The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
NO NEWS OF THE DEAL HERE.
G. & A. ATTORNEYS KNOW MOTH
ING OF #. C. & PJs PURCHASE.

] "a -AaAASE-AAG
That the Deal Might BE Made
without the General Counsel of
the GeOrGin and Alabama Know
ing Anything About It-Great In
terest Manifested in the Report.
such Transaction and Those
Most Important in Railroad His
tory in the south.
The Baltimore dispatch published in the
Morning News yesterday to the effect that
the Florida Central and Peninsular Rail-
road has been bought by the Interests con-
trolling the Georgia and Alabama and the
Seaboard Air Line was read with interest
by railroad men and Savannah people.
That some further move of Importance
was soon to follow was predicted as soon
as the seaboard Air Line was secured by
the Georgia and Alabama syndicate with
Mr.. John Shelton Williams at its head.
MIR. w. G. Charlton of the firm of Charl-
ton, Mackall and Anderson, attorneys for
the Georgia and Alabama, was asked if
he had heard anything of the report of
the absorption of the Florida Central and
Peninsuar by the Seaboard Air Line and
Georgia and Alabama interests. He re-
piled that the published report was the
first and only news he has, but said II
was quite possible that such a deal might
be consummated without being brought
to the attention of the general counsel of
the Georgia and Alabama.
Recently the stock of the Georgia and
Alabama and the Florida Central and PEN
insular has been active, and there have
been advances. Comment was aroused
and word was gotten of the reported deal.
Mr.. John Shelton Williams, executive Of
ficer of the Georgia and Alabama and the
Seaboard Air Line, was seen with refer
ence to the report, dispatches state, and
would neither confirm or deny it. It was
thought probable that some such plan
in contemplation was accountable for the
activity in the stock of the two lines
A connection with the Georgia and Ala
bama has been regarded ever since the
Seaboard was acquired as a probable out
come of the deal through which the con-
trolling interest in the latter was secured.
There was talk of a connection being built
from Atlanta to Columbus or from At
lanta to Montgomery, but this was not re-
6dAuGu ny tIlOSS III savannah whose IN
sight into the situation vested their opin-
ions with respect as likely to be the ar
rangement. An official of the Georgia and
Alabama, soon after the deal was report
ed, advanced the opinion that the result
would be an alliance with the Florida
Central and Pennsular, or the purchase
of the road.
The Seaboard Air Line does not reach
Columbia, the northern terminus of the
IL. l..
is about the nearest point, and is not far
to the north A connecting link with that
or some other point on the Seaboard might
be built or acquired it is thought, and then
there would be a system reaching from
Portsmouth TO Montgomery and to Tampa.
Another ambition in the talked-of plan is
for a connection to be built from Ridgeway
". c., to Richmond. This 1t is said, could
be effected under the existing charter of
the Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina
Railroad. Then an effort said to be afoot
could be carried out and traffic arrange
ment made with the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac, extending from Rich
mond to Quantico, for hauls that might be
delivered at Richmond by the Ridgeway
connection and at Quantico by line thir-
ty-five miles long that would have to be
built from Washington to that place All
this involves the cooperation and assist
ance of the Baltimore and Ohio, which, it
is stated Is anxious for an alliance with
the Seaboard. The entire scheme would
give an immense system for the seaboard
and Georgia and Alabama and form a
powerful connection and assimilation of
interests of those two lines and the la Ii
more and Ohio, but Receiver John X. Cow
en- of the latter, is quoted as saying that
his line is making no effort for Southern
connection. This would seem to set at rest
any speculation upon the plan being car
ried out but people interested at the North
are still talking u.
The plan for a connection with the Ral-
timore and Ohio failing, it is claimed an
effort will be made by the Seaboard inter-
estS to secure one with the Pennsylvania
This would appear a difficult matter for
the present arrangements existing between
the Southern and the Pennsylvania and
the Atlantic Coast Line ana the Penn
syNania seem very satisfactory 10 the
Pennsylvania. Such a change and The
transfer by the Pennsylvania of tho bnei-
ness 1t now turns over to the Southern IN
the Seaboard would be a great injury 10
the former, and would kill its traffic south
ward, and back to the North. The ,,resant
route through Columbia, with the F'lorida
Central and Peninsular absorbed. would he
that of the Seaboard instead of the south
ern.
CAti thC ACpoII VI the zeal is con firn1a1
or denied there viii be great in ,ercst
among railroad men and the public yen.
orally. officials and employees OF the Flor
ida Central and Peninsular, and the C.eor-
gia and Alabama, will be on the loolSo,t
for word of the change. The CARVING ont
of such plan would be one of the bIyrest
things in railroad history in the South
The Southern Railway has absorbed tho
Mobile and Birmingham Railroad bv tbe
terms of a lease for ninety-nlne vears
which was negotiated by President sam
uel Spencer of the Southern on his recent
trip TO London. This lease has been on.
proved by the London security holders ~
the Mobile and Birmingham, and bv its
stipulations this road, with ali its frsn
chises and property will be picked IN
March by the system J. Psrpont Morgap
has under his guidance. Mr.. Spencer has
but recently returned from London al
is in the South. accompanied by President
T. G. Bush of the Mobile and Birnoing'
ham TO wind up the deal in Alabama
The Southern Railway, by this pagot,a
ton, has secured its first direct outlet fron,
no r,I anA