The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-04
WAR SCARE CUTS RECEIPTS.
COL. POPE TALKS OF THE PRESENT
AND WHAT MAY COME.

business Has Fallen on with the
Railroads since War Talk Has BE-
come ViOIent-EXpOrt Products Are
Moving slowly Owing to the Tn
certainty That ExistS-Ship own
crs Do Not Want to Send Vessels
Away-Mr. Pope Hopes War May be
Averted-It Would Hurt the Rail-
roads-TranspOrtnti Rates for
Troops Would Come Down in Case
of War.
General Freight and Passenger Agent A.
Pope of the Georgia and Alabama Rail
road joins with the officials who say, "Let
us have peace" Mr.. Pope does not think
this country has just cause for war
with Spain, and says he does not believe
in the doctrine of humanitarianism being
carried too far.
MIR. Pope says the uncertainty as to just
what the outcome of the present strained
relations existing between this country and
Spain is injuring the traffic of the rail-
roads to a considerable extent. He finds
that freight intended for shipment to for,
eign ports is moving slowly and this is
is moving in but small quantities to Sa-
vannah for shipment to foreign countries.
Ship owners do not care, says Mr.. Pope,
to have their vessels go out flying the
American flag, when they might be inter
cepted by the enemy's cruisers before they
could reach their destinations or get back
to their home ports. War might be de-
| ala An h
and the first intimatlon of it received by
their captains might be the descent of Il
! hostile vessel.
| The same difficulty reaches 20 a certain
extent 10 vessels of other nationalitles
| there being no assurance that Spain and
| the United States will be the only ma,
| tons plunged into the war, if il should
come. Neutral nations vessels, when fly
ing their flags. Mr. Pope says, could he
stopped and have demands for their pa
| pers made. These are matters that deter
owners from having their vessels put to
| sea.
War Mr.. Pope believes, would be the
means of loss to the railroads He admits
| that there would be a strong movement
| of hay, grain, provisions, clothing and
all kinds of army supplies. but does not
think it would be sufficient to offset the
decrease that would become evident In the
| amount Oh ITelsHt ndnuleu IN the ordinary
way in time of peace Business would be
stagnated, and shipments of goods would
be infrequent and in small quantities.
When Gen. Bragg's army changed front
after the battle of Shiloh to Chattanooga,
Mr.. Pope was with the road that Is now
the Western Railway of Alabama. He
was the Montgomery agent of the line, ard
managed the transportation of the army
of 26 800 men. He is thus pretty familiar
| txyit Of 70
Quoted. He says the rates charged the
government for the transportation of It's
l troops in time Of peace, which are cents
Y a mile for each even when in large num-
bers, would be lowered during hostllities,
when the quartermaster would ask for the
short line rates, or those that would be
granted the public il similar movements
were contemplated over the lines by Fri
vate parties.
Mr.. Pope says 1t can now be seen that
many people are outstanding their Fe-
sources in anticipation of war. They are
buying but little, and many houses are
not operating on a credit basis Trans
actions being in ready money, purchases
are not so large and the receipts of the
roads are showing IT, 1T is said banks
and all business concerns are trying TO
fix up loans that may be outstanding and
conduct their affairs on a cash basis as
far as possible.
Recently the railroads have been max
ing very good thing out Of the trans
portation of Georgia cattle to Indian Ter
ritory. During the past several months
there have been number of cattle buyers
through the upper and middle portions of
the state securing herds. The roads have
been getting the shipments. The Plant
System has handled many car loads from
the Chattahoochee valley. The cattle are
taken to the Indian Territory to be fat
tened on the luxurious growths of grasses
to be found there and then re-shipped to
one of the Western beef markets.
Bids have just been opened in st. Paul,
Mimi, on the transportation of troops
from a point in Montana to Key West.
The Plant System is represented in the
bidding. The officials Will probably hear
to-day the results OF the bids and learn
which route was selected by the depart
ment Artillery compares are TO be sent
to the new fortifications at Key West.
The information upon which the railroads
made up their bids called for the trans
portation of ten officers, 500 men and ten
horses, with the usual quantity of equip
ment OF late the roads have been MAX
ing very good thing out of the transport
tation of troops. ii
The gross earnings of the Central of
Georgia Railroad for the third week OF
March were $1O0,652 against SS9,O66 for the
same week in 1897. The total earnings from
Jan. !, 1893, to the end of the third week
in March were $1,341, 1852, against 81, 2S7, 256
during the same period In 1897.
The gross earnings Of the Georgia ana
Alabama Railway for the third week in
/, March were s29S97, against $i9,O3l The
total earnings from Jan. !, 1898. to the
end of the third week in March were $685.
POI. against s24l, AL during the same period
in 1897.
Vice President John NJ Egan of the
Central Railroad expects the Brewton and
Pineora Railroad to be completed to Still
more by April IS. The work is progressing
fast, a large force of men being only a
short distance from the town now with
their track laying. Mr.. Egan says 1t has
not yet been determined whether the road
will be built all the way through to Pine