The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-29
THE SAM ROADS HISTORY
AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE
MAN WaO BUILT 1T.

5oyhood Days of Col. Hawkins-His
Experience in New Orleans and
Texas-How He Became Interested
in Railroads.
AMERICUs, GA. Nov. 27.-The first train
passed over the Savannah, Americas and
Montgomery railroad from Americas to
Montgomery on Wednesday. This event
marks an important era in the financial
history of Americas. Several years ago
Americas, though at that time city OF
considerable commercial Importance, was
really only way-station on the South
western division of the Central system of
Georgia 1t was not even given "a habita-
ton and name" on the map of
the Georgia Central, being known
in the freight business of that
company as mo. on Southwesterndivis-
fon.h At that time the commercial pros
poets of Americas were dark, indeed. The
4 Central had already aided in building road
from Buena Vista to Andersonvile, sta
4 hon on their line, ten miles north of Ameri-
GUS A charter had been obtained and
a company formed to build a road from Pres
q ton to Smithville, ten miles south.
BEGINNING OF THE S. A. NJ ROAD.
Approaching the gravity of the situation,
seeing that Americus was in a fair way to
be bottled up" deprived of her legitimate
trade, which she had held by her peculiarly
favorable geographical position in spite OF
The burden of local freight rates upon all
nsr commercial business, few OF our
leading business men held a conference to
devise ways and means TO avert the pend
ing trouble. A committee was appointed
TO go to Savannah and see il permission
ha NhA a &C., h. ~
The Central road to divert the terminus OF
the Preston and Smithville road from
Smithville to Americas. Col. Hawkins
was one of the committee. This
was his first appearance upon
teorgia's railroad chess board. The result
OF this committee's visit to Savannah was
the reference of the terminal question to
sne local directors Of the Preston and
M Smlthville road, with authority to act
Through the influence and active exertionl
81 Coi. Hawkins, Judge D. b. Harold and
tne other Preston directors consented for
sne road to come to Americas. In COZ
tormity thereto the Americas, Preston and
PUMPKIN railroad was chartered in 1854
~ grew In importance, and was extended
eastward and westward, had its name
changed to suit the changed conditions, til
now 1t extends from Lyons to Montgomery
<oo miles, and is one of the most important
east and west railroad lines of the south
told:
Chartered June. 1884, to build from
Amerious to Lumpkin, distance Of thirty
eignt miles; road opened to business Ameri'
Gus TO Lumpkin March 1886; road extended
and opened to business to Louvale, ter
niles west OF Lumpkin April, 1887; charter
amended and authority granted to extenC
road to Abbeville. in Wilcox county, Octo
Der, 1885. and work commenced thereon
Nooyember, 1886; road opened to business e.
AoDeville, sixty-one miles east of Ameri
Gus IN November, 1887; charter amended il
September, 1857, granting authority t
operate boat lines in connection
with road, and also to exten,
70 Savannah; i've substantial
poats built and put in sue
cessfui operation In 1888, which connect til
railroad with the ports of both Brunswic
and Savannah; in December, 1888. charte
amended by act Of legislature of Georgia
changing the name from THE Americus
Preston and Lumpkin Railroad Company
20 The Savannah. Americas and Montgom
ery Railway, and authorizing the director
e apply to the legislature OF Alabama for
HasTser TO extend this road from POINT O