Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-16
BIG RAILROAD DEAL
Mr.. John Shelton Williams Engi
neering Great Movement.
Tho y. A. T., Including the Il. y. Il g.,
Georgia & Ainbnma. aud =. a.. & g.
'y>trnis About TO Join HANDY
President Williams Taiks.

The Richmond Times OF yesterday
publishes the following:
1T is understood that a deal is now
in progress and will probably be COM
pletcd by the LIST of July which will
cause revolution in the railroad
world.
1T is said that three systems are to
be consolidated namely, the Seaboard
Air Line. including the Richmond, Pc
tersburG and Carolina (Which is IL por-
ton Of the Seaboard Air Line). the
Georgia and Alabama and the Florida
central and Peninsula railways.
MIR. John Shelton Williams. of this
city. is at the head of the syndicate
that controls these lines, and it is said
that IT is his hand which is engineering
the great movement which will result
IN giving the Southern railway n for
midable competitor.
GENERAL SHAKING UP.
The consolidation of these lines. if
effected. Will doubtless cause a furry
II railroad official circles. for. It is sad.
that quite Il number of changes will be
made and that some heads VIII neccs-
sarily fall. In the shaking UP. which
must attend such a conso!da lion. il is
impossible TO predict with any certainty
20 whose lot the important Offices. such
IS general passenger agent. general
ireISht agent and others would fan
The main division of the Scaboard
Ar Line runs-frnm Portsmouth, Va.
Which is it's dccp-wa;er terminus. to
Atlanta. Ga. The Richmond. Peters
DurS and Carolina. as has been stated
is a portion of the system. and work
upon 1t is progressing RAPIDLY.
AS soon as the latter !inc Is com
p'eted from Ridgcwny y e, to Rich
m"nd and traffic arrangements with
inc Richmond. Frcdoricks and Po-
tomac ana connecting lines have been
completed. direct route from Atlanta
To New York will have been establish
ca. The Scnboard air Line also has n
branch running from Wilmington. n
g.. To Ituthcrfordton y g., passing
through Raleigh ana Charlotte. known
as the Carolina Central. The country
through winch 1t passes is well settled
and productive.
GEORGIA AND ALABAMA ROUTE
The Georgia aud Alabama. which
mas made great strides under it's pres-
cnt management. runs from Savannah.
VA. through rich cotton belt 1t will
prove paying portion Of the great
system
Thc Florida Central and Peninsula
runs from Columbia. s. c.. throncb
savannah. Ga. to Jacksonville. The
Seaboard Air Line is arranging 10 bu,ld
Il link from Chcraw. : c.. 10 Columbia
). C.. thus connecting the s. a. l.. with
me Florida Central and thereby Sc
curing I" through route from New York
to Unreasonable in competition with the
southern railway
he Georgia and Alabama are now
1t Is said. pcrfccting traffic arrange
menls whereby Birmingham. Ala. will
ne made TO secure connection with
Memphis. Tenn. and Kansas CITY. Mo
ne above lines. tho consolidate of
winch now seems so near at hand. are
controlled by Richmond. New YORK and
Baltimore capital The members of the
sNhdicaic are all active and progress
S'Ve. and the inklinG OF the proposed
movement has aroused great interest
among railroad men"
WHAT MIR. WILLIAMS SAYS
New York. june li.-Mr. John Skel
Ton Williams. president of tho Seaboard
Ar Line. and the head OF the syndicato
which has acquired the Florida Cen
iral and Pcr insula. strenuouslv denies
me report that the property has been
rnLl to Tic Plant Line. Sneakirg of
Wy, IN governments 10 the Property. Mt.
Williams says:
work is progressing rapidly on the
ilhr between Richmond and Rj6gewav.
ana the contract Cor The line between
CheraW AID Camden. :. C.. viii pro-
bably he lie; within the next week.
While 1t may yet be some little time
Deipre the actual consultation of ,ba
> eanoard Air Line. the Florida Central
a',u fehinsuia and The Georgia and
Aiapama. we expect by the first of .Iuiv
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