Evening star., 1896-10-24
AFTER THE SEABOARD
The Louisville and Nashville Active 0p-
ponents Of the Southern.
Some Interesting Gossip About n
Proposed Railroad Deal and the
Large Interests Involved,

The impression Is growing in railroad
circles that the possibility that the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad Company may,
as stated in The Star of several days ago.
become the owner of the Seaboard and
Roanoke, or, as 1t is generally known. the
Seaboard Air Line, in the course of short
time. is nearer an assured fact than was
dreamed of when the matter was mentioned
in The Star.
OF course no definite arrangements can
be made by the Ryan-Thomas-Gill syndi-
cate to transfer their holdings to any other
people company until after they have
paid for the property, which, 1t is stated
will be done before the last Of this month
There is no doubt that all three Of the
gentlemen named would under ordinary cir
cumstances prefer, II they do not want to
build up system of their own and want
to sell, that the Southern should have the
property, but here, II the reports be true, is
an opportunity for three men, each of
whom is Of an ambitious nature, to make
a fortune in day.
1t is known that Messrs Ryan and
Thomas have been the representatives of
the house of J. Pierpont Morgan and the
Southern Railway Company in a number
of transactions, while 1t Is an open secret
in Baltimore that Mr.. Gill and his partner,
Mr.. Fisaer. have made immense fortunes
through favors extended to them by Presi-
dent Spencer when the latter was at the
head of the Baltimore and Ohio, at which
time contracts running over a long series
of years for the transportation Of grain
from the west to Baltimore were entered
into and from which the house of Gill &
Fisher are said to be still deriving a hand
some income. OF course there was moth
ing either dishonest or dscreditable in
these arrangements-they have simply been
profitable to the favored firm. which, by
this means and through their own ener-
gies. have not only built up great do
mestc trade, but have also secured almost
as great an export business.
Business IL Business.
Again, Mr.. Gill and Mr.. Spencer are
warm personal friends, and the former
would no doubt like to oblige the railway
president to the fullest extent in his power.
were it not, possibly, that business is busi-
ness.
Now, If the reports be true, along comes
the Louisville and Nashville company, a
giant corporation, nearly all Of whose stock
is held abroad by people who are. it is al
legged, a little jealous of the growing In
fluence of Mr.. Morgan in the railway world,
and see the opportunity Of their history to
gain an exit from their present main line
to the Atlantic Seaboard at figure which
to a company with its capitalization Is
natter of small moment.
Opposition to Mr.. Gill.
1t is reported that some of the friends Of
Mr. R. Curzon Hoffman, who. through the
efforts Of Mr. Gill, Is said to be about to
retire from the presidency Of the Seaboard
and Roanoke, principal among whom is
Mr.. Louis McLane, are preparing to give
Mr.. Gill some trouble to be reelected presi-
dent of the Mercantile Trust and Deposit
Company when his present term expires,
and, If possible, prevent him from getting
another term.
Mr. McLane Is a very rich man, and has
large interests in the company Of which
Mr.. Gill is president. SO that the latter
might be seriously annoyed If Mr.. McLane
should make en- active warfare against
him.
A movement has also been started in Bal
timore to oust Mr.. Gill from the receiver
ship Of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley
railroad, it being alleged that he has not
been sufficiently active in getting the road
reorganized. as was the object of his ap-
pointment az receiver, and efforts are being
made to get an order of sale from the
United States court in that city, and reor-
ganize the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley
under foreclosure proceedings.