Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18
DEFEND THEIR CONTROL
OF STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Southern and Atlantic Coast Line
Say 1t Is Not Competitor Of
Railroads Owning 1t.
SOME RAILWAY HISTORY
ALFRED. Al T. Thorn Tells How Southern
Railway Originally Was Driven
Into Water Transportation Busi-
ness to Defend Territory.
Especial to The Times Dispatch,

Especial to The Tlmes-D Dispatch.]
WASHINGTON. March Illegal
representatives and traffic officials OF
the Southern Railway and the Atlantic
Coast Line. joint owners Of the Chesa-
peake Bay Steamship Company, plying
between West Point. Norfolk and Bal
timore. appeared before the Interstate
Commerce Commission TO day and de-
Tended their right to control the bay
line under the terms OF the Panama
Canal act. They held that the bay
boat line is not competitor of the
railroads owning II. and that it's term
mus TO the north is not the same as
the railroads. and that the boat line is
operated for the benefit OF the public
by providing through joint rates from
Baltimore to the South and West
through West Point and Norfolk.
TIIOM AND HAMILTON
MAKE STATEMENTS
Alfred p. Thorn, general counsel for
the Southern, and Alexander Hamilton.
liminary statements. outlining the at
titude of their clients. Mr.. Thorn
delved into Virginia railroad history,
and told how the Southern Railway
was originally driven into the wnter
transportation business. Back In the
early SOS. he said. when the South
ern was known rs the Richmond and
Danville. the Baltimore and Ohio was
planning to get a foothoid in the South
by seeking possession of the Virginia
Midland from Washington to DanvilIe.
To protect itself and to secure con
ncct!on with the Pennsylvania through
the Baltimore gateway. the Richmond
and Danvillc (now the Southerm was
forced TO buy the old York River
Steamship Company. plying from West
Point. Va, to Baltimore. Later, he
said. the Baltimore and Ohio was
blocked in It's move TO enter the South
ern field, and the Richmond and Dan
Vile Company got control Of the Vir-
ginia Midland
II wish to say that the Southern
Railway has no wish 10 continue the
boat line ownership" said Mr.. Thorn.
ut does not wish to stihe competitio
with itself All We want is the con-
tinueu existence OF the steamship line
from Norfolk and West Point to Ralti
moro upon the same efficient basis
which it is now maintained make
this statement upon the authority of
the president OF the Southern Rail
way"
Four witnesses were put on the
stand. They were: Key Compton. of
Baltimore. president of the Chesapeake
Steamship Company: w. p. Tayloe.
traffic manager OF tho same steamship
line. and Lincoln Green, one OF the
freight experts OF the Southern: r. a.
Brand, vice president of the Coast Inc.
LINE IN COMPETITION
WITH OTHER II nv-n.,c
Mr.. Compton, the principal witness
showed that as result OF the South
ern's ownership OF the bay line a low
through Joint rail-and-water rate and
service from Baltimore to Cincinnati
and Chicago had been established over
the bay line to West Point and Rich
mond. and thence over tho Chesapenko
and Ohio in competition with the Penn
sylvania and the Baltimore, and Ohio.
He also stated that the Southern and
Coast Line furnished the Chesa peak o
line TO per cent OF It's traffic. lie said
that without the cooperation OF the
railroads the Chesapeake line could not
he maintained. Mr.. Compton and IN
terstate Commerce Commission Special
Continued on Third Pnge)