The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-10
PUSHING INTO THE WEST.
THE CENTRAL REACHING OUT FOR
NEW CONNECTIONS.

Birnin CHAM, Kansas City and Mem
phis-The Goodwater Extension to
| Be Opened this Month-The Centrars
The Kansas City, Fort Scott and
Memphis Feeder-Savannah to be an
Outlet for the Big West.
General Manager Belknap, of the Central
railroad, was at his desk yesterday, after
an absence Of ten days, and a MORNING
NEWS reporter found him in happy mood,
the result of a very pleasant trip to the
West Maj. Belknap went West in the in
terest of the Central, and found the outlook
so encouraging that he did not hesitate to
talk railroad in a very entertaining man
ner.
On April 20, Maj Belknap, accompanied
by Mr.. Flnney, his private secretary,
Directors j. j. Wilder and f. NJ. Green,
Traffic Manager Shellman, General Freight
Agent Whitehead, General Passenger
Agent Charlton, Gen. Sorrel, general
manager of the Ocean Steamship Company,
and HenryW. Frost, Esq, of Charleston, left
Savannah, in Maj. Belknap's private car,
the Georgia, for a trip over the Kansas
City, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad. They
went by the way Of Columbus
to Birmingham where they looked after
their terminal facilities there, and arranged
for an entry for the Centrals track to the
Union depot. A day was spent at Birming-
ham and included visits to the various
manufacturing industries of the city. Maj
Belknap said that he found large shipments
of pig-iron there, which the Central will
handle.
THE GOoDWATER EXTENSION.
While on this subject, he said that the
two tunnels on the goodwater extension are
about completed and the prospects are that
the track which is built up on each side to
the big tunnel will be connected within
the next two or three weeks,
and the road will be scheduled by the middle
of June. The surveys are also completed
for the road between Buena Vista and Co
lumbus, andwill be sent in to the General
office this week. The road will soon be put
under contract.
From Birmingham the party went to
Memphis, where they were Joined by Mr.
Nettleton, Vice President OF the Kansas
City, Fort Scott and Gulf road. At Mem
phis day was spent in examining the termi-
nal facilities there, and in q conference with
the BUSINESS men and cotton dealers look
ing to the future shipments Of cotton from
that point via Savannah. The outlook
a share Of tho Memphis trade
Two days were consumed in going over
the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf road.
Mr.. Nettleton accompanied the party and
stops were made at Fort Scott and Spring
field.
AT KANSAS CITY.
A day was spent at Kansas City, and the
party was favorably impressed with its
growth and business activity. Its various
manufactures, mills and wholesale houses
were visited, among other houses the extern
sive Armour packing house.
The reciprocal relations between the Cen
trail system and the Kansas City, Fort
Scott and Gulf, are very satisfactory, and
the visit of the Belknap party is calculated
to strengthen the bond of affinity The
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf, extends
to Birmingham, and is natural feeder to
the Central system which extends from
Birmingham t. the Savannah seaboard,
where the Ocean Steamship line affords
quick transportation to the North and
East.
Maj. Belknap hopes and believes that as a
result of the visit of the Central officials to
Kansas City and other points in tho West,
that large increase of shipments of the
products OF the Northwest will come here
to supply this section, while they reasona-
bly, expect general increase of grain, flour
Memphis and intermediate points, and iron
from Birmingham.
From Kansas City the party went to
Chicago. They arrived there Sunday and
remained until Monday afternoon, when
they started home, returning by the way of
Nashville. Gen. Sorre left the party at
Chicago and went to New York.
SAVANNAH THE BEST OF ALL.
Mai. Belknap said that he was glad to get
back TO Savannah. He thinks that there is
no place so homelike, and he added: 1--WE
feel that all roads ought to lead to Savan-
nah, and we never tired during our trip of
sounding its praises"
He was asked about the general work on
the Centrals projected lines, and in reply
he said that the Central is now building a
new bridge over the Chattahoochee river at
| Columbia for the Blakely extension; is re-
building two bridges near Macon, one at
| Eufaula and one at Columbus. The West
ern road, from Eden to Columbus Mai
Belknap said, will be built, although the
| final surveys have not yet been completed
| About six miles had been let from Eden
| westward, which include the necessary
| treStling. There will be two small bridges
| needed on the section let, ono over tire
| Ogeeche river, but these will be built by
the railroad force. He stated that there are
a number of smaller bridges being rebuilt
on the various lines OF the Central syste N.
In conclusion, Mai. Belknap was asked
! how he accounted for the large increase
last year in the receipts of local cotton. He
said that it was largely due to the fact that
the Central system has been able TO give
better facilities at points heretofore reached
by rival lines, and that they had covered
their own territory more closely, besides
extending their branches to reach new ter
ritory. They hope TO make a still better
showing next season.
CHAT With GEN AIEv n1nnp