The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-30
SOUTHERN ROAD
TO help south
Pres. Harrison, Announces That
His Line Will Fight North
ern Monopoly Combine.

Washington, March 29-Fairfax Har-
rison, president of the Southern Rail-
way system, in a wire to r. l.. Philips.
of Savannah president Of the South
Atlantic Ports Association, stated that
he and his lines will resist the proposal
of the northern trunk lines that they
be protected in continuing their mo-
Inopoly of export traffic, and will op-
pose any cancellation of the export
freight rates from the middlewest to
! the South Atlantic ports.
BY this statement the Southern Rail-
way system places itself in cooperation
with the five South Atlantic ports of
Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah,
Brunswick and Jacksonville and the
gulf ports of Pensacola, Mobile and
New Orleans, which wish to compete
for export traffic in the middlewest on
a parity with New York. 1t also be-
comes cooperating factor with those
firms in the middlewest interested in
foreign trade and eagerly looking for
more outlets to foreign markets
Since the roads returned to corporate
control, the systems out of Central
Freight association territory have so far
failed to file any concurrence with the
tariff agents covering their participa-
tion in the export traffic, established
by the railroad administration Decem-
Der 4 and 81. This does not in any way
effect the present tariff but prevents
lazy changes until they either file con-
currenee With the interstate commerce
commission or similarly file protest.
Daniel Willard, president of the Bal
timore and Ohio railway, filed a pro-
test with the railroad administration
against the establishment of export
paf fn fho Gnnfh Atlantic norris nrinp
to the return of the roads, but no fur
ther action has been taken by any of
the northern trunk lines. 1t is assum-
ed that they are studying the present
situation and will take some formal
action before the interstate commerce
commission in the near future. Fair
fax Harrison is the first president of
southern lines to take an emphatic
stand against the cancellation OF these
export freight rates.
The wire sent by r. l.. Philips as
president of the South Atlantic Ports
Association, asked for. q statement re-
garding the policy his lines expect to
follow concerning export rates from
the middlewest to South Atlantic ports.
emphasizing The probable attack by
northern lines and expressing conf
dence in his doing everything possible
W SiNt Eodti pulls tilC Up
portunity for the expansion incident to
the development of export trade. Fair
fax Harrison's answer in reply, is as
follows:
in reply to your message ! am glad
to reaffirm statement recently made to
Mobile Chamber OF Commerce that
when the export rate question is heard
by the interstate commerce commission
you will find us there with every ounce
of energy we have to resist the selfish
proposal of the trunk lines that they
shall be protected in continuing mo-
nopoly of export traffic as against
South Atlantic and Gulf ports. Signed,
Fairfax Harrison
The South Atlantic States Associa-
ton, recently organized by the COM
mercial bodies of the four South At
lantic states. at its first meeting in
Greensboro, n. C., took an active stand
against any change in the present ex-
port rates and will actively work for
the establishment Of similar import
tariff. 1t is the opinion of Mr.. Mat
thew Hale, president of the South At
lantic States Association. that the key
note of the future development OF these
four states lies in their ability to COM
pete on an equal basis with New York
and New Orleans for export and import
trade to and from the middlewest.