Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-19
FAST TRAVEL.
Important improvements on tne
Charleston and Savannah Kan"
road

The completion Of the Waycross Short
Line. of which full description mas been
given in these columns, lessening the time
between Savannah and Jacksonville to six
hours. is conceded to be great achieve
meut. and has been hailed as an evidence OF
progress in the South. This great enterprise,
conceived and projected by the worthy
General Manager of the Savannah Florida
and Western Railway, was carried 10 sue
cessful completion through the liberal as
sistance of H. B. Plant, Esq, the sagacious
President Of the company, to whose pro-
gressive ideas and large capital
is mainly due the development Of the South
ern railway system in this section: Mr.:
Plant is known as a gentleman or enlarged
views. progressive, bold and energetic. and
when convinced of the feasibility OF an en-
terprise, gives to its furtherance with q
liberal hand. Thus are we lndeOtea
to him for the magnihcently equipped
road which now conuects our SEAPORT WIN
Jacksonville. On no road IN the country are
to be found more comfortable, cosy or
modernized cars, and the rolling stock gen.
erallv is first class The entire distance is
laid with fine steel rails, and the whole line
Is In perfect order. But 1t was
not particularly Of TINS route
we desired to speak. Its merits ana at
fractions are well known from previous ar
ticles and from the reports OF the hundreds
who have passed over it during the present
month, The line, however, is only por-
ton of the system of railW avs in which Mr..
Plant is interested, and of its connection
with the Charleston and Savannah Railway
we now wish to say a few words. 1t has
long been the desire OF Mr..
Plant to reduce the time between Charles
ton and Savannah to four or five hours, and
since his control of the line this desire mas
grown stronger. Circumstances have pre-
vented the full carrying out of his plans.
but much has already been done, and the
service is being improved constantly. 1t is
estimated that neHk ninety miles OF the
road have been a Sh steel rails. and in
short time the ene.e track will be relaid.
Among the contemplated Improvements
is the construction of an iron bridge over
the Savannah river that will cost between
sixty and eighty thousand dollars. 1t will
be about one thousand feet long, and will
be constructed of the best material and In
the most superior manner.
During the past year the earnings OF the
road amounted to 1874 600, an increase of
about 500. 900 in the yearly earnings during
the last three years-since the depot OF the
road was removed from the st. Andrews
terminus 10 It's pEeocub AOCdL1On ia OAoi AOS-
ton. At that time the road was in very
unpromising and dilapidated condition,
without q track or rolling stock or reputa-
ton. With improved terminal facilities and
MANAGEMENT the business of the line has
greatly increased, and the prospects for the
future are very encouraging.
In addition to the increased equipment
for the transportion of freight, the passen-
ger service has been improved and parlor
cars Of beautiful workmanship and with all
the modern conveniences are being run
every day. The passenger trains are sup
piled with air brakes, the time has been
increased, and the managers hope by the LIST
of October next to run from Charleston to
Jacksonville In ten hours.
The new schedule which is now in force
makes close connections at Savannah both
South and North, and independent OF the
fast time, the increased comforts of travel
ing In this section, which have been stcur-
ed through the enterprising management OF
Mr.. Plant, have greatly impressed strangers
with our improved railway service.