Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-06

Only Place for the Gcnerai Omces.
Line. as announced in the columns of
the Virginian-Pilot, was an interesting
subject of discussion among our bust
ness men yesterday. Several of our
most prominent citizens freely talked
on the rumored sale and as far as
it's effect upon Portsmouth was con-
cerned.
Said one gentleman: IT cannot for
the life Of me see what there is in the
property for it to bring 100 per cent.
above par and If the syndicate spoken
of does actually become the owners of
the Seaboard Air Line cannot see by
what rule of mathematics any one can
prove that it will be necessary for our
people to become at all apprehensive
as to the removal of the main offices
from this city, is something I would
like to learn.
THE system has too much at stake
here. Portsmouth is the natural ter
minal and is also the most accessible
and convenient point for Il terminal.
me great amount of business being
done by the Bay Line and the Old
DOMINION Line is not going to be al
lowed to languish by the owners of any
system Of railroads. Portsmouth. from
It's geographical position as we'll as
the important position it holds relative
to the Seaboard Air Line, no matter
how it reaches New Orleans from New
York, will continue to be the terminal
Of the system"
WHAT ANOTHER THINKS.
Another gentleman. sound in judg-
ment. said: 1T will require the enor-
nous sum of 100000 to buy the entire
common stock of the road. For the
fiscal year ending last June the re-
ceipts of the system, all told were
S4.Ol1,554. or this amount 81, 4O3 $40 was
required to pay interest on bonds, the
net income reaching the figure of
s26S, 965.
80 at a glance n fnancier can see
how foolish 1t would be to move the
general offices from this city to some
other city. especially when there is
absolutely nothing to gain and every
thing to lose from a financial stand
point. and money is the ruling power in
these great movements"
THE VIEWS OF ANOTHER.
CAS- do not know who the proposed
purchasers are 1 can form no idea as
interest to remove the general offices
and shops from this city. If the road
should be purchased by individuals,
who Will run 1T as a separate and dis
tinct corporation, I thing 1t probable
they will remain where they are, as
This city Will continue the rail terminus
of the system, and 1t is to the inter
est of corporation to have its general
offices and shops at its terminus. If
the purchaser is Il rival corporation
there may be some change in the gene
raj offices. but the shops will be likely
to remain here on account of their con-
venient location" So said John w. II.
Porter.
NO USE TO WORRY.
A gentleman high in the confidence
of the people. when approached on the
subject said: IT see no cause for ap-
prehension. so far as the removal of
the general offices and shops of the
Seaboard Air Line from this city are
concerned. The Seaboard Air Line saw
that 1t was to the advantage of the
system to locate the general offices and
shops here and certainly the men who
have managed this system for years.
and who fully understand the needs
and necessities of the times and the
SeaboarS Air Line as well, have the
FACULTY of seeing as far in the future
from a business standpoint as any
other set of men. They saw that Ports
mouth was the proper place for the
general Offices and shops. hence their
business acumen has been demonstrated
by the rapdity and convenience with
which the great passenger and freight
traffic is handled saying nothing at all
of the money saved 10 the road
1T WILL NOT BE DONE.
Don't let that worry You blt," said
gentleman who, it is thought. knows
considerable of the inside workings of
the system. Move the general ofllcesi
Why, no; why should that be done?
Has any one advanced any reason for
such action? Just do some thinking for
yourself: What is to be gained by
such n movement? Will the expenses
of the road be decreased? Will any
greater facilities be gotten? Will a
point he secured more convenient for
the business of the road than Ports
mouth? Can the Seaboard Air Line
secure such valuable wharf property
elsewhere as we'll located and adapted
to it's business as this in Portsmouth?
Then. IL 1t can't, that settles the ques-
ton at once. Railroad companies want
to do business with the least possible
cost and it is not reasonable to think
for n moment that they will experiment
anew in that direction. No. sir; not at
nil. The Seaboard Air Line has paid
very dearly for its knowledge by such
experiments land so far as / know you
can say with all candor and frankness
that neither the shops or the general
offices will be moved from Portsmouth
when the road changes hands. There
can be no good reason advanced for
the removal of them, no matter how
far South or North the road penetrates.
The longer and larger the system the
| greater the needs, and more valuable
! Portsmouth becomes to the Seaboard