The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-06-21
RAILROAD ECCENTitgCI-
TIES.
The People OF \ bany Suspicious
Where They Were EXpectant.


many times during the past few
years to clap their hands in anticipa-
ton of the extension of the Bruins
wick and Western Railroad But
with every citation came a correspond
ing depression, until suspicion has
taken the place of expectation. Now
when the question is agitated, the
heretofore over sanguine hold their
peace and anxiously await develop
ments. The road has been built so
often and the advantages accruing
to Albany have been painted so
glowingly on paper, that any move
ment now is regarded with suspi-
cion.
When the road passed into the
hands of the Erlanger syndicate
everybody supposed that every OBJ
stacle had been removed. And
when Mr.. Wolfe went over the road
and expressed himself delighted With
the purchase, the average Albanian
imagined that success was just at
hand. Bat, like all other dreams, it
vanished into thin air, and for many
months the people did not know to
whom this property belonged. The
only evidence that there had been q
a change was that they were instruc-
ted to write Brunswick and Western
instead of Brunswick and Albany, as
heretofore.
About a month or two ago a
change in officers occurred, accompa-
MED with a change Of schedule
! This awakened Il new interest, and
the eyes of the people were turned
in a new direction. The report
swept over the country that the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western Rail
way and the Central had leased the
road, ana that it would never be car
ried farther west This was sad
disappointment to many. The
growth of the city was doomed, not
outstanding it's natural advantages
and its anticipated development.
The old charter was hunted up and
its requirements brought prominent
ly to the consideration of the owners
OF the road, and an onward move
ment demanded. Once more Flint
river was to be bridged, and the
| ChattahoCchoo must he crossed or a
certain chartered privileges would be
lost. The curious were anxious to
know how MI this could be done,
and the citizens thought that the
road would be compelled to 60 to
work at once.
This difficulty was at once relieved
and the ardof OF the most sanguins
put at rest The authorities of the
Brunswick and Western made ar
engagements with the authorities of
the Savannah, Florida and Wes-
tern Railway to cross the Flint
! river on their bridge. So with Just a
little cost that matter was amicably
arranged and tISa clamor hushed.
But how about the other difficulty d?
1t was as promptly met. The char
ter did not specify at what poiut, or
Just where he road was to cross the
Chattahoochee. Hence this suppos-
ed combination Of the Central and
Savannah, Florida and Western sug-
gested the use of the Blakely extern
sion. This would meet all require
ments and secure all the chartered
rights Another solution was sug-
gested: That the Southwestern
Railroad bridge ut 'Eufaula would
meet every demand The public
mind had almost settled down upon
this arrangement of the difficulties
when, lola corps Of engineers com.
menced surveying route to the
city and locating point for the cree
,ion of bridge across the Flint
Something had gone wrong. The
: whole question was enveloped il
mystery again.
Ilearn the cause Of the difficulty
was that Mr. Seligman, of New York
who has control Of the Brunswick
and Western Railroad. had put hi.
figures so high that the other par
ties were compelled to decline further
; negotiations. This threw the com
papy back on its own resources an6
{ some action was necessary. Hence
Mr. Wise, the Chief Engineer, located
the route by which the Brunswick
and Western Road would enter Al
bany, and located a point at the
front Of North Street for the erection
of an iron bridge, and the contract
given to Wilkison, Post & Co.,
who propose to erect the bridge
within the next two months. Col
Tiff, it is said, who owns the land
on both sides Of the river, signed
the papers giving the company the
right of way. This is the most def
mite action yet taken, and conse
quently the people are happX, but
still their Joy is not unmixed with
suspicion.
[ had a conversation with Col. Mel.
son Tiff, who assured me If the
facts above stated and that he had
no doubt but that the bridge would
be built within the next sixty-fve
days. He felt assured that the com
pany was acting in good faith, and
that they would finish the road tc
Columbus by the appointed time
The engineer corps has left fol
Columbus, where they will commence
a survey of a route this way. I was
unable to answer the question asked
by one curious to know, why the en-.
gineer did not survey a route from