The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-31
RAB0ARD AIR LINE
AND IT'S EXTENSIONS.
The Profles of the Line From
Cheraw to Camden Ready
for the Contractors to
Study.

for the Contractors to
Study.
Cei. V E. McBee, general supe:iu
seadent of the Seaboatd Air Line s3s-
tenn, arrived in Columbia yesterday
morning as expected aud will remain
here through today. Those who
.honght that Col. McBse would De able
to furnish considerable Information as
50 the plans aud intentions of his sys.
tenn in the matter OF the construction
es The proposed new lines were coasid.
ersbly disappoiased, however. for when
asked BY reporter for aa interview on
.his matter he conssecusly stated skas
he vas sos 10 posisioo to talk that
there we're othess who alone could talk
sos The syssem. bus they we're else where.
He did give some Information, however,
as 90 the progress Of the work that hss
been gong on for some time in the
exteasien from Cberaw to the connec-
.ios With the Florida Central and
peninsnlar division of the system. He
says that be has been in the woods in
pesson supervising the location of che
read and engineering the survey. The
survey has been completed entirely
from Cheraw TO Camden and the pro-
fies have been prepared ready for the
inspection of the contractors. The
line has also been run to the Wateree
river. Nothing has get been done on
shis side Of The Ws.eree Workmen
sre now clearing the right Of way from
Chsrav TO Camden Beyond this Col.
McBee would say nothing save that be
was here st present in the interest OF
his system and that the connection Of
the two divisions OF the Seaboard Air
Liae would be made as soon as it could
be done. the chief object Of the mao-
agemeDt being TO save every foet
possible on the distance through from
the north to Tampa.
Feom what ean be gathered on the
outside the Russian engineer @ho has
been locating toe proposed line from
Columbia to Augusta via Aiken aud
who expected to leave for the north
yesterday has been detained here for
lhe time being, though his corps Of
assistants has been ordered elsewhere.
Il is sieo understood that preparations
are already being made for the
awarding Of the coesrac. for toe
construction between Cheraw and
Camden. Il appears that bids will be
advertised for aud the contract awarded
in very short order.
There seems to be considerable
uncersaioty as to whas course the
Sea5osrd will take from Camden this
way. The line from Cheraw to
Gan.dep Is fraction over So miles.
Two lines are talked of from Camden
TO the Junction With che Florida Central
and PenissuIar. TIE one is 80 run sc
Swsnsea; the other to Columbia, it
being claimed that The latter will be
about six miles longer than the drs..
The question Of getting 10 and out of
Golumbis is understood to present what
the authorities Of the road consider
macy difficulties more weighty than
the difference In the distance These
difficulties are nov being given the
uess painstaking attention and from all
that esa be ascersained 90 final
determination Of she matter has yet
been reached. To pass Co!ambia By
when go near would Of course mean a
great loss in business to the Seaboard
system The business interests OF the
city also ere involved in such q
possibility will doubtless be carefully
considered in all its phases By the
officials Of the system and bJ The
business men of Coiunbis before
anything IS done.
THE SOUTHERN'S EXTENSION.
Chief Engineer Wells Of the Southern
railway system yesterday moroing went
down to Sumter for the purpose of
booking into matters connected With
toe Samses and Waseree branch of the
system recently secured. He returned
TO the city last night and will remain in
Columbia today. By tonight be expects
30 have received bids from the
contractors on the Columbia Perry
extension and will be laid before the
mspagemens on Monday and it is
expected that the contract will be
awarded forshwith-State, May 26