The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-31
CENTRAL'S NEW SYSTEM.
THE SAVANNAH AND WESTERN
CONSOLIDATION EFFECTED.

The Stockholders Ratify the Action of
the Dtrectors-What the New Sys-
TEN Is-Progress of Work on the
New Roads-Gen. Alexander's Visit
to New York-The City of Birming-
ham to be Ready Next Week.
The stockholders of the Savannah and
Western and the Savannah and Columbus
roads met yesterday in the office Of Gen. f.
?. Alexander, president Of the Central sys-
tenn and ratified the consolidation of roads
made by the directors about six weeks ago.
In an interview with the MORNING NEWS
after the meeting, Gen. Alexander ex-
planned what roads were included in the
consolidation, the miles under operation,
the number of miles under construction,
and the additional construction contem-
plated, as follows:
The Buena Vista and Ellaville, thirty
miles of which are completed, and thirty
five miles of which are now under construc-
ton, which will, as Gen. Alexander states,
close up the gap with Columbus and give
them short line and Florida connections
for Birmingham, Memphis and the north
west.
THE BIRMINGHAM LINE.
The Columbus and Western, 1877 miles
now being operated. Branches TO coal
fields are now under construction and to be
constructed wherever developments should
warrant branches to coal mines in prox-
unity to the line.
The Columbus and Rome. There are
fifty miles Of this line IN operation, and
twenty mile extension TO Newton will be
built within year
The East Alabama are fifty-seven
miles of this road in operation, and it is to
be extended twenty miles farther TO
Wedowee, in a short time. Wedowee is
the county seat of Randolph county
Alabama, and this is good cotton region,
and 1t is expected to draw upon rich ore
belts lying northw west of Wedowee
The Eufaula and Clayton-This com
prises twenty miles of roadway under
operation.
The Eufaula and East Alabama Work
on this road is now in progress, and a por-
ton of it is being operated. Ii is expected
to complete the entire line of forty miles as
far as Ozark, and have it in operation by
Sept |. An extension OF twenty-five miles
to Eliza is to be constructed within a wear
or two at the farthest. and all these lines
will be feeders of the Savannah and Western
proper from Savan ah to Columbus via
Americas.
PROGRESS OF THE NEW ROADS.
Gen. Alexander was asked if his visit to
New York, whence he returned yesterday
morning, had any significance in a railroad
way He SAID that he went to New York
more particularly to attend the annual
meeting of the Southern railroad and steam
ship association. A very pleasant meeting
resulted, and the old officers were reelected
He said further that there is nothing new
to note in the matter Of the Eden extension
to Americas. He considered the completion
of the Buena Vista and Ellaville extension
to Columbus of the greatest immediate
Importance, and tho work is being pu he'd
vigorously on that road. The surveys have
not been completed between Eden and
Amercus, but the engineers are at work on
the survey, and the work of construction
will begin this year.
TO BE READY IN TEN DAYS.
The general was asked what there is new
in the steamship department Of the Central
system, and he said that the City of Bir-
mingham will be ready to drop into her
slip in New York harbor in ten days. They
also expect, Gen. Alexander says, to build
two magnificent passenger and freight
steamships, with a speed of fifteen knots an
hour. This will give the Ocean steamship
company nine steamships, seven of which
will be passenger vessels. The fastest steamer
of the line at present is the City of Augusta,
fourteen knots, the others averaging about
thirteen knott" The new steamers are to be
of twin models, to be of the very best mate
rial, and of the most modern interior ar
rangement and artistic finish, aud will cost
about $3.50, 900 each. Tney are to be named
the Kansas City and City Of Memphis, and
it is expected to have them ready for traffic
in October, or not later than November of
next year.
In answer to query as to what was be-
mo in wit ba al
remodeliug of the Ocean steamship wharves
in this city, Gen. Alexander said that sur
veys are IN progress aud the preliminary
work is being done by the engineers 4
work of this magnitude must necessarily DO
slow and caunot DC hurried. The proposed
plan of remodeling has heretofore been de-
tailed in the MORNING NEWS.