Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-10
Chamber Of Commerce
Asks FedeyaI Board to
GiUe Relleft0 H., B. 81.

Declaring that the 1unk1ng OF the
Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic rail-
road would not only be calamity,
but would result in the practical des-
struction of many cities and towns
| located along its line. the Atlanta
Chamber of Commerce, through Its
| board of directors, has sent an urg-
emit communication to the federal
railroad labor board, asking that
steps be taken to give the A. B.. &
| A. relief. The letter was forward
| ed by President Lee Ashcraft sa1tsr
| the chamber directoFsi4at a Special
meeting Monday afternoon, adopted
! resolution embodyi1fg the ideas
set forth in the communication
Colonel B.. L. Bugg, president of
| the A. B. & A, was present at the
meeting and although he presented
versy between the officials and the
employees, he stated that he desired
no expression from the chamber di-
rectors as to the merits of the wage
question. Forrest Adair introduced
the resolution urging the railroad Ia
Dor board. to give relief to the A.
B. & A. and it was adopted .unani-
| mouSly. -
The question now before the labor
board is whether the A. B. & r. shall
be allowed to reduce wages in all
departments approximately rs per
cent, in view. of the fact, according
to the officials of the road, that un-
less this is done. the system can
! not continue operation.
The letter sent by President Ash
craft to the railroad labor board fol-
lows:
United States Railroad Labor
Board,
Chicago,
illinois.
HCapt1obooT
within the past few days there
has appeared some discussion in
the newspapers here relating to the
possible scrapping of the A. B. & A.
railroad, due to it's inability to earn
operating expenses. These accounts
arose in a hearing before your hon.
orabl body in a wage controversy
being heard by you and that it was
even stated that the scrapping of
this road would not injuriously af-
feet the public.
an abandonment of this railroad
would have upon our city and our
section. and feel that the suggestion
Of such necessity has already caused
us much damage.
Feeling this way, we have today
had a meeting of our directorate, and
after a full discussion and consid-
CT
to- you our views relative to this
matter.
1.-THE A, B. & A. railroad is one
of the best-built railroads in the
south. 1t was constructed at a cost
exceeding $4O,0O0,OOO; it has been
valued by the Interstate commerce
commission at over $30,000,00O; it
probably could not be built now for
twice this latter sum. 1t is impos-
sible for us to understand how the
row. n11arav ton
boards could consider even momen-
tarily the possibility of the scrapping
of such a property, or the continu-
ance of conditions which might
eventuate in such destruction.
"The A, B. & A. railroad has ex-
Stretching from Birmingham through
Atlanta to Brunswick, it went
through a new territory. 1t opened
up this territory. New and pros
porous towns have sprung up on it's
line. The towns along it's line ex-
istent when it was built, have grown
ywonderfully; appurtenant' farm lands
have greatly increased in value It
serves twenty-five counties in Geor-
gia and six in Alabama; 100000 of
our people who have no other con-
venient railroad facilities; another
competition with other railroads.
"The scrapping of this 640-mile
road would mean practical destruc-
ton of the towns which it exclusive
ly serves; great damage to those
towns which it jointly serves; loss
to 100000 of our people; practical
loss of $150,000,000 to the owners OIL
property and industries on its line.
This result would not be tolerated.
ATLANTA would be deprived of one
of it's direct lines to the resources
and industries of northern Georgia
and Alabama, and one of it's two
outlets to the ocean. Our city and
our state would suffer loss in large
revenue from it's taxation.
1.-THE destruction Of this railroad
would result more largely to all of
US. and indeed to all the country, in
the Establishment of the fact that a
railroad $40 miles long. would be
scrapped rather than that it's operat-
ing expenses should be adjusted to
permit it's existence. If this con-
dition arises, railroad building in the
south viii be stopped.
eve are interested in the large