Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-17
THE STATE ROAD.

There has been no legislation In recent
years OF more general importance to the
people Of Georgia, and which has more
excited and agirated the temper Of the
members Of the last general assembly,
than the bin providing for the building Of
new depot by the state, on the terminal
property OF the Western and Atlantic
railroad in the city OF Atlanta 1t Is
question the true status OF which many
OF our people are in ignorance. For many
years serious complaints have been made
that the union passenger depot facilities
at Atlanta have been entirely inadequate
20 accommodate either comfortably or
safely the enormous number Of passenger
trains daily going IN and out OF the city
10 meet the heavy demands of the travel
ing public The old union shed now used
IN Atlanta was erected some years after
the war TO accommodate about one-tenth
OF the business now being done there. The
depot was erected and paid for jointly by
the state. the Central OF Georgia railway,
the West Point railway and the Georgia
Railroad company. These three railroads
have enjoyed the free and undisturbed use
OF the depot without further cost 10 them
since that time. except the small amount
the original cost Of the building and their
prorata cost OF its maintenance. The
Southern railway. the Georgia Pacific and
Seaboard Air Line roads, constructed
since the building OF the depot. pay a
goodiy annual rental 20 the lessee Of the
state road for the privilege OF trackage
20 and use OF the shed for receiving and
cischarging passengers who travel over
their roads to and through Atlanta
The legislature two years ago passed
resolution providing that the special at
torney Of the state road should inquire
: into the use OF the depot by the Central,
West Point and Georgia railroads. to see
a. - Of HnrnN for
many years had not already absorbed the
original investment they put in the con-
str1ction and maintenance OF the proper
~. and to take steps to secure Zee SIM
Die title TO the state for the entire value
OF the property. forcing the three roads
above named 10 pay a rental for the ru-
tore use OF the depot. as other roads oc-
cupying IL are now doing.
Since that time nothing has been done
IN regard 10 the matter, at least no report
has been made back 20 the legislature on
the subject The necessity for more e1-
tended depot facilities at Atlanta became
50 urgent By the travelling public and the
10 passenger trains daily coming In and
going out OF the city that the state rail-
road commission Through its vested legal
authority issued an order requiring either
the construction OF a larger union pas
senwer depot on the states property. In
lieu OF the present old shed. or that the
roads must construct different depots
on their own property, unless In the
event the state refused to bulls tne me. sevs ever.
III roads Jointly agreed 10 build and occu-
Nv a union depot built somewhere else
IN the city
The States Monopoly.
The state road, through her owner
ship OF the union passenger depot at At
lanta. has for many years controlled
monopoly OF the passenger railway traffic
TO that city. All the other roads have oc-
crufed the position Of tenants and have
been subservient TO the VIII Of the lessee
Of the state road. Realizing the tmpor-
tance OF retaining to the state the monop-
oily which she had 50 many years held.
and which was a valuable item In the
value and lease OF the road. and TO guard
against the state road becoming a tenant
and servant in the occupancy of a union
passenger depot built by one or more OF
the other roads entering Atlanta, a bin
was introduced in the legislature in the
fan OF 1900 providing for the construction
Of a new depot on the present site Of the
state roads terminal facilities in Atlanta
and appropriating $4,000 for the purpose.
The bill further provided that the sigma
lures OF the different presidents Of all the
other roads entering Atlanta should be Sc
cured agreeing 20 occupy the new depot
for the next ls years or during the term
OF the present lease OF the state road TO
the Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis
railroad. which expires in 1913. the roads
10 jointly pay TO the state per cent on
the states investment and 10 pay this
rental quarterly. Under this proposition
the state would agree 10 build the new
depot. protect its terminal facilities az
Atlanta. maintain the value OF its lease
rental and hold the monopoly which she
now enjoys with regard 10 the passenger
travel at Atlanta To that proposition all