The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-31


During the last few days rumor ~
tho effect that the Southern or the 90
board Air Line had purchased or ""5
about 20 purchase. the South Caroiih" anu
Georgia road. has obtained some cur en-
here and elsewhere. Investigations H'o"o
yesterday quickly brought forth a s1.,a-
factory denial of the report rom ,'o
Southern. and while no emphatic "e,i"-
ration has yet been elected from ,,'1
Seaboard competent persons express ,no
opinion that for The present, at least. l"N'
system is equally innocent OF the nlc',-
t.ons attributed 90 TO- with one accord
however. railroad officials acknowledge
that recent combinations made IN trallc
lines hereahouts have prociptated con
dition OF affairs which may result IN othei
important changes in tho future
The formation of the present Seaooatu
Air line system has cXertcd pOwertul
Influence ON the railroad situation In me
South. For years the original Seaboard
lines cosututed "a disturbing factor ln
traffic m this section. Coming into sharp
competition with the Southern az score
OF important points. for years n was
thought merely a matter Of time before
tho lesser system would be absorbed by
the greater But since the Seaboard has
acquired control Of the Florida Central
/ and Pon'nsular is TO be operated I'm con-
rcct0n with the Georgia and Alabama.
and contemDIatrs the construction OF side
limos. which win make "a a great through
route from tho North 20 the South and
Tho Southwest the ASPECT Of affairs has
changed materially With The plans OF the
new MANAGEMENT once perfected. the Sea
board win not only bo able ~ compete
ON something lika equal terms with the
Southern in \ vast freight producing ter
rffIrrs rr.fff faa.rrr. lr actual iona
! 20 tha supremacy which the Southern has
sought to maintain in Southern traffic.
ami without which rho enormous Interests
conferred il the system viii be placed in
/ jeopardy AT "a selb0ard system composed
/ off f.w comparatively unimportant lines.
/ The Southern could afford 90 laugh. The
| competition might Doe annoying but no
| could scarcely Doc dignided az being dan
/ eer0us. But % So7board Air Line system
| such as that which the Williams syndi-
| cate has formed Is n very different an-
/ tgouist. a junction having been once
| formed with the Baltimore and Ohio.
| when the other connecting links have
! been built combination VIII Doe formed
against which even the Southern might
hesitate 20 war.
The Georgia Carolina and Northern
/ touches Atlanta and completes with the
Southern there for the business of the
| Mississippi Valley The Southwestern
/ terminus OF the Georgia and Alabama is
/ Montgomery. whore the new system viii
/ demand q share in tho immense volume
/ NJ traffic. And the control of the Florida
/ Central and Pennsular absolutely cuts
/ the Southern out of participation in the
| rich tourist business which DO went %
so much pains and expense 90 share with
! tho Atlantic Coast Line This last Mon
/ toned fact readily explains the recently
/ formed determination of the Southern 90
| build for itself "a line from Columbia TO
/ Savannah. Whether or not this purpose
/ viii ever De carried ont Is questionable
| AZ savannah the new line would Doe dee
| pendent upon the Plant system. and it is
/ highly probable that the Atlantic Coast
/ Line would seriously object 10 nm aiii-
| ance between the two. The tourist bust
! ness. which was a gold mine as a mo-
| u0p0ly and which rs even richly remun-
| crativ- since it was emit in half. could
scarcely De divided between the three
| systems and leave a margin OF profit for
! all. Persons who remember these things
! are inclined to accept the Southarns
| threat 10 parallel the SOuth-BOuud az
! bluff
But however an this may be- the situa-
! tion is interesting and fun Of possibilities
| The South Carolina and Georgia road
| remains an independent line-One tnat Us
/ already a thorn IN the flesh Of the two
] great rivals. with its Spartanburg eX-
| tension completed 70 will become stll
| more obnoxious 20 them. And the more
/ it reaches out into the territory they
| traverse the more certain does 10 become
/ only a question Of time before one az
| both Of them viii be seeking by favor
! or purchase % control II. There seems
/ 10 be no foundation for the rumors cur
/ rent here during the last few days but
unless q radical change takes place DO
| tho trend or events. the day may not be
/ FAR distant when one or another OF them
| VIII be true The Mcssrs Parsons. Of
course. may have very different plans in
mlnG FOR tho future. and might never be
willing 10 dispose Of their property 20
! either the Seahoard or the Southern. but
| that does not altar the fact that the day
seems 10 approach when one or the other
! OF them g likely 70 want Richardson
| News and Courier.