Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-10
Valuation of the w. s. A.

Friends of the Western and Atlantic railroad
which constitutes the states richest possession, in
their contentious for the safeguarding and advan-
tageous conduct of this property have always con-
tended that the value of the road ranged between
sis, sOO, 900 and s2O.OOO.OOO. 1t is interesting,
therefore. to note the physical valuation
placed upon it by the engineering department
of the Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis Rail-
way company, its present lessees. The estimate
was submitted TO the state railroad commission in
the hearing on insTrastate freight rates now In
progress.
The figures offered show that the cost of repro
ducing the right OF way of the Western and At
lantic in Georgia would be s4.541,1S0 while the
cost Of the reproduction of much of the road
as lies within the state of Georgia would run to
81, sO6,S 6267. These estimates include certain
properties of the Nashville. Chattanooga and st.
Louis road owned in Atlanta but as has been indi-
Gated do not include the value of the property
situated in the state of Tennessee. Valuation ex-
perts declare that the total physical valuation of
the Western and Atlantic would come fully to the
100000 mark should the property it owns in
Tennessee be added to the above estimates and the
property il does not own in Georgia be deducted
II should be considered, too. that the foregoing
estimate is of the state roads physical valuation
only and does not take into the consideration the
business, good will and the like, matters that play
important part in the final allotment of the
worth of any going concern. Those who have had
the good OF the state road at heart therefore
we'll within the limits of cold facts in their esti-
mates of the roads value. Their contentious have
been really conservative.
The figures disclosed call again to the attention
of the people of Georgia the wonderful possession
they have in the Western and Atlantic railroad
and the necessity for irmer determination than
that its best interests shall be conserved at
all hazards Allowing the road to be paralleled,
destroying its usefulness and devouring its value,
is thus more clearly than ever before to be
crime against the commonwealth. Selling it out
right becomes unthinkable and the releasing Of it
10 the best advantage possible and its final extern
sion to the sea become all the more desirable
II is now bringing the state nearly half
million dollars income yearly Its earning ca
tpacity has increased from period to period and
properly managed will yield larger and larger re-
turns in the future. II represents something of
definite value to every citizen because from it ac-
crues money that would otherwise have to be
raised by taxation. 1t helps in a most marked de-
gree TO maintain schools and other state fnstitu-
tions.
Among the states OF the nation Georgia's credit
stands high The possession of this road forms
80 u rs jest Sudi dutees, making GeOrgia'S bonds
among the soundest securities to be found in this
country. The state ownership of the road gives to
the people OF this commonwealth a very DorerfuI
natural means OF equalzing freight rates and of
making their will felt in the solution of all tran
sportaTion problems
Inc state road is a rich and fruitful HERITAGE
mat has come 10 US from the wisdom, ~ on,
f9rebears Let US therefore administer :, q
.nst shah De worthy of our sires and of the
splendid bequest that they have made us