Evening star., 1896-10-20
MAY NOT GET IT
Possibility That the Southern May
Lose the Seaboard.
LOUISVILLE And NASHVILLE WANT TT
Another Big Rate War Not I'M
probable.
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR

1t Is currently reported here among hold
ers of Southern railway securities that
while the friends Of the Southern, Messrs.
Ryan, Thomas and Gill, have secured the
absolute control of the Seaboard Company's
stock, events may occur within the next
few days, possibly within the next few
hours, which may change the whole situa-
tion and convert the Seaboard from a
friend Of the Southern into a bitter enemy
and cause the outbreak of another rate
war.
MI. Ryan has been In Baltimore since
last Friday night. and has held numerous
conferences with President r. Curzon Hoff-
man, during which. 1t is understood. all the
details concerning the transfer of the Sea-
board stock were completed.
Louisville and Nashville n Buyer.
Last night he suddenly returned to New
York to attend to some important business,
which prevented his longer remaining in
Baltimore, and he said that the business
consisted Of the consideration of a propo-
sition from the representatives of the
Louisville and Nashville road to transfer
the Seaboard stock to the Louisville and
NashVille company at very handsome adj
vance on the price which they paid for it,
The Southern Alarmed.
"hetner or not there is any basis for
this rumor 1t Is fact that the report has
created much alarm among the friends of
the Southern who are opposed to a renewal
or hostilities between the two railway com
panies, which were fighting so bitterly for
many weeks up to a short time ago; and If
tne LOUISVILLE and Nashville road should
secure control of the Seaboard Air Line. to-
sether with the other properties recently
acquired by Messrs. Ryan and Thomas If
would create competition to the Southern
is not a circumstance
The Louisville and Nashville and the
southern are already lighting each other.
although there has been no rate war. and
~ Is salu that the two companies are on
Inc verge Of open fighting for the possess
sion or the Central railroad of Georgia
which is operated under a Joint lease by
the two roads, but from which the Louis
Southern.
Something in the Air.
Gen. John Gill, the Baltimore member of
the Ryan-Gill syndicate. was seen by a
Star reporter at his office in the Mercantile
Trust and Deposit Company's building in
Baltimore this afternoon, and Gen. Gill
was asked whether it was true that the
syndicate had secured the actual control Of
tne Seaboard Air Line, and also whether
there was any basis for the rumor that the
Louisville and Nashville was trying to buy
the road from the syndicate.
Information Coming.
Gen. Gill replied:
L did not see Mr.. Ryan during his stay
In Baltimore. and he had to go back to
New York last night to attend to some
matters which could not be longer delayed
do not know whether the money to Sc
cure the Seaboard has been paid or not
but think that If The Star will not pub
l1sh anything about the Seaboard for two
or three days l can then give 1t some
very interesting Information, and by that
time Messrs. Ryan and Thomas will be
ready to fully outline their plans for the
future management Of the Seaboard
President Hoffman when interviewed l.y
Star reporter said he knew nothing ss
to what the future would bring forth. but
that the stockholders could turn out their
president at any time.
Annual Meeting of the Southern,
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va, October 2O.-The third
annual meeting of the Southern railway
was held here today. All Of the common
and preferred stock was represented The
report of the president for the year was
submitted and the acts of the company
approved by the stockholders. The oli
board of directors were reelected for an
other year.