Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-01
WHAT WILL HE DO WITH ITs
Colonel Wadley's Plans in Regard
TO Port ROyal-A Chance for the
Louisville aud Nashville system.

The Augusta Chronicle interviewed Mr..
D. q. Wilson, President of the Port Royal
Railroad, in regard to the status of the road
and It's port under its lease to Colonel Wad-
ley, and ascertained the following, which is
of general interest:
Mr.. Wilson answered that he could
not speak now as one in authority. He ex-
pected shortly to leave the road, and, al
though his relations with Mr.. Wadley were
pleasant and cordial, he could not know
definitely of the plans and policy of that
gentleman. Mr.. WadleY, however, he could
say, had been greatly impressed with whathe
had seen during his recent visit to Port Royal.
He had expressed himself as surprised at
the great wharf and storebouse facilities.
Mr.. Wadley, he regarded as one of the finest
practical railroad men in the South. He is
a faithful custodian Of the great trusts
which have been committed to him, and
IN all cases has carefully guarded the inter-
ests OF the Central Railroad and Savan-
nah. For this very reason, however, Mr..
Wilson could not say that the prospects
of the Port Royal and Augusta Railway,
and of the city of Port Royal would be
bright should the Central Railroad remain
sole lessee of the Port Royal. The lease
had been perfected at comparatively small
cost. So powerful corporation as the Cen
trail Railroad might afford to let it rest and
yet pay interest on its bonds-it being low
rate on the investment. Or Mr.. Moses Tay-
Tor, who Is deeply interested in both the
Central and South Carolina Railroads,
might be willing to "lay by" the Port Royal,
dividing the increased business up between
the Central and the Carolina Railroads.
care not negotiations pending to let the
Louisville and Nashville into the lease?"
Mr.. Wilson answered that he had under
afr hot xUo fho I.
hoped that the same CONFERENCE.-The
Wadley and the Louisville and Nashville
which had leased the Georgia, would also
control the Port Royal. The Port Royal
Railroad was the natural outlet of the Geor-
gia Road to the ocean. Such a Western
system, not interested exclusively in any one
Southern seaport, would give Port Royal an
equal chance with Savannah or Charleston.
The object of the Louisville and Nashville
would be to control the long hauls of the
Western produce, and each port could get
q share of business. On this account It
might be well for the Western road to come
into an equal share of the lease. Indeed,
Mr.. Wadley himself was in favor of General
Alexander entering the lease.
"Has the Port Royal Road not made a
good showing this year?"
Mr.. Wilson said that the progress of the
road had been altogether satisfactory.
When the Port Royal and Augusta Railroad
was built, it found no city at it's ocean ter
minus. The Central had been secure in
Savannah, and the Carolina Road found the
largest Southern seaport as a fortress The
Port Royal Railroad had to go to work and
build up town. 1t had to encourage en-
terprises, not only along its line, but to get
up congresses, warehouses, etc., at its ter
minus The road, of course, had to carry
along the port with 1t for a number OF
years. Notwithstanding these disadvan
tages, the business of the road had been
steadily increasing. The May receipts had
been 100 per cent. greater than last year the
same time, while the June figures would
show an improvement OF between 20 and so
per cent. Indeed, so heavy this season had
been the fertilizer traffic handled by this
road that they had for the first three months
of the year given the Georgia Road, as ap-
peared upon the books of the latter, more
business than any of its connecting lines.
"How does Port Royal compare with
other harbors ~
Mr.. Wilson-It is one of the finest in the
world. Old sea Captains who have sailed
around the earth so say. Captain Lefevre,
of New York, one of the oldest and most
experienced mariners in America, during
the war entered Port Royal with the steam
ship Vanderbilt-the Great Eastern of the
New World-drawing twenty-four feet of
water, and having In tow second steamer
with draught Of twenty-five feet. Col.
Wilson said that when he recently, In New
York, mentioned the circumstance to
Lefevre, who had been Vanderbilt's Com
modore, that the latter recollected the incl
dent perfectly. "Why," said Lefevre. s'I
could have entered Port Royal blindfolded
and without pilot. 1t is the finest harbor
on the coast"
"What,n Joined in Col Wilson, "Aner
than New York harbor ?"
Tn L
venerable Captain; Port Royal has more
water on the bar, and, in cases of storm, is
more secure"
At Port Royal, continued Colonel Wilson,
European steamers, drawing twentY-four
feet, can load right up from the car and
steam right out to sea. And it is the large,
deep-laden steamships which pay in the
export business. The same change of
method which necessitated long trains Of
twentY-ton freight cars, where short series
OF light ten-ton boxes were once used, now
employed large, spacious ocean steamers,
laden deep into the water, aud whose huge
propellers, firmly set under the surface gave
them all possible speed. For heavy tonnage
and export business, Port Royal was the
only harbor which would I'LL the bill, Mr.
Wilson thought. No lighters were needed
to haul freights up the river.
"Was there much light freight business
done at Port Poyal?"
Mr.. Wilson answered, yes. Schooner
freights had been very fair, and as wharf
and storage facilities were so fine the road
had been enabled to give shippers every ac-
commodation, and Augusta got the benefit of
through freight rates all the same.
In answer to question, MIR. Wilson
stated that although he would soon retire
from the road, he would still remain in Port
Royal, where he had business interests.