The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-08
ON RAIL AND CRossTIa.
Local and General Gossip In Railway
Circles

Local ana General Gossip In Railway
Circles
J. P. Beckwith, Florida freight agent of
the Central railroad, left for Atlanta last
night
General Manager Belknap of the Central
railroad left in his private car last night for
Birmingham TO inspect the roai.
William F. Shellman, traffic manager of
the Central railroad, left last night tor
| Macon and Americas, looking after the
CentraFs interests.
The Central railroad turned out of their
shops yesterday handsome sleeper, which
will be put on between Savannah and At
lanta. The sleeper is named the Winona.
The Sheffield ALA. Daily Enterprise
says enthusiastically: I'VE are assured of
the early construction of the road from
Sheffield via Atlanta to Savannah. On au-
thority Of Col. G. c. Merrick, president Of
the Chicago and Gulf railroad, we are able
to announce that the construction of an air
line road from Dauphin island and Mobile
straight through Sheffield to Chicago is
assured. A large part Of the route has
been surveyed, 375 miles of the profile and
engineer work has been completed, the
right of way of the entire route has been
secured, between 50, 900 900 and 100000
has been obtained by local subscription, and
| contract has been let and work com
menced on thirty miles of the road south
| from Faunsdale toward Cedar Point. The
property is bonded at s25, 900 per mile and
the bonds have been place |. This is one of
the most important items of news regard,
ing Sheffield yet received. Sheffield will
boom clear out of sight and all the croakers
In the union can't keep her down."
An Augusta travelling man talking of how
railroads build up towns and cities, day
or two ago, said: IF one should refer to At
lanta as stat, n on branch of the Geor
gia railroad, within ear-shot of native of
that city. there would be a fight or a foot
race. Yet such is a fact. The
main line of the Georgia road runs
from Augusta to Athens, and it is so stated
in the charter of the road. The Geor-
gia road was the fourth built in the world.
road running from Manchester to Liver
pool was the first and the road from Au-
gusta to Charleston was the second do not
remember just now which was the
third 1t was the intention of the
projectors of the Georgia road at first to
run the road by the way of Eatouton, but
in those days the people everywhere were
greatly prejudiced against railroads, and
the citizens Of Eatonton held an Indignation
meeting because the route of the Georgia
road had been surveyed through the town.
This caused the projectors to change the
route to Athens. When that was completed,
the road pushed forward toward Atlanta,
with a view of securing western con-
| nections The proprietors had no idea
of making Atlanta q terminal point.
| Arriving there, however, they put down
station pegs, and very soon there ,fter the
place, which was then called Marthasville.
became the objective point of another road,
and Immediately began TO grow. Atlanta
at that time consisted of one cabin and
quality of bad mud The cabin has disap-
peared, but the mud is still there. The
reason why the place was made station by
the Georgia road was because of spring
which was located just about the center of
the present car she'd This spring was
used until carshed was built, when it
was covered up. Its waters now burst
from the surface at a point below the
| court house and are the source of Broad
river, which is increased in volume by the
waters of the Yellow and Alcova rivers.
| Owing to the strenuous objections of the
people OF Covington and Decatur the road
was built mile away from each of those
places. This just goes to show what a
change there has been in the sentiment of
people toward railroads and how they build
up towns and cities Had it not been for
railroads, the only distinguishing feature
about Atlanta would be the density of its
forests and its absence from the maps of
CIaorpia