Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-18
The RumOred Railroad Combination
COntradicted.
Atlanta Constitution of Sunday.


The rumor of a consolidation between the
Cole-Seney, Louisville and Nashville and
Georgia Central systems created a great stir
in Atlanta yesterday.
The knowledge that such negotiations had
been on foot, as stated in the Constitution,
led to the belief that there was at least the
possibility of truth in the rumor It was felt
that the stoppage of these two roads would
be very serious blow to Atlanta, and there
were many very anxious men on the streets
yesterday.
Major McCracken, who is in charge of the
Cole extension lines in Georgia, did not be-
lieve the story. Said he:
81 have alreadypaid out in actual cash over
$3.50, 900, and it would cost at least 50, ,5OO,-
600 If the work were stopped this instant.
This is pretty big sum Of money for any
corporation to pay out just to keep a road
from being built
'MY bills for this week amount to over
100000, and have just received telegram
from EGeneral Thomas instructing me to
draw as usual on our New York bank. /
have Just received notification Of the receipt
of eight hundred tons of steel rails at Ma
con, making 2, 900 tons already actually de-
livered to US. | have daily dispatches from
General Thomas, all urging me to push the
work forward as rapidly as possible
"Besides all this, eight gentlemen who
will have charge of important trusts in
track laying, etc, have just reached Allan
ia this morning direct from General Thomas.
He sent them south on last Wednesday
night. Ii there had been anything In the
wind he would certainly have not sent them.
So that while l have no official denial of the
rumOr, not having asked for one, there are
hundred reasons for it not being so to one
why It could be So"
"You say that It would cost 81, SOC, 900 to
stop the road right now?"
have every foot OF the line from Macon to
Rome under contract, and of course must
see the contractors out, even II we do not
build"
"But," continued Major McCracken, sT
know there have been some negotiations
between the Louisville and Nashville, and
our company recently, and it is
barely possible that something more
than l have information about
was done. l don't think, however, It is
probable l don't attach enough import
ance to the rumOr to inquire II it is true,
because l know the men who are backing
me, and they sent me here to build the road,
and 1 am going to do it just as quick as |
can, and don't intend to stop until they tell
me, which will not be done until we have a
continuous line from Chattanooga, Ten
nessee, to Brunswick, Georgia, with easy
grades, steel rails, and no sharp curves"
After this talk with Major McCraeken,
the Constitution thought it was not worth
while to go into the matter further, but for
fear there might be something in it, an in
quiry was telegraphed to the only men who
could possibly know about it-Colonel e.
W. Cole. Mr.. George l. Seney and General
Samuel Thomas.
Colonel Coles answer came first from
Memphis, stating that he had no iuforma-
tion about such a consolidation, and that he
did not believe the report was true.
General Samuel Thomas answer came
next from Columbus, Ohio, and is as fol-
lows: "No truth in the report. Such g
change is an absolute impossibility, no mat
ter who might want TO bring it about"
Soon after the receipt of General Thom-
as telegram we received the following
in answer to our inquiries from Mr.. Seney:
'No truth whatever.
"fSigned GEORGE l. SENEY.n