The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-29
COMPROMISE is OFFERED
BY Georgia Railroads Anent Passenger
Rates-Ask Two and Half-Cent
Basis on Larger Lines.

According to representatives of i'm
portant interests very close to the rail-
roads, the lines in Georgia will make
no fight against the order OF the state
railroad commission making reduced
passenger rates effective September
I'd, but will offer a compromise propo-
sition instead, asking for the estab-
lishment of a fat 1-2 cent a mile
basis on the larger railroads, if not
upon all lines.
This proposition is said to have been
studiously considered by practically all
the executive officers of the different
roads operating in the state. A meet
ing behind closed doors has been held
in Atlanta. One of the officials pres
ent laconica!ly remarked that the Ala
bama situation was being discussed.
Notwithstanding the report that the
Georgia rate reductions were not final.
ly disposed of, it is known that, ac-
cording to the present plans, no fight
will be made against the reductions.
The ru1nors that have constantly in
creased in their circulation prescribe
the following method Of procedure by
the railroads:
The suggestion that the new CON-
mission, which will be organized by
the last Of the week, revoke the pro-
posed graduated rates ordered by the
present commission, End establish, in
stead, a fiat 2 1-2-cent mile scale,
has been made. This scale to be ef.
fective upof all the larger railroads,
including the Central of Georgia, the
Southern railway, the Western and At
lantic, the Atlanta and West Point.
the Atlantic Coast Line, the Seaboard
Air Line, the Georgia railroad, the
Georgia Southern and Florida, the
Charleston and Western Carolina, the
Louisville and Nashville and the Ma
con, Dublin and Savannah.
It is not known whether the smaller
lines will be a party to the 2 1-2-cent
basis Or not, but it is possible that
they will continue to operate upon a
Scent or more bases, as they could
not be affected any more under the
compromise scale than the proposed
rates of the present commission.
Although the Louisville and Nash.
Vile and the Macon, Dublin and Sa-
vannah lines are classified at 3 cents
a mile, under the proposed rates ef-
fective September I'd, it has been
pointed out that owing to their con-
nections with some Of the larger roads
they will be placed under the 1-e-cent
a mile basis.
The larger roads connected with
these interests, so it is said, will be
willing to sacrifice the possibilities OF
the scent mile basis so as to place
the roads upon the same footing for
convenience of arranging the tariffs
as we'll as the profit of the patrons.
Although the Western end Atlantic
railroad would be in class "a" the two
cents mile class, and the Louisville
and Nashville in class 3D. at three
cents a mile, the Western and At
lantic is virtually Louisville and
Nashville interest, and under rate of
2 1-2-cent mile basis, the Western
and Atlantic would be raised to that
basis and the Louisville. and Nashville
lowered a cent a mile.
The Macon, Dublin and Savannah
would operate under the three-cent a
mile scale under the proposed rates,
but the Seaboard Air Line which op-
crates the NJ. D. and S., is in class
"C'' at IL cents a mile, and the
fat basis would place them both under
the same tariffs.
If the smaller roads are not able
to operate under 2 1-2-cent a mile
basis it is not probable that the larg-
er roads will ask for any reduction
as the establishment of the compro-
mise rate will not affect them.
The principal reason that is said to
govern the roads is the alleged dis
examinations that the rates make when
two parallel lines are placed in differ
ent classes.