Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-20
CENTRAL-S. AL.
MERGER FOUGHT
AS PERIL HERE
Chamber, Told of Probable Seri-
Gus Effect on Amef:cas, Takes
Action Against IL

That distinct menace to the IN
terests of Americus lies in the pro-
posed national railroad merger which
according to plans will reduce the
roads to 18 systems, as outlined some
time ago in news dispatches, was
brought out before the board of di-
rectors of the Americus Chamber of
Commerce this morning.
Under the proposed merger plan,
the Seaboard will become a part OF
the Illinois Central system, which al
ready owns and controls the Central
of Georgia, the only other line enter
ing Americus. This will entirely eli
inmate competition, it was pointed
out, and whatever advantages, such
a condition brings about, and prHo-
ably will mean the loss of the Sea-
board shops here and the termination
Of Americus as the division point.
What this would mean to the pros
perity and business life of the COM
munity may be judged by the state
ment Of H. NJ Sellers, local agent of
the Seaboard, who revealed that the
Payroll of that line in Americus runs
from $35, 900 upward each month.
N. A. Calhoun, commercial agent
iSof the Seaboard with headquarters
at Columbus, appeared before the
chamber directors to state the posi-
ton of his line in opposition to the
I merger He stated that the Seaboard
<while favoring consolidation of the
systems as a sound economical prin
,sfirle, opposed the plan as proposed in
alation to the Seaboard as.inhnical
% the interests of the security hold
z ers and to The people Of the terri
ktory it serves.
Wants Own Merger.
=. He said the railroad felt that it
SHOULD be Tie nucleus of consolida-
tion in anothe- direction, with lines
grouped about It, it being sufficiently
large to merit this prominence and
showing good promise of profitable
and successful operation and develop
ment. He said that to merge the
Seaboard with the Illinois Central
system would virtually make Amer
icut a local station on the Illinois
Central lines, without competitive
conditions and advantages, and with
the certain closing of the shops and
moving of division Offices, He said,
also, it would result in the Mont
eomery branch becoming purely
local limo without any through traf-
Gc, all such business being handled
over the Central lines. He stated that
the Seaboard has been showing much
promise recently las a result of more
economy in handling and operation,
until President Davies Warfield felt
that it would be earning a profit in
a couple of years and a sure chance
fer good development He said
taO0 new cars would be delivered to
the system within four months, that
"a new locomotives had already re-
Gently been delivered and that more
were due shortly, and otherwise the
system was being built up and im-
proved, The roads troubles in the
last few years, he asserted, were
financing and That the financing hai
been effected,
Fad Effect on Rates.
Henry Everett, trait manager for
the chqmter, declared The merger as
proposed would have a very detri-
mental effect upon Americus; that it
would absolutely eliminate competi-
ton, and he was certain would re-
suit disadvantageously in rate MAX
ing in the reconstruction of the whole
rate fabric of the southeast which is
to be undertaken soon.
w, NJ. Jones asked whether or not
such a merger would not virtually
kill the Georgia Railroad Commits
on, which has already lost many of
its powers. He wa sassured this
you'd probably be the effect.
~ am tooth and toe nail against
,o taking away from the people Of
a9v more of their rights" said he
" tn some vchemence. "Our govern
menb is becoming more and more
centralized until few politicians are
able to sit up there in Washington
and tell US how to run our business.
Ours is getting to be the most des-
rotic nation on the face of the
Garth.
Il mnve that the Americus Cham
ber of Commerce go on record as
absolutely opposing this proposed
merger and the elimination of rail
road competitio min Americus and
that we favor regrouping of roads
fer merger whereby the Seaboard
may be the nucleus of an independ-
CIT system
The motion was unanimously
adopted.
The hearings on the proposed mer-
ger will begin before the Interstate
Commerce Commission April "a. AS
proposed the Illinois Central will abb
sorb the Central of Georgia, which