The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
Has Leased the Mobile and
Birmingham Road
FOR NINETY-NINE YEARS
The New Contract Will Go Into
Effect on March |.
SPENCER MADE DEAL IN EUROPE
News Was Given Out Directly on His
Return-Thought Likely That a
Through Train Service
Will Be Put On
SPENCER MADE DEAL IN EUROPE

The Southern railroad has at last obtained
road of its own from Birmingham direct
to Mobile. and over which 1t can handle the
enormous freight shipments that are going
constantly from this district to the gulf
ports. In other words, the Southern has
just rented the Mobile and Birmingham
railroad, running from Mobile to Marion
Junction, near Selma, for a term of ninety
nine years.
This news comes direct from New York
and was given out for publication In that,
city, by Samuel Spencer, the president Of
the road. Mr.. Spencer has just returned
from trip to London, where all of the
owners of the Mobile and Birmingham
roads securities reside. and in that city the
deal was consummated. The lease is to
go into effect on March l. Mr.. Spencer
stated In New York that for the present,
anyhow, the Mobile and Birmingham will
continue under its old management.
Has Been Separate Corporation
This road used to be a part of the old
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia rail-
road. and was built about the year 1888.
When the Southern got possession of this
system several years ago. for some reason
unknown in Birmingham railroad circles,
the branch from Selma to Mobile was left
out of the deal, and since that time has
been a different corporation, operated I'M
der an entirely different management. The
road Is 149 miles in length, between Marion
Junction and Mobile, and passes through
one of the richest parts of the BLACK Belt
so famed as an agricultural region, and also
through miles and miles of most valuable
timber forests. 1t is a section which is
not so well developed as other parts of
South Alabama which have had railroads
for the last half century almost, but it Is
a country which is being improved and
built up very rapidly, now that it has a
railroad running through it.
But the Mobile and Birmingham's great
est advantage to the Southern will be that
it affords a short air line from the Bir-
mingham district to the gulf, shorter, in
fact, by several miles than any other route.
The entire distance from Birmingham to
Mobile over this route by way of Selma, is
1858 miles The Louisville and Nashville
route by way of Montgomery is 276 miles.
The Southern has another good route to
Mobile, through Meridian, though 1t has to
make it with the assistance of the Mobile
and Ohio. This route is only PSI miles.
Selma is now the farthest point south in
Alabama which the Southern reaches, and
its natural connection at that place has al
ways been the Mobile and Birmingham.
Excellent traffic relations have always been
maintained between the two lines, and
there is already a good service over this
route between Birmingham and Mobile
This applies particularly to the freight de-
partment. Nearly all of the pig iron, coal
and other freights which the Southern han
dies to Mobile, goes over this route.
Will Improve Passenger Service
Although no definite information has yet
been received in Birmingham, it is thought