New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-23

An alliance has been formed between Jne
Louisville and Nashville and certain other
Southern railroads, which gives the former
line control of number of routes to the
coast. 1t is the expectation of the managers
of the newly organized system of roads that
share of the traffic between New-York and the
West and between Cuba and the West Will be
diverted to the lines of the alliance. Several
thousand men are building cars for the new
routes. The South is reported to be taxing
great interest in this matter, as it will bring
her ports into greater prominence
NEW ROUTE TO NEW-YORK.
THE TRUE MEANING OF RECENT CIANGEs-ADvAN-
TAGKs OF THE NEW LINE FROM ST. LOUIS TO
NEw-YORK-No TROUBLE IN GETTING ALL THE
BUSINESS IT CAN DO-THE LINE TO HAVANA
WHAT 1T CAN ACCOMPLISH.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNEJ
LOUISVILLE, Feb. 10.-The recent swift and i'm
portant changes in Southern railroad circles have
deeper meaning than appears on the surface, and
were brought about by stronger motives than the
exigencies Of competition. For several years the
Southern railroad managers have been restlve under
the arrangement that sent all the Western freights
to the seaboard over the four trunk lines of the
North. The late rise in the value of securities and
the appreciation of general credit gave these man
ayers the first opportunity they have had for eXten-
siye operations and the result is the unusual activity
that has marked the last twelve months.
II soon became apparent that only three men
had projected acquired important systems
in this direction Mr. L. W. Cole, controlling the
Nashville and Chattanooga. had secured line from
st. Louis 10 Atlanta Ga. Mr.. II. Victor Newcomb,
representing the Louisville and Nashville Road, had
secured line from Chicago to Mobile, and had
made important strides toward st. Louis way down
in Georgia Mr. w. VI. Wadley, president OF the
Georgia Central had absorbed the important lines
from Atlanta to Savannah, and had put on ilne
Inc OF steamers TO Ncw-YOrk. OF course each OF
these lines was protected aud fed by outlying allies
and branches Cole and NewcOmb watching each
other wary, became aware that the
KEY of the South Atlantic was in tho keeping OF the
bluff old magnate IN Savannah. whose roads met
Cole at Atlanta, and NewcOmb at Montgomery.
Colonel Cole made the first assault on Wadley
and captured him by leasing his entire system cap
itazed at 81 900 900 and carrying fixed obllga-
ton of 81 800, 900 per annum Before this lease
vas ratified by the Nashville and Chattanooga
| Hoard. Newcomb by a bold stroke, captured Coles
svstem by a purchase of the bulk of his stock. Bnt
! before the Louisville and Nashville Road had COM
pleted the lease with Wadley bought as one OF the
| rights of Coles system, the Georgia Central Board
| met aud Withdrew the lease proposition. Matters
were thus mixed again, and the most desperate
efforts were made to unite all the roads in Georgia
against the Louisville and Nashville and shut 1t of
from tho Atlantic. Newcomb at once bought his
| way through to Pensacola, and began pushing
| toward Newt Orleans. Suddenly it was announced
| that Newcomb had not only reaiirmed the alliance
with Wadlev. but had also captured the Georgia
road which commands the approach to Port Royal
| and Charleston. Under this report the stock OF
| fs,T n
and Nashville advanced fully 2o per cent
The rumor il true gave TO the Louisville and Nash
! willie n line into every port between Wilmington and
| Galveston. and the control of the most OF them.
There were through lines from Chicago, 81. Louis,
Memphis and Louisville to the Atlantic and from
| the lake region to tho Gull.
| Yonr correspondent called on Mr. Newcomb-from
whom all currents of information or surmisc seemed
TO come-and asked him If it were true that he had
established the close relations reported with Alr.
| Wadcy.
He replied: 1T is true The proposition of lease
of the Georgia Central. made TO Colonel Cole and
bought by us, was withdrawn at my request.
| called on Mr. Wadey and we very soon arranged
nm alliance of the vety closest character. We then
agreed that this alliance just rs effective as
lease could be. and much more satisfactory there
| fore suggested that the proposition be Withdrawn,
and he agreed to withdraw it,
This then. gives You control of every line from
| the West to the South Atlantic seaboard r
1T gives us all that we want and all that we
| have aimed at Wo have been greatly misunder-
| stood in the South aud have been subjected to un-
! lust abuse II was said that we bought control OF
the Nashville and Chattanooga for the purpose OF
breaking up the through line from ST. Louis to Sa-
yannah. and it was credited to Mr. stephens that
our purchase had destroyed the grandcst enterprise
| tho South had ever bad. ! remained quiet under
! these assaults knowing that when our plans were
developed it would be shown that instead of break
ing up this line we had taken the only course that
| could make it efficient or permanent. For years
have appreciated the Importance OF n through line
in the South. | have known that capital, immgra-
ton, enterprise follow the great currents of trade
aud that cities, towns md villages grow along their
sides Just as harvests grow by the banks OF rivers
But have never yielded my conviction that two
great lines could not prosper in section that
would support only one 1t has been clear for Il
long time that road and the Nashville ana Chat-
tanooga must be brought under one control i'll
some way. For long time we have been
on the point of flying at each others
throats, and in fact the building OF par
allel lines through thny-settlcd sections of coun-
| try, had already begun when we bought the
Nashville and Chattanooga stock and pnt Stop
to a policy which must have crippled us pOth
ifpersisted in. Az it IS now. VIC have hhe
field, and there il no fear of our being driven
into desperate measures. We shall be able to give
the South q better line than it could have had
otherwise"
lis 1t your intention to demand of tho pool COM
missioner Of the trunk lines share of the Western
frelghtsT
81 do not think we will do so at present We are
fairly entitled to part of this carrying trade ana
will get it, I apprehend, without demand. We
have line from St. Louis to New-York, via Savan-
nah, seventy miles shorter-counting the water at
three miles for one OF land transportaton-than
that from st. Louis to New York by the Pennsyl-