The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-05
DUBUT OF THE SOUTHERN.
ITS FIRST TRAIN WILL ENTER sA-
VANNAH IN FINE STYLE.

VIII Arrive Friday From the East.
Officials of the Southern and News
paper Men VIII Travel in the Five
LuxuriOusIy Appointed Private
Cars-Train VIII BE One of the
Finest Savannah Has seen-South-
ern VIII Entertain Its Visitors in
the City-Whnt the Railway Has
Accomplished since 1t Became Nee
essary for 1t to Seek Another Con-
nectiOn.
The Southern Railway win run its first
train into Savannah Friday. The train
VIII be a special, made up of five of the
Southern's private cars and will be one
Of the finest trains that has ever reached
Savannah on a special mission. 1t viii
easily take rank with the Southern Rail-
way train that brought the President to
this city on his visit in 1898.
1t is, of course, understood that the
Southern has no direct line of its own into
Savannah, but IL has a trackage arrange
ment with the Plant System that admits
of its running it's own trains on its own
schedules and with its own crews. The
first train via arrive over the Plant Sys-
tenn. Regular trains of the Southern will
follow on and after Dec 10, on VIII CHI date
the first passenger train will arrive.
No pains are being spared by the South
ern to make this "trip of the first train
over the new route a distinct success.
The train will run in sort of b'aze OF
glory and publicity, as it is intended to be
an advertisement of the opening of the
route, and tie Southern's ability to CRAP
pie with a great problem and work 1t out
to a successful conclusion.
Some months ago the Southern was con-
fronted with the necessity of securing a
| new route to Florida from the East, the
acquisition of the Florida Central and
Pennsular by the Williams syndicate, al
ready controlling the Seaboard Air Line,
leaving it without a connection to the
Land of Flowers. The Seaboard wanted
the Florida Central and Peninsular to sup
ply a Florida connection for the great
railroad scheme that Mr.. Williams and his
! associates had mapped out, so the South
! ern had to look elsewhere.
The result of the deliberations of the
officials of the Southern was the decision
that the best way out of Nhe difficulty
would be found in the construction of a
stretch of track from Columbia to Perry,
S. c., where it would join the Midland.
| The rest was easy, for the Plant System
| readily acquiesced to a trackage scheme
proposed, agreeing to allow the Southern
to enter Savannah over its line.
The plan once formed, no grass grew
Under the feet of the officials. They
pushed matters rapidly, being determined
| to have the new route ready for use as
early as possible For some days it has
now been open, and 1t is said that the
short connection from Columbia to Perry
| is as well built as any section Of the
| Southern's main line.
| Newspaper men from the North, East
and South will be on the Southerns spe-
cial. There VIII also be several officials
| of the line, among them representatives OF
the traffic and executive departments.
Whae they are in Savannah efforts will
be made to make their stay agreeable.
The plan of entertainment that will be
| followed has not been settled upon. The
party will not be in this city long enough
TO admit of it's being at all elaborate. az
! the train will arrive at about II and leave
at about o'clock the afternoon of the
| same day.