The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-21
DID NOT INFLUENCE THE CUT.
HEAD OF :. A. l.. SYNDICATE SAYS
1T HAS NOT ASSUMED CONTROL.

HEAD Ot =. a. =. ~ NDitAIE SAYS
1T HAS NOT ASSUMED CONTROL.
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams Said the
SeabOard Air Lines Cut in Cotton
Rates To Portsmouth From At
Ianta and Athens Has No CODnec-
ton with the Recent Transfer of
the Controlling Interest to the
Syndlcate-NOt Relieved the Cut
VIII Materially Affect the Cotton
OutIOOk-Ship Rates ON Cotton Are
ieing Cut AIsO-StapIe Goes to
Foreign Ports at Very Low Rates
on Account of Small Foreign De-
mand.
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams president of
the Georgia and Alabama Railroad and
the head of the big syndicate that recently
bought a controlling share in the stock of
the Seaboard Air Line, was in the city
yesterday.
Mr.. Williams was seen by a representa-
tive of the Morning News. He was very
busy. lhe spreading affairs and UNDER
takings Of the Georgia and Alabama and
vannah demanding his attention and keep
ing him in close communication with local
officials of the companies all day. He left
last night for his home at Richmond.
The new power in the Seaboard's affairs,
however found time to say that the big
cut that has been made by that road in
cotton rates from Atlanta and Athens to
Portsmouth, Is not a consequence of the
deal through which he and his associates
secured control OF the road Mr.. viii
dams would not intimate, though. whether
he was IN accord with the cut or whether
the policy of getting business, even though
rates had TO suffer, was that which win
be followed by the Air Line
MIR. Williams said the transfer to the
syndicate has been made. but that nothing
in the way of organization or reorganiza-
ton has yet been effected. He did not
say when the shake up, ii shake up there
is to be, among the officials of the bag
system will come.
The cut made by the Seaboard to Ports
mouth, or to Norfolk. as the cities lie vir-
tuaily together, was one of "A cents on the
hundred, thus bringing il down to %
cents, The Central Railroad, the princ-
pal route from these cities TO Savannah,
will meet the cut at once, thus bringing
its rate 20 10 cents on the hundred, as
there is a differential in the rates in favor
of Savannah in Atlanta and Athens ter
ritory.
An effort was made yesterday to obtain
the Central Railroads side of the ques-
ton, but none of its freight officials were
i'm the city. President Conner and Vice
President Egan were also absent II SIM
ply became a necessity for the Central to
make the reduction TO meet the Seaboard's
slash, however, as the road would get no
cotton from the cities from which the rates
are cut il shippers could send to Norfolk
for Is cents hundred pounds less than
TO Savannah.
Cotton men do not see that the cut is
10 have any special effect on Norfolk's s,
Savannah's or any of the ports receipts
to which the reduction is to be met by
other lines. As the rates viii remain rel
atively the same, there will be no differ
ence in the situation. The same differen-
tial will have the tendency TO give Savan-
nah the share Of freight that should come
from its legitimate territory, and Il Is be-
lieved the receipts at the several ports
will not be materially affected.
The reduced rates went into effect yes
terday. II is believed as soon as the roads
have all put their rates on the reduced
equality notice will be given to the COM
merce commission and the state commits
sion of an intention to advance to the old
figures. This advance cannot be made,
however, until ten days after notice of
the intention is given, so that, as a great
deal of cotton may be expected TO move
during the season of low rates. the rail-
roads viii lose considerable. and the own
ers of cotton will be the gamers
The Seaboard made the cut because IL
thought the other roads interested i'm
handling cotton from the points from
which the cut was made had not been
"totin' fair" The roads apportion the cot
ton from points OF large shipments. and
every one of them is expected to get 50
much of the seasons movement. Some.
times il happens that a road gets a little
the better of the other parties to the
agreement, and shippers get "a reduction
ln rates or rebate. Soon the other lines
begin 70 grow tired of this and kick IS
made. II the kick is Intellectual, another
pan Is resorted TO aud rates are cut. the
very thing happening for the avoidance of
winch The apportionmeut had been agreed
upon. Traffic men say these apportion-
ments are the best possible way TO handle
me cotton situation and give shippers sta
be ana uniform rates.
ING complaint Of the Seaboard was that
COTTON was going to Charleston in greater