Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-20
CENTRAL-S. AL.
MERGER FOUGHT
AS Peril. HERE
Chamber, Told Of ProbaoLe Seri-
Gus Effect on Americas, Ta!sas
Acticn Against Il

terests of Americus hes 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 viii become part Of
the Illinois Central system, which al
ready owns and controls the Central
Of Georgia, the only other line enter
ing Americas. This win entirely eli
mmate competition, it was pointed
out, and whatever advantages, such
condition brings about, and prob
ably win mean the loss of the Sea-
board shops here and the termination
Of Americas as the division point.
What this would mean to the pros
pority and Business life of the COM
raunity may be judged by the state
mcnt Of L. 1I., Sellers, local agent of
the Seaboard, who revealed that the.
rayroll Of that line in Americus runs
from $4,000 upward each month.
NJ. A. Calhoun, commercial agent
of the Seaboard. with headquarters
at Columbus, appeared before the
chamber directors to state the posi-
ton Of his line in opposition to the
merger. He stated that the Seaboard
while favoring consolidation Of the
systems rs q SQUAD economical prin-
CipIc, opposed the plan as proposed in
alatioa to the Seaboard as inimical
% the Interests OF the security hold
ers and to the people OF the terri
tory it servcs.
Wants Owg Merger.
He said the railfoad felt that it
should be the nucleh hs Of a consolida-
ton in anoshe~ direction, with lines
grouped about T, 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
jcut q local station on The Illinois
Central lines, without competitive
conditions and advantages, and with
tac certain closing of the shops and
moving of division offices. He said,
also, it would result in the Mont
Gomcry branch becoming purely
local line without any through traf-
,ic, all such business being handled
over the Central lines. He stated that
The Seaboard has been showing much
promise recently as a result of more
economy in handling and operation,
atl President Davies Warfeld felt
t.-at it would be earning a profit in
=, couple of years and a sure chance
fcr good development. He SAID
{ 700 new cars would be delivered to
The system within four months, that
q new locomotives had already re-
Gently been delivered and that more
were due shortly, and otherwise the |
system was being built up and I'M
proved. The roads troubles in the
last few years. he asserted, wor2
financing and that The imam ing ha |
been effected.
Sad Effect on Ratcs.
Henry Everett, trafT manager for |
the chemter, declare 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. M: Jones asked whether or not |
such a merger would not virtually |
XIII the Georgia Railroad Commits
"ion, which has already lost many of |
it powers. lie was assured this !
you'd probably be the effect.
81 an tooth and toe nail against
.ae taking away from the people OF
aay more' Of their rights, said he
W th aome veheme2ce. "Our govern !
a++-iiL - DSCOtHlllB HtGIS ana more (
centralized unit few politicians are
able to sit up there in Washington
ard tell US how to run cur business
Ours is getting to be the most des-
rotic nation On the face Of the
carth.
Il move that the Americas Cham
bor Of Commerce go on record as
absolutely opposing this proposed
.Icrger and the elimination Of rail.
road competition in Americus and /
that we favor a regrouping Of roads /
fer merger whereby the Scaboard /
la3y be the nucleus Of an independ-
cat system"
The motion was unanimously
adopted
The hearings on the proposed mer-
ger will begin before the Interstate
Commerce Commission April "a. AS
ror1 ed the Illinois Central will abb |
sorb the Central of Georgia, which
it already owns and comforts; the |
Seaboard, the Tennessee Central, the
Gulf and Ship Island, and the Dur |