The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-23
RAILROAD GOSSIP
SOMETHING ABOUT COTTON
 RATES.
State of Georgia After Central on Account of Its Holdings in the Western-L. G N.
 New Book.

A short time at a meeting of the Southeastern Freight Association at Old Point Comfort, Va, concentra- ton tax of cents, whatever that IS, was put upon every 1U0 pounds of cot ton. A meeting or Georgla cotton men was held in Atlanta Tuesday to discuss this matter and The Constitution says
 "The cotton men cuaim that 1t IS unjust for the railroads to make this charge. as the congresses do all the handling of the cotton and the rall- roads are put to no extra cost what ever, where cotton Is shipped. The buyers state also that as this rate applies only to the territory covered by the SouE heastern Freight Associa- tion--that Is Georgia. Alabama. North and South Carolina-lhat is discrimi- nation against the farmers and buy CTS of this section. forcing them 10 pay excessive charges which are not borne by other States. thus placing this section at a disadvantage in sell ing their cotton in the worlds mar kets
 Rates from these States are already very high. From Atlanta to Bruns- wick te ate is 43 cents pc one hun dred pounds, so fixed by the Georgia State Railroad Commission when Southern roads were not in near so good a financial condition as they now are. Shippers claim that 33 cents is high, and returns a fine revenue to the transportation companies and the rate should be lowered insteSd of raised.
 "The 3 cents per one hundred pounds charged for reshipping. together wltt an additional charge. which the raii- roads have agreed to make of l l-2 cents per 100 pounds for shipside de- livery at the ports, means practically a raise in the rate of l-2 cents yer 100 pounds above the 43 cent rate fixed by the State Corsssission, it is claimed, and figured against the probable re- ceipts of the season will be about $SoO,- 900 transferred from the pockets of the producers to the coffers of the raii- roads.
 In the organization of the associa- ton yesterday various committees were appointed, one of which was to see the railroad authorities and endeavor to have them rescind this new rule. All of the principal buyers of Georgia. Ala bama and the two Carolinas are mem bers of the association and they state that all means will be used not only tc resist these alleged excessive charEes of the railroads, but to take Ctnei measures conducive to the bcnent o lnG ITduc dhu SOhSS4N~h"AJ good of the entire South"
 | The railroad people claim that tn; extra charge was put on in order tt meet their extra expense incurred Iron reshipping the cotton from Interior points, This method of hauling cottor | has been in effect for the past 1ltteer years and shippers claim IL '1 th' | only way the business can be done un der the present system of freight rates The Georgia Railroad owns a large amount of stock in the Western of Alabama Railroad. The Atlanta Con- | stitution of yesterday contained the | following in reference to Georgia claim for taxes against the Georgia l Railroad on account of its AlaoAns | property:
 | 'sThrough It's attorney, Major J. B. | Cummings, of Augusta, notice has beer | served on Comptroller General Wright
 that the demand of the State of Georgis | for taxes of $1, ,500,0 900 worth of Atlants and West Point. stock held by tht | company from 1881 till 1901 will not ht
 paid.
 The Central of Georgia Railway | Company and the Georgia Railway Company originally owned the entire | capital stock of the Western Railway | of Alabama. The Central has trans. | ferred all of it's stock to the Centra Trust Company of New York as col lateral security for a bond issue. This
 road claims that inasmuch as the title | to the stock is not now in the name o1 the Central of Georgia Railway Com. | pany, it is not liable for the taxes. l The Georgia Railroad still owns and
 has possession of its half of the capita | stock of the Western Railway of Ala | bama and claims that the Georgia l Legislature has no authority to impose
 any tax upon its holdings in Alabama
 There Is the probability of an ad. | justment of the matter between the | State and the Central, but the Georgia | Road will contest the States right tC | collect these taxes by a bill In tho
 United States Circuit Court. This cast | will involve about $200000 and vii
 present many important questions, 1T
 the State law relative to taxation" | The Western Railroad pays State
 county and city taxes in this State a
 the regular tax rate imposed by law.
 The Louisville and Nashville Rail
 road has out a booklet, Kentucky tn | Beautiful" It is interesting, illus trated and descriptive of many beauti
 full and historic places in Kentucky. /
 copy can be obtained by sending 1
 cents in stamps or silver to c. L. Stone
 General Passenger Agent, L. and N
 Railroad. Louisville Ky, or to Sid P
 Jones, District Passenger Agent Bir
 mngham. ..-'
 Everybody in Montgomery a few
 years ago knew Capt John A. Calvin
 who was popular railroad conductor
 For quite long time he has been liv ing in Atlanta. where he was the bag
 gage master in the Union depot. Hi
 health has measurably failed him President Wickersham has temporaril,
 released him, MT. H. Frank West talk
 ing his place. His friends here hope h.