Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-03


which recently purchased the Seaboard
Air Line system. was the principle sub
Ject of conversation among railroad
and other business men yesterday. This
purchaser bears out the rumors that
were current when the Seaboard Air
Line sale was made that the Williams
syndicate were seeking a route to Flor
ida points, Jacksonville being The eb-
ject in place.
TO FLORIDA POINTS.
The purchaser of the new property
gives the desired route to Florida
points. Connection will be made with
the Seaboard Air Line at Chester s.
Co. from which place there is Il straight
southern route through Savannah, Ga.
TO Jacksonville; thence to Tampa, Ce,
oar Keys, st. Augustine, Palatka, Tai
lahassec and other Florida points.
The Florida Central and Peninsula
rtilroau covers an area of 9l2 miles
and traVerses Il rich southern section
The present officers of the company
are. II. II. Duval, president: John A
Henderson. first vice president and
general COUNSEL d. L. Maxwell, second
Vlce-president and general manager; t.
X. Hoadley. secretary; Screven Dozier
treasurer: Thomas w. Roby, auditor;
y. Z. Macdonell. general passenger
agent; l.. ~. Shipman. assistant gene
raj passenger agent; w. II. Peasants
general freight agent; w. +. Coach,
man. assistant general freight agent
me general Offices are at Jacksonville
Fla.
SOUTHERN COAST TRUNK LINE.
There seems TO be little doubt thar
"a into
syndicate is To control a great Southern
Coast Trunk Line.
when the Richmond. Petersburg and
Carolina railroad is complete the com
pany VIII own a short route between
Richmond and jacksonville. connecting
at Richmond with the Richmond. Fred
crlckSpurS and Potomac for Northern
points.
w ME the Geographic dispatches an
huuhce that there will be no immediate
chahse in the officers of the company.
thcrc Is hardly a doubt but that MIR
'ohn shelton Williams will be made
president of the road. When this is
done Mr. Williams will be al the bcod
ol a syndicate controlling 2.345 miles of
raiiroad. and is possibly the Youngest
f"iroad president in this country.
JOHN SHELTON WILLIAMS.
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams is forrinc
10 the front in financial circles in MD
country, and is already regarded AS the
young Napoleon of finance. He is the
ruiinS spirit in all the recent big deals
OF tne syndicate which he heads. and
ms friends predict that he will be the
III nee OF railroad tnanciers of America.
MI. Williams has been the movInr
sflrit IN Il number Of large enterprises
curing the past few years. and has
come TO the front as n prominent fin
uie ia financial circles of the South.
re hfst became widely known in the
business world by his publication of q
large and comprehensive Mammal of
investments which treated of Southern
railroad. municipal, State and general
financial interests, and has been re-
sarded as standard work by bankers
ana brokers' everywhere. When quite
young he became n member of the
nanklng house Of which his fathar Air
John l.. Williams was the head. and
which is now known as John t. VIII
liams & Sons.
INTERESTED IN MANY COMpA-
MES.
During his connection with the firm
he mas been Interested in large rail
road and financial operations in tho
South. He was influential in the es
Enlistment of the Richmond Traction
Company. of which for some time he
was president. He was the moving
spirit in the organization of the Cit-
HNh' I.NSHtilSe bank, the ItichmOnO
Mica Company, the Richmond Trust
and Deposit Company. the Virginia
Electric Railway and Development
Company, the Richmond. Petersburg
and Carolina Railroad. and other large
financial institution. He prepared he
plan of organization of the Georgia and
Alabama Railway extending from
Montgomery. Ala, 10 Savannah. Ga.
a distance of $40 miles, and for some
years he was president of that rail
road. which has greatly improved under
his administration of its affairs.
HIS LATEST ACHIEVEMENT.
MIR. Williams latest achievement in
the financial field was the formation
Of syndicate which purchased the
Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad and
thus obtained control of the Seaboard
Air Line system. AS the head of this
syndicate Mr.. Williams plans to secure
control of the system were eminently
successful. and despite the Injunction
proceedings and other obstacles on the
part of :ne opposition, the property