The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-26

The citizens Of WiIm:Hgtoc have
attempted time an1 again 10 get the
Seaboard Air Line to give a better
service on the DAD running from
Wilmington to Hamlet. but their
every wish has been utterly disre-
earded and the authorities have even
made matters worse by dis continuing
q number OF. nag stations between
here and Hamlet. Stores are located
at many of the stations or near them
and the disseminating of these stations
some of which mad been observed
for the past twenty years. IS a great
hardship to people living along the
line.
TIE law requires that before a sta
ton is discontinued permission shall
be secured from the corporation
commission. h eaboard diScon-
tnued the stations OH the Carolina
Central without getting IN permits
sion whatever from the corporation
commission. When this same matter
OF disseminating stations came up
before the corporation commission
some weeks ago, Mr.. A. w. Tows-
ley, superintendent of this division
of the $. a. L., commended hat as
the discontinued stations fwere not
placed on his time table as stations
that he had a right to have them
discontinued as they were not re-
garded as stations. The chairman
of the corporation commission IN
formed Mr.. Towsley that he was in
error, that it was not necessary for
the stations to be put down on the
time table TO constitute them sta
lions
The corporation commission then
issued an order to the SeabOard re-
quiring that the stations be observed.
The officials of the Seaboard pre-
tended that they would observe his
order, and the stations were re-eStab-
lished only to be discontinued again
by an order which went into effect
OF. January 18th.
The following letter has cen sent
by the Wilmington Chamber of Com
merce to all shippers who are mem
bers of the Chamber:
TO Members:
The Seaboard Air Lines new man
agement nave shown their hand. You
viii recall that the S. A. l.. issued a
<atrcuIar in November disseminating
flag stations between Wilmington and
Hamlet, and that this Chamber car
ried the matter to the corporation
commission and had the stations re-
stored. Investigation disclosed that
Che s. y. L. had warrant or
color of law discontinued these sta
lions, and the prompt action of the
corporation commission in the prem
ises was supposed to have definitely
settled the matter; but in this sup
position We have been woefully dis
appinted, and the purpose Of this
railway system to disregard its pub
lie obligations in direct defiance of
law has been made manifest by the
of a circular wtthou au-
thority of law and to which publicity
was never given, under date Of jan
uary Sth, effective January 18th. dis
continuing all the stations, with the
possible exception of one, restored
by the order of the corporation COM
mission. The matter has been again
carried to the commission
1t is the purpose of this letter not
90 advise YOU of the situation.
:, but 10 suggest that the Wilmington
shippers tender shipments, in the
regular ours of business. for these
abolished stations. and in the event
that they are refused to require the
agent to endorse across the face of
the B. l., yer his signature as agent
formal notice of refusal. The law
cannot be violated with impunity.
and its infracuon subjects the Of
Tending party to penalty.
This Chamber Will prosecute all
infractions of the law If shippers,
acting on the suggestion herein, will
procure the evidence of refusal ot
shipments
we would indeed rove ourselves
simple TO expect any relief other than
by force. The S. A. l.. has given un-
mistakabie evidence of its purpose to
ignore the just needs and business
requirements of this city, and the
public is not powerless to gain re-
dress If its rights are vigorously as
serted.
NYou are earnestly requested TO
support. by your individual actions,
this Chamber in its efforts to safe
guard the public welfare.
Yours respectfully.
~. A. TAYLOR, President"