Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-15
REDUCTION Of TRAINS
AND TRAVEL LUXURY
ESSENTIAL COAPMAN
Either That or Government
Ownership Vice President
of Southern, Tells Commits
sion in Answer to Protests

The discontinuancs OF every passen-
ger train not essential to the needs of
the country and the elimination OF
such Injuries OF travel as sleeping cars
and dining and observation cars. was
predicted Thursday morning by E. H.
Coapman. vice president OF the South
ern railway, in a stsssment before the
railroad commission al a hearing be-
gun on the petition of the road 20 dis
continue fourteen of it's trains and
change the schedule of two others.
Vice President Coapman said that
this curtailment is but a preliminary
TO far more sweeping changes that
must be adopted as war measure. a
second step. he said. viii probably be
taken which will affect every phase OF
transportation. and IL may be followed
BY a third step which will give over
almost all the resources of the roads
70 military uses.
On the heels Of this statement, he
added that. unless the railroads are per-
ulitted 10 make such curtailments as
are necessary TO meet the Impending
demands of the war department. that
the arilways of the country will be
taken over by the government and run
primarily for military purposes with
scant consideration given TO civilian
needs
Mr.. Coapman continued by saying
that a meeting was held in Atlanta
Monday a week ago by officials repre-
seu;iug all the railroads of the south
east and that this meeting appointed
a committee which is devising plans
ny which passenger service can be cur
-afted everywhere south OF the Ohio
liver and east OF the Mississippi and
the Potomac rivers. This committee,
me said. will 90 before every railroad
commission in the states included In
wat section and ask for authority TO
.l5sContinEe trains not absolutely nee
,=ssry 10 public welfare.
DON'T SEE SERIOUSNESS
You don't realize the seriousness OF
the situation" he exclaimed You don
know what is ahead OF us The utmost
demands are going TO be made on the
railroads and unless they can meet the
requirements OF the war department the
roads are going 10 be taken over by the
government and run primarily for war
purposes and secondarily 10 meet the
needs Of the public
Following Mr.. COapman's statement
II H. Shackelford. representing the
GeorEia-FIOrida division OF the United
Commercial Travellers association, with
drew his objection TO the discontinuance
Of trains proposed by the Southern rail-
way.
q 7, Carson. of Commerce. followed
him with the same announcement
Later during argument of the road $
pafftSOu 20 discontinue the Helm ac-
coumodation. Mayor r :. Mather. OF
AusteII. said that the people OF his town
would agree TO any measure prompted
bv The necessities of war
The abandonment of the Helm ao-
rommo1a ton was opposed by Attorneys
/. : James and J. r Bedgood. repre-
sentiug several towns along the route.
The petition 20 discontinue trains 10
and - between Atlanta and Columbus.
vas o-csed by representatives Of the CO.
lrlmbus chamber OF commerce After =
4 Spfvev. OF Columbus. had concluded
argument. the hearing of petition was
adjourned until $3.50 o'clock Thursday
afternoon
The pe,ition Of the Southern asks for
the dIscontinuance of the following
trains:
TRAINS IN PETITION.
Trains 21T and 2sO-2SO. between Lula
and Athens. trains - and 26. between
Atlanta and Heff1in. Ala. this service to
he thereafter performed by train 80, TO
leave Atlanta at $40 p m and train IL
70 arrive in Atlanta at a m: trains
- and -. between Atlanta and Column
bus: trains - and -. between Atlanta
and Fort Valley; trains and 10, be-
tween Atlanta. Chattanooga and Ctncin-
natl Cfnte-state); trains "a and 30, be-
tween HazeIhurst and Jesup Ga; trains
and 8. 20 make all stops now made ov
"a and Sc: trains IS and 4s. between
Rome Ga. and Admission. Ala
Chairman z. Murphey Gambler OF
the railroad commission. asked dues-
t5ons at Thursday mornings session.
mitch indfca ted that he believes cur
tafIment Of railway service as war
measure is necessary