The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
WILL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT.
Continued from Eighth Pago1


general offices of the road from Ameri-
Gus 10 Savannah, and It is believed that
the policy of making this the central 10
cation for the transaction of the general
business of the Georgia and Alabama will
extend TO the big system when il has been
put in the splendid order to which Mr.
Williams will know how to reduce 1t.
savannah will be the only point in the
entire system geographically and logically
located for the general headquarters uf-
ter the expected consolidation takes place,
ana It will be a matter of surprise if this
city has not another great force of rail-
road officials, clerks and employees added
10 those now here. This is an outgroWth
OF the deal TO which Savannah railroad
men are confidently looking, and they do
not believe it will be great while before
they will see their expectations in this
particular realized.
Men in the traffic departments of lines
interested will feel some concern until
they know just how the deal Will effect
the present arrangements that exist. win
the Southern Railway still use the Florida
Central and Peninsular as its connection
for reaching Florida? Every since the
Seaboard Air Line was built there has
been strong opposition 10 it manifested
by the Southern, and relations between
the two roads have been strained. IT is
thought that, now the Seaboard interests
have secured the Florida Central and
Pennsular, the Southern viii have to look
up another route for its business from
Washington, turned over there by the
Pennsylvania lines.
But to this the objection Is offered that
II will be to the interests of the Florida
Central and Peninsular to maintain the
present relations that exist between It and
the Southern until after the connection
with the Seaboard has been made from
Columbia. 1t is thought by some that the
Southern may take the initiative and for
sake the Florida Central and Peninsular
just at this point, diverting lis Florida
bound trains to the Georgia Southern and
Florida at Macon, and taking the At
lantlc Vaielostaf and Nv esterR aE Raldosta
for Jacksonville. This would be a longer
route, but II is hardly likely the Southern,
if it should see the shadows Of coming
events, would continue its present traffic
arrangements with the Florida Central
and Peninsular, knowing they could be
discontinued just whenever that road
might see fit. Instead, it would turn the
tide of travel as well as Ii might be able,
via Atlanta, Macon and Valdosta so as
to have the new route established before
the Seaboard system could get it's line
via Columbia into operation.
A number of railroad men in Savannah
have said they have no doubt the Southern
is the builder of the Atlantic, Valdosta
and Western. The latter road has secured
very. valuable property in Jacksonville on
option for terminals, and this is taken as
an indication that the Southern is inter-
ested and desires to get into that city over
its own route. 1t is conceded on all sides
that the Southern owns the Georgia South
ern and Florida, and with the Atlantic,
Valdosta and Western it has Its own line
all the way from Washington to Jackson
vile.
The Florida Central and Peninsular is
composed of several roads, and in the sys-
tenn there are 944.25 miles. The total com.
mon stock is $20,OOO,OO0, and the preferred
stock. $4,5OO,00O. There is a mortgage OF
S7,7S7, 900 on the road