSturbcd by the
Southern. and on The c:hcr hand. the
Scaboa-d did no: compete for the Rich
mond business OF the York River Line.
When the relations which had existed
between the two systems were severed.
former methods were cast aside and the
WIN" was carried irto each others .crri-
tory. Transportation men had their ideas
of conservatism shocked at the rates
which were announced, and II was free
ly predicted tina: financial ruin would
be the ultimate result of suol policy.
1T is believed that any basis of set
tlement between the principals would
mean n restoration of the situation on
the bay as it originally existed This
would call for the withdrawal by che
York River' Line of it's service to Nor
folk and by the Bay Line IF It's line To
Richmond. This arrangement would al
so lead to 4 rCtu:n to the old rites in cN-
iS,:encc before the breach between the
VT companies.
y FAR REACHING INFLUENCE.
Another effect of IN agreement OF
the mo companies would be the fixing
Of stable rates In the Southern territory
reached by :Ee two systems. This, II Is
recognized, would have n far-rcaching
influence upon the railroad situation in
the South. An association is in exist
ence which has for its object the main
tenlnce of rates. but. iraSmuoh as the
Scahoa:d Air Line lis not a member of
this body, and has refused all along 10
so into 1t, the stability OF rates is AN
uncertain quantity. The association is
controlled by the Southern Railway and
its allied lines. and this Is one Of the
causes which has made the Scaboard
keep out. Should the controversy be-
tween the two systems be ended it Is
possible tEsSt the Seaboard may enter
the association.
The Selboird recently put nto effect
IL diferen.ial railroad ra:c. by which IL
sells tickets at 4 lower rate than Its
competitors, Ia make up for train and
t!me advantages which are possessed by
them. 1t was thought that this would
precipitate a war Of passenger rates.
but The Southern hallway decided not
20 meet the reduction. AS the basis of
this action is one recognized by the
trunk lines. it is likely that This differ
entail will he allowed to stand.
Another poim; OF difference between
the two systems is the demand of the
Seaboard that it be given equal facili-
ties with the Southern by connecting
lines TO the NJn>h and 10 the South OF
its own o. for through sleeping ca!
service. This represents the desire OF
the Seaboard to run through sleeping
cars from New York TO Atlanta"