The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
WILL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT.
JOHN SKELETON WILLIAMS SOON To
BE EXECUTIVE OF THE F. c. q p.

and His Associates to Connect the
Three Roads, the G. & A., the Sea-
board and the F. c. & P.-DeveIoP-
ments Awaited With Keen Inter-
est-Headquarters of the Great
system May Come TO Savannah.
New Traffic Arrangements VIII
Have 20 Be Made.
Mr. ". ". Mackan Of Charlton, MackaIl
& Anderson, general counsel for the Geor-
gia and Alabama Railroad, returned yes
terday morning from New York, where he
spent a few days in connection with bids
submitted By the Georgia Construction
Company on the slips and wharves to
form part Of the Georgia and Alabama
terminal system on Hutchinson's Island |
While in New York he saw President John
Shelton Williams Of the Georgia and Ala
bama and the Seaboard Air Line who
confirmed the report of the purchase by
himself, Mr. J. W. Middendorf and 9th
ers, Of a controlling block OF the stock
Of the Florida Central and Peninsulsr.
Mr. Mackau was seen with reference
to the transaction through which the Flor
IDA Central and Peninsular passed into
the hands Of the interests that govern
the Georgia and Alabama and the Sea
board Air Line. He said the deal was not
that Of a corporation in any particular;
that 1t was simply matter OF Mr.. Will
Jams. MIR. Middendorf and possibly others
interested in the railroads last named,
buying a controlling interest in the Flor
ida Central and Peninsular. This was
done without reference 20 the Georgia
and Alabama or the Seaboard Air Line
as corporations for the general and ex-
ecutive officers of those lines knew moth
ing Of the transaction until il was made
known 10 them through the newspapers
II is the purpose Of Mr.. Williams and
those associated with MIN in the control
Of the three properties said Mr.. Mackall'
eventually to effect a connection In
just what way this will be done or how
soon I do not know. There is but one
connecting link 10 be established, that
from Columbia to the Seaboard Air Line
I 90 not know how this junction will be
effected. nor do I believe the gentlemen
principally interested have yet figured II
out themselves. I have no doubt the lines
will be connected in time and that there
viii be a great system established.
Mr.. Mackall was asked If he knew of any
changes that are to follow Immediately as
a result of the transaction. He replied
that ne did not. The control of the Flor
ida Central and Peninsular will, under
stand. pass formally 10 the purchasers
within thirty to sixty days. 1t Is my
opinion that Mr.. Williams will be elected
president Of the Florida Central and Pen
insular as he was of the Seaboard Air
Line after that property was acquired some
time ago. There viii be an arrangement
of some Of the details that follow such
transactions as the purchase of a railroad
to be made before the buyers can take
possession, and these, I should think,
would take about the time I have indicat-
ed"
Mr.. Mackall understands that the con-
struction of the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac from Ridgeway. n. c.,
to Richmond Is to be pushed. The right
of way for this line was acquired with
the control of the, Seaboard by the VIII
lams syndicate, and it viii form a shorter
route than that now existing 70 Richmond
Mr. Mackall does not know that any over
lures have been made by the new owners
Of the Sea board for Northern connection
or that there have been any advances to-
ward such an arrangement by either the
Pennsylvania Lines or the Baltimore and
Ohio. il is believed. however, that such
a connection would be desired by the Sea
board, and one of the other roads men
toned.
After the road under construction from
r dgeway TO Richmond has been cornplet-
ed, there will be need for Northern con-
nection. It is said there will be no difficult
u in getting as far as Quantico. as the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
extends 90 that point and the state of Vir-
ginia IS large holder of its stock The
state it is believed, would favor no one
line, and the same traffic arrangements
could be secured by the Seaboard or the
system in which it may by that time he
merged as are now enjoyed by the A.
lantic Coast Line. The difficulty might
be in securing the cooperation of the
Pennsylvania lines. a point about which
some doubt exists in railroad circles.
If it is the Baltimore and Ohio with
which the agreement may be made for an
exchange Of business it is possible that a
road may be built from Washington or
some point near that city on the line of
the Baltimore and Ohio to
connect with the road that
is to run from Ridgeway to Richmond
The Baltimore and Ohio already holds
charter for a road out from washington
INTO Virginia, toward Fairfax Court
House, 1t is said. with rights of way SCI
cured and also right 10 build a bridge
across the Potomac above the CAPITAL
Mr. Mackall was asked what amount Of
STOCK IN the FLORIDA Central and PENN
sular had been acquired by the syndicate
but he answered that he did not feel fus
titled in telling. Other matters of detaiI
as 10 price and other points he did not care
to reveal. He thinks the three roads will
remain under their present homogeneous
for sometime, at all events Changes will
come eventually, he believes, but If viii
require time to systematic the three mon
critics and place them under one mana O.
nent, as is the purpose of the interests
in control.
MIR. Mackall believes the. system that
Is to grow out of the requirement nv the
controlling powers of the Georgia and Ala
bama of the controlling interests in the
Seaboard Air Line and the Florida Central
and Peninsular will be a benefit to Savan-
nah. 1t will mean the bringing of a great
deal more business to the port, and possi-
bly, better rates The establishment of The
splendid terminal system by the CeorpIs
and Alabama here is taken to mean tbat
this will be the principal port of the svs-
TEN. The Seaboard has terminals ar
Portsmouth but those that are TO be .es-
tablished here will be superior to anv