The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-08
CENTRAL'S BELT AT ATLANTA.
WILL CONNECT WITH THE STEM
OF THE sEABOARD AIR LINE.


Rankston Indicted for the Murder
of Policeman POnder-HOn. Pope
Harrow. as Trustee. Purchases for
SI30.OOO the Assets of the Suwanee
Canal Company.
Atlanta. Ga, March AL options have
been secured for the building OF a belt
line by the Central OF Georgia Railway
Company from East Point north. to a
connecting point with the Seaboard Air
Line Railway. 1t is understood that the
work of building the belt, which viii rep
resent a considerable outlay, viii begin
in the early future, as the Central con-
siders it essential to its business needs.
Several years ago when the Central
belt line was planned. 1t was the inten-
ton to connect with the Western and
Atlantic or the Georgia and Pacific Rail
way. A large amount of property was
purchased at that time, an outlay OF
about 500 being made for 100 acres
of land. Several months ago the belt
line proposition was revived, and it was
determined that the connection should be
made with the Seaboard Air Line rather
than either of the other lines. The work
of securing the option was taken up, and
all of the arrangements have now been
perfected for acquiring the property which
the Central will need. The options ex-
pire July 81, 1899, which would indicate
that the company contemplatss commenc-
ing the work on the belt alta very early
day.
The belt line viii run almost due north
from the point where it branches off the
CentraFs main line at East Point. II
passes along the west side of the city
and crosses the line of Western and At
lantic before 1t reaches the Seaboard, seven
and two-tenths miles from the starting
point. The move is regarded as a very
important one from the Seaboard's point
of view, as that line will be afforded a
new means of access through and around
the city by the use of the Centrals belt,
The Central itself will obtain new facili-
ties for transferring its business to the
North and East.
Additional interest is attached to the
proposed construction of the Centrai's belt
line in view of the fact that the Atlanta
and West Point mas planned to build a
belt line from Oakland TO the line OF the
Georgia Railroad The West Point has
been temporarily enjoined in the Superior
Court from construction its belt, the Cen
trail being one of the parties fighting the
construction.
PendIey and BankstOn Indicted.
Both John Pendley and George Banks
ton were indicted by the grand jury to-
day for the murder of Policeman Ponder,
the indictments being found largely upon
the confession Of Pendley, who appeared
before the jury and told the story of how
he was hired by Bankston to help him
rob the safe in the Steinau saloon and
how he shot the policeman when he came
in, as has already appeared in the press
dispatches. There was other corroborat-
ing evidence, however The men are in
dicted on three counts, both as princi-
pies in the first count, and each as the
accessory of the other in the other counts.
Pendley is now confined in Fulton county
Jail under this indictment awaiting trial,
which will probably be taken up at an
early date by Judge John S. Gambler,
Contractor walker Dead.
w. T. Walker, the contractor, who was
run down by the car on the Peachtree
street line of the consolidated yesterday
died at a late hour last night at the
Holmes Sanitarium. where he was taken
al the time of the accident. Walker leaves
a widow and three children.
After spending a couple of weeks inves-
tigating the matter pursuant to the action
of the court in allowing the Atlanta Street
Railway Company to use the right of way
and tracks of the Consolidated on Mitch
ell street, so that 1t may cross the Mitch
ell viaduct, and take up the West Side
franchises. the jury of arbitration to-day
rendered its award
The amount given to the Consolidated is
$2,951.65. The Consolidated asked for
about $4,000 for the alleged damage done
by the use of its right of way by the
other road, while the Atlanta Railway
Company contended that it sought to be
compelled TO pay no more than $500. Either
side has the right to appeal from the
award, and 1t is likely that the Consolldat-
ed will do so.
Geological Department Report.
The report of the geological investigation
committee will be made to the Governor
on Thursday. Representative Handy, a
member of the committee reached the
city this morning and the other members
OF the committee will be here tomorrow
or next day, and meeting of the commit
tee held Thursday. The report will be ia
vorable to the maintenance of the geoloR-
ieal department. as has already been stat
ed, and the work of State Geologist Yeates
will be Endorsed.
POpuIist Party Meeting.
The state executive committee of the
Peoples party is billed 10 meet here to-
morrow for the purpose of recognizing.
W. F. Carter, the present chairman of the
committee viii retire from that office, and
Mr. Ben Milliken of Waycross will De eleo>
ted 10 the place.
Mr. Carter has moved to Atlanta and is
engaged in the publication of a literary
periodical, which disqualifies him from
participation in Populist party affairs
The one-plank platform which the party
leaders are advocating seems to meet the
approval of all the leading members of the
patty In Georgia, and the committee which
meets here tomorrow will discuss this
important question fully and viii deter
mine whether the state organization will
or VIII not support the platform as advo.
Gated by the leaders.
Mr.. Barrow Buys Suwanee Canal.
The Suwanee Canal Company's assets
consisting of the Okeefenokee swami land
sawmill and railroad property, were sold
at public cutlery in front of the court