Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-03-13
RELATION OF SOUTHERN RAlL.
WAY COMPANY TO NORTH
CAROLINA.
FREIGHT RATES DISCUSSED
President Of Southern Railway Com
pany Guest OF eoIdsboro chamker
Of Commerce at First Annual
Banquet

VINO Was OAS vi bAS SUGdhGIS AI "a
banquet given Friday evening by the
Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce,
spoke on "The State Of North Caro-
lima" with special reference to the
relations Of the Southern Railway
Company tt the State and what the
management of that Company ID en-.
deavoring to do for the State.
Mr. Finley said that he proposed to
speak in the profound conviction that
the interests OF the State will best be
promoted by policies that are best for
the interests OF the people and for
the interests Of the railways: He
said:
"a great deal has recently been
said on the subject OF the Vfr-
.ginia Cities rates from the West.
It Is most Important to have
clear understanding regarding the
conditions that have led to the
establishment of the Virginia
Cities rates. / shall refer TO this
natter only 70 far as may be neo-
essary to make clear the responrs
sibility for the establishment Of
those rates."
Mr.. Finley pointed out that. pFtos
to the time when the roads operating
through North CaroFtna began to com
pete for Virginia Cities business, the
rates on that business had been estAb
liahed by lines which did not touch
North Carolina. He showed that th<
roads making these rates traverse<
more densely populated regions and
have a greater density of traffic thar
the lines in the South, and said:
The fact that some Of the lines
operating through North Carolina
have competed for the Virginia
Cities business at the rates estab-
hshed by these other companies,
but at a margin of profit Mt which
they could not afford to carry al
of their business, does not, in any
way, make them responsible Tor
the Virginia Cities rates.
cit Ia now well known, how
ever, that conferences have been
in progress between representa-
tfves Of the State of North Caro-
lima and the railways in an effort
TO reach an understanding On
questions as to the effect Of the
Virginia Cities rates ON points in
North Carolina. The railways. In
d~eferencesto the sentiment Of the
people Of the State on the sub
tect and not because they consid-
eF the4earrying of such business
at present ssFif rates economt
ca1ly unsouES1 have offered, IN
connection with proposed -
justmen&. now in process OF being
worked out between the State and
the railways, to withdraw from
the business from the West TO
the Virgins 3Cfties through North
Carolina II 4S also proposed thE
the effect Of the Virginia Cities
rates on points IA North Carolina
shall be considered in conference
, in an efort DO reach an agree
nent aa to reasonable adjust
NGmtg which may be pot into effect
through an order OF the Inter
:stwte Commerce Commission !
WI mot burden you this evening
3 with other features Of h con-
s~feFences between the State and
the railways. It ID my most earn
est hope that the negotiations,
thus entered upon, may result In
removing every ground Of con-
troversy between the people OF
on this subject.
cit would, / believe, be most IN
fortunate IL the people Of n
State and the railways, which are
90 important to their progress N
development, should become In
volved I'M controversy on qHes-
tons of railway charges. Much
the better plan, in nay opinion. ID
that Of meeting III conference. In
such n conference all matters at
issue should, I'm o spirit OF fair
ness ON both sides, b discussed
in all their economic reAattUns
and every effort shouid Be MAde
TO arrive ut an amicM@A~ agree
ment that wifi work substA4tRl
justice. / believe that AZ a4eeR
full and free osaferenee In winch
all facts and arguments PreeeAf-
ed shah have be0p considered Nm
q spirit Of ~ree4proe&l f2arness, any
questions Te@a1n rs TO which
agreements can not be reached,
they should b@ submitted to these
tribunals which have boea can-
situated by the laws Of the hAA
for tAetr ad1aAfcaGiCn."
States Great PrO0reoe.
Referring to the a~ependeRee Of Pm
auction upon highways to maF1e4 HI
Finley sid 1t was not q mere aseA6ou
that the progress Of North carsS
Rn recent years had been co4nGn
VITA the 0sveaOpment Of msee "a