The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-04-03

The future plans OF southeastern
railway lines IN regard 10 interstate
ana tntrastate passenger rates will be
determined at meeting of traffic offi-
Gals of the various roads to be held
IN Washington or Atlanta about lime
Az that time II is expected tina;
announcement VIII be made as IN
whether the lines viii continue in
force the reduced rates agreed upon
as a compromise between Governor
smith and the roads. or whether
night will be made in the courts To Sc
cure the restoration Of former rates
winch have prevailed dur.ng the year
ending March 81.
Star, Work on Reports.
With the close of The year al mid
night Wednesday, the lines began the
analysis OF their reports, which win
show the actual earnings in passenger
revenue during the past twelve
months. These reports viii be finish
ed Ey April 20 The bulk of the fg-
ures, however, will not be returned
until April and fifteen DAYS at least
viii be required before they can be
tully compiled and analyzed. AS soon
as the reports have been finished each
railroad will take up the reports at
individual meetings of the officials
ana plans for the future will be de-
clded upon general meeting OF all
traffic officials of the different lines
VIII then be called the latter part af
May or the first of June
If the reports show that The alleged
heayy losses during the year have
been due to the reduction Of rates
then efforts will be made to have the
former rates restored The Southern
railway claims total loss of from
$1,O00,000 to $1,125,000 The actual
earnings of the Seaboard Air Line are
said TO be far below those for the
same period in 1907 and 1908. The
Atlantic Coast line reports heavy de-
creases in revenue, while all of the
other lines say there have been large
deficits. The lines claim that the re-
duction in rates is responsible for the
discrepancies as reports show heavy
gain in travel but losses in revenue.
May Fight in Courts.
Officials say that if the roads can
show that the reduction in rates has
caused the losses, then action will be
taken in the courts to have the pres
ent passenger rate Of 2 IL cents re-
yoled on the ground that 1t is confis-
catory They say that If the same
conditions can be shown in Georgia
as were in Missouri they can win their
case. If they win in Georgia, then
they can win in the Carolinas, Ala
bama and Virginia.
1t is understood thar some lines ia
vor the same basis Of rates, as agreed
upon in Missouri. which are:
TWO thousand interchangeable mile
age books on certificate plan at two
cents a mile; 500mile book good for
bearer on all lines in Missouri at 1-2
cents miie 800 mile books. good for
individual only on the line of the is
suing railroad at Ia cents a mile,
and the 3 cents a mile rate on all
single trips.
Other lines are said to favor a fiat
"'e VI u cents mile, interstate
and intrastate. with the abolition of
two cents mile, one thousand mile
book and two cents a mile 1000
and 5000 mileage books.
That the roads contemplate a care
full diagnosis of the condition Is evil
dent by the fact that at a recent meet
ing of traffic officials in Chattanooga,
an official of one of the largest lines
asked that the question be held in
abeyance until the one-year agree
ment with Governor Smith had ex-
pired.