The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-07-13
N ESTABLISH THE
FUTURE OF W. & A.
APE INTRODUCED IN BOTH
orCES OF GEORGIA CEN
ERAL ASSEMBLY.
n fORfSTALL PARALLEL LINE

-.o.to Into Atlanta Paralleling
~ western and Atlantic, the
property of the State of Georgia
ATLANTA. - Determined effort
-, no made both in the house and
w.. ,+o at the present session of the
'r'.,oture to get at some result with
aora to the future of the Wstern
.r Atlantic railroad, which is the
p,operty of the state.
BILLS in Both Houses.
Already bills have been introduced
18th branches of the general as
spmbIy seeking to prevent the con-
emotion by the Louisville and Nash
rrIo railroad of line from Car
..rsvIIe or Marietta into Atlanta par
.uolino the Western and Atlantic.
Tho senate bill introduced by Presl-
dent Ogden Persons decares specl1-
i,aIIv that the secretary of state shall
no nrohibited from issuing a charter
70 anv railroad company which pro-
DosAs to build line of any length
noraIIeI to the state railroad.
New Method Proposed.
The house bill introduced by Judge
Snencer Atkinson of Fulton county
is somewhat different in its proVis-
inns seeking to change the entire
method Of granting railroad charters
bv the state. This bill provides that
in future all railroad companies de-
string to secure charters and build
new lines shall file with the secretary
Of state maps and plats specifically
showing the routes they are to fol-
low. and that such railroad lines shall
NOT then be constructed until it shall
have been determined by the legisla-
ture that the proposed line is "a work
Of public utility and necessity.
legislature Final Judge.
The second section of the same act
provides that no railroad company
now operated within the state shall
have the right to extend its line I'M
der charter amendment or otherwise
without complying with the same
provisions. 1t will be seen that this
measure makes the Legislature the
final Judge of the necessity or deslr-
ability of the new construction of any
proposed new line of railroad or ex-
tension Of any existing line. Should
this measure pass the Louisville and
Nashville's plans to build a parallel
line from Gainesville into Atlanta
would naturally be abridged or null
lifted altogether by the refusal OF the
legislature to give it's approval to an
extension which would undoubtedly
affect the business of the state rail-
road.
To Prevent Competition.
It will be recalled that the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad some
time ago applied for a charter to con-
struct a line from Gainesville to At
lanta in anticipation of the expiration
of the present lease of the Western
and Atlantic to the Nashville, Cnat-
tanooga and st. Louis. Considerable
stir was made over this proposal,
the Louisville and Nash
vile agreed to wait until the present
session of the legislature before
pressing its claims for a charter
amendment. 1t is evident that the
legislature will endeavor to prevent
the construction of the possible com
peting line.
Disposition of States Property.
In addition to the foregoing plans
are being made with reference to the
future disposition of the states prop
erty. Resolutions are now pending
providing for the appointment OF
committees to inquire into the re-
leasing of the road itself and also the
Imposition to be made of the valuable
terminal property in Chattanooga.
another pending resolution provides
LOT the appointment of a commission
10 consist of members of both houses
together with certain state house Of
uclals and citizens, who shall be en-
covered within certain limitations to
inter into a contract for the releas-
ng Of the property for another term
il Years. 1t is more than probable
mat some legislation of this kind will
'e adopted. The legislature itself is
90 rnwieldly a body to get to the
'olnt of decision regarding the dis
'oSitlon of the property short OF the
Inc when the lease will be close to |
4plTation. If the Legislature itself
landles the matter it is probable that
Will not be done until the session
'elore the expiration of the lease in
'IS. If it is done by a special COM
-lssion,. as now proposed, it can be
one IN ample time for any necessary |
5Hslon by the legislature before the
{" contract comes into effect. |