The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-11
PROBING WRECK
 ON THE SOUTHERN Railway Officials Meet Witq
 State Commission AN AGREEMENT ON RATES Southern Railway Has Not Made a Definite Announcement of compro-
 mise, But Statement Is Ex-
 pected To That Effect.
AN AGREEMENT ON RATES

Atlanta, January 10.=A conference re- lating to the recent wreck of the South- ern railways Florida Special near Dal- las, was held in the office of the rail- road commission today. at which were present: Chairman s. G. MeLendon, Commissioners Hillyer and Stevens. and for the Southern, assistant to the presi- dent. J. s. B. Thompson, NJ. M. Richey. superintendent of the western division, H. IL. Hutchens, general superintendent with headquarters at Birmingham and D. W. I-um of Washington, D. C., chief engi- neer of maintenance of way.
 The object of the conference was, on the part of the railroad officials to ascertain just what sort of report on the accident Is desired by the commission. The rail- road officials are now engaged in making full investigation of the accident, but have not as yet arrived at any solution as to the real cause Of the wreck.
 The railroad officials were informed that the commission desired a full and detailed report as to the condition of the track the equipment of the train, a state ment of it's exact speed as nearly as Is possible at the time of the accident and other incidental facts. The commission g track expert is now preparing his report and will have it ready in a day or two.
 The railroad officials contend that there was no fault in Copper Mine trestle hold ing that its timbers were good and sound They also scout the theory that 1t was caused by the inability of the heavy en- zine to take the reverse curve. They will be ready to submit their report to the commission within the next few days
 A well known railroad man advances the theory that the accident was caused by the fact that an empty baggage car was carried between q heavy engine and six heavy Pullmans. When the train started at full speed again after slack ing for the trestle he thinks 1t threw the heavy Pullmans against the baggage car and derailed it.
 There is every evidence of the fact that final agreement has been reached be- tween the state authorities and the South ern Railway company as to passenger fares, and that official announcement of the fact will shortly be made.
 Under this agreement, as has been stat ed, the Southern will maintain straight 21z-cent fare on it's lines, will furnish 100C mile books for family use at 2A cents and D0-mile books for commercial use at 2 cents.
 While the Southern gains no advantage in Georgia by this agreement 1t secures a uniform rate at those figures through. out the territory in North and South Car olina, Georgia and Alabama, as the re- suit of agreements reached in othel states.
 It is said announcement of this definite settlement so far as the Southern is con- cerned may be expected in the next few days in the shape of published core spondence between officials of the rail. road and those representing the state.
 Upon application of the Central Bank & Trust Co.,, receiver for the Neal bank Judge Ellis in the superior court today appointed Dumont Patterson receiver foI the Atlanta Furnace company, which, il is alleged, is indebted to the receiver ir the sum of s16,970, represented by siz promissory notes, which were given the Neal bank. It is alleged that the At lanta Furnace company Is insolvent and that its plant is idle. The receiver was required to give 5000 bond and February 3 was set as the date for the hearing al to whether the receivership shall be made permanent.
 On his return from his recent trip to Savannah Governor Smith stated that he found the state prohibition law was be ing effectively enforced in that city, ant that the people of the city manifested 2 disposition to see that the law was en forced in detail This statement is ot particular interest in view of the fac that it was stated on the floor of the house of representatives during the pro. hibition discussion. that enforcement O. the law in Savannah, a coast city, Was n matter of practical impossibility.