Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-29

THE WORK AT COLUMBIA
Park Selected as sito For
Commodioms Passenger ma
Freight stations Rights of Way
Work All Along New Ltne TO he
Pushed Contracts For Ties md
Construction Awarded.

c-President st. John, of the Sea-
board Air Line, arrived in Norfolk yes
terday afternoon in his private car
from Columbia. s. C.
Mr.. st. John spent Tuesday in Column
bia. where the question of granting
rights of way through the streets of
that city. as we'll as the use of Sid
ney Park for station purposes, has been
under consideration for several weeks.
Captain V. e. McBee. general super
intendent, has been in Columbia for
some time looking over the territory
through which this new connection
would be made between Cheraw and
the Florida Central and Peninsular
railroad.
MIR. ST. John was very cordial In his
expression as to the growth and prom
Use of Columbia, but would not speak
with entire definiteness except to say
that condemnation proceedings would
De begun at once to open the way
through Sidney Park to the streets on
the southern side of the park, rights of
way through which were unanimously
granted at meeting of the Common
Council last night.
SITES FOR STATIONS.
Sidney Park is the most available
site. in the judgment of the Seaboard
All Line management, for the COM
modious passenger and freight stations
1t Is their purpose 20 erect, and Captain
NlcBee has been frank to state this to
the citizens of Columbia, with the re-
servation that the park property could
be procured for q reasonable amount
1t was the sense of the Council last
night that $4,000 would be proper dam
ages to assess in the condemnation pro-
ceedings which will follow. and this
amount was embodied in an amend
ment which, however, was afterwards
Withdrawn. as the Council decided to
leave the matter for the jury to de-
termine.
No time will be lost in pushing for
ward the contemplated line, and As
| sistant Chief Engineer Lugoff Is al
ready on the spot with six engineering
corps. and work will be commenced at
once simultaneously at different points.
CONTRACTS AWARDED.
The contracts for the ties were let
last week, respectively to Mr.. S. l..
Adams, of Cheraw, and Mr. Mike
Brown. of Barnwell. S. C. The con-
tracts for the constructions of the line,
with Mr.. NJ ]. Condor, Of Knoxville,
Tenn, who was the lowest bidder. call
for its completion by December 18TH
1899. and already so pounds steel rails,
covering more than the distance, has
been ordered. The work of completing
the telegraph line will also be hurried
through at the earliest possible mo-
ment, force of men already having
been engaged on the northern portion
OF the proposed line. and wires poles
and other necessary material have
been shipped for this purpose.
capt. McBee remained in Columbia
where he will continue in charge of the
details of this new extension OF the Sea-
board Air Line the satisfactory con-
summation of which has been largely
due to the confident belief on the part
of Columbians that both Vice President
st. John and himself. with due regard
TO the interests OF the Seaboard Air
Line, were interested In the progress
OF Columbia also. which," said Mr..
81. John, the Seaboard officials. from
president down, will try to forward in
every possible way"