The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-25
PLANT SYSTEM CHANGES.
A General Shaking Up in the Pass
cnEer Department Expected.


Tampa, Fla. Jan. 2i-Since the re-
turn here yesterday Of President II. b.
Plant from Savannah, there have been
numerous rumors of radical changes in
the passenger department of the Plant
system of railways and steamships.
1t is said that Col. Beverly ". Wrenn,
the newly appointed passenger traffic
manager. has from the start desired a re-
organization of this department through
out. His contract with President Plant
gives him an unusually broad sweep in
personal authority. but he has hesltated
to exercise this power without the abso-
lutte approval OF his principal. This, IL is
said, he has finally secured, and some
highly interesting announcements are
likely to be made from his office on or
about Feb. !.
One rumor is to the effect that each di-
vision Of the entire system IS to be given
a general passenger agent making nine
in all. one each for the Charleston and
Savannah railway, the Brunswick and
Western. the Western and Atlantic the
Savannah, Florida and Western. the
South Florida railway, the Silver Springs,
Ocala and Gulf, the Plant steamship line.
the Boston and Halifax steamship line,
and, presumably. the Florida Southern
railway, now said 10 be owned by the
Plant Investment Company
In this connection. IL was. predicted here
this morning, that Capt. W NJ. Davidson,
now the general passenger agent of the
entire system. would 20 out Of the Plant
service entirely, but later in the day a
gentleman very close to Mr.. Plant denied
this report with great emphasis, assur-
ing his auditors that so valuable a man as
Capt. Davidson would not be displaced;
that he was thoroughly appreciated by
President Plant, who would not listen to
such thing as a resignation from that
quarter, even If Capt. Davidson should
be disposed to offer it.
II am informed" continued this gem
tleman, that the new arrangement will
very probably be this: The passenger
trafiice manager, Col. Wrenn, will appoint
Capt. Davidson general passenger agen,
for the Florida lines including the Sa
vannah, Florida and Western, the South
Florida. the Silver Springs. Ocala and
Gulf, and, possibly, the Florida South
ern and in addition he win appoint a gem
eral passenger agent each for the Charles
ton and Savannah railway the Bruins
wick and Western and the Western and
Atlantic.
Exactly how the Plant Steamship Line
and the Boston and Halifax Steamship
Line Will figure in the new arrangement.
/ am not prepared to say, but it is highly
probable that a general passenger agent
will be appointed for each. The new fast
steamship which Mr.. Plant will have
ready for business next summer will
be placed in the Boston and Halifax
run about July !. The Olivette will do
the summer business between Port Tampa
and Havana, and the Mascotte will be
added to the line now in operation be
tween Port Tampa, Punta Gorda Mobile
and New Orleans. Next winter the new
ship and the Olivette will do the Havana
and Key West business after the Hal
flax business is over for the summer and
fall"
There has been a good deal of specula-
ton in Jacksonville, Savannah and
Charleston to-day as to whom the new
appointments will go, and fully thirty
inquiries have come in here from those
points by wire tonight. The one thing
that seems sure tonight Is that Presi-
dent Plant will retain Capt. Davidson in
charge of his railway passenger business
in Florida, responsible, of course, to Man
ager Wrenn as his chief.