The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-19
COL. MACHEN'S OFFER OFF
THE MIDDLE GEORGIA AND AT
LANTIC UNCERTAIN YET.

S25OOOO Increased stock In the
Enterprise Not Accepted, and Col
Machen Withdraws His Offer of
Controlling Interest in the Road and
is Now Keeping His Own Counsels.
MIR. Sparks Going Ahead With the
Macon and Atlantic, and Business
Men Confident that the Road Will
be Built-A Hinted-at Deal Between
Col Machen and the Central-The
al g. NJ Rumor.
Just what shape the projected railroads
from Atlanta TO Savannah and the roads
from Macon TO Savannah are in seems to be
a matter of no little conjecture. There are
all sorts of rumors afoat of possible and
probable combinations.
Col Machen, protector of the Middle
Georgia and Atlantic, appears 10 be keep
ing his own counsels much more closely
than he did three or four weeks ago, and
remarkably so in some directions in this
city, where he had apparently been con-
fiding his plaus TO friends who now express
almost total ignorance as to what Col.
Machen win do.
There have been some changes in the stu
alton other than the reticence of the presi-
dent of the Middle Georgia and Atlantic.
The plan to increase the capital stock of the
Middle Georgia and Atlantic from $3.50, 600
to $500 900. the increased stock to be taken
in Savannah, and Savannah to have a con-
trolling interest in the company, which was
also TO build from Macon to Savannah
seems to have fallen through. Those who
were favorable TO the project here are not
inclined to talk freely and give out the rea-
son why the stock was not taken, but they
say that Col Machen has withdrawn the
offer, and it is doubtful if he would renew it
were he asked so to do.
COL. MAcHEN's PLANS.
Opinions differ as to the change of base
on the part of those who first sug-
gested the plan to Col. Machen.
That there was some lack of conf
dence on The part of Savannah capital
lists is not denied. It's understood, however,
that the references Col. Machen submitted
were communicated with both by wire
and mail. and were, In the main. satisfac-
tory, as it was found that he was backed by
ample capital in the north to insure the
building of the road TO Atlanta.
1t is said by those who have all along
claimed, and still claim, that Col. Machen
will build the road from Atlanta to Savan-
nah, that when he came here he never
asked for any financial support from Savan-
nah capitalists and all he asked was that
the road which he was projecting should be
as literally dealt with by the city council
as the South Bound. While not meeting with
the council in its official capacity he talked
freely with the mayor and individual
aldermen, and was assured that the new
road would be met with that progressive
spirit which is now animating Savannah in
inviting railroads to seek terminus here.
THE MACON NovFAErNT
At this pointit is said Col. Machen was
about to leave Savannah apparently well
satisfied with the result of his mission But
as the story runs it, was suggested that he
ought to enlist Savannah capital and build
a road from Savannah to Macon, the first
ninety miles of his Middle Georgia and At
lantic road serving as a roadbed for the
Savannah and Macon road, and that this
was easy by doubling the stock, every dol
lar of which could be raised in Savannah.
To this Col. Machen replied that he could
not entertain the proposition until he had
conferred with the northern stockholders In
the construction company of the Middle
Georgia and Atlantic, and he Immediately
left TOR the north. where, after a weeks
stay, he obtained the desired consent, and
returned went about getting the rights of
way. and 1t was announced that the road
work had been let from Savannah to San
dersville. But the Savannah men, it was
claimed, failed to respond In the time agreed
upon, and on the occasion of Col Machen's
visit to this city last week he withdrew his
offer, and no work has begun at this end of
the line.
1t is said authoritatively that Col. Machen
has negotiated a loan on that part of the
Middle Georgia and Atlantic with which
he is pushing on from Machen to Coving-
TON, and sappers and miners are cutting out
the right of way from Ellahell, on the
Savannah and Western.
A DEAL LIMITED AT.
There seems to be an impression here that
Col Machen is in the Middle Georgia and
Atlantic to make money more than to
build road, and this, it is believed, had a
tendency to make Savannah capitalists
chary of taking hold. 1t is limited that the
Central may have come to an understand
ing with Col Machen, Dreferring to let
him shorten its line to Atlanta, and this
suspicion Is deepened by the fact that the
original plan of beginning work was at
Eliabell instead of Savannah, and that when
Machen's road reaches Covington the Gen.
tral Will close deal with him, and itself
VIII complete the gap by building from
Sterling via Dublin over the Savannah.
Dublin and Western line, whose franchise
the Central owns, to Gordon, which would
not only shut out a rival road to Atlanta
but would shorten the Central's line some
nifty miles to Atlanta, and thirty miles to
Macon. short gap from Dublin to Fort
Valley would give the Central more direct
line to Birmingham than it now has bv its
traffic arrangements with Col Hawkins Sa-
vannah, Americas and Montgomery line.
and Col. Hawkins would then have to con-
tinue to use the Central's track on such
terms as the Central might propose, or build
an independent line to Savannah.
THE ST ARKs ROAD.
The Macon and Atlantic Construction
Company, of which Mr. Sparks is president
does not thus far seem to have attracted the
Savannah capital which it sought TO enlist
but it is not believed that this will onerate
against the enterprise. 1t is understood
that two prominent capitalists here who
were inclined to subscribe largely to the
Macon and Atlantic CONSTRUCTION Company
have changed their mind, but it is said that
At was not on account of any lack of con-
tidence in the enterprise, or those be-
hind the road, but that the amount of
stock set apart for Savannah was
not large enough, and insured the
control OF the road outside of Savannah.
Some Of the stock, it is understood. has
been taken here, but not as much as was
offered, and the present outlook does not
appear to be favorable for having it all
subscribed. There does not appear to be
any doubt here that Mr.. Sparks company
will build the road II iS concadad +bat he