The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-26
COMMISSION
AGAINST
MERGER
Consolidation
Of Seaboard With
Illinois Would Hurt
Port of Charleston

that the tentatively proposed mer-
ger of the Illinois Railroad and the
Scaboard Air Line Railway by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
acting under authority Of the
Act, would miti-
gate against the port Of Charleston
in favor OF the port OF Savannah,
the South Carolina Railroad Com
mission today unanimously adopt
ed resolutions protesting. against
the proposed consolidation.
The commission in its resolution
looks with favor on the suggestion
of Prof. Ripley of the dcpartnls NJ
of economies. Harvard University.
that The Scaboard Air Line be
rs Il separate unit and
that il take over The Carolina
Clinch!icld and Ohio Railway.
Should the proposed merger. j
hearing on which viii be held be-
fore TIN. Interstate Commerce Com
mission on April -. :akc place. the
commission is Of the opinion that
the Illinois Central. through its
the Central Of Georgia
Railway. which Owns large tcrnli-
RAJ facilities there. would develop
;hc port OF Savannah. leaving
Charleston as the coal outlet Of the
Southern Railway only.
\ copy Of the resolution was
transmitted to the Interstate Com
mercc Commission in letter from
Frank w. Shcaly, chairman. who
strongly urged the maintenance of
the Seaboard Ain Line Railway as
Il Scpartc unit. contending thar
the proposed consolidation would
l,c all error at this time.
The following is copy OF the
resolution: ,Whereas. it has como
to the attention OF this commits
sion that the Interstate Commerce
Commission. acting under authority
conferred upon il by the Transpor-
tati"n Act 10 consolidate the rail-
roads OF he country INTO 4 limited
number Of systems. has tentatively
proposed 10 merge the Scaboard
A:r Line Railway Company with
the Illinois Central Railroad Com
pany and intends TO hold 4 hear
ing IN respect thereto on the 2+til
day OF April. 1922. and
Whereas. the Seahoard Air Line
Railway Company has been within
the past twenty-five years the
greatest builder OF new lines OF
railroads Within the state. and
therefore has Il well-matured and
definite plan for the development
and the agricultural commerce and
OF her Industrial Interests of the
State. and
Whereas. the :aerSer OF the
Scaboarl Air iiae Railway Com
pany With the Illinois Central Rail
road Company would tend 10 re-
tard the development Of the port
OF Charleston in that the las;
named road would naturally favor
tie development of the port Of Sa-
var:nall. where its subsidiary. the
Central OF Georgia Railway. we
are informed. now owns large in
tcrcStS. and
.Whercas. the tentative plan OF
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion would lease the proposed
southern Railway system in prac-
teal control OF coal traffic moving
into and through the port OF
Charleston. which would not he IN"
case il the recommendation OF
Prof. Ripley that the Seaboard Air
.inc Railway be maintained as an
independent systcm and the Caro-
lima. Cl;nchfield and Ohio Railway
Company be considered With il.
Therefore. be it Resolved. IN
view of the foregoing and many
other reasons that could be as
signed. this commission is OF the
unanimous opinion that the best
interests Of the South. and partic-
ularly OF the state OF South Caro-
lima. would be best served by the
Scainard Air Line Railway Con-
plnv being continued as an lnde-
rendcnl system, and that tins conf
mission respectfully recommends
To the Interstate Commerce Com
mission thai this be done and that
a copy ot this resolution be sent
the Interstate Commerce Commits
S:oa With the hope that it will help
tha; body to sec. the situation as
does II. South Carolina Railroad
Commission. in which event results
we are sure Will be fn;' the better
interests OF al parties concerned.
Chairman Shealy's letter OF
tr:;nsn.iS<al follows:
The enclosed resolution speaks
fer Itself. The things referred Z"
rhtrri mare Of vital interest 10 the
people of Sou,., Carolina and s" far
n: is possible. for us 10 have IN
formation. is The same to the en-
tire South. " hi,,h is served by III"
Scabnard Airline Railway Com
pany.
..'rhi, railroad has caused and is
causing Development in Il large
territory in this state. which. hni
iny the S,.:tnntrd Air l.iac. Moui,!
be to y great eNtrn, Il barren ter
r:tol.y The people OF South t:tr"-
lin:. have confidence in the Sci
board Nir in4. and il is one nf the
fcw trunk lines serving tn" South
rent rlade u of bankrupt rail
roads. bui their lines have h""n
built directly by this company. In