The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-11-02
(NOrfOlk Nirginian-PjlOtD \

| OF the SeabOard Air Line, announces
| that his system has concluded its ar
rangements for the operation of
through vestibulcd trains between
New York and Tampa.
The lines Of this system, in which
the Florida Central and Peninsular
| Railroad and the Georgia and Ala
| bama railway are included, will. on
January 1,l9JO, be completed through
from Richmond to jacksonville and
Tampa.
"Negotiations, " said Mr. Williams,
''have beer concluded with the Rich
mond, Fredericks burg and Potomac
| railroad, from Richmond to Quantico,
| and with the Pennsylvania railroad,
extending from Quantico to New
York, by which the trains of the Sea
board Air Line will enjoy the same
| rights and privileges between Rich
mond and Washington as those e;-
joyed by the Atlantic Coast Line. and
from Washington to New York the
SeabOard Air Line will be upon
precisel Y the same footing in the use
of the tracks of the Pennsylvania as
Southern Railway or the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway.'
The contract with the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad has been signed by the Off
cials of both companies, and final
agreement has been arrived at which
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad for the use of that
company's tracks between Richmond
and Quantico, where connection will
be made with the Pennsylvania rail!
road.
President Williams confirms the re-
port that his system has recently con-
tracted with the Pullman Palace Car
| Company for four magnificent vesti-
buled trains, which are to be used
this winter by the Seaboard Air Line
in its new through passenger service
between New York and Jacksonville
and Tampa. These trains will be
| the most elegant and luxurious that
| were ever operated in the South, and
will include dining, sleeping, parlor
and observation cars, which will be
furnished with all the conveniences
| and luxuries that art and ingenuity
can cOntrlNe.
The new route thus opened will be
known as The Florida and West
India Short Line" and will cover the
distance between New York and
Tampa by line about 10 miles
shorter than the Southern Railway,
and about IS miles shorter than the
Atlantic Coast Line between the
same points.
The link which is being built by
the Seaboard Air Line to connect its
main line with the Florida Central
and Peninsular railroad at Columbia,
is being laid with new S0-pound steel
rails The new bridges which are
being constructed are all of steel,
and adapted to the use OF the heaviest
locomotives and the fastest trains.
The new pro iected lines of the Sea
board System from Charleston to
Augusta, and from Augusta to
Athens, are now being surveyed.
Several corps of engineers are busily
engaged in the work, and nothing
definite will be given out in regard
to this line until this preliminary
work is completed.
If this new pro ojected line should
| be constructed, the Seaboard, besides
| being the shortest line by about 100
miles, between Washington and
| Tampa, and Cuba, will have the
greatest advantage of operating its
own rails for the entire distance be-
tween the cities Of Atlanta, and
| Augusta, Ga, Atlanta and Savannah,
| n, ,nI (bor1nStcn
Augusta and Athens, Ga, by shorter
| routes than any now existing be-
! tween the important cities mention
| ed.
| The consolidation of the Seaboard
| Air Line with the Florida Central and
| Peninsular railroad, and the Georgia
and Alabama railway, will probably
! take place between now and the first
of January. The new system, in
| cluding its pro jected lines, will en-
brace about 5000 miles Of main line
| of railroad. exclusive of second track
and sidings. This system also con-
| trolls the Baltimore Steam Packet
| Company, which for the past !ifty
! wears has been operating the prin-
| cipal line of steamers of the Chesa
| peake Bay between Baltimore and
| Old Point Comfort, Norfolk and
Portsmouth.
| The combined bonded debt of the
railroads comprising this system is
| less than that of any other system of
like Importance in the United States.
| The present combined Indebtedness
per mile of the SeabOard Air Line,
Florida Central and Peninsular, and
GEORGIA and Alabama railway, is in
fact less than one-half the debt per
| mile of the Southern Railway: about
one-third of the debt per mile of
either the Louisville and Nashville,
the Mobile and Ohio, the Norfolk and
Western. and the Chesapeake and
Ohio railways.
The new system will operate its
own trains from Washington. the
capital of the nation. through the
capital cities of six South Atlantic
and Gulf States-Richmond. Va,
Raleigh. n. c., Columbia, S. c., At
lanta. Ga. Montgomery, Ala. and
| Tallahassee. Fla 1t will take in
every important seaport from Balti-
| more to Pensacola, including Norfolk.
Wilmington. Charleston, Savannah,
Fernandina, jacksonville. and the At
lantic. and Tampa. Cedar Keys and
St. Marks. on the Gulf of Mexico,
reaching also the important interior
cities and towns Durham, Weldon,
Henderson. and Charlotte, n. e.:
Chester. Camden, Clinton. Barnwell,
9 q. AuruSta Athens COlum bia