The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-29
CAR LINES CONSOLIDATE.
THE COAST LINE SCOOPS THE
CITY AND SUBURBAN.

George Parsons Purchases C. Con-
trolling Interest IN tie City and
Suburban Property and the Two
Systems to be Consolidated-Proba-
bilty of Rail Line from Isle OF Hope
to Warsaw Island-Capt. Johnston TO
be Manager of the Consolidated
Lines.
For some time past it has been understood
that the controlling stock of the City and
Suburban railway was on the market, and
that several parties were negotiating for its
purchase with a view to consolidating it
with one of the other two street car lines,
viz: The Coast Line railroad, the Brough-
ton and Habersham street. line, or the
Savannah Street and Rural Resort railway,
the Belt Line. The latter had an option on
the stock for some time, but it was allowed
to lapse.
The controlling interest cf the City and
Suburban railway was held by parties in
New ork The history Of how the control
of the principal street car line in the city
passed into foreign hands belongs in part
TO the railroad movements made some years
ago to secure travel into Florida, by way Of
Savannah, by the Florida Railway and
Navigation Company. Parties in New
York bought three-fifths of the capital
stock Of tbs City and Suburban at pa and
made its outside line a part of the system
of the Florida Railway and Navigation
Company.
A LINE THAT DIDN'T PAY.
Drumming steamer from Fernandina,
Fla, wlere it connected with the Florida
rail lines, to Montgomery, on Vernon river,
about ten mites below Sava nah, route
was opened which it was supposed could
compete with the all rail lines of the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western railway. After
| one season, however, the project was ADAM
doned, and since then the holders of the
controlling stock have been satisfied to
leave the street railway and its outside
| lines to the management of its president
and the local directors.
The capital stock of the City and Subur-
ban railway is $50, and there is bonded
| debt ON the road of $25O,000 The pur-
chaser of the block of stock is Mr.. George
| Parsons, the pre- ,ident land principal stock
| holder, and also the largest bondholder of
the Coast Line RAILROAD. The price paid for
the stock is par.
MR.. PARSONS PURCHASE.
Mr.. Edward j. Thomas, WAC has had
| charge ct different times of both of the rail
roads now controlled by Mr.. Parsons, re-
turned from New York yesterday, whsre
he went about ten days ago. Speaking of
the purchase, Mr.. Thomas said that he went
| to New York at the request of his friend,
Mr.. Pa sons, to confer in regard to the la-
| ter's railroad interests in Savannah. He
stated that Mr.. Parsons had purchased the
controlling interest. in the City and
| Suburban Company, and that hereafter
| that road and the Coast Line railroad will be
| operated under one ma agement. Under
| this arrangement, said Mr.. Thomas, the
roads can be run more economically, and
| the public can be given better service. He
stated that after having secured the refusal
| of the majority of the City and Suburban
| stock, Mr.. Parsons offered to sell out to the
| minority stockholders, but failing in that
| effort, and knowing the necessities of the
| street railway interests in Savannah, he de-
cided to take control himself.
THE CONSOLIDATED LINES.
The consolidated companies represent two
| cross-town lines, on BFoughton and Liberty
streets, and four up aad down town lines,
| Barnard and West Broad streets and Whita-
ker, Abercorn and Habsrsham Streets A
| judicious system of transfers will DO ar
| ranged by which passengers will have the
| benefit of a combination of outes to different
| sections of the city. Mr. Thomas said that
| Capt. j. II. Johnston will be the manager
IF the combined lines, and M. Thomas will
| be a member of the new board of directors.
In connection with this deal. it is not out
of place to state that it has been rumored
| for s)me weeks that railroad will be built
from Isle of Hope across Skida way island
and Rlmney marsh to Warsaw island,
whic is owned by Mr.. Pars Dns, and that
large hotelfor summer and winter tourists is
to be erected on that island. The develop
ment of that island has bee / a lifelong plan
of Mr.. Parsons, and with the City and Su-
burban railways Isleof Hope branch under
his control it can be easily accomplished.
There is not more delightful winter eli
mate in the world than that of Warsaw and
the other sea islands along the Georgia
| coast.