The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-16
A STREET RAILWAY DEAL
THE BRUSH COMPANY AFTER THE
CITY AND SUBURBAN.

A Negotiation to Secure Control of
the City Lines, Including the Coast
Line and the Suburban Lines to
Tkunderbolt, Isle Of Hope and Mont
gomery and From Thunderbolt to
Sandfy-The Brush Company Direc-
tors Not Saying Much, But at Work
on the Quiet.
The Brush Electric Light and Power
Company it is understood, is negotiating
for the purchase of tie City and Suburban
railway, the Coast Line railroad and the
railroad between Thunderbolt and Sandfly,
which is private property.
These railroads include the Whitaker,
Abercorn, Liberty. Barnard, West Broad,
Broughton and Habersham street car lines,
and the suburban railroads from Savannah
10 Montgomery via Isle OF Hope and from
Savannah to Isle of Hope via Thunderbolt
The city lines are operated by
mule aud horse power and the suburban
lines by steam. The majority of the stock
in the railroad companies and also the new
railroad between Thunderbolt and Sandhy
is owned by Mr.. George Parsons of New
ork and a few associates. As far as the
public knows the stocks have never paid
dividend, although it is claimed that the
City and Suburban has placed a large
amount to its betterment account in the
last three years. The building
of competing city lines operated by
electricity has doubtless affected the earn
ings Of the old companies, and 1t continues
to affect them more and more unless the
system is modernized.
MONEY IN ELECTRIC ROADS.
1t is thought by some that in spite of COM
petition there is big money in the lines if
they are equipped with electricity, and
several parties have been trying to get con-
troll of them. Mr. Parsons, however, don't
seem anxious to part with his control, and
will not place a price on his holdings, though
it is intimated that he might sell out.
The electric light company has been try
ing to arrive az a conclusion as to what the
property is worth so as 10 make an offer for
it, but the directors, after going over the
figures, have been unable to agree on a
price. 1t is said that some Of the board are
totally opposed to having anything to do
with railroads, and hold that If the roads
are bought it should be done by those who see
so mucn i'll the investment. Others think
that the electric lighting lamps does not
promise big profits i'll the future, and that,
therefore, the company should least an
anchor to the windWard" to get a street
railroad. The heaviest holders of electric
stock are reported to be opposed to
"monkeying" with street railroads, especi-
ally with those that have not had good
luck.
A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
This is not the first time tho electric light
people have looked into the ACCESSIBILITY OF in
vesting in street railroad property, but it
appears that the controlling interest is not
willing TO risk the handsome dividends
earned by selling electricity for light and
power purposes In an attempt to run a
street railroad.
President s. P. Hamilton OF the Brush
company was seen by a MORNING NEWS re-
porter about the matter. He said that at
meeting held month ago the question of
purchasing the City and Suburban and
Coast Line railroads was brIar ID but no
definite conclusion was reached, 1t is not
in any tangible shape, and nothing is being
done at present. Mr.. Hamilton, however,
was not prepared to say what the future
might bring forth in the way of the Brush
company's acquiring the railroad property.
Mr.. L. Kayton, one OF the board of d.
reotors, was also seen. He smilingly
pleaded ignorance of any negotiations
whatever, and referred to Mr.. Hamilton.