The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-08
TO LOCATE THE ROUTE.
SOUTH BOUND ENGINEERS TO
BEGIN WORK TO-DAY.

The Route to be Surveyed to the Sa-
vannah River Within a Week-Sa =
vannah's New Western Roads-The
Macon and Atlantic Taking Definite
Shape-Gossip About Col Machen's
Enterprises
Chief Engineer George ID. Wadley, Of the
Savannah Construction Company, and his
corps Of surveyors will start out this morn
ing TO survey the route Of the South Boun d
railroad from Savannah to the proposed
crossing Of the Savannah river, near Sisters
Ferry. a,,....
1t is stated on very reliable authority that
overtures have already been made looking
to connection Of the South Bound with
one of the new railroad systems now being
projected through Virginie, North Carolina
and South Carolina, so as to secure part of
the travel from South Georgia and Florida.
From the same source it is learned that
there will be no difficulty in placing all the
bonds necessary to build the South Bound
to Columbia or Sumter, S. c., aud into
Florida.
THE WESTERN ROADS.
Savannah, at latest accounts, appears to
be reasonably sure of at least two new rail-
roads within year-the South Bound and
the Macon and Atlantic-and probably
three. the last of which is the Middle Geor-
gia and Atlantic The engineering corps of
the South Bound will take the field to-
day, and there is no element OF doubt
about the intention of the project
ors of that road. There is no doubt as to
the financial ability of the Savannah Con-
struction Company to build it. and it is not
projected road whose FRANCHISE is in the
market or a railroad on paper, but a road
to be built largely by Savannah capital to
make rich agricultural territory tributary
to Savannah.
The other road is the Macon and Atlantic,
projected from Macon to Savannah. and
the continuation to seaport terminus of
the road now under construction
from Birmingham to Macon, twenty-five
miles of which have been built and upon
which it is said track is being laid at
the rate of one mile per day.
THE MACON AND ATLANTIC.
A gentleman of this city who is connected
with the Macon and Atlantic road said last
night that the company will not only build
the road from Macon to Savannah, but the
Intention is TO complete it, if possible,
before the close of the year.
There seems TO be a doubt now of Col
Machen's ability or intention to extend his
road from Sandersville or Swainsboro TO
Macon, and while it is believed by many
that Col. Maehen will build the Middle
Georgia and Atlantic there are some who
doubt even that, and are not inclined to
think that he has thus far been able to get
the money to push forward His enterprise,
and there is an impression abroad that Col.
Machen has never seriously considered the
extension of his road to or via Macon, but
has placed himself in the position to build
the road to Macon if the Sparks company
does not show signs of building the road,
but in the event that Mr.. SPARKS does build,
it is considered quite doubtful if Col
Machen will build from Macon to connect
with his Middle Georgia and Atlantic.
FAITH IN THE SPARKS ROAD.
Col Machen's friends here admit that
there is good grounds for saying that Presi-
dent Sparks will build, and all efforts have
been fruitless looking to the formation of a
pool between the Middle Georgia and At
lantic and the Macon and Atlantic to use the
first ninety miles Of the formers track out
of Savannah. Mr.. Sparks friends say that
they prefer to build their own track, and if
Col. Machen wants to go to Macon with the
Middle Georgia and Atlantic it will not
interfere with the Macon and Atlantic rail-
road scheme.
1t is considered quite significant that Col
Machen has not put any engineers on the
Macon road, and has not had any one solicit
ing rights Of way in the section through
which the road is projected, and these
things have combined to attract less atten-
ton and to give rise to doubt of Col
Machen's intention TO build. Ii is believed
that the work Of building from Savannah
to Macon will be given out within thirty
days by President Sparks of the Macon and
Atlantic and chat great actlvity will char
acterize the work of construction.