The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-26
Il. B.PLANTS TRIP SOUTH.
COL HAINEs RELIEVED OF THE
STEAMSHIP MANAGEMENT.

/ M Ria0C g Plans fOr the Plant Rail-
way System, and for the Mobile and
West India and South American
| Steamer Lines-The New Passengers
Station and Ofaces in Savannah Not
Yet Decided Upon - The Alabama
Midland as a Feeder to Savannah
The Pau-American Delegates Not
Likely to Come South
The wellknown private car 800"
known as Mr.. h B. Plants travelling par
Tor car, is in the passenger shed Of the
Savannah, Florida aud Western railway,
and when a MORNING NEWS reporter
called yesterday Mr. Plant was superln-
tending the cleaning Of the exterior Of the
car Of the dust Of travel from Tampa.
Mr.. Plant talked freely Of his southern
trip, and of the steamship and railway
affairs Of the Plant system While in
Havana he attended the funeral Of Gen.
Salamanca, whose death, he said, is to be
deplored, for he was..doing much for the
island. Among other plans that Of plant
ing colonies Of Spanish people throughout
the island for cultivating lands heretofore
lying idle, will be interrupted by the death
Of the distinguished Spaniard
Mr.. Plant says that the Havana line of
steamers is doing well, and the European
mail by that line is largely increasing. The
Honduras line has been abandoned for the
present. The vessel was too large for the
trade. Mr.. Plant says that be is not pre-
pared to say whether ne will put another
vessel in the line next season or not. That,
he says, viii depend on circumstances. The
Mobile line is doing well aud is fully meet
ing expectations.
Mr.. Plant Is for the present directing the
affairs Of the steamship lines himself. Gen.
eral Manager Haines, owing to the in
creased business Of the railroad, asked to be
relieved of the management of the steam
ship lines, as the added duty took him too
often away from his Office.
Referring to the passenger traffic south
this winter, Mr.. Plant says it is not as good
as 1t has been in some tourist seasons, and
he accounts for it by the mildness Of the
northern winter, although he says there has
been quite a satisfactory Florida travel,
which partly compensates for the decrease
in tourist travel. The general business Of
the Savannah, Florida and Western, he
says, is good, and everything is looking
well here.
BIG THIN FOR SAVANNAH.
The opening of the Alabama Midland, he
thinks, will be Of great commercial impor-
commodities with a section not heretofore
directly tributary to Savannah.
The development and growing prosperity
| Of the south, Mr.. Plant says, is a source Of
qualification to southern people and to his
mind il indicates that this section is enter
ing upon an era Of general and increasing
prosperity.
Mr.. Plant was asked if he contemplates
extending any new lines of railway during
the present year, and he replied that he does
not, but that it will be his policy rather to
| take care OF and improve the roads already
| in operation
''What Of your new hotel at Tampaq" Mr..
Plant was asked, and he replied that it Is
| building of such large scope that it was not
possible to complete it for the tourist travel
this winter, but it will be ready to be
| opened next season.
THE OUTLOOK IN FLORIDA.
The observation of Mr. Plant in Florida
Is that the orange crop, while not SO large
| as last year, with the increased acreage this
| year it will be fair crop. The orange
| growers say that last years crop was an off
year with them, and they do not look IN
favorably upon the prospects, but they ex-
pect much greater yield next season.
The phosphate discoveries, Mr.. Plant
thinks, will do much for Florida, and will
add largely to the traffic Of the railroads. He
has not made any personal investigation of
| the fields, and he knows nothing of the
| value of the phosphate rock, as he is not
chemist, but he has been told that his large
orange grove in Florida is underlaid with
valuable phosphate deposits. He is not
elated, however, over the find, and if it
should prove what it is thought to be, val
liable phosphate deposits, it will make no
difference with him as he bought the par
| tlcular property for oranges, and he be-
| lleves that every shoemaker should stick to
his last
The question was asked Mr.. Plant if he
Will have the new railroad offices in Sa-
vannah erected this year, and he replied
that 1t has not yet been determined.
THE PAN-AMERICAN TRIP.
Touching the rumor that he would extend
courtesies to the pan-American delegates
MIR. Plant says he thinks it extremely
doubtful if they will come south before thew
conclude their labors, or if they will visit
| the south after the final adjournment OF the
| pan-Amerlcan congress. He suggested to
| the state department that under certain con-
dltlons If the delegates would return to South
and Central America this way he would.
after their tour Of the south, land them at
| Aspinwall, and it is understood that to do
| this consent would have to be made to with
draw one Of the Havana and Tampa mail
| steamers to make the voyage to the Carrib-
| bean port, a consent Of doubtful attain
ment in view of the heavy European mails
now coming by the Plant line.
Mr.. Plant says that he will remain south
until spring, and Savannah, which he thinks
is one of the most pleasant and attractive
cities of the south. will see a great deal of
him during his stay south, although he will
visit Charleston and Florida points. 81
| expect to remain south as long as | can
he added, ''and my headquarters will be in
my car" Mrs. Plant is with her hus band.
and accompanies him in his travels.