The morning news., 1889-05-18
A SURVEY BEING MADE
FOR THE BUILDING OF THE MRAE
EXTENSION TO SAVANNAH.

IANtELALb4b NJlA4 pAlI 46t40 w Ia Z
the Company is Doing-Work VIII
Begin on the New Line to Savannah
as Soon as $4,000 is Raised Here
The Committee Ready to Begin Its
Canvass.
The committee of business men appointed
by Chairman J. D. Weed, Of the business
mems meeting, is ready to begin the can
vass for the $50, 900 required to be raised to
secure the eastern terminus of the Savan-
nah, Americus and Montgomery road tor
this city The money is to be raised upon
the condition that an Independent line is to
be built from McRae to this city by Decem-
ber, 1890
Mr. II. c. Bagley, president Of the Ameri-
Gus Investment Company, is in the city.
He confirms the statement published in the
MORNING NEWS earlier in the week, that the
Americus Investment Company closed the
contract last Monday night with the Geor-
gia Improvement Company, whereby the
Investment company succeeds TO the con-
trolling interest of the stock OF the Geor-
gia Improvement Company, which latter
owns the Atlanta and Florida railroad
This road is completed from Atlanta TO Fort
Valley, within forty-two miles OF Cordee,
which is a station on the Savannah, Ameri-
Gus and Montgomery railroad.
Mr.. Bagley said that this gap Of forty
two miles Is being located by a Surveying
CORPS and that the contract for building it
will be let within week or two. and the
road will be completed by Oct. i, il time
for the fall trade.
115 MILES IN OPERATION.
"How much of your Americus road is in
operation?n Mr.. Bsgley was asked. He
replied that the road is being operated from
Louvale, within seven miles of the Chatta-
hoochee river, to Abbeville, on the Ocmul-
gee river, distance of ] Is miles, where the
road connects with its line of steamers on
the Ocmulgee, which ply between Able
VILE and Brunswick The road was origin
ally narrow gauge road, but Mr.. Bagley
said that tho bridges and roadway were
constructed with the ultimate view of
adopting the standard gauge, which is now
being done.
Mr.. Bagley was asked what part Of the
road had been widenod, and he said that a
distance of thirty miles from Americus
eastward has been made standard gauge
and laid with sixty-pOund stesl rails, and
that the rails have been distrih hutsd along
the rest of the road to Abbeville, and it is
expected to have the standard gauge from
Americus to Abbeville completed within
thirty days This will make sxty-fiv
miles Of standard gauge, sixty pound steel
rails.
Referring to the extension from Abbe-
vile to McRse where the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia crosses, Mr.. Bagley
said that force Of 400 men is grading this
twenty-fve-mile gap. The rails are ar
irving and the grading will be finished
within thirty days, and it is expected that
the road Will be open to traffic to McRae by
Aug. l.
THE M'RAE EXTENSION.
Mr.. BagIey was asked If anything is be-
ing done by his company looking to the ex-
tension of the road from McRAe to Savan-
nah He replied that an engineering corps
is going over the liue and has come east
ward about thirty miles, and right of way
options are being solicited. Thus far the road
meets with favor, and the people are willing
to aid it in rights Of way. Mr. Bagley said,
however, that the question of extending
the road to Savannah rests with the people.
If the amount asked for-$50 ,000-is
secured, and suitable terminal facilities
can be obtained here on reasonable terms,
the policy viii be to complete the road in
less time than stipulated in the
requirements OF the business mems com
mittee, which is fixed at Decem0er, 1890
Mr. Bigley said that the company will i'm
mediately put on a very large force all
along the 100 miles OF the line between
Savannah aud McRae with a view to com
pletlng the gap by July /, 1890
or within twelve months of the time
after the $50, 600 are raised. He said that
Savannah ought to act promptly while it
has chance to become tributary to an uu-
developed section, and raiss the money at
once. The sooner it is raised, the sooner
the work will be put under wav and
the road completed. Everything depends
on the amount of subscriptions raised. Mr.
Baglev said that the proposition carries
with it tho understanding that the local
committee will make personal canvass to
assist the Americus Investment Company in
getting an option in terminal facilities
here.
THE SHORTER DISTANCES.
To Atlanta via Cordele, Mr. Bagley said,
is thirteen miles shorter than the present
Central line via Macon.
To Americas via Cordele is seventy miles
shorter than the Central via Macon.
To Montgomery via the Savannah, Amer.
Gus and Montgomery is 100 miles shorter
than the Central line.
The proposition of the Americus Invest
ment Company for the purchase of CON
trolling interest in the Atlanta and Florida
which was unanimously accepted by the
Itockholders OF that company at the meet
hg held Monday night, Mr.. Bazley said
tives Col. Hawkins control of the line from
Atlanta to Fort Valley. This road will be
extended at once to a connection with the
Savannah, Americas and Montgomery at
When this connection is made Atlanta will
have another rail line into Brunswick via
McRae. II Savannah acts promptly in
:he matter of securing $4,000 donations
!or the Savannah, Amercus and Mont
komery, the investment company will at
Snce commence work on the McRae exten-
don.
Mr.. Bagley was asked what the road from
NcRae to Savannah will cost, and he esti-
hated $4,000 per mile, and while he ap-
beared 10 hesitate when asked if the Savan-
hah extension will be built If the $50 600 is
hot raised, be admitted that the road will
lot be extended for the present beyond Nc
Rae if the proper encouragement is not met
with here, and the East Tennesse Vir-
sinia and Georgia viii necessarily
lave to be depended upon as an outlet east
ward for the surplus traffic OF the road,
which, he says has already exceeded in
tolume the capacity Of its feet Of FIVE
lteamers. Mr.. Bagley said that it was the
Intention TO freight the steel rails up the
Altamaha, but the local business
If the boats is so great that the company
had 10 have the rails come by
all. Mr.. Bsgley wss asked what is the
plan for extending tae road to Montgom-
sry, aud he said tuat II Savannah aids the
toad with its promised subscription all the
Energy will be devoted 20 getting into Sa-
ganuah first, nnd when that is done then TO
NuN.sH Naa..