The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-22
Hearing in Case OF Virginia and
Southwestern Railway Con-
eluded Yesterday.
WHEN TRAVEL WAS HEAVY
Gut Prices on Bristol Whiskey
3 Filled Coaches With Thirsty
Passengers.

After Hearing evidence for several |
hours yesterday upon an application of
tile Virginia and Southwestern Rail-
way for permission to increase its
passenger rate from two to three cents
per mile, the state Corporation Com
mission took the case under advise
ment and will render it's decision later. I
The company was represented by Its |
local attorney. Mr.. Joseph l.. Kelly. OF /
Bristol. and AttorueY-G General William
A. Anderson appeared for the state.
though the latter offered no testimony /,
IN opposition to that introduced by
tic road The witnesses for the COM
many were Auditor w B. Bowies, of
Bristol: General Rufus a. Ayers. of
Big stone Gap: Mayor W. l.. Rice, of
bristol: Vice-Pfesident and General
Manager j. b. Newton, and Superin-
tonaent J. II. McCue. of the rnad.
The chief point emphasized by the
compartments is that the road Is SINAI
md struggling for an existence and
that IL should not be put in the class
with the great systems or be made sub
iect to the regulations governing :he
latter.
Brisk WhIskcy Traffic.
Probably the most Interesting. GER
taiuly the most amusing, feature OF
the DAY was the statement made BY
Auditor Bowles to tho effect that the
wiping out of the saloons in the city
of Bristol had been responsible Tor
the heavy passenger travel over the
line at a certain period since the rate
reduction.
This. he said was Just before the
bars were closed up, and the selling
OF the liouor on hand at reduced rates
caused an unusual flow OF visitors from
the rural sections, who went to Bristol
to lay in supply while the adVant-
egeous prices obtained
This rare contention on the part OF
the companyts auditor created some
laughter. and it provoked General AM
idurson to observe that the cut-rate
sale mnSt hays. lasted a long time.
Judging from what the books showed
RS 10 the extended period of the. heavy
travel.
Has n Fair Chance.
Although none of Inc Commissioners
will discuss the case while it is thus
pending before them. the officials OF
the road appear to believe that they
have established at least an equitable
right to have their request granted.
The Virginia and Southwestern Is one
Of the ten roads included in the recent
order of tho commission upon which
the fare was reduced to . cents per
mile.
Up to that time il had been charging
four cents. 1t asks now not for its
old rate, but for permission to charge
compromise fare of three cents. The
Virginia and Southwestern strikes
across the extreme southwestern por-
tio.i of the State, its terminal points
in Virginia being at Big Stone Gar
and Bristol.
Testimony In Detail.
Auditor Bowles was the first wit
ness, and his testimony was, of course
favorable to the application of his
company He commended that the chief
source of the revenue of his road was
It's freight and that it had cost Ills
company more than % cents TO carr
dollar under existing circumstances
He undertook TO show that the line
OF his road was sparscly settled. an,
that there had been no material in
crease in the travel under the reduces
rate.
On cross-examination by Attorney
General Anderson Mr.. Bowles, n
heretofore stated, explained that Tho
heavy passenger travel shown by III,
records for October had been due t,
the cut-rate liquor sale in Bristol
men flockinS there daily in droYes u
get their supplies before the sale wa
over. Witness thought 1t was possibl
that the general business depression
had something TO do with the small
passenger receipts of his road, but h
vas disposed to charge the situation
rather 10 the new schedule of rate
pu, in effect by the commission, For
nner Attorney General Rufus a. Ayers
Of Big stone Gap, made strong wit
moss for the company, with which h
stated in the outset he had no con
nection.
General Ayers did rot think the vi,
Hinia and Southwestern was general
looked upon in his section as bein
in the class with the Chesapeake ar
Chic Norfolk and Western and Il
Coast Line, and other big roads Of Il
state. He said there had been tai
Of the necessity of the abandonmei
OF one of the passenger trains now p'
ting operated on account of the sma
81 return on the company's inyestmel
under present conditions. He was SUI
the patrons of the line would rath
have the fare Increased to 3 cents %
pile than to see ono Of the trail
$akep off
In Commissions Hands.
Mayor w. l.. Rice, Of Bristol. test