The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-01
GEORGIA ROAD TO BE LET GO.
THOMAS AND RYAN ABANDON
THEIR FIGHT FOR IT.

srIe>of the charleston and western
Carolina Elnfs rgct, v.~,re for ~
\ CONNECTIONS From Aulosta Win
the Wesf--The New situation Prob.
.,",s,S Means Abandonment Also OF
the Construction of the Proposes
= Augusta aud Atlanta Road.
Augusta. Ca, Dec. 3l.-It is stated from
au authentic source that there will be no
further litigation between Nessrs. Thomas
& Ryan and the Georgia railroad and the
long-contested halt interest in the lease
Of the Georgia railroad
The Information was not forthcoming
until yesterday, when a letter was receiv-
ed here stating that Messrs. Thomas Ss
Ryan had relinquished all claims to their
half interest in the lease. The letter was
received by Maj J. b. Cumming. who Is
the attorney for the Georgia railroad.
1t will be remembered that some years
since the Georgia railroad was leased to
the Central and the Louisville and Nash-
VILE jointly, so the Central claimed. and
that some time after that Messrs. Thomas
& Ryan claim to have bought the half in
terest In the lease, together with lot OF
odds and ends But the Louisville and
Nashville denied that the Central had any
claim on the lease
Maj W. r. Gary was appointed to take
testimony in the case. and early in the
spring several days were consumed here
in the taking of this testimony. The Geor-
sia railroad people who were put on the
stand as witner rses, stated that the Louis
vile and Nashville was the only road that
paid the rental, and that it had been sons
time since the Central had put up money
for the lease
But the fact that Messrs. Thomas 81
Ryan, or rather the Central, lays no
further claim on the lease makes very H.
tie difference to any one except the Of
hcers of the Georgia railroad and of the
Louisville and Nashville IL would in no
wise have affected Augusta, except for
good, could Messrs. Thomas & Ryan
have proven their interest in the lease.
Naturally, the officers would prefer that
only one road should control the Georgia.
Had the interest been proven, as at all
times the Georgia would have been op-
Grated as it is, for the best interests Of
the city Messrs. Thomas and Ryan hav-
ing sold the Charleston and Western Car
olina to the Atlantic Coast Line, have now
no real interest in a connection with tho
west, and it Is presumed that
for this reason, as much as
any other, the fight was given up.
Il .aaprives the public Of seeing an inter-
cstlng legal battle. There is no great
difference beyond this, for the people gem
orally felt satisfied that whatever Messrs.
Thomas and Ryan did they did for the
best interests of this city. as they have
showed by the great amount of good they
have already done for it,
The question that now arises is what viii
become Of the proposed Augusta and At
ianta railway, petition for the charter OF
which has already been made. 1t is the
universal opinion that it will fall through,
since the Charleston and Western Caro-
lima has been sold. This is bad, how
ever, for the road would have opened up
a splendid territory FOR Augusta trade
and would have shortened the distance
from Augusta to Atlanta. IL may be.
however, that the road will be built, af-
Ter all.