Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-02
BUY ANOTHER ROAD.
JOHN T.. WILLIAMS & SONS PARTIES
TO PURCHASE OF THE +. c. & Il.
ONE GREAT SYSTEM PROBABLE.
A Close Union Expected Between the
scnbonrd AIRLINE, Georgia an"
Alabama, and the Florida Centr"'
and peHinsuIar.

this city, and Messrs. Middendorf, OliVet
& CO.. of Baltimore, for themselves ana
associates, have purchased a majority OF
the capital stock of the Florida Central
and Peninsular R9froad Company.
Messrs. W. Bayard Cutting and r. Full
ton Cutting. from whom the purchase
was made, have secured from all other
stockholders Of the Florida Central and
Peninsular the privilege Of selling their
minority stock on terms giving them full
protection.
It IS understood that there will be no
| immediate change in the management OF
the company although II is believed that
later on the Seaboard Airline, the Flo
rida Central and Penlnsular, and the
Georgia and Alabama will be united un-
der one management; or, at least brought
into very close relation. All three sys-
TENS are now controlled by the new pur-
chasers of the Florida Central and PENN
sular.
The Florida Central and Peninsular sys-
TEN is composed Of several roads, which
| permsate Florida from north TO south
The total mileage is 9L25; total common
stock, $2eN0O,O0O; preferred stock, Si5oo'ooo;
mortgage indebtedness. $17MWO. Inc
most important line in the system IS the
| Northern Division. from Columbia, 5. c.,
to jacksonville Fla.
SOUTHERN MUST MAKE TERMS.
The Southern railways fast service to
| Florida is now over the Florida Central
and Peninsular from Columbus TO jack
| sonvile. Arrangements Will have 10 De
! made with the new owners Of the Florida
| Central and Pennsular II this arrange
ment is continued. Otherwise, the South
ern can reach Florida only by way OF
| Atlanta q much less direct route. The
| Southern and the SeabOard Airline COM
peting southern lines, have been at dag
| gers points for years. The SeabOard Air
/ Line now controls the Southern's connec-
ton from Columbia South. Whether the
| Seaboard will help its old-time enemy
southwark into the Land OF Flowers is
! question. IT is one whose answer the
public will await with much interest.
The interest Of the Southern will be much
greater.
I'm addition 10 the Columbia-Jackson-
Vile Division, the Florida Central and
Pennsular has "a lire from Jacksonville
through Tallahassee 10 River Junction,
where It connects with the Louisville and
Nashville. and also a line from Jackson
Vile to Tampa and Cedar Keys.
When n short line is completed I'm
South Carolina connecting the Seaboard
AIRLINE and the Florida Central and
Penlnsuiar, the system will have the
shortest route from Washington TO Jack
sonvlle 10y hfty-hve miles This connect
ing link will soon be built.
The total mileage Of the Georgia
and Alabama, which runs from Sa-
vannah. Ga, 10 Montgomery, Ala.
is $3.50. The total mileage Of the
Seaboard Airline, including branch lines.
is 1866 miles. The total mileage of the
three systems is 23CSS.
TO CONNECT WITH y. AND O.
II is believed that the purchase OF the
Florida Central and Peninsular Is but q
step i'm the consolidation OF lines into
great system. having extensive ramiiica-
tiOns south. east and west. The state-
meut has been made, and is understood
20 be- correct. shat negotiations have
been for some time pending looking 90
the perfecting Of close traffic arrange
ments with the Baltimore and Ohio,
which system is 90 be- tapped at Wash
ington by a bridge over The Potomac
and by a lire eighteen miles in length
fror Washington 10 Quantico, the ter
min Is Of the Richmond. Fredericksburg
and Potomac. This consolidated system
Of southern roads IS TO reach Qu1utico
by means Of the Richmond Fredericks-
burg and Potomac and the Richmond.
Petersburg and Carolina. now under con-
structon north from Ridgeway y. {.
The eighteen mile link OF new road from
Quantico 10 the Potomac al Washington,
and the bridge across that river. Will af-
ford entrance into the Federal capital,
where the Baltimore and ohio will be i'm
a position To- furnish desirable connec-
tions east and west.
THE IDEA OF Mr.. WILLIAMS
on this subject the Baltimore American
OF yesterday says.
"T'he idea Of the consolidation Of the
several southern lines originated with
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams ana Mr.. J.
W. Middendorf. of this city. president
and vlce-presideut respectively of the
Georgia and Alabama, which property
they have brought up to q high state of
efficiency. Their first step was TO ac-
quire the SeabO1rd AIRLINE and since
that successful coup progress i'm attain
ing their ends has been rapid. When the
consolidation of the several systems
into one shall have been effected the
amalgamatcd lines will be one Of the
strongest railroad systems i'm the South. !
and will be am active and energetic COM
Coast lines.
Nothing can be done looking toward
the proposed connections with the Balt- |
more and Ohio until Congress reassem-
bles next December. when the Baltimore
and Ohio viii ask for franchises loo the
District Of Columbia, which 81 has long
desired, and by which connection with |
the new southern system will Boz possi- |
bic"
The American states that steps have |
already been taken looking 10 the ANAL /
gamation Of an the Seaboard lines into |
one system. and that the general offices |
viii probably be located in Baltimore.
The News in wall street.
4 telegram TO the Dispatch from New |
York last night stated that according 10 /
advices received in Wall street yesterday, |
the sale Of the Florida Central and Pc /
ninsular 20 the Williams syndicate had /
been made. Air. John SHELTON Williams |
will return this morning 10 Richmond /
from New York, where he has been In /
connection with the deal. details Of which /
are given above.
NO SLEEP FOR THREE MONTHS.