The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-13
Roam HAD TO BE SOLD.
Mr.. Myers Affidavit in the VI. G. n
a. Railroad Case.

One of the most Interesting of the afii-
davits submitted by the Central of Geor-
gia Railway Company as defendant in the
Middle Georgia and Atlantic case, pend
ing in Atlanta, is that of Hon. Herman
Myers. Mr.. Myers was one OF the gen.
tlemen who owned The Middle Georgia and
Atlantic. and his statements regarding It
show the condition in which II stood when
the Central came to the rescue. Following
is the affidavit in part:
4 was a member of the Central COM
mittee, and one of the persons financially
interested in the Middle Georgia and At
lantic Railway and during the negotia-
tons with the Central of Georgia Rail
way Company for the purchase of that
road I was, in the absence of Joseph D.
Weed, chairman, the chairman of the said
central committee, and as such 1, in con-
necuon with other members of the com
mittee, conducted the negotiations with
Mr.. H. M Conner, the president of the
Central of Georgia Railway Company.
Il opened the negotiations with the Cen
trail OF Georgia Railway Company for the
sale of this property by approaching Mr..
II. M. Conner, president. The Central
never took the initiative or made any move
toward the purchase of this property. The
move came from US, the first approach be-
ing made by me TO Mr.. Conner in the
month of December, 1886, the contract be-
ing closed during that month, In common
with the other members of the Central
committee and other persons interested in
the property / was convinced (and am still of
The same opinion) that a sale of the prop
erty by us was absolutely necessary. l
was informed and believe that efforts had
been made by others 10 sell it TO the Geor-
ola Poi. fs.h ha1 saI fbaf ct
that time they were for some reasons I'M
known 10 me not in a condition TO make
the purchase, but would be glad TO take
up the matter later on.
We were unable 10 wait. The property
was in wretchedly unsafe condition, fire.
| quent wrecks were occurring we were in
| hot water all the time with the Railroad
Commission they had given US orders 10
expend money and make improvements on
! the road which orders il was impossible
for US to carry out for want of the funds.
| There was no source of supply for the
money necessary to make these expenli-
| lures except OUT of our own pockets and
we had gone as far as we were willing to
go. We saw further loss staring us in the
face if we put in more money; disaster
was staring Us In the face,
coupled with The Liabilities for heavy
| penalties under the laws of Georgia If we
did not put in more money. There was no
| alternative but sale, and we were driven
to this alternative by the desperate condi-
| ton in which we found ourselves, with a
road in bad condition, not up to the stand
agd of safety, and with no means Of inn
proving it.
1T was under these circumstances that
| l approached the Central of Georgia Rail
| way Company, believing that this prop
| erty was a natural feeder to and branch
| of the Central Railway system, and that
he
| by its purchase of the property. The ele-
ment of competition between the Middle
| Georgia and Atlantic and the Central of
| Georgia Railway Company Gf any actual
| ly existed) did not in any respect enter
| into these negotiations; nor was the pos
sible lessening of such alleged competition
| in any way an inducement thereto; but
| the property, as above stated was sold to
| the Central as a feeder and as a natural
connection with its existing lines"