The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-29
CENTRAL'S MANY PLANS
THE BIG SYSTEM PUSHING RAPID
LIZ INTO NEW FIELDS.

The Coosa Tunnel to be Finished by
June 1O-New Depots to be Built on
tho Main Stem-Buying New Loco
motives an Cars - Haf G Million
| Dollars to be Spent This Year in
Equipments.
There is decided activity in the affairs
of the Central railroad. President Alexan-
der and General Manager Belknap were
sen yesterday. The latter was busy until
late last night passing upon the multifa-
rious matters connected with the growing
business and contemplated work on new eX-
tensions, bridges and depots, and during an
I interview with MORNING NEWS reporter
Maj Belknap received message from the
chief engineer of the Columbus and Yves
tern railroad, that the Coosa tunnel, the
last link in the Birmingham chain, will be
ready for the track by June TO-
Maj. B lknap authorized the statement
| that bids will be asked during this week for
| building the Columbus and Ellaville extern
| sion.
TO BUILD NEW DEPOTS.
The MORNING NEWS man was also shown
plans for pretty suburban cottage depots
for Guyton, East Point and Hapevile.
! The buildings are to be handsome and mod
ern structures, modelled Gfter the style that
has obtained on Northern roads. and it is the
intention of the Central that flower gar
dens will be cultivated in the depot inclo-
sures. "If the agents don't raise flowers,
we will raise the agents." Maj. Belknap
remarked.
The Guyton depot will be pretty build
ing, with two waiting rooms, agents rooms,
| freight room, and a spacious veranda, with
| signal tower, the roof to be of artistically
cut shingles, and the entire structure will
be finished in ths most modern style and
handsomely painted in harmony with its
surroundings. A very pretty design for
shelter stations for flag stations has been
adopted and will be put up wherever their
need is recognized.
Maj. Belknap said that the rapidly in
creasing lumber business of the Central and
| its branches and extensions compels an in
| crease of the stock of fiat cars, and he is
about to close a contract, also, for 200 box
| cars.
| TO INCREASE ITS ROLLING STOCK.
Gen. Alexander has recently returned
| from tho North, where the board of direc-
| tors has been considering the necessity for
an increase of rolling stock to accommodate
the increasing business of the Central road
proper, and to provide for the wants of the
| branches. The directors have determined
to expend half million dollars this fall in
equipments.
Gen. Alexander, going into detail, said
that this expenditure will include the fol-
| lowing purchases: Sixteen engines, ten of
which will be moguls IS by "a, and six pas
senger engines 17by24 These locomotives,
| he said, will cost quarter of a million dol
lars. Then the Central will purchase 200
| fiat, 200 box and 100 coal cars, and he has
instructed General Manager Belknap to
close the bids for the 200 fiat cars at once.
THE SYSTEMS INCREASING BUSINESS.
Gen. Alexander spoke in fattering terms
! yesterday of the increasing business of the
Central. 1t has been thriving by COMPETE
ton. 1t is reaching OUT and making new
| territory tributary to it, AID the result is
| justifying the mnnagement's efforts to in
| crease the traffic of the system.
Both Gen. Alexander and Maj. Belknap
were asked what they thought of the At
lanta, Atlantic and Great Western, better
known as Col. Fry's road to run from At
lanta to Savannah. Maj Belknap was not
inclined to discuss the iuchoate rival, and
Gen. Alexander said that he has not had
time since his return TO read the interviews
| with Col. Fry, which have announced the
negotiation of bonds and the early prosecu-
ton of the work The articles were marked
for his attention, but with mass of other
matter which has accumulated on his desk
during his Northern trip, they have not yet
been examined.