The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-22
THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD
A Great Combination Of Big South
ern Systems Looked For.
Norfolk to be the Great Terminal of a
Gigantic Railroad Consolidation or
Combine. The Georgia South
ern. L. & NJ, A. G. L. and
Southern, the Big Four.

The Savannah news OF Thursday
contains Gu extended acc cunt OF Il
great railroad combine that will bc
vast In extent and the talk is brought
out by reason of the Southcrn's recent
movement IN making Norfolk its great
water terminal. The News sets out
with the assertion that if there is any re-
lance to be placed III rumor the South
has witnessed the beginning OF what
may be one of the most gigantic rail
road combinations the country has
ever known.
1t is q fact that such a thing as the
union on business basis OF oil the big
railroad systems of the South Is being
talked OF, and according to we'll known
railroad man who has Just returned
from New York, the indications point
to the fact that there is something
more behind the talk than idle gossip.
The beginning of this expected com.
binatiou OF vast extent which is to take
Ia tho entire Southern territory, if
carried out along the lines now talked
of, is the Southern Hallway Company,
which has stretched ont arm after arm,
sud has been continually gathering In
new territory since It's organization.
1t Is natural that such scheme, If it
is on foot, should crop out at "a time
when the Southern railway purchases
controlling interest III the Georgia
Southern aud Florida, and follows this
up by combination of interests with
those OF the Atlantic Coast Line,
through which it finds seaport outlet
as Norfolk, Va. Especially Is this true
when followed up by the report that
negotiations are now going on looking
to n union on Il business bnsis of tho
Southern and the Louisville and Nash
vile systems, and the further fact that
tho Southern is seen to exert its con.
troll over the Central railroad system
by virtue of being the holder of all the
stock III tile company, as will be the
case after 1t has been reorgani2ed.
1t will readily be seen that this con.
diticn OF affairs in the railroad world
would eilectuaily bottle up two of the
largest systems in this section of tho
South-namely. the Florida Central
and Peniusulnr and the Plant aystem-
aud they would have to find n way into
the combination in order to let them
selves ont of the hole. With the Goor.
gis Southern aud Florida the Southern
is going to take the haul over that line
into Florida, whenever it is possible to
do so. This leaves out the Florida
Central and Peninsulnr, SO far as the
haul from Columbia southwark on q
great deal OF the business ia con
cerEed.
! he alliance with tho Atlantic Coast
Line csn be used to shut oil the Plant
system, III that direction; that proposed
with the Loulsviiie and Nashville would
shut ont Mr.. Plant In the other dlreo
ton. AS his only other possible outlets
the Georgia Southern aud Florida and
the Central railroad will both be in the
hands OF the Southern which is said
to be the prime mover in this talked of
combination, and which, it is believed,
ls working for it might and main.
1.-The Indications" said q well known
railroad man who hes given the situa.
ton some study. point decidedly to
the TACT that such o movement as the
above is on foot. There is no doubt
that the big railroad systems of the
South are tending toward combina.
tlon with one another, and that the
Southern Railway Company js back of
the movement. l believe that what has
already been done in this direction In
o quiet way by the Southern will bs
followed by another acquisition to that
system within six months, and do not
believe it will be two years before the
whole project has been accomplished
and these railroads are together under
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