Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-27
Cost, $2O,oOO,OOO, Too Great to
Be Compatible With States
Policy, Says Message.

0
against the building of the road.
Governor Brown suggests that the
State of Georgia might forever con-
troll its freight rates by obtaining
concession OF land from Tennessee.
giving it a frontage Of a mile on the
Tennessee River. A short branch
could be built from the Western and
Atlantic Railroad to the river and
connection made with boats from
Ohio and Mississippi River points.
This, he states, could be done at
cost of $4,000
Suggests a Commission.
That the Governor be authorized to
appoint a commission to investigate
the releasing Of the Western and At
lantic is also suggested in the mes
sage, which follows, in part:
To the General Assembly:
There is no subject Of more weighty
interest to the people Of Georgia than
that Of the future disposition Of the
West6@3 and Atlantic Railroad. 1t is
not to be considered that the State will
seriously entertain proposition for the
sale OF this, its most important piece
Of property.
A large portion Of the people. while
generally holdin- in mind the notable
nmerclal worth Of this railroad to
that II Is in some respects the most
potent Of all factors in controlling rea-
sonable rates Of freight from other
States into Georgia. In fact. in its
potency as a rate-hxer and competi-
ton securer, our fathers. in construct
ing II. builded wiser than they knew.
Calls Extension Visionary Scheme.
Much has been said for years past on
the subject Of extending the Western
and Atlantic Railroad to the sea. My
judgment. however, is that the fixed
makes this a visionary scheme. In the
first place the extension OF the road
from Atlanta to the sea would cost,
when we include proper terminals. etc,
undoubtedly more than 5000, 900. In
fact, report made to your honorable
bodies, found on page S29, House Jour
nal 1903, estimated that the cost of the
making the total cost II It were about
275 miles long. almost $40. 900 900. II,
however, the extension is to Savannah
Darien, Brunswick and st. Marys the
main line extension would be at least
10 miles more at cost Of upwards of
$4,000 900. II being understood that
terminals, rolling stock and other extra
nal estimate per mile Every dollar Of
rowed
But, as the Constitution Of the state
| forbids any increase OF the public debt
| II would first be necessary TO amend
| the Constitution so as to saddle this
enormous debt upon the people At
per cent the interest account on 500
nually.
Whether the state would or would
not undertake to run the road herself.
/ II is manifest that she would be a very
| by spending many millions of dollars in
extending the Western and Atlantic
Railroad to the sea.
Suggests Terminal on Tennessee.
At Shellmound. in Tennessee, the
Tennessee River runs within less than
| a mile of Nickajack Cave, in Georgia
| II the two States would agree that the
| Georgia boundary line be DETECTED TO
/ the Tennessee River at or near She'll
mound, and, after allowing Georgia
| frontage Of about a mile on the river,
| to defect back to the present State line
and, either adjoining that point or at
some ether locality defect the line in
ward so as to give to Tennessee an
adequate portion of Dade County to
| compensate for the portion added to
| Dade County by the State OF Tennes-
| see, Georgia would. Of course, have
landing on the Tennessee River. Then
II she would tunnel Lookout, Sand and
| Raccoon Mountains and extend a line
| to the Tennessee River from or near
Ringgold or Graysville, Georgia, this
would enable her Railroad Commission
at all times to hold down the rates from
the Tennessee River to Atlanta, TO
which would be added the low water
rates TO Shellmound, and in this way
make the State absolutely independent
Of railroad monopolies, inasmuch as a
reduction In the rates to Atlanta would
bring reduction to all cities in the
State.
This extension, l am told, would call
for five or six miles of tunnels cost
ing about $3.50, 900 per mile and possibly
upward Of thirty miles OF additional
railroad costing from $40, 900 to 325, 900
per mile. making a total for these two
Items OF, say, $2.250 900 Therefore, It
would appear that S3.00O, 900 ought to
cover the total cost Of the suggested ex-
tension.
Another Plan for River Point.
There is another alternative method
for practically putting the Tennessee
River trafric at a landing place in
manga Creek is widened, deepened and
| Strengthened from its mouth near
Boyce Station to a point In Catoosa
County. so as TO allow boats from St
Louis and other Western ports to come
up the canal and cross the Georgia
| Tennessee boundary line. The canal
! thus made would not be more than IL
miles long and should not cost $1,000, 600
/ | viii ask you to bear in mind that
l am not recommending that the State
increase her debt by making an eX-
tension OF her railroad from. either
decides to adopt this policy she will
| secure immensely greater benefits for
her people by spending, at the most.
Of the Tennessee River in her own
borders than by spending some $780,
900 900 extending ii to the sea
Although the State Of Georgia has an
absolute advantage over her COMPETE
tors in Chattanooga, Il is seriously pro
posed that she shall abdicate that ad-
| vantage and allow her competitors to
succeed to it. The plan advocated is
TO ground rent a large portion OF the
track space in the center of Chatta-
nooga, and enticing figures are shown
as a reason why the State should do
this.
Would Impair States Power.
| Now, II the State proposes to go into
the real estate renting business and
for that purpose is willing to impair
her power for conducting a great trans
portation line. she can probably look
with favor upon the proposed plan to
] dismantle the road.
] For many years the Western and At
lantic Railroad had almost a monopoly
OF the business in the center OF the
city, hence the owners OF the above
named roads went TO the enormous ex-
penditure referred to for the purpose
OF competing with the Western and At
lantic
Therefore, the proposition that the
| State OF Georgia remove It's present
passenger and freight terminals in At
lanta and Chattanooga from their points