The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-18
TRIP OF THE BoNDHoLDERS.
IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY
SAW OF THE G.. AND A.


Than They Expected to Find 1t.
Surprised at the Prosperity of the
Country Through Which the Road
Runs-President williams and the
Quarantine-He Is Confident There
Is No Fever i'm Montgomery.
The party of executive officials and bond
holders of the Georgia and Alabama rail-
road, which has been out for several days
on tour of Inspection of the road, re-
turned yesterday morning. Their special
train arrived few minutes before u
o'clock.
The day was spent in visiting various
points of interest The wharves were gone
over and the facilities Savannah enjoys in
the way of shipping were noted. The
terminals were inspected and the party
became familiarized with the arrange
ments by which the terminals are used.
A visit was paid the Grand Duchess and
the visitors We're greatly impressed with
the vessel.
Late in the afternoon, under the escort
of w. G.. Charlton, Esq, Of the firm of
Charlton. Mackall & Anderson, attorneys
visited Thunderbolt and the yacht club.
The return to the city was at late hour
The party went at once to the private car
of President John Shelton Williams, which
had been used for the trip. 1t had been
transferred early in the afternoon from
the Georgia and Alabama tracks to the
junction, and was brought to the Plant
system depot at just about the time the
party arrived.
The visitors were met at the depot by
Morning News reporter. In the party were
President John Shelton Williams of Rich
mond; Mai. James H. Dooley, of Rich
mond. formerly the president of the Rich
mond and Danvile railroad and now a
lawyer and capitalist; Mr.. Marshall Nj.
Gillian of Richmond, president of the III
tie Trust Company; Mr.. Fred w, Scott,
of Richmond, of Scott & Sringfellow,
bankers; Mr.. T. C. Williams, of Richmond,
vice president of the T. c. Williams To-
bacco Company; Mr. W. M. Habliston.
vice president Of the National Bank of
Petersburg, Va; Mr.. c. r. Spence, vice
president of the Mercantile Trust and De-
post Company, of Baltimore. All, with the
l. -.
night by the Plant system for their homes.
Mr. williams will remain in the city for
few days.
In addition to the gentlemen named
there were others who formed a part of
the company that went over the line. Vice
President and General Manager Cecil Cab
bett accompanied them, as did also Direc-
tors j. D. Stetson of Macon, vice presi-
dent of the American National Bank, and
John w. Sheffield, president of the Bank
Of Commerce of Americas. Mr.. c.. p. Ham
mond. the chief engineer of the road was
also in the party.
President Williams was asked how the
bondholders who accompanied him on the
trip had been impressed with what they
had seen of the road. He referred to the
bondholders themselves 1t was for the
benefit of these gentlemen that the trip
was made They have large interests in
the road though they had never been
over it until this trip. Knowing this to
be the case President Williams decided
that it would be a good plan to have the
bondholders give the property a personal
inspection. on proposing the plan, it was
readily taken up.
Mr. Gillian said that the trip had been
of great advantage to them, and they had
been agreeably surprised to find the road
in the splendid condition it showed. He
said that the bondholders were impressed
handled. He knew the naval stores in
dustry along the line of the property was
highly developed, but he said 1t exceeded
their expectations. Mr.. Gillian was par
ticularly impressed by the fact that the
land that is now yielding the timber and
naval stores is SO well adapted to the cul-
tivation of cotton. He thinks there is a
great advantage to the road in this fact,
as after the land has been stripped of its
forests, 1t will be of great value still for
cotton culture.
Maj. Dooley who has had years
of practical experience as a railroad ohl-
cial, said the party was surprised THAI
The development of the road had reached
the point it has The roadbed, he says.
Is splendid, the equipment Is very good,
much better than he expected to find the
bridges and trestles are in an excellent
state and the depots at the sta
lions are in good repair. He
was impressed with the evident pros
perity of the country through which the
line runs. The houses seem to be well
built and the people enterprising and pro-
gressive. He was struck with the spirit
of progress disclosed at the cities, Ameri-
Gus, Columbus and Montgomery, where
stops were made.
Messrs. Scott and Habliston concurred
heartily in all that Messrs. Gillian and
Dooley said. They were glad they had
made the trip, as it had greatly enlarged
their opinion of the road.
The gentlemen were asked how they had
managed to get through the quarantine
lines In view of the fact that Savannah
has quarantined against Montgomery.
President Williams replied that they had
MADE affidavit to the fact that they had
not been in any infected district The
health authorities here had wired the Off
Ger at Meldrim he said, to allow the gen.
tlemen to pass in the event this was done.
The party spent several hours in Mont
gomery being entertained there at one
of the clubs, where q dinner was given
them by some of the leading citizens.
President Williams spoke very highly of
the city, and stated it as his opinion that
there is no vestige of truth in the report
that there is fever there. SO assured does
he feel of this that he says he would feel
not the slightest fear in returning to
Montgomery. 1t was upon this belief of
all the party that the gentlemen were
able to make affidavit to the fact that
they had been in no infected district
President Williams said that they had all
seen the papers before entering Montgom-
cry, and that they did not feel at all I'M
easy in entering the place.
Il think" he said, that Savannah has