The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-22
NEW FIELDS OF TRADE.
THE CENTRAL PUSHING ITS WEST
ERN EXTENSIONS.

The Completion OF the Blakely Branch
to Increase Savannah's Cotton Re-
ceipts 10000 Bales-Progress OF
Work on the Ozark and the Troy
and Flba Extensions The Birm!ng-
ham Line.
The Central is pushing it, Western extern
sions. The nearest completed Is what Is
known as the Blakely Extension. This inn
portant arm of the Central system running
out OF that floulishlng Southwest Georgia
city. Albany, has foryears had its terminal
at Blakely.
Twelve miles further TO the west, through
an undulatiug country, lies, upon the Ala
hama bank of the Chattahoochee river, the
live town Of Columbia, one Of the most i'm
portant trade centres between Apalachicola
and Columbus Behind it lies large ter
ritorv Of South Alabama's most fertile fields
The belt of country extends fully
fifty miles into the interior, and is thickly
populated by thrifty small farmers, who,
for the most part, cultivate their own crops.
The town has been steadily growing in
commercial importance, and the lack of
railway communication with the sea and
the interior has been a hope which is now
almost in frultion
10000 BALES OF COTTON.
1t is claimed that With the completion of
this link of twelve miles that not less than
10000 bales of cotton will come direct TO
Savannah every year through this new
channel, and the whole trade of this rich
section will concentrate here.
The grading of the new line is nearly
completed, and about nine miles of track
are laid. The line will terminate at the
river bank until the construction of the
bridge. The estimated cost of the bridge
is about 5000 or $4,000, and its early
completion is somewhat dependent upon
Congress and an arrangement as to division
of expenses. When the bridge is built Sa-
vannah will be III direct communication
with Columbia and the surrounding terri
tory, particularly to the southwest.
EUFAULA AND EAST ALABAMA.
The grading of the Eufaula and East
Alabama railroad, or the Ozark extension
as 1t is called, has progressed in the most
satisfactory manner and the contractors
report that they will begin track-laying on
the first section of five miles by Feb. /, and
that they will complete the line, if the
weather permits, by April l. This extern
SION drains territory lying between Ozark
and Elba on the west and Geneva on the
south. Its natural connection would be the
latter place.
The Troy and Elba line has been surveyed
and all the necessary compilations made,
and the work is nearly in shape for letting.
While this road is calculated for the present
to terminate at Elba, it could be with great
ease carried to Andalusia. These three ex-
tensions of the Central system cover the
entire south and southeast corner Of Ala
hama.
THE GOODWATER EXTENSION.
The Columbus and Western extension.
which will be the link that connects the
Central with the West, is rapidly nearing
completion. The track has reached Childers-
burg, although it has not yet been surfaced
and put in shape for service. Trains are
running, however, to Sylacauga Junction
with the Admission and Atlantic railroad.
Track has also been laid from Birmingham
TO about the Henry Ellen Mines and will
be continued on this end to the
tunnel through Oak mountain, and
from Childersburg through Coosa
mountain, leaving a distance OF
only three or four miles to be finished.
The work in the tunnels has been much de-
laYed on account of the very bard rock in
the larger tunnel and some slides of sufii-
cient Importance to trouble the working of
the smaller tunnel The latter have been
removed, however, and the work has pro-
gressed to where about 100 feet remain to
be taken out 10 complete the tunnel. In the
larger tunnel there remains about 40 feet
vet TO be taken out. 1t is expected that the
wno,e work will be finished by April ].