Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-08
SEABOARD AIR
LINE SYSTEM
A Unofficial Announce
ment From Baltimore.
ALL UNDER ONE MANAGEMENT
New Consolidated sysicm VIII 10
Known as scnbonrd Air LINE
Changes VIII Como Gradually =
Inch Road Has a First vice.Prcs-
idcnt and General Manager How
Gong Will They stay?

Word comes from Baltimore and
Richmond that the Georgia and Ala
bama and the Florida, Central and
Peninsular will Soon be merged with
the Seaboard and that the whole sys-
tenn will be known as the Seaboard Air
Line.
The name Seaboard Air Line Is really
kind of trade mark. No railroad was
chartered under that title. but it is a
good name, and being widely known
will be bestowed upon the other two
properties in the system.
The map published in yesterdays At
lanta Constitution gave an accurate
idea of the location of the roads and
the territory which they serve. 1t was
seen at n glance that The new system
would occupy Il strong position and
that the three roads united would help
each other.
Railway men generally are guessing
about what will happen when the con-
solidation occurs. Who will stay and
who will retire? There will not be any
urgent necessity for three five vice
presidents. The Seaboard has one, l..
ST. John: the Georgia and Alabama has
one. Cecil Gabbett. and the Florida
Central has one. Mr.. Maxwell.
Each of these vice presidents is also
general manager of his own system.
Then there are three general freight
agents and two passenger agents.
Not even the officers of the roads ap-
pear to know who will be taken and
who Will be left. Some of T. j. Ander-
sons friends say that he will be in IL
somewhere when the situation clears
up. 1t has been announced in Balti-
more that no changes will be made for
tho present. but the problem of con-
solidation Will he worked out generally.
~ new charter WAS applied for in
North Carolina and one provision is to
be that the new company cannot sell
out to competing system and cannot
buy n competitor.
The general impression Is that the
new Seaboard will he an active compct-
itor Of the Southern when the connect
ing links arc built. There is talk in the
North that the Baltimore and Ohio will
get connection with the Seaboard and
that through trains Will run from New
York to Florida by way of Richmond,
Columbia. Savannah ana Everett.
II the Southern should be shut out by
the Seaboard from using the Florida
Central route below Columbia, the
Southern would probably find an out
let somewhere else it is too large n
system to be bottled UP if it chooses to
get into territory.
The Baltimore sun says of the re-
cent deal:
AS has been repeatedly stated, the
Williams syndicate has arranged for
the building of Il line that Will take the
Seaboard Air Line into Richmond. Va.
From that city n northern connection
over the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac is spoken of. The chief inter-
est I'm this property is said TO be I'm the
hands of persons identified with the
Atiantic Coast Line. and the Impression
is mat TO get connection from Rich
mond north for the Scaboard Gvstem
might necessitatc the building of now
line to reach Washington. From Wash
tlngton north the Baltimore and Ohio is
spoken of as a connection. The South
ern railway and the Atlantic Coast Line
poth reach the north from Washington
over the pennsylvania railroad and
the Baltimore and Ohio does not par
ticipate In running through trains he
tween the North and South. 1t is pre-
| dlcted that the Seaboard Air Line. I'M
uer me management of It's new owners.
VIII likely offer this connection"
EARLY in February the Williams
syndicate, which embraces the capital
lists controlling the Seaboard Air Line
the Georgia and Alabama and the
| FLORIDA. Central and PenlnSular rail
road, placed their own directors in the
| different boards making up the Sea
board system. The list then chosen in
dicates the Baltimore interests. which
| are identified with this new combjna-
| ton OF Southern railroads Among
them are: William II. Blackford, pres
ident of the Maryland Life Insurance
Company j. William -Miadendorf,-e.
Middendorf. Oliver & Co; William A
Marburg. vice-president of the Cont
mental Trust Company; r. Curzor
| HOFFMAN. formerly president of tho
Seaboard Air Line: General John Gill
! president of the Mercantile Trust and
! Deposit Company; Solomon Frank
Douglas II. Thomas. president of the
Merchants National Bank: II. Irvine
Keyser. Henry y. Parr. who is one Of
the syndicate leaders in the consolda.
ton OF the street railways and electric
light plants of Baltimore. and Rober
=. DAVIDSON. president of the Baltimore
| Trust and Guarantee Compopy