Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-20
Future of the Road Intelli-
gently Discussed
By JOHN SHELTON WILLIAMS
Tho Policy Which Under the MINI
asement OF Messrs Hoffman anu
at. John HIS Been n Potent Factor
IN tho Developments OF the south
VIII BE vigorously Carried Out by
the New management.
Especial to YirginIan-Pilot.>


Baltimore, Jan. 19.-The Manufactu-
comprehensive article on the sale OF the
Seaboard Air Line. including an inter
view with Mr.. John Shelton Williams
in regard TO the future of that system.
The Manufacturers Record says:
The transfer of the control of the
Seaboard Air Line system to ryndi-
cate organized by Messrs. NIiddendorf,
Oliver & Co. Baltimore, and John S.
Williams & Sons, Richmond, is in some
respects the most important event in
the railroad history of the South since
the reorganization of the old Richmond
Terminal properties into the Southern
hallway Co. The Seaboard. with It's
1000 miles of railroads and it's line OF
steamboats, from Baltimore to Old
Point, Norfolk and Portsmouth. has
been n leading factor in Southern up
building, and its future is Il matter of
profound interest to the whole central
South. Under the management of Pres
ident Hoffman and Vice President st.
John. it has been an aggressive worker
for the South; 1t has aided in develop
ing the whole country tributary to its
Ines; 1t has encouraged the growth Of
manufactures, the diversifcation of ng-
riculture, the Improvement of the viii
lagos and towns along its line, and 1t
has materially aided in attracting the
attention of capitalists and pettlers 20
this section. Its past has been one OF
great credit to Its managers and OF vast
benefit to the South. That the new
owners Will follow along the same line
and still further broaden its work may
be accepted without question, for the
men who are interested in the purchase
of this system are among the very
foremost leaders in the development of
the South Their record. covering the
investment of millions OF dollars in the
South and the management of many
great undertakings that have rebound
ed to Southern prosperity, is an evil
dence of what they will do with the
Seaboard.
WHAT MIR. WILLIAMS SAYS.
In an interview with the Manufacture
ers' Record. Mr.. John Shelton Williams.
president of the Georgia and Alabama
railroad and also president OF the Rich
mond Trust and Safe Deposit Company.
who, it is believed. will be the new
president of the Seaboard Air Line
system, said:
THE men interested in this purchase
recognize. first. the remarkable combi-
nation OF wealth and traffic creating
resources of the country stretching
from Norfolk and Portsmouth (the At
lantic terminus of the line) to ATTAIN
ia, and. secondly. the inherent strength
OF the Seaboard system and it's great
possibilities. Reaching from Norfolk to
Atlanta in almost an air line, the Sea-
board system runs through the very
heart and center of what has been
called the future situs of cotton man.
ufacturing of the world Its branch
lines bisect it, stretching from Will
imington, on the coast, to the mount
aims at Rutherfordton. and with its
many connections. 1t covers almost this
entire territory. The cotton mills i'm
mediately on the line of this road rep
resent an investment of probably more
than $l2O00.000, and operate over bO0. 600
spindles. while mills that can be reach
ed by the connections OF this system
would add easily another half n million
spindles to the textile interests already,
III whole or part, tributary to the Sea-