Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-23

course on the part or the railroad COM
pany should not affect its obligation to
give to its patrons reasonable rates and
good service.
Georgia Stood Panic Well
What I desire to urge upon the public
attention is that in spite Of saving TO
the public through increased taxes, lower
interstate rates, lower passenger rates,
better transportation facilities and in
creased pay to the men, the railroads of
Georgia lost in net profits during the
year Of the panic ending July LIST, 1908,
only one-tenth as much in net profits as
the railroads of the United States as a
whole lost I wish also TO emphasize the
fact that during the year ending July LIST,
1908, the railroad companies of Georgia
made handsome profits while they were
shrieking ruin
1.-THE gross business Of the Central -
Georgia for 1905 was.....,,......SS,022 , SO7 IS
Its gross businss for 1905 was. S,939, .56
I'm spite Of the panic, and in spite of
the concessions made to the public, its
gross business for 1903 was $917, 600 greater
than its gross business for 1865. Its net
operating profits in Georgia for the fiscal
year ending July LIST, 1905 were 81, ass, 429. IL
Its taxes were $500, 405.06 still leaving, af-
ter paying taxes, net profits for its Geor-
gia business for the year of the panic, 1905,
amounting to 81, 1S2, eS406.
THE property of the Central Railroad
company in Georgia Is assessed for 1905
at $1s,S7S,902 while the s. and w. and
the s. and A. are in a measure free from
taxation, the net profits were excellent
when compared to tax assessments.
The Proposed Bond Issue
President Hanson then declares that IL
| is necessary to spend a large amount
OF money to prepare the Central Railway
company for the future, that the required
| improvements cannot be made until in
vestors are convinced that it can pay the
| interest on new issues of bonds which
| 1t will be necessary to sell in order to
provide money for Improvement pur-
poses.' Then he says. How long the peo.
pie of Georgia are to wait for these i'm
provements must be determined by their
| spirit of cooperation with and justice
/ towards the railroads.
| mo one believes more fully than /
do in the spirit of cooperation between
the public and the railroads, but the
railroads must meet the public half way.
| They must recC snize the fact that they
| cannot raise rates or taAe off trains or
/ handle their property arbitrarily, and
that they must give proper service at
reasonable charges
| Harmony can only be found and CO.
operation between the public and the
| railroads exist when railroads are off,
| cered by men who do not seek to force
/ their own views defiantly upon the pub
lie. If it is the desire of President Han
son to increase the financial standing of
the Central that bonds may be sold and
improvements made, has he not acted
strangely? .
Is Hanson's Course Wise One?
Has he pursued wise course by the
statement which he published?
| AT times he places in operating ex-
pense money which really went to bet
! terments, and he omitted 1924. 767.75 OF
improvements which the road has receiv-
| ed from betterments when he discussed
a loss of income.
1.-The Central of Georgia Is a splendid
property. When it needs money to use
in legitimate improvements / feel sure II
can get it,
"A railroad company should not be per-
mitted to issue bonds TO load down its
property unless the money goes into act
ual improvements.
Mr.. Hartman paid 100000 for the
common stock of the Central after my
terrible campaign speeches and just be-
fore my Inauguration compelled the
| Southern railroad to give up its illegal
| holdings in the Central. My speeches and
large investment in the securities OF
| this railroad company.
| Let me urge President Hanson to help
me show how valuable the Central is If
he wishes to increase its capacity to Dor
row money.
HE may also join his patrons in work.
| ing out lower rates to and from the ports
of Georgia to all interior points in the
state. 1t will increase his business and
help his customers
| Il must not close without noticing the
editorial in the Atlanta Constitution of
| Sunday, with which my fair-minded,
/ able, unbiased and devoted friend, Mr..
Clark Howell, honored my interview.
He seemed disturbed on account of
| the speeches / made a few years ago.
| First, because he thinks something
| said about reducing railroad charges
| $4,000 900 deceived the people and caused
| my election. Second, because something
/ / said in 1905 brought on the panic In
New York In 1907 and hurt the people Of
| Georgia, to whom he Is unselfshly de-
| voted.
"As to his first cause of disturbance,
| let me remind him that he pressed the
| Acknowledgement question as the main
issue between. US. Besides, he gives too
much credit to my speeches and too
| little to his own personality. He was
| MY ICdA OPPObChNs lag ASN Nho
| people see and hear him. He carried six
| counties.
| 'hs to his second disturbance, has he
/ fc Ryotten that, while he entered the race
closely allied to the railroads, after the
election he lambasted his former allies
| unmercifully7
Reminds Mr.. Howell
| Need I remind him. of the editorials
| printed in his paper? Even an article
| over his own signature appeared the day
after the primary, in which he declared
| the grievances against the railroads very
| real and very just
"He demanded in his paper reduction
of rates to the ports, and denounced the
| railroads for demurrage charges, de-
layed trains and wrecks. He welcomed a
decision of Judge Newman as a victory
in the freight rate fight.'
| HE demanded interchangeable mileage
| books. He answered James j. Hill and
| declared that public sentiment was
/ against railroads because the public had
been fed on corporate Indifference and
| greed
HE jumped on watered stocks vs. re-
duced rates and advocated reduction OF
passenger and freight charges.
During the month of February. 1907,
almost daily and in double column. he
baited the railroads. He called for 2
cents fare, and wanted port rates before
breakfast