The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-05-10

Southern Railway Is Willing To Trade
With the Louisville and Nashville.

The report that the Southern railway and
the Louisville and Nashville railroad have
settled the litigation over the Georgia
railroad lease is denied by Mr.. Samuel
Spencer.
President Milton IT, Smith declines to
make amy statement about the matter.
The truth Of the matter seems TO be that
negotiations are in progress looking to the
sole control OF the lease by the Louisville
and Nashville. In other words, the South
ern. or the Central or McsSrs. Ryan X
Thomas may transfer any interest In the
Georgia lease which they may have 10 the
Louisville and Nashville.
This would not mean the bottling up OF
any plant but would give this part of tho
south two strong competing trunk lines,
touching each other at Atlanta, Macon
Augusta. Chattanooga. Birmingham. Mont
gomory. Cincinnati. Louisville. Memphis
and New orleans.
There would be no mistake about the
competition These are the two great sys-
tens competing IN the south for east and
west traffic and they are hard lighters
Both systems are oliicered by able men,
Zach management Is jealous Of its proper
~. its territory and its earnings. Both
managcments are progressive and believe
I'M giving the highest standard OF service
Through the Central. the Southern ac-
quircd a beneficiary interest in the Georgia
lease. a few months ago quite play was
going on for control of certain other roads
infwhch thc Georgia Is an important stock
holder. The contest between The Louisville
and Nashville and the Southern was keen
and there was far more involved than APP
pcaroL on tae surface.
From what can b. learned II seems that
the Southern has Offered 10 sell its inter
est IN ihe Georgia with al that carries TO
the Louisville and Nashville Presidents
Spencer and SIni,h have had more than
one conference within the last tNr months
One Of these interviews was held ia At
laUta- L. IS probable that the southern
wanted more than the Louisville and Nash
willie cared Go pay, but the prospects seem
more than fair Tor an AGREEMENT which
would give the Louisville aad Nashville
control OF the Georgia's lease n such a
trade Is completed 81 viii disarm in meas
ure tle criticisms which have been m AIDE
against one company trying % coatrol
every l-liI.E- d would be an acceptance 81
strong competition ANA when there ls COM
petition. the hostility 20 large systems loses
u.s. force tn" Louisville and Nashville IS
NOW in control ~ Tie Georgia road and 81
Is throwing all the traffic possible over that
line Since t1- control became effective.
the Cpurpla's earnings have shown an IN
cr,.s- moalh after month
The Louisville and Nashville IS uow max
iue the route through Atlanta and Au-
Eusta an export line. n Mr.. Smith secures
tle Gtor-ia's iea~e hc VIII D. likely To
grt into CharlsSt cor Port Royal lie
r,1rnes these points now. Of course. but
over connections and not over tracks which
tfh LHu.-Vilie alld Nashville controls.
lu reply Tee o. telt-rlm frdm The Con-
stituton. asking for Information abou; the
s.t,'-men; ~ the ease and - agreement
Relative to ihe Georsis. President samuel
Spencer ~ .rei yesterday as follows.
"t.atfnr Constitution There is no such