Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-11
REPORT
MADE THE
HOUSE
JOE HILL HALLS COMMITTEE
CHARGES LESSEES WITH
GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF UNI
ION DEPOT.

The special committee on the Western
and Atlantic railroad. of which Hon.
j. II. Hall. of Bibb, is chairman. has
submitted its report to the legislature.
The report goes for the lessees of the road
for the manner in which the Atlanta
union depot is kept, and recommends that
the governor be instructed to have the
lessees under the lease act to repair the
depot at once. The report says the old
shed is In dangerous condition and that
the roof is likely to fall at any time.
The following is the report:
I'VE find from a personal examination
of the depot that the contract between the
lessee and the state has not been kept as
to said union depot in the city of Atlanta
We find that the roof has either fallen or
been removed to prevent it's falling from a
large portion OF the shed over the tracks.
The roof has been off of said building so
far as we can learn for the space of about
three months, and there seems to be on
the part of the lessee no present inten-
ton to replace the same. We further find
that the portion of the roof that has not
actually fallen or been removed is
In a dangerous condition and should
be removed at once. Unless it is
removed it is in danger of falling
at any time-and the safety of
the travelling public who are compelled to
use said depot is imperilled by the lessee
leaving the roof in it's present condition.
1--WE further find that the whole build
ing is out of repair. 1t should be repaint-
ed entirely. new roof should be put on
the shed, If not on the building attached
thereto. We are compelled to say that
the building is not only out of repair but
is in a general state of dilapidation and
fast going to decay. While We have no
evidence Of 1t, II seems to be the purpose
OF the lessee and the other roads occupy
ing this building not to put any substan-
tial Improvement or repairs upon the,
same, but to permit 1t to fall into gen.
eral state of decay.
1--WE md that the lessee has failed en-
tirely to keep it's contract with the state
in reference to this depot; that the depot
in Atlanta isgnot kept in the condition OF
first-class roads in Georgia either to safe
ly or expeditiously carry on the business
of the road.
1--WE had before us the president of the
Nashville Chattanooga and st. Louis, the
lessee of the state road, and he attempted
to offer as an excuse why this property
had not been kept up to the same condi-
ton of the other road and that the state
had never been put in possession of but
three-tenths of the building, that the 9TH
er portion of the building was at the time
of the lease and it is now claimed by the
Central, the Atlanta and West Point and
the Georgia. We cannot agree 10 Lnls
claim on part OF the lessee.
1--WE further recommend the adoption by
the legislature of a resolution requiring
the Governor forthwith to proceed under
the terms of the lease act to compel the
lessee to comply with it's contract with
the state and to compel the repair and
renovation of said building and unless
immediate steps are taken by the lessee
to comply with it's contracts we believe
that the state will suffer very great loss
from almost complete demolition of said
passenger station.
I'VE further recommend that In the
event the said lessee company presents as
its excuse for not complying with its con-
tract the claim that 1t is only in posses
sion of three-tenths of said building that
the governor take immediate steps to eject
the Central, the Atlanta and West Point
and the Georgia Railroad companies from
said building and deliver possession OF
the whole of said building from any claim
from any of said companies whatever.
JOS. H. HALL, Chm,
PLEASANT A. STOVALL,
w. S. McHENRY,
E. L. RANEY,
r. b. BLACKBURN.