The age-herald., 1899-12-27
DISCUSSION OF
 THE E. & ". DEAL
Almost Sole Topic of ConverSa-
 ton in Railroad Circles.
MEANS MUCH FOR DISTRICT
Kelly Estate Will Receive 100000 Understood That Work Will Soon Begin on Extension-Gen. Fer
 guson Has Word to Say

The East and West Alabama railroad deal concerning which publication was made in The Age-Herald of yesterday, is the topic of conversation in railroad and business circles.
 The publication of the facts created somewhat of a sensation, and phe subject is being generally discussed, in that il was Sood news for the district.
 IL had been known for several weeks to a few interested parties that deal had prae- tieally been closed by which the East and West would be purchased by the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham and the Se&board Air Line. The final consumma- ton only awaited the declsSon of tgle su- preme court of Alabama, which would de- termine the exact status of the liugants. By this decree tho Brownings will have to pay to the Kelly estate about $7O0,G0O, the amount of receivers certificates is- sued, which were cashed by the late Eu- gene Kelly, of New York. Sixty days, dating from December 20, 1899, is fixed by the supreme counts decree as the limit within which the Brownings must make this payment
 AS stated in The Age Herald yesterday.
 
 on compromise. which figured to some ex- tent in the decree of the supreme court, and the payment is, therefore, expected to be made within the next few weeks.
 Anxious to Get En
 That the Seaboard was anxious to get into Birmingham has long been known, and on one or two former occasions when the contending interests in the East and West seemed about to get together, reports gain ed circulation to the effect that the Sea- board had a corps of surveyors going over the route from Coal City and Pell City to Birmingham. The questions at issue were not settled at the time, however and the matter was apparently dropped.
 The Kansas City, Memphis and Birming- ham needs an eastern outlet, and to secure this began negotiations through their Bos- ton financial agents, Lee, Higgins & Co.,, with the Seaboard Air Line company, with whom they jointly purchase the East and West. By the joint control of the East and West and the building of short line at either end of the same, the Kansas City will have direct line to the Atlantic ports and the Seaboard will be able to come into Birmingham over its own line.
 wiii Build Extension
 It is understood that the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham will build the extension from Coal City to Birmingham, while the Seaboard will construct the east ern extension from Cartersvlle to Gaines vile, Ga.
 The East and West traverses a section of Alabama rich in minerals and of fertile soil. Along it's line in Cleburpe and Cal houn counties are immense deposits of the rich coal deposits at Coal City and other places.
 The road runs for several miles through the Coosa river valley, in which is to be found some of the most productiv lands in Alabama.
 In connection with the decision of the supreme court rendered last Saturday, Gen. Fred s. Ferguson, attorney for the Browning interests, had the following to say last night:
 ''Publications in the evening papers force me to say that the decision of the supreme court of Alabama, in the East and West railroad case. while not fully up to the hope of the complainants, is accepted as final and conclusive. By that decision the Brownings will have to pay to the Kellys about $7O0,OO0 within sixty days. This they will do and then take title in the proper ties of the railroad company in the ratio of ten-twelfths to them, as against two- twelfths in favor of the Kellys. Whoever buys these properties must have the deed of my clients or purchase a law suit.''