The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-27
NEVER ANSWERS RUMORS.
Vice President HaineS Of theS. F. & ".
Deals Only in Facts.

He Says Mr.. Plant Will PROBABLY nave
a New Steamship Built, But That no
Anxiety About the Cuban Fast Mail
Contracts Has Anything to do With
THE Declined to Discuss the Ru-
mored Purchase of the Florida South
ern-The Meeting To-day and the An
nual Tour Over the Plant System.
The Plant System officials are on their
regular annual tour of the system, for
the purpose of making inspections where
they are deemed necessary, and of hold
ing the annual stockholders meetings of
the roads which compose the system.
Mr.. II. NJ. Flagler, who is a director of
the Plant Investment Company, will ar
rive this morning, as will also Mr.. J. R.
Parrot, vice president of che Jackson
VILE ST. Augustine and Indian River
railroad. Others in the party, which win
leave the city for Brunswick directly
after the meeting of the Savannah, Flor
ida and Western railway stock
holders, are President Fl. B. Plant.
Mr.. NJ. F. Plant, assistant to
the president; Col H. S. Haines,
vice president of the system; Mr.. r. G.
Erwin, vice president of the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway and general
counsel Of the Plant Investment Company,
and Mr.. R. B. Smith, secretary of the
company. OF the Southern Express Of
hcials who were here yesterday Vice Pres
ident M. ], OBrien, Assistant General
Manager T. w. Leary and Superin-
tendent c. L. Myers of the Florida division
will accompany them.
The party will have a special train, con-
sisting of four private cars and baggage
! car. From Savannah it will go to Bruins
wick, where the annual meeting of the
Brunswick and Western stockholders will
| be held. From Brunswick they go to
| Montgomery, Ala, to hold the annual
meeting of the Alabama Midland and
| then come back to Jacksonville, Sanford,
! Ocala and Tampa, where meetings of
| other lines in the system will be held.
The Plant system is one of those close
| corporations about which people on the
| outside know little, and those on the in
| side are seldom inclined to say much. No
| body knows anything about what the
company is going to do until it is done,
and very often then there is a doubt about
! it, though rumor has a say, and generally
persists in it until the truth finally comes
to light, Col II. S. Haines, the vice presi-
dent of the system, was asked yesterday
about a number of these rumors as to
what the company contemplated doing
in one connection and another.
! Il never pay any attention to rumors,
! Col. Haines replied, land when I am asked
| about them, never say whether they are
/ true or untrue"
Col. Haines was asked about the talk
that the Nashville, Chattanooga and St.
! Louis contemplates purchasing the At
Z laDta and Florida railroad b1lilH1np n a.
con and connecting with the Plant sys-
TEN over the Georgia Southern and Flor
ida.
1--WE have double daily connection with
the Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis
| now" he replied. This was begun yes
terday The connection is made by the
use of the Georgia Southern and Flor
ida, with which connections are made at
Triton, the Central from Macon to Atlanta
and the Western and Atlantic to Chatta,
nooga AS to the purchase of the Atlanta
and Florida by that line l know nothing.
1 suppose any one could buy it, however,
for few dollars"
1t has been stated that the Florida. Cen
trail and Peninsular railroad has bought
the Sanford and St. Petersburg commonly
known as the Orange Belt, and that it CON
templated going into St. Petersburg over
this route 1t was further stated that this
line intended to put on line of steamers
from that point to Key West and Havana
after establishing which 1t would bid for
the Cuban fast mails. Col Haines, when
asked about this matter, said
Il don't know that this is worrying
Mr. Plant to any extent. If it is, he has
not given any signs that such was the
case. In the first place, the Florida Cen
trail and Peninsular has got to buy the
Sanford and st. Peters burg then build a
new railroad, build docks at St. Peters
burg get the steamships, and, lastly, it
must wait until our contract with the gov
eminent expires, which will be about two
4 years. These contracts are made for four
years each time, and the present contract
/ has two years yet to run. / don't think
the Florida Central and Peninsular has
taken the first necessary step in this di-
| rection which l have mentioned. / know
nothing definite about it, however"
In this connection, it has been stated
that Mr. Plant was about TO give an order
for new ship. Does he intend to put
this on the line between Tampa. and Ha-
vana?" was asked.
MIR. Plant probably will build a new
ship in the near future. It will be a fine
/ large ship but there will be plenty of use
for it, and plenty Of places to put it,
especially as the system has four regular
lines to supply. 1t is possible that it may
run between Tampa and Cuba. 1t has
not been settled yet who will build it,
rs the report that the company has
purchased the Florida Southern true 2'
Col Haines was asked.
AS 1 said, never deny on affirm a ru.
NOR" was Col Haines reply. The Flor.
ida Southern railroad is like the others
and n anybody wants to buy it, 1 suppose
he can do so by paying the price asked
/ won't discuss that situation, however
Possibly we may be trading for IL now
We have had a traffic arrangement with
the road for years. We bought their road
north Of Gainesville some time ago. ant
that Is the way We got into Gainesville Of
And that's about an that can be learned
from the Plant officials with repard Id
. their contemplated movements When IN,
deals have been made and become matter,
OF record. they don't mind talking about
them, but when the system has ANYTIME
? iu view those who know what it Is and
what is going 20 be done. are quite rett
cent both in word ana action When M,
Plant system purchases tho FIardla
{ southern railroad and begins 10 operat,
. lt b. will probably he known ds6nit.l,
what be- intenuons are with regard t0 maj
line.
An Fstended Popularity. Huows.. BBos
/. rHtt TRoCHEs have for malY ysars been ti,.