Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-09-08
AMERICUS BOARD OF TRADE
WILL LEAD FIGHT FOR TRAIN
Merchants Up In Arms Against Changes Propos
ed BY Savannah-Will Arouse This Section
to Oppose Wiping Out of "Shoo Fly,
AS Local Train Serving
West Georgia.

The Americas Board of Trade W.!
take the initiative and lead the fight
against the change that Savannah pro
noses in the schedule of the "Shoofy''
train. from Helena to Americus and
thence on to Columbus, changes that
would practically ruin it's usefulness
as transportation medium for this
section OF the state.
A special meeting Of the Board Of
s. Trade will be called to give proper eX-
preston to the sentiments of the busi-
ness interests of this city, represent
ing not only Americus but all of the
people in the territory within the sixty
miles radius, of which Americus is the
commercial centre.
The secretary of the Board of Trade
& will be instructed to take the matter
b lid with the trade organizations of Col
umbus and Cordele, with the newspa-
& rers along the section of road chiefly
b involved. and with the business men
4 in all of the towns from Helena to Gel
3 umbus.
A general protest from this section
I is proposed against changes in scheG-
i ules that would destroy the benefits
4 that have been enjoyed for so many
years from the operation of the Shoe
Fly train the only local train service
given to the western half of the state
by the Seaboard.
Representatives of The Times-Recor-
der called on many of the business men
Of Ameri us yesterday and found them
all alive to the danger of the situation
and the necessity of prompt and vigor-
Gus action.
We should certainly have an indig
nation meeting of the Board of Trade
at an early date" said Mr. Chas, L. An
sley, and officially advise the Sea-
board officials and the Georgia Rail-
road Commission as to where we stand
on this proposition. A movement
should also be inaugurated to put the
proposed changes in their proper light
before the people along the line of the
Seaboard whose interests will be So
seriously injured by the changes Sd
yannah is endeavoring to make.
heartily favor calling a special meet
ing of the Board of Trade for this pur-
pose
Il am entirely opposed to any change
in the schedule of our local train such
as have been proposed by Savannah
interests" said Mr.. Frank Sheffield, OF
the Bank of Commerce That train
is purely local train for local needs,
has been a popular train for years, aud
it would be simply outrageous to de-
9riye the people of the advantages they
now enjoy through it, The train was
established solely to meet the neceSsl-
ties of the people of this section. When
first suggested the railroad general
manager opposed it on the ground that
it would not pay. 1t was put on to Ab-
beyille and paid from the start. Then
it was extended to Fitzgerald and OcA-
la. After a time the run was changed
and the present. schedule to Helena put
on 1t is a peculiarly popular tram
with the people it serves, affording
them business and social facilities th"t
they appreciate and will not give up
without a struggle. The Americas
Board of Trade should certainly take
up the cudgel and lead the fight for ITS
reservation on the present schedules
IF any change is to be made it should
be in improving the schedules by nav
ing the train leave Helena a little ear
lier and Columbus a little later, IL
stead Of the reverse as Savannah Pl'-
poses"
Local merchants and business men
should strenuously oppose any and All
efforts to change the schedule TOT
the local Seaboard trains" said MI
NJ NJ Lowrey. These trains are wv
of the greatest feeders of local traut
that we have and should be maintained
as they are by all means"
1T is certainly high time that 10
only Americus, but Cordele, Coluiilo ~
Richland and every town along On'
seaboard that will be injured by th'
proposed change should put themsei'e'
on record as opposed to the disarrana
sing of these schedules, when are ~
very satisfactory" remarked MI Ne
Council. Hearty and unanimous ac
ton is necessary Immediately 10 pi0