The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-01
BACK FROM BIRMINGHAM.

General Manager Belknap Inspects the
Columbus and Western.
General Manager Belhnap, of the Central
railroad, and Director j. j. Wilder have re-
turned from Birmingham and a trip over
the Centrals Goodwater extension. Supt
McClintocz, of the Columbus and Western
accompanied the party from Columbus
Capt F. Y Dabney, chief engineer of tn,
road met it at Alexander City and con
Quoted it to Syllacauga, thence to Childers
burg and to Coosa river, whence the visitor
inspected the Coosa river bridge They
then went via the East Tennessee, Virgins
and Georgia to Admission, and by the
Georgia Pacific to Birmingham. Monday
they made trip out on the Columbus and
Western from Birmingham to Coosa river
and took in WOodlawn. They were very
much pleased with the road which will be con
nected through the tunnels by the middle
of April, by which time it is proposed tC
have the freight depot at Birmingham il
readiness for the handling of freight
In speaking of the progress Of the worl
on the extension Mr.. Belknap said: 81 an
well pleased with everything, especially
that the tunnels are so nearly completed
That, he added, was the greatest undertak
ing in building the extension, but the diff
Guilty has at last been overcome"
"When do you expect to have the new
road in operation ~
"Withln sixty days we will have regu
lar freight and passenger schedule in opera
ton over the entire line between Birming
ham and Columbus
The plans for the round house, freight
depot and offices, at Birmingham, are com
plete, and will be turned over to the chic
engineer in a few days.
In regard to theshops which the company
contemplates erecting, Mr.. Belknap said
I'VE desire to concentrate our shops, so a
to have them in two central and convenient
places. The shops at Macon will serve fol
the roads operated in Georgia, and we con
template erecting shops in or near Birming
ham, which will serve for the Central1
different lines in Alabama"
The principal reason why the shops will
be located at Birmingham, is to be con
venieut 10 iron, coal, and in all probability
TO steel. Birmingham is not a central point
but the conveniences which il affords out
balance the distance. The company
owns nearly ten blocks of LAND
on Twenty-Sixth street, in Birming
ham, and the shops may be located there,
bat no definite steps have ben taken in that
direction as yet. As soon as the road get,
into operation so that the material for then
construction can be hauled in, the location
of the shoes will be fixed.
"What kind of schedule Will the Centra
operate when completed into Birmingham,
the General Manager was asked.
I'VE propose to operate just such a
schedule as the people demand he replied
I'VE will operate in connection with the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham
railroad and run through sleepers from
Kansas City to savannah
A surveying party will soon start from
Columbus 70 survey line to Americas, g
distance of about 80 miles. The company
proposes to build a shortcut railroad be
tween those places, connecting at the latter
with the Southwestern railroad This will
shorten the diatance considerably between
Birmingham and Savannah, besides open.
ing up new route TO Florida.