The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-22
A MILLION BEHIND 1T.
THE MACON CONSTRUCTION COM
PANY MEANS BUSINESS.

Roads Moving Toward Savannah.
Col. Machen Pushing the Middle
Georgia and Atlantic and the
swainsboro and Macon Branch.
The Friends of Each Road San
euine-The Cconee River Projectors
Out With Petition for the Incor-
poration of the Seaboard Company.
That there will be new railroad from
Savannah to Macon there is not doubt,
but which one of the construction COM
panies formed and forming viii build it. or
whether there will be two lines built, re-
mains to be seen.
Both sides are alert, and each is trying to
withhold its plans from the general public.
A MORNING NEWS reporter has, however,
been able to get TO some extent an idea of
the plans of the Macon Construction Com
pany and Col Machen's construction COM
pany and the situation seems to be about as
follows:
The Macon Construction Company, which
is building the Birmingham and Macon
road, twenty-five miles of which have
already been completed, all along con-
templated extending the road from Macon
to Savannah. 1t was in no hurry, however,
expect any other company to enter the field.
and it expected when it had completed the
road from Macon to Birmingham to take
up the Savannah extension and push it
through.
BEGUN TO MOVE SAVANNAHWARD.
But unexpectedly to the projectors of the
Birmingham, Macon and Savannah road,
Col Machen announced his intention to
build from Macon to Swainsboro to con-
meet with the Middle Georgia and Atlantic,
bringing both lines in on one roadbed from
Swainsboro to Savannah. It was then that
the Macon Construction Company began
to act more promptly.
Mr.. Sparks, the active manager Of the
company, came to Savannah, and, in a con-
ference with capitalists here, brought such
evidence Of the ability of his company to
build the road from Macon to Savannah,
as to enlist the active interest of monied
men. He was not long in finding out that
Savannah capitalists were willing TO take
the construction stock, and a much larger
block than Mr.. Sparks wanted to place here
S1,OOO,OOO CAPITAL.
The capital stock of this company is
100000, of which Macon has $500, 900 and
New York 100000, leaving Savannah
100000, which was Immediately taken.
Shortly after the South Bound had been
voted liberal franchises and depot facilities
at low figure, Col Machen, who was
working eastward with his Middle Georgia
and Atlantic with no clear idea as to
whether he would take his road to Port
Royal, Brunswick or Savannah, con.
Guided that as there would be the
same liberal treatment extended him, came
on TO Savannah to see what the city council
would do to encourage his read to make
Savannah its terminus. Once here he found
that the proprietors of the Savannah and
Oconee River road had to be considered.
Up to that time the idea had not entered
his head of building from Macon.
THE oCoNEE SCHEME.
The Oconee River people wanted to know
why, having a clear field to Swainsboro. he
could not build the gap between Macon and
Sweinsboro and utilize the first ninety
miles of his road westward for a Macon
road to Savannah. The projectors of the
Oconee River road wanted to. get in on the
ground floor They wanted stock in the
construction company. Col Machen gave
them to understand that he had all the
money behind him necessary to build
the Middle Georgia and Atlantic,
and he couldn't promise any
thing definite until be had been
north for consultation, On his return south
he proposed a much more liberal offer to
Savannah. The capital stock of his con.
struction company is but $3.50, 900: he pro-
posed to make it $500,000, letting Savannah
have 1851 200, which will be a controlling
interest.
TWO PROPOSITIONS.
There are the two propositions of Mr..
Sparks, representing the Macon Construc-
ton Company, and Col. Machen, represent
ing the construction company to build the
Middle Georgia and Atlantic and the Macon
and Savannah roads. The stock in Col
Machen's construction company is divided
between New York, Baltimore. Chatta-
nooga, Macon and the towns along the line
OF the Middle Georgia and Atlantic road.
and the stock in the Macon Construction
Company is held in Macon, New York and
Savannah.
Col Machen went in with a dash and
has two engineering corps surveying the
line from Savannah to Swainsboro. one
corps working westward from Savannah
and the other eastward from Swainsboro.
and the two are expected to meet within
the next ten days Rights of way 100 feet
wide are being taken as fast as the engi-
neers move forward.
A SUGGESTION TO COL MAcBEN
One of the friends of the Macon Construc-
ton Company's enterprise said Yesterday.
nat does Machen want 70 build the road
from Macon fora The feasible thing for
him to do is to build his road from Atlanta
to Savannah. If he wants to build from
savannah 20 Macon he does not want to 90
via Swainsboro. The practical thing for
him to do would be to unite with the Macon
Construction Company and build a wide
roadoed to the Canouchee river, over which
each company could build a track to Sa
vannah. Ii the Oconee River people are in
the pool with Col Machen. thew could
join with the Macon Construction COMPANY
IN wide roadbed from the Canouchee to
the Oconee for double track. The Macon
construction Company has the money and
VIII build the road from Macon to Savan-
nan, and is not unfriendly to the Middle
Georgia and Atlantic, which it wants to see
built"
COL. MACHEN's BACKING.
"A gentleman who is friendly to the
Machen scheme says: "Col. Machen has
the backing. have seen his bills of lading
Tor the iron he has bought. and his refer
ences are l. He is first in the field, and
savannah is insured the road from Macon
think 1t will be a race as to which will get
70 Savannah first There is no doubt that
the Middle Georgia and Atlantic will be
built, and we have every reason to believe
tnat the Louisville and Nashville will
strongly support Col. Machen. The Louis.
vile and Nashville is building in to Atlanta
to connect with the Middle Georgia and At
lantic. Don't you know that Mr.. Baskette of
Chattanooga, who came here with Col