The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-21
ON BUSINESS BENT.
President Hawkins and the Americus,
Preston and Lumpkin Railroad.

President Hawkins and the Americas,
Preston and Lumpkin Railroad.
Maj. j. S. Hawkins, of Americas, Presi-
dent of the Peoples National Bank of
Americas, and also President of the Ameri-
Gus, Preston and Lumpkin railroad, with
Capt. J. N. Bass, of Americas, who is also
connected with the road, are in the city on
railroad business, but they are as reticent
as clans.
A MORNING News reporter tried the
pumping process upon them last night with
indifferent success. He learned from them,
however, that they have 112 miles of road
completed from Louvale six miles from
the Chattahoochee river, crossing the Flint
river, with its eastern terminus on the Oc-
mulgee at Abbeville.
The gentlemen declined to say that the
road would be extended to Savannah. "The
people of Savannah" said Maj. Hawkins
seem to act as If they were satisfied with
the Central and are unwilling to see any
| other road come to Savannah"
IF your people would show disposition
to want the road here" added Mr.. Bass
I'VE could say whether we intended to
build to Savannah. At present we are
satisfied with the road where it is. We have
| two boats, the Swan and Tar Heel, running
from Abbeville to the coast, connecting
building two more boats at Abbevile."
when do you expect to have them
ready for navigationY' he was asked.
"Some time in Nav, " he replied
The gentlemen both alluded to the fact
that their road had only a small extension
to make to reach the Chattahoochee. "And
them" said President Hawkins, 1--WE will
have line of boats running from our
western terminus to the Gulf, and from our
eastern terminus to the ocean,
President Hawkins pointed out on a map
that his road, if extended to Savannah from
Abbeville, would be a part of the shortest
line from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast.
| He dwelt or the fact that the road has
| charter to Savannah and also charter to
Sapelo Island He has not made any boast
or built railroads on paper, but has built
more miles of road in given time, he said,
than some of the big railroad magnates who
build them on their Office maps and in news
paper interviews.
This was n very broad allusion, and a.
little querving brought out the fact that
the three line marked out from Eden west
ward by the Central was the target aimed
at.
but your railroad is a narrow gauge, is
it not, and would not make a very good
connection with the roads westward to the
Pacific ~
I'VE have thought of that" said Mr..
Bass, land we can change the gauge of the
entire road in two weeks. 1t is built with
standard gauge ties, on a standard gauge
roadbed, and our bridges have been built
with a WOW to standard gauge service.n
President Hawkins seemed to be loath to
disclose any present plans. He said that
the Americas. Preston and Lumpkin has
been built principally with Americas CAPT
tai, and it has already done much to reduce
| the high rates of freight carriage paid by
Americas merchants. lie remarked that it
is strange that Savannah never has any
thing to say about the road 1t runs
through country rich and rapidly inn
proving, and if Savannah wants any more
railroads be conveyed the idea that the
hand it extends must be warmer than it has
thus far been
Maj. Hawkins and Mr.. Bass will remain
in the city the greater part of the day as
lockers ON in VIENNA aud their visit has
significance. but they feel that a great
big overshadowing system is keenly watch
ing them, so they have to be "devllish sly,
sir" or their plans will be circumvented.