The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29
CENTRAL WILL EXTEND LINES.
THE Starlight BRANCH TO RUN
TO ANDALUsIA, ALA.

Vice President Egan Says the Elk
observation-disclosures of the Town
Put Up Money to Divert the Road
From River Falls to AndaIusin.
The Central Railroad Is soon to begin the
construction of a fourteen mile extension
Of its Starlight branch to Andalusia, Ala.
This extension has created a good deal
of gossip about the road going on down 10
Pensacola, but of this plan there is moth
Ing more than the talk of outsiders.
Vice President John. NJ Egan OF the
Central was seen about the report Of the
extension yesterday. lie stated that the
work is soon to be commenced, but said
there would be nothing more to it than
this: that the road would have AndaIusia
as It's terminus when the work as completed
instead of Searight, as at present. Mr..
Egan said the Central is not contemplate
ing an extension through to Pensacola.
The Searight branch extends from Co
lumbus to Starlight. The property has
been operated by the Central ever since
the reorganization of the latter road. For
merry this branch was the Mobile and Gil
rard. as which it was built
When the Mobile and Girard was under
course Of construction IL was not complet-
ed to the distance IL had been graded. Al
ter rails had been laid as far as Starlight
work stopped. leaving some thirteen miles
of grading south Of that place. This ex-
tended down the bank of the Conecuh
river to River Falls, and the bridging,
too, had also been done. Nothing remain
ed for the Central to do, II 1t wished to
make an extension from Starlight, except
to straighten up the roadbed a bit and lay
its track.
Andalusia is some FIVE miles east of
River Falls, but the town is on an elevat-
ed tract the rise from River Falls being
from $50 to 300 feet. This elevation Is al
most too great to admit Of construction
without considerable cost, so the people
Of Andalusia decided the best thing for
them would be to induce the Central to
build more directly to their town.
For some time the Central has contem-
plated an extension 10 River Falls, the
grading having already been done, but
negotiations were entered into with par
ties resident In Andalusia looking toward
the divertion of the proposed extension.
The Andalusia people wanted the road,
and they were ready 10 put up a bonus
of several thousand dollars to secure IL.
Christion Is six miles south OF Starlight.
From that place 10 Andalusia the grade is
easy, and readily admits OF railroad con
structon. Some time ago the Central had
It's engineer go over the way and found
Il thoroughly practicable. Then. the peo-
pie of Andalusia, showing financial will
ingness to have the road come their way,
II was decided TO build to Andalusia in
stead Of to River Falls.
Mr. Egan says the work on the new
stretch of road will be completed within
the current year. Work will be soon be-
gun and will be pushed along until the
Andaiusians get the road.
The extension of the Starlight branch
will give Covington county its first rail-
road The section through which the road
Is to run Is rich in timber and farming
resources. and IL is believed the Central
will open up a fine stretch of country by
ats short extension.