The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-01-25
Greater SeabOard System
FAR-REACHING BENEFITS TO BE
DERIVED 'FRONT.'.
Through Trains Connecting Inter-
mediate Points With Jack ksOnviIie,
Tampa, Montgomery, Atlanta, Sa-
vannah, New York and Other Points
This Section Needs the Facilities
Afforded bv the Connection.
(Chariotle Oh server.

Afforded bv The Connection.
WhariOtle Ob3rrv-r.)
Yesterday afternoon AN ObSerrcr
representative called on Mr.. ID. A.
Tompkins, who is a director in one OF
the roads Of the proposed new Sea-
board system, f.r the rGrpose of
obtaining an interview with him on
the subject Of the consolidation OF
the various roads into the new and
greater Scaboar,l system.
.Would it be advantageous or
otherwise to the territory to be oc-
cupied by the proposed consolidation
Of the Scaboard interest for the plans
to succeed?" Mr.. Tompkins was asked.
1T seems to me" he replied, Ito
be for the interest Of the entire
country through which the proposed
new Seaboard will run for every in
dividual to exert all influence TO pro-
mote The consolidation of the various
roads that will make up the new sy5-
tenn.
,'Nobpdy can deny that the present
Iaryrmcnt upon the OLD one, is "A vast
benefit To the people and to the busi-
ne. Interests along the line. In
|ccd. IT," Old original Seaboard could
har'tIy be called system. Ii was
hut Httlc more than Il name. People
taihr" about the Carolina Central,
sometimes calling it the X. s Each
road vas known b. it individual
ualuc, while tn" system feature was
hardly rccognized 1t was priva-
tion to have to ride on the passenger
train, at all. Nothing in this is
meant in di,paragrment of the old
management. On the contrary, Mr..
Robinson and his associate, are enti-
tied to all credit for having chrvstal-
izcd out of a few dilapidatcd proper
ties Il railroad system on lines that
he believed would result in fine and
enlarged property is it grew. Per-
hap> the biggest move in the direc-
tion of bringing in the Seaboard as
factor in the railroad situation was
the construction of the Georgia, Car
Olina X Northern. from Atlanta to
Monroe. This made continuous
roadhed from Norfolk to Atlanta.
with various tributary and distribute
ing roads, altogether covering a mag
nilicent territory.
The next important move in the
development of this property was
the IoifmanSt. John management.
These anticipated to some extent the
actual requirements and made the
railroads comprising line stimulate
the country through which they ran
to that progress necessary to support
Il system of railroads. 1t was by
these that the various properties,
more or less disjoincd, were elimi-
mated from the minds of the people,
moulded into one comprehensive rail
road system and put side by side with
the Southern and Coast Line in the
railroad field. 1t is better for these
other systems and for the roads COM
prising the Seaboard that this should
be so.
This would be similar to the re-
organized Richmond X Danville into
the Southern Railway would it not?"
The Southern is Il better institu
ton to-day as one comprehensive
system than it was as the Richmond
x Danville, having series Of in
depcIrIent leased and operated roads.
The old Seaboard had no through
passenger service. One of the first
moves of the present management
was to put on a tirst-class through
passenger service. This made travel
along the line and showed people the
country. The change at Hamlet is
enough to show the value of this
service. 1t is now alive with active
and energetic people, where it used
to be a place of few houses, few
people and very slow movement.
The spirit of the Holfman-St. John
McBee- encouragement has been inocu-
lated into Hamlet as it has been at all
other places along the line.
What about Mr.. Williams and his
plans?"
Now this new movement, with
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams at the
head, brings us to another period in
the Seaboard development and in the
development of the country along the
old and the new lines. If carried
through it means close and intimate
connection Of Charlotte with other
important centres such as Jackson
vile. Montgomery. Savannah. with
through trains from New York to and
from all these places.
II am not unmindful of the fact
that by the Southern We are already
in close relations with much of the
same territory. But our greatest
benefits have come from the consoli-
dated Southern as against the old
dismembered roads of which the
modern great Southern is made up.
The new system will cut into the
Southern'S business to considerable
extent. would il not"
If ! thought the proposed new
Seaboard would depreciate the etii-
cheney of the Southern | would be
SLOW to advocate its accomplishment.
The Southeastern territory with its
resources is more than ample to sup
port all the roads now in it. including
the Southern. the Coast Line and the
Seaboard. 1t needs-badly needs
the extended facilities that the greater
Seaboard will give.
1t is 4 long time since Charlotte
has done much for the improvement
OF her own transportation facilities.
When the Seahoard was extended t.
Atlanta proper interest would havc
brought the through trains by Char
lotte
Winston. by hard work and Co
operation has connection from the
Norfolk x Western. By the same CO.
operation and effort of our people
that line might have been brought c Il
here. For more than ten wears We
have been peculiarly indifferent t.
our transportation interests. All i'm
provement we have has came to Us