Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-10-13
MAYOR SAYS mo-
TRAIN REMOVAL
Tells Officials Service
and Conveniences
Are Needed

after voicing his disapproval of the !
proposal, the city council. in special
session at o'clock Tuesday after
noon, voted not to protest against
the application of the Seaboard Air
Line Railroad company to discon-
tinue passenger trains No. 13 and
IA, Americus-Savannah trains, bel
tween here and Helena The vote
of the aldermen was unanimous,
Messrs. Burke, Warren, Poole, AL
lison and Taylor being recorded
against making a protest. Mayor
Sheppard's opposition, as stated byl
him, was on the belief that discon-
tinuance of these trains would not
work to the welfare of the city. He
suggested to officials of the road
present that if the service on these
trains were improved business would
be better and the losses now incur
red probably would not be met.
The action of the city body fol
lowed meeting earlier in the day
of the directors of the Chamber of
Commerce, the second meeting otj
the purpose of hearing objections of
railroad trainmen who had report
ed that they would be adversely af-
fected by the proposed change, and
who had indicated their desire toI
have the Chamber of Commerce re-
consider its action of going on rec
ord as not Opposing the proposed ac-
tion of the railroad company. None
fthe trainmen were present, how
ever, and from statements made by
officials of the road who were pres
ent, it was assumed that explana-
tions made to them had satisfied
them on this point.
Six Families Involved.
The statement had been made
about the streets, it was said to the
directors, that some 35 or 40 men
would be adversely affected by the
change, and because they would be
forced to be away from home two
out of three nights, they would be
forced to move to Savannah so as
to be at home more. Officials who !
were here yesterday stated that only
six families were involved in the
change, and that, upon application
of the trainmen themselves schedules
could be arranged whereby the heads
of five of these six families could 4
be at home here every othe might, /
as at present It was admitted that
the sixth would have to move Sa-
vannah.
At the council meeting at which
Chief Council Stanley, Atlanta; Su-
perintendent Bagwell, Savannah /
Train Master S. M. Dutton, of Sa-
vannah, and w. W. Dykes, local at
torney for the Seaboard, were pres
ent, Mayor Sheppard introduced the
subject of the meeting by saying
that he had received notice of the
intention of the road to apply on
October IA for permission to discon- |
tinue these trains, proposal which
he considered, if carried out, detri- |
mental to the welfare of the COM
munity, but upon which it was de-
sirable that the council as body ex-
press itself one way or another.
Mr.. Bagwell was given permission
to make some statements. He
quoted figures to show that these
trains are losing the company about
$4,000 per month. He showed ac-
tual ticket sales on them and de-
clared these showed these trains not
to be public necessity.
Mr.. Dykes declared that the
Chamber of Commerce had decided
to make no protest, considering it'll
not lust to force the company to op !
crate these trains at a loss.
During the course of the discus |
sion, Mayor Sheppard took occasion
to criticise the service offered byi
these trains at present and express |
e HLoL haitian n o.i
commodations in time and conven
fences offered they would be much
better patronized. He cited the fact
that one of them arrives here at IL
o. m. and the other leaves at 2 a.
M, the latter a particularly unat
tractive hour for travel, and point |
ed out that no sleeping car accommo-
dations are provided, and the whole J
arrangement most unsuitable to eth
er local or through traffic.
Mayor Sheppard showed that |
with these trains removed, pass
enger going to Cordele at 1880 p.
m. one day could not return by train
until 10 a. m. the next day. Mr..
Bagwell replied the company was
willing to arrange the schedules of
the remaining trains in any way
practical to suit the wishes of the
various town. Mayor Sheppard sug-
gested to him that the road, then,
postpone its application for discon-
tinuance of these trains and proceed
to work out a new schedule on the
others and put it nito effect so as
to give it trial before doing away
with the night trains, but Bagwell
would not consent to such an ar
rangement.
When the discussion was ended AL
derman Allison moved that no pro-
test be made by the city, Alderman
Taylor seconded and the vote fol-
lowed, with adjournment immediate
ly afterward.