Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-13
Birmingham Is Rapidly Forging
 to the Front.
THREE MORE TRUNK LINES
Headed for the City-The High land Avenue and Belt Pur-
 chased for the Purpose.

Three more railroad systems into the city in brief period is what the Magic City of the south is to have. Scheming for the purpose of bringing these three additional systems into Birmingham has been going on for a long time, and has at last been brought to an end with favorable results.
 For long time the Chattanooga Southern has wanted to get into the Black Creek coal fields and to come into this city. Not only has the Chattanooga Southern wanted to do this, but the East and West has also, and now everything has been put in shape for them to carry out their wishes aud to do good turn towards Birmingham and the district. But there is another still that will come into Birmingham, and that is the Seaboard Air Line.
 This is all the res ut of sale of the High land Avenue and Belt railroad, which has been dead loss and burden to the own- CTS for the past two years, to the Colum- bian Equipment company of New York, which is acting in the deal as agents for the East and West aud Chattanooga South ern.
 Dr. H. M. Caldwell returned from New York Sunday night, and in an interview yesterday said to au AGE- HERALD reporter:
 ''I have just returned from New York, where sold to the Columbian Equipment company the Highland Avenue and Belt railroad.
 "The Columbian Equipment company owns the East and West railroad, and at an early date will extend that road into this city, when they will use the road just purchased for terminal facilities.
 "Negotiations are pending between the Colum bian Equipment company and the Chattanooga Southern seeking toward the end of bringing the latter road into Bir- mingham. If this deal is made, and have every reason to believe that it will, the Chattan ooga Southern will also use the Highland Avenue and Belt for terminal facilities.
 "The Highland Avenue and Belt dummy line will be pnt in tirst-class condition at once and operated by electricity. 1t will also run in connection with the East Bir- mingham dummy line, upon which the Columbian Equipment company has an op- tion, which will also be converted into an electric line.''
 This was the mission of Dr. Caldwell to New York ,and the result of it will be hailed with delight by every citizen in Birming- ham. It will result in good to the city, not only in making better accommodation for dummy line travel, but the addition Of three railroads will have strong tendency to put Birmingham where she once was.
 FROM FELL CITY TO BIRMINGHAM.
 The East and West is railroad running from Cartersville, Ga., to Peil City. Ala, U ulstduC0 Ol III miICos AAiS IOdu Iuu5 through good country and Is splendid piece of property, but has no outlet, and for this reason never has been paying in- vestment to it's owners. It was sold under receiyership some time ago and purchased by Eugene Kelly, trustee for the bond holders, for the Columbian Equipment company of New York.
 The buying of the Highland Avenue and Belt by the owDers of the East and West means that 1t is to be extended from Pell (Ttv n Rirmi cham distanCe of thirty. six miles, and this extension will open mp a field which is valuable and will also make the road much moro valuable than 1t is, by reason of the extension to this place giving the road an outlet. This will also open up the Black Creek coal fields, which are very valuable, to say nothing of the numerous industries of that section.
 FROM GADsDEN TO BIRMINGHAM.
 For long time the Chattanooga South ern has been wanting to get into the coal ham, and now it is very likely, and in fact almost certainty, that they will come to both points. The Chattanooga Southern has ninety miles of main line running, will be extended from Gadsden to some point near Pell City, touching the direct line from the latter place to Brmingh ham. In doing this it will not have over thirty miles of road to build.
 ANOTHER TO COME.
 Wltn the Cast ana W esG entenueu to blr- mingh the Seaboard Air Line will build a road from Gainesville to Cartersville, Ga., a distance of about seventy miles, making an almost direct route from that point. As soon as this is completed they will run trains direct from Birming gham to the east, making short and quick route. This will put them into the coal fields of Alabama, which has been their desire for years. Besides making fast freight line, through passenger trains will be put on, making quick time. This will give Bir- mingham another trunk line, which means millions to Birmingham.
 The war in the Orient is nothing to the