The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-09
BELIEVED IN NEW YORK.

BELIEVED IN NEW YORK.
The following dispatch was received
by The Virginlan last night from New
York:
There are strong Indications that the
troubles III the Southern traffic situa-
tion, growing out OF the independent
ana aggressive attitude of the Sea-
board Air Line, are soon TO be ended,
ana that the policy OF that company
will hereafter be one of peace and CO.
operation. This change of policy on the
part OF the SeabOard Is said to be due
10 the TACT that It's conduct has been
most expensive and with no material
gam for the Shareholders.
Within recent period the Scaboard
mas manifested II peaceful demcanor to
us competitors, and II Is now stated OH
high authority that negotiations are
pending, in which the Pennsylvania Is
actively concerned, look.ng to the ces-
sallon OF hostilitics on Chesapeake Bay,
whlch have been IN progress for two
years between the ScabOard and South
ern. The Bay Line and Southern have
been maintaining u very Improbable
ana peculiar warfare, ostensibly in de-
Tense OF principle and the result has
been far from efrecting a withdrawal
from the Bay of either line. The Sea-
hoard Insisted that the only solution of
the problem was the Southcm's with
drawal and in this tile Southern did
not concur
There are evidences that al honora-
bic compromise between the two linE,
Is now under consideration and the
prediction IS made that the Seuboard
will socG cooperate with other South
ern lines and be satisfied with It's share
Of the business. with the prospects OF
dividends in the near future"
The Baltimore American says OF the
matter:
THE rate war between the SeaBoart.
Air Line and the Southern railway is
still on, and no official statement has
been given of the contamination OF ne
Eotiations for a settlement. Since the
Seaboard announced 4 differential pas
scnEer rate to make up the difference in
facilities between those enjoyed by the
Southern, in the way of n through
sleeping car service to Northern points
conferences have been held repeatedly
by officials OF the two systems, look
ing 10 an adjustment of the whole trou-
bic, but officials still claim that the sit
uation is unchanged. Vice-Prcsidcnt ST.
John. OF the Seaboard Air Line. and
Vice-Presidcnt Finley, of the Southern
railway, have boon the principal con-
ferees In trying to effect n settlement
President Hoffman, OF the Scaboard
says that there arc no new features
i'll the fight, which means that nothing
definite has yet been accomplished. 1t
is one OF the bitterest rate wars that
has ever occurred, and has given the
officials directors and Stockholders of
both systems no little amount OF trou-
bic and worry. settlement OF the
fight would relieve them of Il great bur
den, and, as sO1n as II is ACCOMPLISHED
they will he only too glad to spread the
fact broadcast.
THE current statements that an
agreement has been reached are dis
credited by many closely identified with
one or the other company, while others
think there is some ground for them.
There is no doubling the fact that the
cut rates are still in effect. and that no
official notice has yet been issued of
restoration of the old rates In The near
future. The fight is practically on the
bay, and the cut in rates was big The
present freight rates between Baltimore
and Norfolk, Portsmouth and Old Point
Comfort over the Old Bay Line, which
is the connection OF the Scaboard Air
Line, are 5ccnts per one hundred pounds
on first second. and third-class and
3 cents on fourth, fifth and sixth-class,
rs against the original rates of 1920
II. il. II and cents, respectively. on ,thc
SIN classes. The same rates are In cf-
feet on the York river line. the connec-
ton Of the Southern railway
The passenger rates ljatwcen the
same r'oints are 81 for n single trip,
and S1.5o for round "trip ticket. as
! against So for the former and S. for the
latter, which was charged before the
war begun.
The fight was brought on by the
York River Line establishing a line to
Norfolk, which stirred up the Old Bay
lime to establish Il line to Richmond
F'or years prior to that, by an agree
meni. the Old Bay Line did not com
pete for the Richmond business of the
YORK River Line. and the York River
Line did not compete with the Old
Bay Line for Norfolk, Portsmouth and
Old Point business"