The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-22
'ermlnaIr in New Orleans.

and Southern Railway visited this city to take part in with other trafhc om- oials of lines interested in the New Orleans Terminal Company failed to de- velop on account of the absence of Vice-President Riddle of the Frisco System. Colonel Russell today. in talk ing terminali matters with some raii- road men. aaid:
 While the object of my visit to New Orleans has noe been accomplished, yet the time has been made profitable use of as Mir. Leach, our very capable representative here, and myself have been able to catch up in matters that have been hanging fire for quite a while for lack of opportunity for us to meet. Leach has our company af- fairs in first class shape and l take this opportunity of saying so to The states.
 ''Yes. 1t is true that the Frisco peo- pie have signified their intention oi abandoning what is known as the Tn- pelo Route, via the M. and o. from Tupelo to Meridian, and thence over the Northeastern to New Orleans. Ali ter December 31 this year the Frisco will no longer use the lines of the two companies mentioned. I don't know how the Frisco will come into New Or- leans after the termination of the con tract with the M. and O. and the Northeastern, and have no contectures to make.
 NJ. and o. Relation to Terminal Not Affected.
 "The contract that exists was termin- able at six months' notice. and that term expires at the end of the year A point in this connection that | want to make plain, if The States will kind ly assist me, and that is the fact that Frisco contract about expiring will in no manner affect the Gtatus of the Mo- NaT 1w~ ~n4A fn interests The M. and o. Is still and will continue to be as important fac- tor in the operation of these terminals as they have always been.
 T can not urge too strongly on the public a clear conception of the status of affairs over this matter, as so much misconceptiop in the past has crept been cleared away.
 ''rhe terminal company here and down at Chalmette. and all that the term or title applies to, is the joint property of the Southern Railway and the Frisco System, share and share alike. Now the Southern Railway, not being initial physically to New Orleans, has made the Mobile and Ohio its cur- ator or custodian of these interests to operate them to the best advantage, and the M. and o. has in turn nominated the New Orleans and Northeastern as it's funnel through which the trahic handled shall flow in and out, the Mo- bile and Ohio acting in such matters exactly as if 1t was physically initial and operated over rails that it had laid down and owned.
 '"The Mobile and Ohio ofEice. in this city, in charge of Assistant General Freight Agent Leach, discharges sub- stantially all the functions attaining to headquarters Jurisdiction, makes rates, etc, maintains a customs import and export department, and entirely operates certain conditions officially that I need not now refer to. I speak on this matter at length to show the public how vitaly interested the NJ. and O. is in the prosperity of the Cres- cent City, even if we are, as some have critically said, foreign corporation.
 'The various interests operating and interested in the terminal property have agreed to for the better conduct of traffic to consolidate their interests and have one directing head, and that Is why the New Orleans Terminal ex- ists. Mir. Berg is the president and in charge.
 while I am not at liberty to speak for the Frisco interests, 1t would ap- pear rational to assume that owning, as it does. a one-half interest in the terminal property, some provision will be made whereby the traffic of that company vii be handled when its con- tract with the M. and O. and North eastern expires. The key to this is only in the possession of the proper Frisco authorities. See them.'
 Up to President Davidson to Say Now.
 In connection with the abrogation of the ''Tupelo Route" contract by the Frisco, attempts have been made to secure authority for statement as to future operations, but without avail. It appears that President Davidson of the Frisco is the only man that can talk ex cathedra on the subject and he is supposed to be somewhere in Texas just now. Unofficially, however, it is understood by local railroad men that the Frisco may attempt to use the Val ley Route all the way from Memphis until such times as Colorado Southern Is built, but the fact that the Valley is now under the domination of E. H. Hartman may create difficulty, even though there is a contract of long standing existing. It is an open secret that Hartman viewed with disfavor the making by ex-President Fish of this contract, the Frisco being viewed by Hartman as a corporation who were invading territory heretofore looked on as exclusive Southern Pacific and allied interests hunting grounds. Hence the Frisco Is looked on today as having lots of trouble ahead in It's search for entry into New Orleans.
 The Gould interests are said to be resisting the claim that the Frisco says 1t has to certain traffic rights over the Iron Mountain until certain financial settlements are made. and if the liar riman people block the Valley route. with the Tupelo Route abandoned. and the Colorado Southern a long ways from being available for traffic. it Is not hard 10 figure out that the Frisco is States.