Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-17
RAILROAD ! |. / / J. CHAT IA
The Seaboard Air line May Build
Into Washington. l.-
An Important Denouement TO Occur
Hcforo tho End OF the Yenr- Rtyi-
val OF Baltimore mud OHIO Conn,
bine Gumor- Rmmor Denied.

From the Raleigh News and Observer
1t is learned that q gentleman who is in
a position to know, has predicted that
there will be developments in the rail-
road situation in the South before the
year is out hardly less significant and
far-reaching than the acquisition of
the, T.. c. and p. by the Seaboard sys-
tenn
The Seaboards Is the storm center
just now he declared, Its sudden
emergence from the troubles that beset
1t few years ago as a foreshortened
line with no northern or southern con-
nectlons has attracted all eyes to it.
1t has now q Southern outlet. You
may depend upon it, it will not stop
until 1t has thoroughly satisfactory
connection With the North as we'll This
may be done in one Of several ways,
by building some new lines or by close
traffic arrangement"
In support Of his opinion he instanced
the declaration of President John Skel-
ton Williams at tthe meeting of the
Seaboard officials In New York few
evenings since. 1t seems the Seaboard
has been endeavorlng to perfect ar
rangements for getting into Washing
ton over the tracks of the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
Speaking of this Mr., Williams said:
Many reports have been published
calculated to inture the Seaboard Air
Line. We care little for these. The
road has never been in the hands OF
q receiver, and has been a uniform sue
cess from the start. We are building
road or l02 miles from Richmond, Va,
70 Ridgeway n. c.; another Of So miles
from Columbia to Cheraw. S. c., con-
meeting with the Florida Central and
Ieninsular, and still another of II miles
from Meldrin to Savannah. This Will
give us 1880 miles of continuous road.
we expect to run our own trains in
TO Washington, and engineers are now
surveying between Richmond and the
National Capital. That road will sure
~ be built unless we can make salts
factory terms with the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Company.
The new line as constructed will
open short line from New York to
Tampa. making. indeed, the shortest TO
Cuba and the West Indies. We have
all the money we need, and have re-
fused many offers of financial assist
ancc."
There is also a persistent rumor that
the Seaboard and the Baltimore and
Ohio will combine to meet the combi-
nation OF the Southern and the Penn
sylvania. This, 1t is asserted, will be
S0edDOaru
wants TO secure a northern connection,
but because the Baltimore and Ohio 10
equally anxious to get into the South
and the combination would be a logical
outcome Of the business necessitiee; of
both roads. This rumor Is strengthen
ed by the positive denial from both
Southern and Baltimore and Ohio off,
Gals that these two roads have reached
an agreement.
Whatcvpr tho Outcome NAV ha no
situation for the rest of the year will
remain one of absorbing interest not
only TO New York financial circles but
to all the communities along the route
OF the roads in question.
The Columbia State learns from an
unquestionable source that the ru-
mors connecting the Seaboard Air Line
and the Southern with the purchase of
the Carolina and Northwestern are un-
founded In fact. and that the new own
ers of 1.-THE road arc not connected with
either of these systems They are men
OF ample means who have a definite
plan Of development to carry out.
They propose to change the road to
standard gauge and are already MAX
ing preparations to that end. They
will extend 1t from Lenoir, N. c., its
present terminus, to IGlizabethton,
Tenn. point about Is miles south of
Bristol with Which, ointit-is- alEeaasyt
connected by rail. This extension will
pass through extensive coal and iron
properties. 1t is also intended to ex-
tend the line south from Chester n
distance of about SO miles to Camden,
where connection will be made with
1.-THE three leading railroad systems of
this section. A road from Chester to
Camden will pass by the great water
power on the Catawba river.
The main PURPOSE of tho capi{olic 10
behind the project is to supply this
section with coal from the extensive
Tennessee fields. This they will be able
to do at rates probably below all rlv-
airy from other sources, and as cheap
coal will be a blessing to South Carolina
it follows that this development Will
be of great value and Importance to
the State a corps of surveyors is
about 10 be put In the field to run the
line between Chester and Camden. At
Camden the competition between the
Seaboard, Southern and Atlantic Coast
Line systems is counted on to furnish
ample dlstributive facilities.