The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-11
EeAN'S SIDE OF THE TROUBLE.
WANTED CONTRACT SIGNED BE-
FORE &. & A. MADE CROSSING.


on the Lines Agreed UpOn-He Is
Not EndeavorinE to Delay the
work of the Construction Com
pany, But simply Desires to Pro-
tcct the Interests of the Central.
President MackaII Declines to Dis
cuss the Question in the Absence
of MIR. Anderson, Who Made the
Agreement with Mr.. Egnn.
The clash between the Central of Georgia
Railway Company and the Georgia and
Alabama Construction as TO the crossing
of the main track of the former company
by the tracks of the latter remains in
statu quo. Nothing was accomplished yes
terday towards a compromise, and in fact,
nothing was attempted, so far as could be
learned
Vice President Egan of the Central
stands pat in his position that the con-
struction company must enter into a con-
tract satisfactory to his company before
the tracks of the construction company
VIII be allowed to be put across No steps
have been taken as yet by the Georgia
and Alabama Company looking to a con-
demnation Of the right of way across the
Centrals line. Mr. J. r. Anderson, of
Charlton, Mackall & Anderson, attorneys
for the company, who made the agree
ment with the Central, was out of the
city yesterday, as was also Mr. Charlton,
the head of the firm, and Mr.. Mackan
would not discuss the matter
When seen in reference 10 the differences
which have arisen between the construc-
ton company and the Central, Vice Pres
ident Egan of the Central made this state
ment:
The Central of Georgia Railway Com
pany did not pursue any course that would
in any way interfere with the Georg a
Construction Company crossing over or APP
propriating the lands of the former COM
pany that were required for right of way.
When the representative of the Georgia
Construction Company called, he was in
formed that only nominal charge wouh
be made for use of the right Of way in the
vicinity of Meldrim station, and where
they required two acres in the vicinity of
the crossing Of the Ogeechee canal, a price
was agreed upon similar 10 the price thai
was paid 10 adjoining property owners. He
was also informed that there would be no
objection to the construction of the rail-
way crossing a mile post No. 2 provided
the usual form of contract was executed
Dy the Georgia CONSTRUCTION Company.
This the Georgia Construction Company
promised TO do, and accordingly 6, AIDED its
line across the right of way of the Gem
trail of Georgia Railway, and ia.d its track
up to the rails of that company. They
were requested before proceeding any fur
Their, TO carry out their agreement in the
matter of execution of contract.
ION Saturday last the officials of the
Central were informed by representative
of the Georgia Construction Company that
the latter company did not wish to execute
that form of contract, making the con-
tentiOn that the laws of the state of Geor-
gia did not require them to do so. on
Monday the president and vice president
of the Georgia and Alabama Railway in
a conference with officials OF the Central
of Georgia Railway Company stated that
they would not execute the contract as
prepared, and at this conference the pres
ident of the Georgia and Alabama Railway
instructed his vice president to condemn
for the Georgia Construction Company
right-of- way over the Central of Georgia
Railway. It was then thought advisable
by the officials of the Central of Georgia,
in order TO protect the interests of that
company, TO lay additional tracks at the
proposed crossing, which was done. At
conference later in The day, at which the
president OF the Georgia Construction
Company, the president of the Georgia and
Alabama Railway Company and the vice
president of the Central OF Georgia were
present the latter refused to recede from
the position which he had taken, contend
ing that the track of the Georgia Con-
strucuon Company was only a switching
track from it's yards 10 the Savannah river
bridge for freight cars, while the tracks
OF the Central of Georgia are their main
line, over which are run more trains than
al any other part of their road, the same
including their daily passenger and freight
trains, their suburban passenger trains
and their numerous transfer trains to the
junction with the Plant System and che
Florida Central and Peninsular, a the
fOur-mile post 1t was commended by the
Central officials that they would be dere-
lict In their duties if they did not throw
al. the safety appliances that are at pres
ent known around this crossing, that IS
to DC used continuously by Them
again, the additional stop was an OBJ
| jectionable feature, and, while the law
may not impose this obligation on the
! Georgia Construction Company the Cen
tral officials asked of them no more or no
| less than what they were willing TO do
themselves IL they crossed the lines of
/ another company; the Central already
| having signed similar contracts with other
companies on the line of its road, and il
/ expects to do so in the future whenever il
| crosses the tracks of another company
/ In nearly every state in the Union, inter
| locking and safety appliances are used at
crossings, the same being classed among
| the advanced methods of rai.roading
1.-THE Central officials declined TO arbi-
! trate claiming that they had no subject
| for arbitration they declined TO refer The
matter TO legal talent, claiming that they
considered Il one of operation and moi of
! law, and in answer TO the threat that pub
| lie sentiment would be against them, they
stated that the pubic would have had
| Just reason to complain II they had not
| taken due precaution for the protection
OF the lives of their passengers, and the
property OF the patrons of their line.
1.-The Central did not ask for any money
compensation for this crossing; only re-
quiring The erection Of certain safeguards
TO prevent accidents. They considered
same quite as necessary as the block sys-
TEN which is in operation between Sa-
vanuah and Medrim, by the Central of
Georgia and the Georgia and Alabama.
and toward the maintenance of which the
latter railway company pays its share.
The question as to the legal right Of the
-.