The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-16
BIG DEAL FOR SAVANNAH
TIE SOUTH BOUND RAILROAD
GOES INTO NEW HANDS.


THE SOUTH BOUND RAILROAD
GOES INTO NEW HANDS.
The Florida Central and Peniusuler
Obtains Controls OF the Road and
Come cting Line Between Savan-
nah aad Flor ida to bs Built-A
Parallel Road TO the Savannah, Flor
ida and Western-The Jacksonville,
Tampa and Key West to Secure a
Railroad New Florida Connection.
Advices from New York and Florida are
20 the effect that the deal between the
South Bound railroad, or the Savannah Con
struction Company, and the Florida Central
and Peninsular railroad, for the South Bound
has been consummated, and that IL provides
for the building Of a line from Savannah to
Florida, establishing northern connection
for the Florida Central and Peninsular sys-
tenn.
The deal has been on foot for several
months, but like all deals Of magnitude 1t
required time to effect its contamination.
President Duval OF the Florida Central and
Peninsular, who was in Savannah several
weeks ago and who went from here TO Lon
don to confer with the Florida Central and
Peninsular bondholders there, is now on his
way to Savannah. Vice President Hender
son was recently here in conference with
the South Bound and Savannah Construo-
ton Company officials. Whatever was
done the officials were careful to keep TO
themselves. It is pretty well understood.
however, that the deal Is an advantageous
one to the South Bound and puts its securi-
ties at par.
LOOKS LIKE BUSINESS.
The putting Of engineers In the field and
the beginning of q survey, for which steam
ers have been chartered and fitted out. from
Fernandina in this direction, announced in
the MORNING News yesterday, are cor
roborative of the rumors of new outlet for
Florida at Savannah.
The Jacksonville. Tampa and Key West.
which is at outs with the Plant system, will
also secure a northern connection. It has
been believed all along that a deal
was being negotiated by the South
Bound with the Florida roads, but il was
strenuously denied both by South Bound
and Savannah Construction Company
officials Gen. ellis presence in the city
this week in conference with the officials Of
both companies also gave credence to the
belief. Gen. Gill is vice president of the
Savannah Construction Company and presi
dent of the Mercantile Trust and Deposit
Company Of Baltimore, the financial agents
of the South Bound railroad.
What the terms Of the deal are lie unknown,
except that the South Bound passes into the
control of the Florida Central and PENN
sular people and that the connecting link
between Savannah and either Callahan,
Harris Road or Jacksonville will be built
and in operation within year.
MIR. PLANT DEEPLY CONCERNED.
Mr. Plant, it will be seen, is deeply oon-
cerned in the situation, and what be will do
remains TO be seen.
Col. II. M. Drane, who has been in Jack
sonville for some time, is quoted to the et-
feet that the combination between the
Florida Central and Peninsular, the Jack
sonville, Tampa and Key West and the
South Bound guarantees an early compile
tion of the latter road to the Florida line.
from which point the two former compa-
MES propose TO extend the line in order 70
connect with their far-reaohing systems
throughout the state. Col. Drane was for
a number of years Mr.. Plants right hand
man in the construction OF all his South
Georgia and Florida railroads, but he has
not been connected with that system since
1886
1t is evident from the best information
obtainable and from the results of resent
conferences in Savannah between Georgia
and Florida railroad officials, which are be-
ginning to materialiZe, that a parallel line
TO the Savannah Florida and Western be-
tween Savannah and Jacksonville or some
near connecting point, will be built. This
would also give the Central railroad
IA ID 80 ~
lines, and would put Savannah on the line
OF two great north and south roads
TO TAKE IN THE COAST TOWNS.
II the South Bound is extended on the lines
surveyed by the engineer corps of that com
pany three years ago, 1t will connect with
Brunswick, Darisn and ST. Mary's by
slight reflections from its general line, or
by short branch roads. It will open for
settlement healthy and productive part of
the state, which, since the end of the old
plantation days, has not enjoyed great
prosperity.
It is claimed that while railroad built
on the proposed lines will have to cross rivers
where they are wider than where they are
crossed by the Savannah, Florida and West
ern railway, the country Is more level, and
there viii be less grading and little or no
trestie work, except for bridges There are
no great swamps to cross. only marshes,
"hcA 70 eubetdAlbiut Dduhb CAL De UullV. ne
new road, It is said, will shorten the route
from this city TO Jacksonville forty miles.
There has been a lively interest mani |
Tested in the proposed new road ever since
the question was first discussed. Another
route to Florida through this city, with
short connections to the north and west by
way of the South Bound railroad to Co
lumbia, will check the tendency which has
been growing for several years for travel
and freights, especially from the west, to
take other routes than that by way of this
city. With the South Bound extended to
Jacksonville it will be the shortest line from
all points into Florida.