The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-11
FIFTEEN DAYS GRACE.
THAT Is WHAT COL HAWKINS
OFFERS SAVANNAH NOW.

about the Matter.
"Methinks he doth protest too much, -
said Bay street man yesterday in discuss
ing the Savannah, Americas and Mont
gomery railroad enterprise in connection
with a proposition by Col. Hawkins and
Mr.. Bagley to extend the time for raising
the $4,000 fund-fifteen days longer 1t is
understood that no official proposition has
been made TO the citizens committee.
When Col Hawkins was here few days
ago he did not try to meet Mr. Hull, acting
chairman Of the committee during the alb
sence Of Chairman Weed in New York.
To other gentlemen here VINO hal taken
an active part in soliciting subscriptions 10
the fund, Col. Hawkins was non-committal.
and two of the soliciting COMMITTEES
SAID to a MORNING News reporter that
they hoped the latter would be able to get
something definite from Col Hewkins, as
they were unable to get anything Of a sat
lsfactory nature. The nearest ap-
proach to anything definite was
the statment made 10 Mr.
Herman Myers. by Col Hawkins, that
Bruins wick had offered $50, 900 to take the
road there. When MoRNING News re-
porter put the question pointedly to Col
hawkins If Brunswick had made such an
offer he replied that he would not like to be
quoted as authority for such a statement.
COL. HAWKINS TELEGRAM.
The following dispatch was received by
the MORNING NEWS yesterday:
AMERICUs, GA, Aug. 10, 1899
To Savannah Morning Nelos:
In April last the Savannah business mems
committee offered to donate S500OO aud
secure or aid in securing rights Of way through
the city and terminal grounds, provided the
Amerlcus Investment Company would puaran-
tee the building of an indeoendept railroad
into Savannah by December, 1890 which the said
company accepted, We have patiently waited
thus long, and IN the utmost good faith now
offer Savannah fifteen days of grace within
which to comply with the terms of its agree
mentS. S H. HAwKrNs
President Savannah, Americus and Montgomery
Hallway.
H. c. BAGLEY,
President Americas Investment Company.
Those who are acquainted with the early
history of the negotiations with Col Hawk
ms say that it is not correct that the bust
ness men offered to donate $4,000 to the
enterprise. On the contrary, they made a
provisional acceptance of Col Hawkins
demand that to secure the road donation
of that amount should be- raised, but they
did not at any time assure him that it could
be raised, in fact they doubted it, and
besides, they were never very clear as to
what would be expected by Col Hawkins
in the added provision that the people
of Savannah should laid in securing rights
of way through the city and terminal
grounds" This is still pressed i'll the tele-
gram III connection with the asked-for
donation, and left loophoie for it is held
by some that ''aidn may have carried with
it mere friendly solicitation for rights of
way and terminal facilities, or it may have
been demanded in something more tangible
than individual solicitation.
THE REPORTED DEAL.
1t is only after a week of suspicion that
the Central and the Savannah, Americas
and Montgomery Company have entered
into deal, that Col. Hawkins and Mr..
Bagley, business man said make a
proposition which Mr. Bagley did
not see fit to make when he was here
some weeks ago. Then he did not know
why Col. Hawkins had not accepted the
Invitation of the Savannah committee to
come on and have a conference after the can
vass had closed. The present proposition
Col. Hawkins would not make when he was
here last week, and which he now makes, a
member of the committee said, after he has
been quoted as saying that he has made re
clprocal arrangements with the Central to
come into Savannah over the Savannah
and w estern road, and with the East Ten.
nessee, Virginia and Georgia to 90 to Bruins
wick in the same reciprocal wav.
A leading business man said that if Col
Hawkins intends to extend his road to the
seaboard it Is ridiculous to think that he
would seriously entertain the idea of going
to Brunswick, and for several reasons
One Is that he could not afford 60 ignore the
facilities of the Ocean Steamship Company
and that he could much better afford to
pay twice $4,000 to come to Savannah
than to take his road esew where, and sec
ondIy, that his road being feeder to the
vessels of the Ocean steamship line, which
IS controlled by the Central railroad, even
If the Savannah, Americas aud Montgom-
cry road were brought into Savannah as
an independent line, It's traffic would inure
to the benefit of the Central which juld
not and would not antagonze it; whereas, if
the Americas road was taken to Brunswick
1t would 60 to port where ocean facilities
are not only Insignificant b. comparison
with those OF Savannah, but Col. Hawkins
would antagonize two great railroad sys-
tens-the Plant system, which operates the
brunswick ani Western, and the East
Tennessee. Virginia and Georgia, which it
would parallel.
THE FIFTEEN DAYS OFFER.
Those who took an active part in solicit
ing subscriptions for the $50, 900 fund smile
broadly at the Fifteen DAYS of grace ten
dered by Col Hawkins because he had the
opportunity month ago to have passed
upon the proposition to accept the $50 900
raised and bring his road here, and sus-
pended communication with the committee.
allowing the Central TO lei the contract for
building the Savannah and Western as far
west as Sterling, and begin active work on
the road, and not until the building of the
Savannah and Western was wen assured
did he think of the dilatory action of Say
annah and seek to spur it up.
1t is argued that the difference of S15 900
or even $4,000 was a small sum if Col
hawkins hal wanted to head the Central
OH, and II he has made such reciprocal ar
engagements as will enable Kim to bring his
trains In on the Savannah and Westerns
track before he had satisfied himself that
Savannah would not raise the S500JO. the
people have a doubt whether or not the road
would remain Independent if the donation
were made. 1t appears to be the desire of
Savannah to have road ives ward from
Savannah TO the territory now difficult of
access, and Col. Hawkins had the oppor-
tunity TO have been the pioneer in IT'S build
ing.
To judge from the expressions of those
who subscribed to the fund in g cod faith, it
Is doubtful if $25, 900 of the $35, 900 sub
scrlbed would be- donated by the sub
scrlbers If Col. Hawkins would now accept
that figure, and there is little doubt that his
proposition through the press will receive
no more consideration than the inquiry of
the business mems committee, some weeks
ago, as to whether ha wOul5 accapt tba