The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-20
SEABOARD AIR LINE.
Report of Some Important Northern
Extensions.
Manufacturers Record

Manufacturers RecOrd.)
The recent developments in the South
ern railroad situation would seem to
indicate that the SeaIboard Air Line
is about to make important extensions
At present the main line of the road runs
from Portsmouth, Va, to Atlanta. Ga.
with Il Northern connection on the Ches-
apeake hay between Baltimore and Ports
mouth through the Baltimore Steam
Packet Company. 1t also has line from
Charlotte to Wilmington, y. c., across
that State. At present it has to rely
upon other roads for service to points
beyond Atlanta and North of Weldon,
\. G. In other words the Seaboard
through trains to Washington must be
hauled over the Atlantic Coast Line and
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
from Weldon, while it has no solid trains
north of Washington, as is the case with
the Southern. Atlantic Coast Line and
the Chesapeake and Ohio.
In last weeks issue the Manufacturers
Record referred to the fact that the prop
osition Of Mr.. Dewitt Smith and others
to build the Virginia and Carolina Rail
road from Petersburg to Ridgeway, u.
c.. had been accepted by the city of Pc
tersburg. 1t is understood that this
line. which is to be built by Mr.. Smith,
and his associates. is for the extension of
the Seaboard Air Line to Petersburg,
which is but twenty miles from Rich
mond. There is a project now under
way to build standard guage road be-
tween the two cities named. The Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac line
is the most direct route between Rich
mond and Quantico near Washington.
The State pf Virufufa lie inn in,
this road in such manner, it is under
stood. that the Seaboard Air Line could
obtain trackage rights on an equitable
basis with other companies. As readers
of the Manufacturers Record are aware,
the Baltimore and Ohio has completed
line down the Virginia side of the Poto-
mac river to Alexandria, and few miles
Of extension would connect it with the
terminus of the Richmond, F'redericks-
burg and Potomac at Quantico. 1t is
reported in New York that the intention
to form q direct route from New York
to Atlanta by the way of the Jersey Cen
trail, Philadelphia and Reading, Balti-
more and Ohio. Richmond. F'redericks-
burg and Potomac and the Seaboard Air
Line and its extensions. This would
give the latter what it has long desired,
an opportunity to run solid trains from
Jersey City to the heart of the South,
in addition to its Northern connection
with Baltimore by water.
In this connection, the Manufacturer
Record has received letter from a rep
resentative of Mr.. Dewitt Smith, so
Broadway, y. Y, who is representing
company which will construct the Vir-
ginia and Carolina road. The letter is
as follows:
Il
while he has purchased from the city of
Petersburg the Virginia and Carolina
Railroad it is still premature to set
forth the details of his plans in connec-
ton with that property. Mr.. Smith and
his associates will proceed without delay
with the construction of the road from
Petersburg to a point near Ridgeway,
N. c., and shall be ready TO let contracts
for bridge, track work, etc, as soon as
the engineers can perfect specifea tons.
The road will be fully equipped for first
class passenger and freight service Mr.
Smith has further plans in connection
with this property, but it would be inn
prudent to disclose them at this time"
For the last year or so, Mr.. Thomas f.
Ryan, Of New York, who is supposed to
represent Northern corporation, has
been making an effort to obtain control
of the Seaboard Air Line through the
purchase OF stock, and in other ways
At one time it was announced that he
| had succeeded in doing So The Manu-
faeturer's Record, however, learns on
| good authority, that within the last few
weeks the syndicate which is supporting
President II. g. Hoffman, and which
is composed principally Of Baltimoreans,
interested in this line, has succeeded in
securing enough of the stocks and bonds
of the system to permanently hold it be-
| yond the possibility Of a change This
would leave the Seaboard management
free to engage in plans for extension
| and development.
| 1t will be remembered that the COM
| pany has just negotiated an issue of
| $1.5O0,OO0 in 5 per cent. bonds, of which
| 81 100000 is to refund an issue of 8 per
cent bonds on the Raleigh and CASTOR
| division now outstanding, and 100000
is to be used for Improvements and bet
| terments." In connection with
the Petersburg project, this is significant.
| If these plans are carried out as intend
| ed, the South will have another great sys-
tenn direct to the principal Atlantic coast
/. cities of the North.