The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-09
ALL HAIL TO THE SOUTHERN.
ADVENT OF THE ROAD WARMLY
WELCOMED BY SAVANNAH.

Special Inspection Train With SOUTH
ern officials and Their Guests
CanIe in Yesterday at NOOn-SpIen-
did Run Made over the ROute-Ex-
ceIIent Showing Made by the New
Road between Columbia and
Perry-VisitOrs Joined at the De
Soto by Savannahians-EIeg
Banquet Served-Speeches That
Were Heard-SOuthern the Host.
Savannah is now one Of the terminals of
the Southern Railway. That it is regard
ed as one of the most important was
evinced by the celebration of the opening
of the extension from Columbia yester-
day, when the first train passed over 1t.
It has been years since Savannah ex-
perienced such a railroad demonstration,
and it was remarkable in having been
conceived and wholly carried out by the
road Itself. The city, represented by many
of its leading citizens, was the guest of
the Southern, celebrating it's entry into
Savannah.
That the Southern is convinced that
there is much for it to feel proud of in
having added Savannah to the list of It's
terminal points was shown by the scale
on which the entertainment was given
and the luxury and expense with which
number of visitors and officials were
brought down from the North to go9over
the extension on the trip of inspection.
Savannah did not solicit the entrance of
the Southern. The road came unlimited,
.t.-, ~
subsidies were asked, no subscription lists
for stock in the extension were started;
there was nothing of the sort. 1t was sim
ply recognition on the part of the South
ern that its interests would be conserved
by its securing a line into Savannah with
the rights and terminal privileges enjoyed
by the road with which it has a trackage
arrangement, the Plant System.
The Southern is after its share of a
grand prize, the freight and passenger
business between Georgia and Florida and
the East. Particularly is a share in the
passenger business sought, as is instanced
by the fact that arrangements for run
ming passenger trains have first been
made, while those for freight will have TO
follow. 1t is not the roads intention. by
any means, 20 confine its efforts to pas
1 senger traffic, which is not ne great earn
ing department of railroading. and 1t win
| be but The course of a few weeks at the
most, before the local passenger office al
ready handsomely fitted up in the city by
the Southern viii be followed by a
freight office, with a local representative
in charge
For several years the Southern has been
getting a share of this Georgia and Flor
ida business, but it seemed evident that
4 it would lose its grasp upon it some
months ago. The line had to strike. and
strike quickly. It was equal to the emer-
( gency, and the splendid route that has
/ been fashioned through the ability of
4 those in control shows what railroad skill,
! enterprise and exhaustless means can ac-
complish.
( The Southern and the Florida
/ Central and Peninsular have main
+ tanned traffic Arrangement for years
I which ends its existence to-day. The two
4 lines have been turning over trains to
each other at Columbia the Florida Gem
J lral and Pentnsular receiving them there
! from Washington and the North for Flor
ida and turning them back over to the
Southern from Florida for the places
/ whence they came for their Southern run.
Those relationships have been changed,
and it is now sharp competition between
/ the two lines for business. Heretofore
they have worked in harmony and with
/ one purpose, getting freight and passenger
business. Hereafter they will strive to get
what they can for themselves, each letting
/ the other severely alone except to contest
for the revenues 10 be derived from freight
/ and passenger traffic.
The Plant System becomes the ally of
the Southern, the roads having shaken
hands and agreed to bury differences
| when competition between their through
routes has been as close as that which is
to follow between the Southern and the
Florida Central and Penlnsular and it's
! new ally, the Seaboard.
The SeabOard System win be a third fac
tor in the struggle for business through
Savannah and to Savannah That road is
busily at work, making every effort to
| complete its connecting link between Che
raw and Columbia, SO as to be right in the
competition. When that work Is com
| pleted there will be the three great lines
! through Savannah. for the business be-
tween the East and FlOrida-the Southern
and the Plant System, the Plant System
| ard the Coast Line, and the Florida Cen
/ trail and Peninsular and the Seaboard Air
Inc