The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-20
DID NOT GET THE RATE.
FEAR GALA WEEK
CANNOT BE GIVEN.

isied-Rates Are Not as Low as
Asked FOr-SeIIing Dates ana Linz
its Also Not as Desired-A Claim
That the Savannah Lines Did Not
Try as They Might Have Done for
the Rates-A Meeting of Merchants
Will Consider the Offer of the
Committee.
The action of the passenger agents
conference committee with regard
to the application of the mer-
chants of Savannah for a low rate on ac-
count of the gala week IL was expected
to hold during April, is not regarded as
satisfactory by two of the merchants who
were instrumental in having a number of
them come together in the matter, and
who have taken leading part in setting
such a celebration afoot.
The conference committee met day be-
fore yesterday at Atlanta All of the sa-
vannah lines, with the exception OF the
Georgia and Alabama. which is not a
member of the association, were repre-
sented. The Central was represented by
General Passenger Agent ]. C. Halle, the
Plant System by Assistant General Pas
senger Agent II. C. McFadden, and the
Florida Central and Pennsular by Gener-
al Passenger Agent A. o. MacDonel. Mr..
Joseph Rosenheim, chairman Of the body
of merchants that met at the De Soto
some days ago with the general passenger
agents of the Savannah lines, received a
letter yesterday from Commission Joseph
Richardson, chairman of the conference
committee, notifying him of the action
taken by the latter. The letter is as fol-
lows:
Joseph Rosenheim, Esq. Savannah, Ca
Dear Sir: At a meeting of the confer
ence committee of this association held
her this morning, the following resolution
was adopted:
Resolved That a rate of one-fare for
the round trip be applied from all points
in the states Of Georgia, South Carolina
and Florida, excepting Key West Fla,
including Charlotte and intermediate sta
lions in North Carolina and Montgomery,
Opelika, and intermediate stations in Ala
bama. Tickets to be sold April II to 20 in
| elusive, good to return until April "A, 1898.
Also low rate on a scaled basis, same
as used account of South Carolina State
Fair, Columbia, and Charleston gala week,
to be applied from Charleston, Columbia,
Augusta, Atlanta, Columbus, Eufaula, Al
bany, cambridge. Brunswick and inter
mediate stations. Tickets at this low rate
to be sold on two dates to be selected by
the gala week, good to return within two
! days in addition to date of SALE
| The Atlantic Coast Line, Florida East
! Coast Railway and Triton and Northeast
ern Railroad, all members of this asso-
! citation, were not represented a this meet
ing, and WILL of course. have to be con-
cd no cob 4
Key West Railway, Georgia and Alabama
Railway, South Carolina and Georgia Rail
| way, Charleston and Western Carolina
| Railway, Ohio River and Charleston Rail-
! road and Georgia Railroad, none of whom
| are members of the association, will be in
formed of the action taken, apd WILL in
all probability, cooperate with member
| ship lines.
Kindly acknowledge receipt and oblige,
| yours respectfully,
Joseph Richardson,
Chairman.
! The merchants are greatly disappointed
| to learn that the committee did not au-
thorize the rates that had been request
ed. A rate of l cent a mile from points
! in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and
| Florida was asked. 1t was especially de-
sired to have the Florida points included
in the 1-cent-a-mile rate, as the mer-
chants have many customers in that sec
would come in the event of such a cele-
bration as that proposed, and it was to
bring them to Savannah that some of the
merchants interested themselves in the
movement.
Mr.. Rosenhem said that he does not
now believe the celebration can be held;
that it has been from the first contin-
gent upon very low rate being secured.
He does not think there will be any
chance of the merchants continuing be-
hind the movement unless the railroads
concede to them what they have request
ed. He will call a meeting al an early
date, just when, he has not yet decided,
and lay the communication of the chair
man of the conference committee before
them. 1t will be for the merchants to
decide whether they will undertake the
celebra ton.
Mr.. Herman Myers called the meeting
of merchants recently held al the De Soto.
He expressed himself very strongly re-
gerding the refusal of the committee to
grant the rate. He says the lines running
into Savannah had obligated themselves to
advocate the rate before the committee.
and that the result has shown that they
did not do so. He called attention to the
letter stating that the Florida East Coast
Railroad was not represented He said
that the representatives of the Savannah
lines assured the merchants at the Joint
offer whatever If any, objections that
might be made before the conference COM
mittee to the rate being authorized. Mr..
Myers did not hesitate to say that the rep
resentatives of the Savannah lines at the
meeting had not, in his opinion, used their
efforts as they had promised in securing
the rate He went on to say that they were
the only lines represented at the meeting of
the committee that are interested, and that
the rate could surely have passed had it
received the support that they had as
sured the merchants they would render it.
and that the latter had expected them to
give it.
Mr.. Myers Is of the opinion that the
celebration may yet be held if the rail-
roads will reconsider their action ana al
low a more reasonable rate. He trusts
that there will be such a reconsideration.
and is in favor of making another appeal.
He spoke of carrying the matter before
the heads of the railroads to see if greater
concessions cannot be secured 1t is his
opinion that the roads could make more
money by putting on the low rates and
hauling the crowds that are expected In
the event the celebration is held, than
they would make at the higher rate
through their ordinary passenger traffic.
He not only regrets that the committee
did not offer the rate. He finds also from
the letter that the dates of sale Of the