The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-06-27


time and is now, but it is the purpose
Of the governor to avoid if possible
repetition of the experience of last
winter, when the lack of cars caused
such large loss.
Vice President Murphy stated that
for some time the Cincinnati Southern
had had an adequate car supply; that
the equipment of coal cars had recently |
been very materially increased, and he
could assure the governor that there
would not be any trouble in the future
about giving the state adequate facili-
ties for getting it's output to market.
The question of rates on the coal
from the states mines was then taken
up, Gov. Patterson insisting that the
state should not be Disseminated
against in the transportation of its coal
from the mines, and if possible it
should get rate that would insure it
larger market for the output. Gov.
Patterson stated that he was anxious
to secure markets for the state coal in
the Carolinas and also in Nashville.
The governor stated that the state
could by the use of convict labor mine
its coal at the minimum of cost, aud if
adequate facilities and reasonable rates
were insured abundant markets could
be found in Nashville and the Caro-
linas as we'll as in Georgia, where at
present the bulk OF the coal is Sold
President Finley assured the COVER
nor that these questions would at once
be taken up aud he could assure the
governor that there would be no more
disastrous car shortages. Viee-Presi-
dent Murphy spoke to the same effect.
They promised to investigate the ques-
ton of freight rates in order to arrive
at basis that would insure wider
market for the coal mined at Brushy
Mountain.
These matters satisfactorily adjusted,
Gov. Patterson then came to the really
most important feature of the confer
ence, since it more vitality effects all of
the people of the state than the
matter of car supply and freight rates
to the mines, important as those ques-
tions are. This was the question of
better car service on the passenger
trains of Tennessee.
Gov. Patterson made it perfectly
plain to the officials present that there
must be better equipment on the pas
senger trains of this state. Hs warned
the officials that unless the railroads
gave the people fairland just treatment
in this respect of their own volition
that they would be forced by proper
measures to do 80.
The governor called attention to the
fact that the passenger car service was
not anything like it shonld be. Often
the cars are light, poorly constructed,
badly kept and lily ventilated, and not
infrequently very dirty. The people of
Tennessee, he said, demanded and were
entitled to better car service.
Responding, President Finley said
that he agreed thvt the car service was
not what it should be, and he promised
to give the people an adequate service
and good cars. The governor stated
that no railroad iu Tennessee should be
allowed to run its trains in this state
without cars of the best make and most
modern equipments no road should run
a train through the state without par
lor Car and such other fnll equipment
as would insure both the safety and
comfort OF the passengers and prevent
the overcrowding of cars.
Recently Governor Patterson request
ed President Thomas OF the Nashville,
Chattanooga & st. Lonis railroad to
put parlor car on the run between
Nashville and Memphis and the request
has been complied with This should
be done on every other run in the state
In conclusion, Gov. Patterson, while
expressing satisfaction as to the results
of the conference and the cordial co OPP
GRAFTON which had been paomised him
by the railroad officials In remedyine
the evils complained of, stated very
emphatically :that I he people of Ten
nessee would demand of the railroads
operating in this state the very bes
service to be obtained and that thu
trains should have the best equipmen
that could be secured.
The following named were present a
: the conference; Gov. M. r. Patterson
Presinent W. W. Finley of the South
ern, Vice President J. M. Culp, Wash
ington; Henry Fonde, general agent o
: the Southern at Knoxville; W. j
Murphy, vice-presldent O., N. o. & T
P, Washington; R. B. Pegram, gener
, al freight agent Southern, Nashville
G. P. Biles, freight traffic manager, G
N. o. & T, P, Cincinnati; II. f
Rhodes, superintendent Hartman 4
Northwestern, Hartman; Bird M
Robinson, president Tennessee rail
road, Oneida, Tenn. q. A. Benscoter
assistant general passenger agent
Southern, Chattanooga; b. A. Enloe
Il. Il. Hannah and Frank Avent, mem
:. bers railroad com mission. -Tennesse
an,