Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-14

VIII IL be Extended to Birmingham
That Is the Question Now Being Dis
cussed by the Directors of the Centfai
Road.
II was stated in the NEWS yesterday
that Captain W. q. RaOul, President Of
the Georgia Central Railroad. and several
Of the directors. had the day before re-
turned from tour OF inspection Of their
road. and that they mad extended their
trip as far as Birmingham, Alabama.
A representative Of the NEWS called on
Captain Raoul yesterday for the purpose
Of getting from him some points
hearing upon the Birmingham
trip. In answer 10 question
CAPTAIN RaOul said: You know that the
Columbus and Western Railway, better
lxnOwn. perhaps, as the South Western,
belongs to the Central. 1t IS completed
as far as GOOdwater, Alabama. A com
pany propose to construct road from
Birmingham to Memphis. This company
made proposition to US to complete the
south Western to Birmingham, 50 as to
make connection with their Memphis ROAD
We went to Birmingham to meet the repre-
sentatiyes Of this company and talk over
their proposition
You met them:'
''Yes, we met them and heard what
they had 10 say
what is the distance between food
water and Birmingham"
ssBetween fifty and sixty miles. The
road could not be built on very direct
line. however, on account Of the character
Of the country"
.What is the character Of the country
through which the line would have to
rum
1T is as fine region as there is in the
South. The soil is good and the timber Is
/ excellent"
'.DOes it contain any minerals
yes there are no better coal fields IN
/ Alabama. and you know Alabama is re-
markably rich in coal and iron."
did you pass over the proposed line
/ on your recent trip
/ Yes, we made the journey in wagon
( from GOOdwater to Birmingham, and,
/ therefore, had a splendid opportunity to
/ become pretty well acquainted with the
I country"
''What was the impression made upon
I your partyN
every favorable. No doubt the road
/ will be extended to Birmingham sooner
or later. 1t will certainly be built II the
proposed Birmingham and Memphis Road
/ is built"
..Is not Birmingham thriving city,
Eyes. A busy, thriving growing city
/ Of perhaps. Il, 900. The growth of the
! iron industry there is wonderful"
s'Would it not pay to extend the Column
/ bus and Western Railway to birmingham
| at Once?"
"Perhaps it would. There are, how
ever, a good many things to be consid-
1 ered.'
in the event of the extension OF the
/ Columbus and Western Road, what would
! il cost TO bring coal TO Savannah p
THE actual cost of laying 1t down here
would be s. 30 per ton. savannah ana
other points on our lines Of road might
draw their fuel supply from Alabama
"Would there not be other freight for Sa-
yannah over the rOad:'
THE pig iron manufacturers of Blrmlng-
ham say that they can ship pig iron TO
Philadelphia and other Northern cities at
a profit. In that case if there was di-
rect line between Savannah and Birming-
ham the pig iron would seek a market IN
the North by way of SaYannah as the
cheapest and most direct route"
Without saying what the Central would
do about extending the South Western, or
what action. if any, had been taken
in the matter, Captain Haoul left
the impression that the extension
was only question Of time. 1t IS evident
that both he and the Central directors are
deeply impressed with the developments
already made in the iron and coal fields
of Alabama, and with the great future
which seems to be opening up for that re-
tripn